Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health - Hardcover
From an experienced and highly respected authority in the veterinary world comes a comprehensive must-have guide to everything you need to know to ensure high-quality health care for your beloved animal companions.
Our pets mean the world to us and we go out of our way to pamper them, from gourmet cat treats to doggie daycare. We should, of course, also demand the very best when it comes to their health. But how do we choose the right veterinarian? How do we know if our pets are receiving proper medical treatment or the most effective therapy when they are sick?
Remarkable progress has been made in veterinary medicine, but there is still much disparity in the health care provided for pets. Dr. Louise Murray cuts through the confusion, addresses the common concerns of pet owners, and arms you with knowledge so you can avoid substandard care. Inside you’ll find information on
· how to choose a veterinarian
· what to look for during your pet’s exam
· when it’s time to seek out a specialist
· how to make sure your pet is protected by up-to-date technology, safe anesthesia protocols, and advanced surgical techniques
· proper pain management and adequate nursing care for your pet
· the lowdown on vaccinations
· the growing realm of alternative veterinary medicine
· the latest pet insurance plans
· the use and misuse of steroid medication
She also gives counsel on where to turn if you suspect improper care, and provides comforting advice on saying good-bye.
Vet Confidential is an honest and vital source that will help pet owners make sure that their cherished pets will live a long, happy, and healthy life.
Our pets mean the world to us and we go out of our way to pamper them, from gourmet cat treats to doggie daycare. We should, of course, also demand the very best when it comes to their health. But how do we choose the right veterinarian? How do we know if our pets are receiving proper medical treatment or the most effective therapy when they are sick?
Remarkable progress has been made in veterinary medicine, but there is still much disparity in the health care provided for pets. Dr. Louise Murray cuts through the confusion, addresses the common concerns of pet owners, and arms you with knowledge so you can avoid substandard care. Inside you’ll find information on
· how to choose a veterinarian
· what to look for during your pet’s exam
· when it’s time to seek out a specialist
· how to make sure your pet is protected by up-to-date technology, safe anesthesia protocols, and advanced surgical techniques
· proper pain management and adequate nursing care for your pet
· the lowdown on vaccinations
· the growing realm of alternative veterinary medicine
· the latest pet insurance plans
· the use and misuse of steroid medication
She also gives counsel on where to turn if you suspect improper care, and provides comforting advice on saying good-bye.
Vet Confidential is an honest and vital source that will help pet owners make sure that their cherished pets will live a long, happy, and healthy life.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Louise Murray, D.V.M., is the director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City. A specialist in veterinary internal medicine, she has been honored with many awards, including the Martin A. and Beatrice R. Weiser Memorial Award for outstanding research and the Carola Warburg Rothschild Human Animal Bond Award, and has been elected into the Phi Zeta Honor Society of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Murray has appeared on national and local television, including ABC’s Good Morning America and World News Tonight, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and American Morning, The Early Show, Fox News Live, and the NBC Nightly News. She has also appeared on national radio, including XM’s “Oprah & Friends,” and in print publications, among them USA Today and The New York Times. She lives and works in New York City.
www.drlouise.com
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
www.drlouise.com
CHAPTER 1
On the Scent: Tracking Down the Best Veterinary Practice for Your Pet
You’ve decided to become an informed veterinary consumer, and this decision is going to greatly benefit your pet’s well-being. The first step toward your goal of ensuring that your pet receives the very best health care available is to carefully select a veterinarian. Just as in every profession, there can be real differences among veterinary practices. By learning what to look for (and what to avoid), you will be able to make educated decisions with your pet’s particular needs in mind. There are many excellent practices providing up-to-date, high-quality medicine, and others that are unable to offer the same level of care or have fallen behind. The key for pet owners is to possess the tools to make an accurate assessment and choose wisely.
How do I choose the right veterinarian for my pet?
There are various times when you need to select a veterinarian. Maybe you’ve just brought home a new pet (or two). Or perhaps you’ve recently moved and are searching for a good practice nearby. If your pet has developed health problems, you may suddenly find it more important than ever that she has the best care available. You may even have concerns about your current veterinary practice and be considering a change.
When you find yourself looking for a veterinarian–for whatever reason–what’s the best way to go about choosing the right one for your pet?
