Oh i agree that there are plenty of unemployed people that could do office management work. I've seen people come in for receptionist jobs with tons of experience and they just can't hack it in the veterinary field (don't know if human doctor receptionists deal with the same sort of crap but its probably very similar). Unfortunately the receptionists always draws the short stick. They get the brunt of everyone's frustration, clients and vet's a like. I worked as a receptionist and it was horrible *shudders*. I will never do that again in a vet's office.

People patients sometimes bite too...used to wish some of them could be soft muzzled...Joke...kinda. Sorry OT.:p

Im sure it not the most glam job in the world and im sure there are stresses. There are low level workers that everyday deal with stressed from people because they are credit collectors and other jobs of the type and yes maybe there is a higher turnover rate in those type of jobs but theres always a new worker willing to do it. I see all your points really I do Im just giving a business person perspective to it. Vets should be concerned about building a reputation because most people who do it do it by word of mouth. Who is your vet? What kind of care do they give? How do they treat pets? How do they treat you as the pet owner?

Most of what you pay for is the anesthesia and blood work, and that's why many people combine procedures. It probably wouldn't have cost that much more to have the neutering done with this.

My last job before becoming disabled was as a sales associate in a very upscale jewelry store. I understand what it takes to deal with the public because we were told that the customer was always right. I and the others had to put up with all kinds of crap and abuse if we wanted to make a commision. We had to scrape and bow even when the person was mentally unstable, and believe me, we had a few come through the doors in our time,LOL. Things people want done to their jewelry that was impossible, claiming an item wasn't repaired when over 3 people inspected items before even calling the client. People trying to steal the store blind, by one way or another, I've seen it all and have been accused of being a liar to my face. I can't hold the customer at fault as this was the policy of the owner of the store. If he had hired enough people to work the floor during holiday's and gave employees the commision amounts they had worked hard for, he would have kept more employees than lost. I personally don't hold the receptionists responsible as they are everyday working people just like me. It's the owner of the business that's to blame! I think the people working at a doc's or vet's office have a hard time of it, not only from patients, but from the doc/vet himself too. The first vet I used injected Mojo with antibiotic and cortisone and when Mojo kept throwing up, I took him back and the vet was ugly and threw up his hands and said to me WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT? I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S THROWING UP! I told him that I thought he might want to know since he had just given him these shots, just in case. I got a call that afternoon from one of the ladies asking how Mojo was and when I told her how he had gone down hill, she put the vet on the phone. He said: YOU KNOW, I BEEN THINKING ABOUT MOJO, HE MIGHT BE ALLERGIC TO THE ANTIBIOTIC. I told him that's ok, I've found another vet and wouldn't let him pull a tick off Mojo! I still think the world of those ladies as they were kind and caring to me, and know it was not their doing. Like I said before, IMHO, it is both the business and the client who BOTH have to be clear and open with each other, if it works out, great! If not, find someone else. I can see your side of it too Chachi, a business is made or lost by word of mouth and reputation.

Thats unfortunate Im sorry that happened that vet was way out of line and Im glad you were able to tell him you were getting another vet. In many other cases the person may just get another vet and not tell the old vet why and they dont know its because they had treated them terribly. A good vet kinda has to be a jack of many trades. They have to give quality care, they have to have a good bedside manner to communicate to the pet owner properly and they have to be a good business owner because they are a small business,n If they cant be those things then they shouldnt be a vet

Thanks so much for your kind words! I was so upset when I left out of his office that I was crying on the way home out of frustration. I have only one other time came across a health care professional who made me feel this way. I was seeing a doctor for my health condition and he was asking me questions and I was answering to the best of my ability, but when he asked about how a pain felt and where, I told him where it was hurting and all, and he said he thought it was my neck. I just said, I don't think it's my neck because it's not bothering me when I turn my head, etc,etc. He looked at me and asked me WHO WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, ME OR YOU? I wasn't being ugly or anything, and this attack, out of the blue really hurt my feelings. I went and had the MRI done on my neck and there were NO problems at all!!! That was the last time I saw him as well. I felt like I couldn't talk with him and that he wasn't really hearing me. My husband was with me at the vet's that day, and he was so angry at how he treated us that I saw him making a fist!!! There are some wonderful doctors and vets out there, but there can be a few ugly ones as well. Turns out it was the cortisone shot that made him sick and he even lost bladder function temporarily that night. My new vet said it was due to the cortisone and being neutered just days before. I googled it, and yep! Sure enough, it happens sometimes when newly spayed/neutered and given cortisone. She also had to drain a knot on his neck where they had given him a series of shots and had a reaction to them. The first vet had already drained it one time, but evidently, it wasn't enough!:eek: He was so sick for days on end! We all make mistakes sometimes, but being rude to someone is never a mistake, and shouldn't be tolerated in a person's/pets health professional. It took me over 2 years to be properly diagnosed because doctor after doctor didn't hear what I was saying, I was too young to be having these problems,etc. I've learned some valuable lessons from these people though. A person should always speak up for themselves and/or pets. I used to be the kind of person who was silent and thought of the docs as GODS! I try not to go in with a know it all attitude, but nobody knows my body like I do, or my pet. I will not be bullied into silence by someone having a bad day or whatever. I have learned to politely tell my side and when people like that vet won't at least listen, I'm out the door! :D

I'd happy to read your point of view too and appreciate the discussion. Vet's should definitely be concerned about building a good reputation because, you're right, a big part of their clientele is referred by word of mouth.

My vets are absolutely wonderful. I have a slightly different relationship with them then a typical client however.

Reading this thread gives me more reasons to love the vet practice I use. There are six vets and it is a very busy practice. They prefer that you make appointments, but walk-ins are never turned away. Emergencies are prioritized and are seen immediately. The "office ladies" know me both by voice (telephone) and by sight. The staff understands that most of their clients think of their pets as family members and treat us accordingly. I have received quick phone calls to let me know that procedures were going according to schedule, or were delayed. I've even received phone calls telling me that my baby was ready sooner than expected so that I could pick them up early.

I wouldn't be happy with a vet practice that didn't stress communication with the clients. To me it is part of the total care package.

My concern would be that the dog was fasting all night before the surgery and had sat there all day with nothing to eat and possibly nothing to drink. If it is going to be a busy day with emergencies then they should cancel the surgery and ask the owner to pick up their pet. I would much rather do that than have my dog sitting in a cage scared half out of it's wits all day! If a vet is too busy to be concerned about the emotional needs of the pet and the owner then they are too busy to have my business!

I read the story of your job and your health problems. You and I have both been through some stuff. I actually have worked as a nurse for many years. I can tell you that a medical degree by no means makes a person a good doctor. There are people who can pass tests but do not pass the test of being a decent human being.

Your right when you say that a business usually has bad service because of the owner or management. The front and back staff in a doctor's office is run according to the owner or management's direction. Bad management = bad service. I guess because I worked in a large medical facility they figured I could diagnose myself when I started having medical issues of my own. It's a long story that does not end well but the lesson is: don't put your trust in anyone just because they have letters after their name like MD or DVM. The quality of care you receive can vary from really good to worse than poor. Check a person out and get several references and even then always oversee your own medical care. Check and double check and ask questions. If they don't give you answers that make sense ask again and if it still does not make sense get another doctor. They are humans and are not infallible. I am always amazed at the number of people who still think anyone who is called "doctor" is always to be trusted.