There are some so-so vets out there, some out and out bad vets, but for the most part I believe vets are totally invested in their calling of keeping animals healthy and well. And there are some very excellent general vets out there.

Every vet, almost every specialist, but not er hospitals that I have been to, have these prescription diets including even Science Diet on their shelves. In my 40 yrs or so of owning dogs no vet has pushed any of their wares on me or my pet.

I like to work with a vet who understands that we are partners in the health care of my animals, with me being the majority shareholder. I like a vet who keeps up on the latest research, who attends educational seminars and conferences, who gives back to his/her community in some way. For example my vet goes on sabbatical every year with Vets without Borders for 8wks a year.

I truly dis-like when there are un-fair imo generalizations made about a profession.

Vets are no different than any other medical profession, we all have to pay for our education!

I like a vet who will question me on what I want done, to find out why and what my thinking is. I like a vet who says, yup I was wrong Gemy, you were right here. Which is not to say I know more than any vet, just I know my dogs very very well.

Well said. I spend my $ how I want to on my dogs, and I direct their medical care. I'm the customer and they are my dogs!

Unfortunately the very first vet I took Piper to was one of the bad ones IMO!! She totally disregarded everything that I asked her and went off on her own agenda tangent. She didn't care what I wanted or how I felt. These vets I refer to as mainstream vets, the ones that don't think outside their educational box. I wanted to have a rabies shot on Piper because the breeder said that that was the only shot she didn't have. NO...this vet said that beings I had no proof of her being immunized that she was going to do it and if she had already been immunized that it wouldn't hurt her. After doing research on this fact I found out quite the opposite! Her assistant manhandled my newly acquired rescue dog and when Piper was wiggling to get away yelled at her to quit. There are bad vets out there too that only care about their agenda and could care less what you think or feel. And she also told me that Science Diet and Purina were the only good foods out there as she's telling me I need to feed my dog Science Diet RX for sensitive tummy's. No other options offered.

I also think that vets should educate themselves on all aspects of caring for a pet not just the ones the follow what they have learned in school. Raw feeding being one of these as I honestly don't think most vets have actually taken a good hard look at it and researched it. I think that is what makes people think that vets are only in it for the money.

Based on my current vet, he is wonderful. A few friends used my old vet too and have moved on since. Bad juju, Teegy had a little plaque, $900 for a cleaning and hey how about some special dental food. Guess he got the hair on my back up, I shouldn't group all vets with the two I had previous to my current one. Just tweeked my nads with his bad practices. But don't doubt their existence.

I completely agree with you

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: that's what it comes down to a bit of trial and error, but shouldn't be at the cost of the animals

When my vet does a dental she gives a goody bag with a tooth brush, sample of toothpaste and a sample of dental food with a few pamphlets about dental care and I certainly don't think that or even just suggesting dental food is shoving it down your throat. The only true way to clean the teeth is a dental where they are under anesthesia and they can clean under the gum line and polish the teeth. Ves are not going to suggest a raw food for that maybe a few might but there is one of the biggest vet associations here has done the research and they have decided to not support raw food some still might but most are gonna go with what there association is doing. So I don't think most vets are gonna go hmmm your dog has a little plaque on the teeth just feed some raw. Just because a vet recommends something dosent mean they are shoving it down your thoat. Callie has a bump on her side they want to remove it but said it would be cheaper and make more sense to do it when they did a dental but they looked at her teeth and said she dosent really need one so I asked if the bump could wait until after the holidays or even until the end of January and she said absolutely unless the bump starts rapidly growing. She even tried to use a syring to get a little out of it to test under the microscope and she got very little but looked at it anyway and never charged us for it. This whole vets are out to get you thing is just extremely false of course there are bad vets but most are not and most are out to make your dog better not make them sick. Saying stuff like that is what makes some people not take there dog to the vet when it needs it badly.

I think you would be extremely surprised what vets research.........

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

These are my experiences and yes he did try to shove it down my throat, but I'm not the type of person to take things on face value and certainly not easy to bully. Thanks for that mum and dad. Would have to be pretty bad for me to decide its time to change. It's also the difference between a 6 minute walk and my now one hour commute. Have you experienced raw feeding have you seen a raw fed dog, looked in its mouth, examined its teeth and gums. Have you seen the difference between a sick and rescued dog fed on a raw versus an alternate means. I have and I see my dog that suffered pancreatitis become healthy and my vet did recommend a raw diet. Like I said before I do agree with those who have something that works for them and yes not all vets are poosers.

Most are not and raw does not work for everyone a person who has a dog on a prescription dry dog food could say the same........ Many dogs could not make it without the prescription foods so many turn there nose up until they are faced with it! Just because you like it and it works good for you does not mean it's the best. There is no best all have there problems and flaws.

No one is bad pet parent for feeding corn. No one is a bad pet parent for feeding dry dog food. Not one is a bad pet parent for feeding home cooked. No one is a bad pet parent for feeding raw. Everyone does what they feel is best for there pet. Callie is my life I would never ever do anything I thought would harm her. Vets are our partners to help us keep our pets as healthy as possible. I feel bad for those who don't have those partnerships but I am thankful I do.

I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree with that comment. I have never known one person to not take their dog to a vet because of someone saying that vets are out to get you. That's just a cop out and nothing more.

You might be surprised. We had several members here in the past who would berate anyone that took their dog to a vet and tell them that the vets were killing their dogs. As far as they were concerned, if it was medication it was poison. We won't even talk about their views on vaccines...

Yes, but that is not because someone told them that the vets were out to get them, maybe they had a bad experience and hence the reason for their rant. Anyone that uses that as an excuse is using it as a cop out and shouldn't have pets.