If you’re like most people, you have some personal preferences that may influence your choice. Maybe there’s a practice that’s in a particularly convenient location or has hours best suited to your schedule. Perhaps you feel your dog is more comfortable with a female doctor, or your cat is happier in practices that handle only felines. There may be a local veterinary hospital that your family has trusted for years, or that a friend recommends.
These considerations are indeed important, but you should also weigh some objective criteria when deciding which doctor to entrust with your pet’s well-being. If you have a choice of practices in your area, you want to use the one that offers your pet the highest standard of care and avoid those that aren’t achieving the quality of medicine you’re seeking. To help you in your search, I’ve compiled a list of questions that will enable you to evaluate various aspects of each veterinary practice you consider. The areas covered include patient care, equipment, staffing, philosophy, and how up-to-date the facility is. Using this checklist, you will gain the ability to more knowledgeably oversee your pet’s health care.
THE CHECKLIST
The checklist is divided into two sections. The first contains questions about the veterinary practice you’re considering that can be answered over the phone by a staff member. The second section contains topics that are best evaluated during an appointment. There are two worksheets at the end of the chapter where you can record the information you gather.
One option when you’re evaluating a new practice is to schedule an appointment to take place without your pet. This will allow you and the veterinarian to focus on your concerns and have enough time for an informative discussion. Also, since your pet won’t have been seen at the practice, you may feel less awkward if you decide not to return. Be prepared to pay the normal fee for the appointment, even though your pet is not present. Don’t feel hesitant about letting the veterinarian know that you are trying to pick the right practice for your pet; many parents interview several pediatricians before selecting a doctor for their children, and you, too, have every right to do some investigating.
If this suggestion is not convenient or affordable for you, you can evaluate the practice during your pet’s first visit. You probably shouldn’t expect to be able to stop by a practice your pet has never been to and speak to the veterinarian without an appointment.
What if I am too shy to ask these kinds of questions?
We all sometimes find ourselves losing our voice: at the doctor’s or veterinarian’s office or even the hair salon. We don’t want to annoy or impose upon anyone, and we feel embarrassed to speak up. Keep in mind that veterinary practices are there to serve you and your pet. You are entrusting them with your pet’s well-being, and you are paying for their services. You certainly wouldn’t buy a car or choose a vacation spot without asking plenty of questions and having a sense of what to expect. I bet you feel more strongly about your pet’s health than either of those. So ask away!
I appreciate clients who care enough to ask questions; they allow me to practice the best medicine. Always remember that a veterinarian should value a client like you and be gracious in addressing your concerns. If not, you may want to consider another practice.
What if I have concerns about my pet’s current veterinary practice?
You can use the checklist to help you evaluate your current veterinary practice and perhaps pinpoint the cause for your concern. I’m surprised by how many pet owners stay with a practice despite being uncomfortable there or dissatisfied with their pet’s care. They may not realize that there can be significant differences among practices, or they may feel awkward about leaving, particularly if they are long-term clients. The truth is that veterinarians are accustomed to clients coming and going. As professionals, they see this as a normal part of doing business. Like any other relationship, there must be a good fit between you and your veterinarian; if it doesn’t feel right, it is perfectly natural to consider a change. Your pet’s health must always be your top priority. Your decisions should be made with that responsibility in mind.
Sometimes people are unsure about how to diplomatically go about shifting their pet’s care from one veterinarian to another. If you decide to try a different practice, simply ask that a copy of your pet’s complete records be mailed to you. You don’t need to indicate the reason why you want the file, or that you have decided to take your pet elsewhere.
How can I narrow down the practices in my area?
You can start by finding out which practices are accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Participation is voluntary, and whether or not a practice has chosen to be evaluated by the AAHA can be an indication of its commitment to providing a high level of care. AAHA accreditation involves an on-site evaluation to determine if the practice meets all the standards established by the association, and then periodic reviews to ensure that it continues to meet those standards. The practice is graded in many areas, including the facility, staff, equipment, and patient care. Only veterinary hospitals that meet the rigorous AAHA standards receive accreditation.
You can look for accredited practices on the AAHA’s website (www.healthypet.com) or in the phone book, or by calling local practices to inquire about their status.
TIP Another good way to find a practice in your area is to get a recommendation from an equally concerned pet owner. Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues for the name of their veterinarian and how they feel about the practice. But be sure to ask specific questions, such as the ones that follow. It’s wonderful that your neighbor loves her dog’s doctor, but you need to make sure the practice provides the level of care you are looking for.
