Vet's Pet Peeves About Pet Owners.

A couple of weeks ago one of the staff of another veterinary clinic called with a suggestion for a column. It seems several of their clients had recently been unhappy, or downright irate, that they could not get prescription drugs for their pets without paying for an examination by a veterinarian. By state law, a veterinarian may not prescribe or dispense a prescription drug if he or she has not examined that patient for the disease or injury that the drug is intended to treat. Details vary by state, and in practice there may be some leeway, but we are also bound by the oath we take - we are expected to use prescription drugs judiciously.

A few years ago I wrote a pair of columns - one about "pet peeves" veterinarians have regarding clients, and another about pet peeves clients have about veterinarians. I contacted my local colleagues to get a list of their pet peeves about clients for this column.

*Even if the veterinarian's verbal instructions and the label on the bottle say to give the pills until they're gone, many clients stop too soon. This may cause an apparently cured infection to come back a week or two later, and the bacteria may now be resistant and a more expensive medication may be required.

*Don't expect a diagnosis over the phone. It can be very frustrating, especially when you have two or three patients in the waiting room, and a surgery or two to get done, to have a client on the phone who seems to think that if they just tell you enough details and circumstances and history you will be able to tell them exactly what is wrong and how to fix it.

*Call for an appointment. We all have to deal with emergencies when they happen, but most things can be scheduled and appointments help you, the client, as much or more than the veterinarian and staff. This applies to boarding reservations too - especially in the holiday season. And when you make an appointment, please keep it or call as soon as you realize you can't.

*Two veterinarians asked me to talk about clients who have unrealistic expectations about what treatment and medications will cost, and about "actually being required to pay for services." The investment in a modern veterinary hospital, including equipment, and the cost of maintenance, labor, utilities, drugs and supplies, etc, amounts to a surprisingly large monthly overhead that rises every year. The practice owner tries to adjust and distribute prices to cover that overhead and leave a little for profit. If price is important to you, ask for an estimate.

*If your pet is sick, and may need lab work, X-Rays or intensive care, don't wait until late in the afternoon to bring him to the vet.

*If your doctor happens to be a recent graduate, remember that though they may not have as much experience as some of us old codgers, they have a much better education than we got. They deserve your confidence.

*Don't wake your vet with that after hours emergency call unless you really think it can't wait until morning.

*Try to understand if your vet wants a trained assistant, and not you, to hold your pet.

I think that's all of them. All that are fit to print, anyway. If I get enough responses I'll air your pet peeves in a future column. Send them to the Clarkston Vet Clinic, or call 758-9669, or email me at jazzvet@cableone.net.