How to Change Vets?
 

How do I go about changing vets? I really want to get away from my vet. They're not bad, but pretty much charge WAY too much for no apparent reason. I have several friends who have other local vets who charge half as much with just as good of service. Another reason I have for wanting to change is bc they don't have any vets who specialize in toy dogs which bothers me. I mean yes they know about dogs but I would feel more comfortable with someone who knows everything about my wee one in particular. So it's not like I have bad blood with my current vet or like they aren't good to me or my dog (oh yea did I mention my family has been going to this vet since before I was born?? Hope they don't take it personally.. :( ) but I need and want something a little more affordable and a vet who revolves soley around toy dogs. Is this wrong? A difference in prices is.. I paid $275.00 to have Harley fixed and he was in the vet office for about 3 hours or so. One of my gf's had her dog (same size) fixed for $80.00 and they kept her baby over night just to keep an eye on her to see if she had any problems. She had all the same blood tests etc done and her dog is 100% healthy. I'm just wondering, do I go find a different vet and then have them call and request Harley's info to be transferred to their facility or do I have to go in and request it? Am I going about this the right way? :confused:

I wouldn't tell them. I would just start going to a different one. Although you may have to request their shot records if something happens and you have to go before the next rabies shot. I've changed vets before and I didn't tell them I just didn't go back. This is just my opinion. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Just go to your old vet and tell them you want a copy of the records for yourself and run to your new vet with a copy of those! Be sure to keep a copy yourself! ;)

OMG!! You paid what??? Holy cow...well I would swicth to Banfield. that is who I use. I paid 100 dollars upfront and 20 bucks a month for one year and that includes all shots, and visit Dollar has, and for him to be nutered. But now i wish that i would have doen that, b/c now I want to breed. But o well.

Staci and I use the same vet. It cost me $55 to have Kacee spayed and it cost her $40 to have Cosmo neutered. That is very reasonable. They do day surgery there, too, and you take them home in the evening.

I recently changed vets. Pixie needed a booster shot, so I made an appointment with the new vet and the receptionist called Pixie's about to be ex-vet and had all her records faxed to them.
You don't have to speak to the vet you're dumping, just ask his receptionist to fax all records to whomever you decide.
I later met the ex-vet in a diner. We exchanged greetings and nothing was said about my leaving. He did ask for Pixie.
Good luck!
Jessica

Lee Ann, I would do it just like you would change your Dr. There is no need to tell
them the reason. Just call and ask them to fax the records to the other vet and
ask if they will be doing it today, tomorrow= whatever!! Remember alot of times
you get what you pay for and I think the more expensive vets have more equipment
to handle serious cases and more experience. I have gone to one vet practice and
they have 4 wonderful vets in the practice. For years I could afford it but now I
can't always. I have kept the good vet or I should say the one I like so well and
go to the other Clinic I have found for little things like shots, worm checks, eye or
ear problems and I bring the records to my first vet and they don't mind at all. For
surgery and anything I feel is out of the ordinary, I have them available immediately.

Where do you guys go to the vet that it's that cheap???

I called around places a couple years ago when I got my first cat. The cheapest place I could find in my area was about $200 for neutering! (I think some places when as high as $400).

But the $200 does include all bloodwork, and two nights stay. When you guys say $80, does the pup get sent home that same day?? Does it include bloodwork and meds?

I have never heard of prices this low in all my life. I paid $200 in 1997 and most vets
in the Akron area are about the same, maybe just alittle less.

I paid $400 for a neuter (his testical was in his abdomen) and the same for a spay. As far as changing for wanting a vet that specialized in toy breeds, or smaller breeds I see nothing wrong with that. In fact both the vets where I go do special in small breeds. If anything I think they may be actually more expensive since they a dealing specifially with small breeds.

i also switched vets a couple of months ago because i found out he is not available after hours when i tried to call his home phone[only number he left for clients to call]. i had an emergency over the weekend and he knew my dog was very ill [found out he left for a trip for a3day weekend without providing coverage in his abscence]. my dog suffered that weekend and eventually after afew attempts of calling my vet we went to the emergency hosp. in litt le rock where he died.after the weekend was over i simply called the vets office and told them to cancel my yoshis appt. andmy dog that passed away appt and told her why. the vet tried to call me and lol wanted me to call him back. i never did. i now see a vet in another town that has a partner and is available after hours. ihave now learned to ask questions about after hours availability and contact numbers in an emergency. cathy and yoshi

lexi just got spayed on friday and the cost was $175.00...they even
pulled teeth... i thought that was a good price.

Well I think that it is so cheep for me b/c i live in Texas, but I would not settle for "cheep" I want a good doctor and someone who knows what they are doing. Banfield is more on the expensive side but I still got all of Dollars meds, visits and get him fixed for 275 dollars.

Wow, what a variety of charge differences.. That's crazy.. Yea, I defiantely don't want to give up the quality of whatever vet a look for over the money. I appriciate everyones responses.. Thanks a lot!

I think I paid $215 to have Max fixed. But, you're right, prices vary drastically. My Mom lives in a small town in Southern Missouri, they can get a dog fixed for $46-$65.
When I changed Vet's, I just asked the new office to call the old office, and they happily faxed all the records!