CHECKLIST: BEFORE YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To see if a practice meets your needs, you can ask the following preliminary questions over the telephone. A staff member should be cheerfully willing and able to give you this information. If the person who answers the phone can’t supply all the answers, ask to speak to the office manager or medical director. Explain that you are looking for a veterinarian for your pet and that you would like to learn more about their practice. It is perfectly acceptable for them to request to return your call if they are busy.
1. How are patients in the hospital monitored during the night?
If your pet should ever require overnight hospitalization, you must be confident that he will receive adequate care. Some pets are hospitalized primarily for the purpose of cage rest–for example, an animal with a bandage, splint, or fracture who may suffer further injury from too much movement. In situations such as this, the pet doesn’t necessarily need to be observed during the night.
A pet who is ill or recovering from surgery, however, can benefit greatly from being monitored overnight. For example, the animal will be able to receive necessary medications and intravenous fluids throughout the night. Patients who are on IV fluids should receive them continuously, and this must be closely supervised. And if something serious happens, such as bleeding, severe discomfort, or deterioration of the animal’s condition, overnight monitoring can prove crucial and sometimes lifesaving.
The degree of overnight care provided varies widely among veterinary practices. Some practices are unable to provide any type of care at night; some have an employee who intermittently stops by to check on the patients or administer treatments. Other practices have one or more veterinary technicians and/or doctors treating and monitoring the patients throughout the night.
A practice that does not provide overnight care may suggest that your pet be hospitalized at another facility until she is more stable. Some practices have an arrangement whereby the anim...
On the Scent: Tracking Down the Best Veterinary Practice for Your Pet
You’ve decided to become an informed veterinary consumer, and this decision is going to greatly benefit your pet’s well-being. The first step toward your goal of ensuring that your pet receives the very best health care available is to carefully select a veterinarian. Just as in every profession, there can be real differences among veterinary practices. By learning what to look for (and what to avoid), you will be able to make educated decisions with your pet’s particular needs in mind. There are many excellent practices providing up-to-date, high-quality medicine, and others that are unable to offer the same level of care or have fallen behind. The key for pet owners is to possess the tools to make an accurate assessment and choose wisely.
How do I choose the right veterinarian for my pet?
There are various times when you need to select a veterinarian. Maybe you’ve just brought home a new pet (or two). Or perhaps you’ve recently moved and are searching for a good practice nearby. If your pet has developed health problems, you may suddenly find it more important than ever that she has the best care available. You may even have concerns about your current veterinary practice and be considering a change.
When you find yourself looking for a veterinarian–for whatever reason–what’s the best way to go about choosing the right one for your pet?
If you’re like most people, you have some personal preferences that may influence your choice. Maybe there’s a practice that’s in a particularly convenient location or has hours best suited to your schedule. Perhaps you feel your dog is more comfortable with a female doctor, or your cat is happier in practices that handle only felines. There may be a local veterinary hospital that your family has trusted for years, or that a friend recommends.
These considerations are indeed important, but you should also weigh some objective criteria when deciding which doctor to entrust with your pet’s well-being. If you have a choice of practices in your area, you want to use the one that offers your pet the highest standard of care and avoid those that aren’t achieving the quality of medicine you’re seeking. To help you in your search, I’ve compiled a list of questions that will enable you to evaluate various aspects of each veterinary practice you consider. The areas covered include patient care, equipment, staffing, philosophy, and how up-to-date the facility is. Using this checklist, you will gain the ability to more knowledgeably oversee your pet’s health care.
THE CHECKLIST
The checklist is divided into two sections. The first contains questions about the veterinary practice you’re considering that can be answered over the phone by a staff member. The second section contains topics that are best evaluated during an appointment. There are two worksheets at the end of the chapter where you can record the information you gather.
One option when you’re evaluating a new practice is to schedule an appointment to take place without your pet. This will allow you and the veterinarian to focus on your concerns and have enough time for an informative discussion. Also, since your pet won’t have been seen at the practice, you may feel less awkward if you decide not to return. Be prepared to pay the normal fee for the appointment, even though your pet is not present. Don’t feel hesitant about letting the veterinarian know that you are trying to pick the right practice for your pet; many parents interview several pediatricians before selecting a doctor for their children, and you, too, have every right to do some investigating.
If this suggestion is not convenient or affordable for you, you can evaluate the practice during your pet’s first visit. You probably shouldn’t expect to be able to stop by a practice your pet has never been to and speak to the veterinarian without an appointment.
