Won't be going back to this vet. I had been with my dog a couple years ago when I first got my dog and was living in the city, and had a wonderful vet there who was so kind and friendly and ensured my... Read More
Won't be going back to this vet. I had been with my dog a couple years ago when I first got my dog and was living in the city, and had a wonderful vet there who was so kind and friendly and ensured my dog trusted her. Today I went back with my dog, as I've recently moved back to the area and had a horrible vet. My dog is nervous around people and dogs, and I told them this before coming. And yet, when the vet first walked in, she commanded him in a loud and aggressive voice to "get down" when he jumped up on her. Nervous dogs jump. Similarly, he jumped up to look on the counter and she rudely said "does he do that at home?" I felt throughout the visit she was implying I wasn't managing my dog properly.
Despite my explaining that my dog was meant to be euthanized for fear aggression, that he has been rehabilitated through positive reinforcement training and calming medication, and that he is still nervous to touch and to new people, she and two vet techs muzzled him to clean out his ears. This would be okay if any one of the three people had made any effort to let him sniff them, meet them, or perhaps even given him a treat. No one did. So, my nervous dog had three strangers touching all parts of his body, while he was muzzled and helpless. First of all, this is so detrimental to all the training we've done. Second, I felt like my dog was being violated and was given no respect.
I honestly felt like the vet didn't even like dogs, and I felt like no one knew a thing about anxious or nervous dogs. This despite me calling and speaking at-length with the receptionist before making an appointment. I specifically asked for someone who knew about nervous dogs.
As a new "patient", I felt there was no time taken to get to know us, to meet my dog before shoving devices into his ear, or to accommodate his needs. I told the vet that usually (at my pervious vet) I put the stethoscope against him because he is more comfortable with my touch; instead, she told me to hold his head away from her so she could do it. Honestly, I felt like my own knowledge of my dog and his needs meant nothing, and her forceful methods of dealing with animals overpowered anything I could do.
I will not be returning, even though my dog needs a second dose of his ear infection medicine. I will search for a new vet this week to get him the second dose, or just pay to do it over again in a new clinic. That's who badly I felt this vet was. I would not recommend them to anyone who loves their dog. Read Less