Meeting a New Vet...
 

So, after a bit of looking around I found a vet clinic not too far from my house, which has emergency services (fingers crossed that I don't ever need it) and a staff with a few different vets. I went in alone to check out the place before making the appointment, and it seemed pretty nice, the waiting area was clean and not chaotic. And what I saw from the staff, they seemed great and really helpful. So I made an appointment for Monday, I need to get Rizzo's anti heartworm meds refilled, and Fatso needs some blood work done, I'm pretty worried about the big guy. I fear he isn't loosing weight at the rate he should be, and he just keeps getting lazier and lazier. :( poor guy, I hope I'm just being a nervous ninny, but I won't know until a professional takes a look at him and does some tests--I fear it may be diabetes, but that isn't the worst case scenario.

Anyway, what kinds of questions should I ask of my possible future vet? I didn't really have a wide variety of choice in Italy (language barrier) so this is the first time that I actually can shop around for the right vet. I tend to base most of my decisions on gut instinct, but I'm afraid of showing up Monday and acting like a ignorant pet owner who can't untie my tongue.

Any words of advice? I hope he's a nice guy who will prove to be helpful in getting my kitty cat healthy again.

Oh no. :( Does sound like diabetes is possible. My only advice there is to get your kitty in as soon as possible for bloodwork and urine testing. Cats can be very hard to manage when this is diagnosed. It makes it worse when ketones are present. The longer you wait, the more likely that will be the case. And you don't want to come home to him in a diabetic coma (if you think this is the case).

There might be a sticky in the Library about this, but:

Anesthetic protocol
Vaccine protocol
Charge for phone calls?
Somebody there at night? If not, what do you do if pet needs to be hospitalized?
Do they have xray on-site (digital is best)?
Lab on staff? (best to send out, but sometimes answers are needed right away).
Ultrasound there (not necessary, but is helpful).

I'm forgetting tons. Morning brain.

Has Fatso by any chance started urinating in inappropriate places, or outside of his litterbox? Also, how old is he? I'm just asking, because we lost our 14 year old kitty to diabetes and congestive heart failure in October of "08. He was diagnosed with diabetes in May and had to have two shots of insulin daily, until his death in October.
I know what you mean, about being tongue-tied or forgetful at the vet's. In the moment of getting your pet checked out, the mind just tends to go blank! When there is something important I need to ask, I try to write it down right then and put it in my purse so I'll have it with me when the time comes. I really hope Fatso is fine, just still settling in from the big move. I'll keep him and you in my thoughts and prayers.

Good luck on your vet visit Monday. I hope Fatso will be ok, too.

I agree with all that has been posted and have nothing to add except I'm a firm believer in going by your 'gut instincts' too. If you have good vibes about the vet and he appears to know the Yorkie breed and will go into as much detail as you want regarding a question without being impatient, that counts for alot. Before I selected the vet we now have 8 years ago, I went to another one and "interviewed" him. He came across as very arrogant and actually talked down to me and even made a few comments about the breed which I knew were definitely not true ............ that warned me off him.

Anyways, good luck. If you find a good vet, half your "doggie problems" are solved.

I'd ask what if any specialists they have on staff, and where would they normally refer you to, if a specialist is required.

I'd ask about the vaccination protocol they usually for toy breeds, and if they are familiar with the new Nov guidelines published by AVHA?

I'd ask about the prevalence of Lyme's disease in your area

I'd ask the vet if he has an area of special interest, in the field of veterinary medicine.
I'd make a list of questions you want to run by the vet vs a vs your animals.