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Higgin's Mom · 05-25-2004, 05:30 AM

We have been taking Pogo to a veterinary clinic here since I moved to Maine with him in 1998. The vets are fine. In fact, I particularly like a new young woman vet that we have been seeing. BUT.....I don't like some of their office policies as they are designed to get money, money, money out of you. For instance, they will not sell you Frontline unless they examine the dog and he/she is up to date on all shots, etc. And the girl at the front desk, who lets you know these policies in no uncertain terms, would have been a star in the Gestapo!

We purchased Higgins while were in Florida for the winter. We had two wonderful vets there! Higgins had a checkup the day before we left, April 30th, and Doc Magill pronounced him very healthy and said that all he needed was his final parvo booster and his rabies when we got home on May 1st. Higgins had some coccidiae when we first got him and Doc Magill saw him every 10 days from February 18th until we left. Well, MY vet wouldn't take my word for anything! They wanted to do ANOTHER heartworm test, ANOTHER fecal, ANOTHER this, ANOTHER that, despite my having all of Higgins records! Told me it was required of all new patients. Well, I told them that no, Higgins just needed his parvo and his rabies. Then they wanted to give my old Pogo the complete works. Pogo's rabies is a two year one and still good and he has had all his shots and boosters every year. HOWEVER, Pogo is now 12 years old and having researched a bit, I don't think he needs his boosters EVERY year. The current thinking is that it isn't necessary. In fact, current veterinary science is now saying that complete vaccinations every single year may even be harmful, particularly to older dogs. WELL, the Gestapo girl at the front desk (while there was a line of people waiting to see her) launched into a long lecture about a woman who didn't have her childrens' boosters given on time and one of her children DIED, and that I should definitely reconsider my position! What a guilt trip she tried on me! I was appalled and embarrassed in front of others and slunk out the door and then FUMED all the way home.

So I'm vet shopping. And when I find one I like, I will write a letter to the old clinic telling them why I left.

In the meantime, we plan to have Doc Magill in Florida take care of our dogs when we are there in the winter. He has been in practice for 30 years there, and his wife and daughter, plus a wonderful assistant run the clinic. They were so nice that Higgins actually LIKED going there! AND Doc Magill is very reasonable! He only charges $32 for an office visit. My vet in Maine charges $79 just to walk through the door, and charged me $236 to pull one of Pogo's teeth 4 years ago!

There is also a well known, holistic vet in Florida who does canine chiropractic and acupuncture, among other things. She is the one who set us right up on the right foods for Higgins the day we brought him home. She talked with us for half an hour and didn't charge for her time.

Okay, I'm calmer now.......lol........I know Bettye loves Dr. Lucy, but is everyone happy with their vets?

05-25-2004, 05:30 AM	#1
Higgin's Mom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 852	Are you happy with your vet? We have been taking Pogo to a veterinary clinic here since I moved to Maine with him in 1998. The vets are fine. In fact, I particularly like a new young woman vet that we have been seeing. BUT.....I don't like some of their office policies as they are designed to get money, money, money out of you. For instance, they will not sell you Frontline unless they examine the dog and he/she is up to date on all shots, etc. And the girl at the front desk, who lets you know these policies in no uncertain terms, would have been a star in the Gestapo! We purchased Higgins while were in Florida for the winter. We had two wonderful vets there! Higgins had a checkup the day before we left, April 30th, and Doc Magill pronounced him very healthy and said that all he needed was his final parvo booster and his rabies when we got home on May 1st. Higgins had some coccidiae when we first got him and Doc Magill saw him every 10 days from February 18th until we left. Well, MY vet wouldn't take my word for anything! They wanted to do ANOTHER heartworm test, ANOTHER fecal, ANOTHER this, ANOTHER that, despite my having all of Higgins records! Told me it was required of all new patients. Well, I told them that no, Higgins just needed his parvo and his rabies. Then they wanted to give my old Pogo the complete works. Pogo's rabies is a two year one and still good and he has had all his shots and boosters every year. HOWEVER, Pogo is now 12 years old and having researched a bit, I don't think he needs his boosters EVERY year. The current thinking is that it isn't necessary. In fact, current veterinary science is now saying that complete vaccinations every single year may even be harmful, particularly to older dogs. WELL, the Gestapo girl at the front desk (while there was a line of people waiting to see her) launched into a long lecture about a woman who didn't have her childrens' boosters given on time and one of her children DIED, and that I should definitely reconsider my position! What a guilt trip she tried on me! I was appalled and embarrassed in front of others and slunk out the door and then FUMED all the way home. So I'm vet shopping. And when I find one I like, I will write a letter to the old clinic telling them why I left. In the meantime, we plan to have Doc Magill in Florida take care of our dogs when we are there in the winter. He has been in practice for 30 years there, and his wife and daughter, plus a wonderful assistant run the clinic. They were so nice that Higgins actually LIKED going there! AND Doc Magill is very reasonable! He only charges $32 for an office visit. My vet in Maine charges $79 just to walk through the door, and charged me $236 to pull one of Pogo's teeth 4 years ago! There is also a well known, holistic vet in Florida who does canine chiropractic and acupuncture, among other things. She is the one who set us right up on the right foods for Higgins the day we brought him home. She talked with us for half an hour and didn't charge for her time. Okay, I'm calmer now.......lol........I know Bettye loves Dr. Lucy, but is everyone happy with their vets? Last edited by Higgin's Mom; 05-25-2004 at 05:37 AM.