What if I am too shy to ask these kinds of questions?
We all sometimes find ourselves losing our voice: at the doctor’s or veterinarian’s office or even the hair salon. We don’t want to annoy or impose upon anyone, and we feel embarrassed to speak up. Keep in mind that veterinary practices are there to serve you and your pet. You are entrusting them with your pet’s well-being, and you are paying for their services. You certainly wouldn’t buy a car or choose a vacation spot without asking plenty of questions and having a sense of what to expect. I bet you feel more strongly about your pet’s health than either of those. So ask away!
I appreciate clients who care enough to ask questions; they allow me to practice the best medicine. Always remember that a veterinarian should value a client like you and be gracious in addressing your concerns. If not, you may want to consider another practice.
What if I have concerns about my pet’s current veterinary practice?
You can use the checklist to help you evaluate your current veterinary practice and perhaps pinpoint the cause for your concern. I’m surprised by how many pet owners stay with a practice despite being uncomfortable there or dissatisfied with their pet’s care. They may not realize that there can be significant differences among practices, or they may feel awkward about leaving, particularly if they are long-term clients. The truth is that veterinarians are accustomed to clients coming and going. As professionals, they see this as a normal part of doing business. Like any other relationship, there must be a good fit between you and your veterinarian; if it doesn’t feel right, it is perfectly natural to consider a change. Your pet’s health must always be your top priority. Your decisions should be made with that responsibility in mind.
Sometimes people are unsure about how to diplomatically go about shifting their pet’s care from one veterinarian to another. If you decide to try a different practice, simply ask that a copy of your pet’s complete records be mailed to you. You don’t need to indicate the reason why you want the file, or that you have decided to take your pet elsewhere.
How can I narrow down the practices in my area?
You can start by finding out which practices are accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Participation is voluntary, and whether or not a practice has chosen to be evaluated by the AAHA can be an indication of its commitment to providing a high level of care. AAHA accreditation involves an on-site evaluation to determine if the practice meets all the standards established by the association, and then periodic reviews to ensure that it continues to meet those standards. The practice is graded in many areas, including the facility, staff, equipment, and patient care. Only veterinary hospitals that meet the rigorous AAHA standards receive accreditation.
You can look for accredited practices on the AAHA’s website (www.healthypet.com) or in the phone book, or by calling local practices to inquire about their status.
TIP Another good way to find a practice in your area is to get a recommendation from an equally concerned pet owner. Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues for the name of their veterinarian and how they feel about the practice. But be sure to ask specific questions, such as the ones that follow. It’s wonderful that your neighbor loves her dog’s doctor, but you need to make sure the practice provides the level of care you are looking for.
CHECKLIST: BEFORE YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To see if a practice meets your needs, you can ask the following preliminary questions over the telephone. A staff member should be cheerfully willing and able to give you this information. If the person who answers the phone can’t supply all the answers, ask to speak to the office manager or medical director. Explain that you are looking for a veterinarian for your pet and that you would like to learn more about their practice. It is perfectly acceptable for them to request to return your call if they are busy.
1. How are patients in the hospital monitored during the night?
If your pet should ever require overnight hospitalization, you must be confident that he will receive adequate care. Some pets are hospitalized primarily for the purpose of cage rest–for example, an animal with a bandage, splint, or fracture who may suffer further injury from too much movement. In situations such as this, the pet doesn’t necessarily need to be observed during the night.
A pet who is ill or recovering from surgery, however, can benefit greatly from being monitored overnight. For example, the animal will be able to receive necessary medications and intravenous fluids throughout the night. Patients who are on IV fluids should receive them continuously, and this must be closely supervised. And if something serious happens, such as bleeding, severe discomfort, or deterioration of the animal’s condition, overnight monitoring can prove crucial and sometimes lifesaving.
The degree of overnight care provided varies widely among veterinary practices. Some practices are unable to provide any type of care at night; some have an employee who intermittently stops by to check on the patients or administer treatments. Other practices have one or more veterinary technicians and/or doctors treating and monitoring the patients throughout the night.
A practice that does not provide overnight care may suggest that your pet be hospitalized at another facility until she is more stable. Some practices have an arrangement whereby the anim...
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- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication date2008
- ISBN 10 0345503201
- ISBN 13 9780345503206
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages256
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