Changing vets?

Claire W

Claire W

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I have been with the same vet practice for nearly 13 years. I won’t go in to all the details, they have always been fab but sadly, three of the good vets have left within the past year and I haven’t been happy with the treatment both Edward (RIP) and Elizabeth have recently received. It would seem that they’re great with cats and dogs but sadly not so great with small furries especially guinea pigs.

I have found another vets who I am very impressed with and have registered my guinea pigs with them and Elizabeth is currently receiving treatment. As well as the piggies, I also have 3 cats (a 14 year old and two 4 year olds) I would like to register my cats with the new vets as well. The problem I have is Harrison (the 14 year old) has recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at his yearly health check and vaccination. He’s currently on medication and is booked in to have a thyroidectomy on 3rd January. As I say, they’re great with cats and dogs but do I wait until he’s had the surgery and recovered and then change them over or do it before? I feel guilty for doing this but it just makes sense for all my pets to be registered at the same practice. Austin and Morris (the 4 year olds) aren’t due for their yearly vaccinations and health checks until May. Will the old vets just send over the notes for the cats? They have done for the guinea pigs. I just feel so guilty and don’t want to upset anyone but as I say, I haven’t been happy for a while now with the old vets
 
I would wait, especially with the surgery already scheduled. They won't be treating Harrison any differently if the others are registered with a different vet, and to swap now could cause delays in Harrison's treatment that you really don't need.
 
If you are happy with the care the cats receive then I would see out the operation etc with them. It would be quite stressful to rebook it all with the new vet and potentially wait longer for the surgery.
Sounds like my old vets, they had very experienced guinea pig vets including an exotics specialist but, after the long time good vet left, they never lasted more than a year and the service started relying on locums. I can only assume there was some sort of management issue and staff weren't happy there
 
Lady Kelly said:
If you are happy with the care the cats receive then I would see out the operation etc with them. It would be quite stressful to rebook it all with the new vet and potentially wait longer for the surgery.
Sounds like my old vets, they had very experienced guinea pig vets including an exotics specialist but, after the long time good vet left, they never lasted more than a year and the service started relying on locums. I can only assume there was some sort of management issue and staff weren't happy there
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Thank you. I think I’ll go ahead and have Harrison’s operation done at the old vets and change over sometime in the new year. Like I say, they’re good with cats and dogs.

There is one good vet there who seems clued up on small animals but I think she’s only there 2 days a week.

It’s a shame when the good vets leave and they bring locums in 😞 The place just hasn’t been the same since the 3 good vets one of whom treated my piggies for 13 years have left 😞
 
So, Harrison has had his thyroidectomy. He has another post op check up on Wednesday when I’m hoping he’ll be signed off. If I do register the cats with the new vets, will their notes need sending across or will it just be a case of registering them? I was impressed with the care that Harrison received so I do feel guilty but it will make my life so much easier having all my pets at the same vets especially as the new vets is open at weekends unlike my current vets
 
When you register with the new vets they should ask you for your old vets details and then will contact them to request the cats' records are sent over.
Try not to feel guilty about changing vets, it makes sense to have everyone registered at the same practice and you need to do what is best for you and your pets.
I am glad Harrison is doing well.
 
I have just swapped Pepper & Pringles vet as our exotic left, we just had to call up the old vets and ask them to email over their notes which they were happy to do 😊
 
I go to a couple of different vet practices, depending on the urgency and depending on when my favourite vets are available. And also depending on the animal. Maybe vets are run differently in Australia but I guess I’m just registered at a few different vets and never had anything transferring over.
 
So I registered my cats with the new vets today why I was there with the piggies. The receptionist asked me where they were previously registered and said they would phone to ask for their notes to be sent over. I’m feeling really guilty now as like I say, I was happy with the treatment that Harrison received at previous vets
 
Don't feel guilty, I'm sure vets are used to clients going to other practices, whether that's because they have moved, or they want a second opinion or whatever. It doesn't mean you are no longer registered with the original ones, and there may be times when you might use them again, for instance if he needs seeing urgently but the new ones are full.

(My piggies are still registered with Cat and Rabbit, though I only use them when my local vets can't help)
 
Claire W said:
Well I did it. I have registered the cats with the new vet. I feel guilty but new vet is easier to get too, there’s more parking and I just feel more comfortable with them
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Well done Claire.
At the end of the day you need to do what is easiest for you and the animals.
If you are really feeling guilty then maybe pop a card in the post thanking them for the care they gave Harrison so they know it wasn't because of something they did.
 
Swissgreys said:
Well done Claire.
At the end of the day you need to do what is easiest for you and the animals.
If you are really feeling guilty then maybe pop a card in the post thanking them for the care they gave Harrison so they know it wasn't because of something they did.
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Thank you, I hadn’t thought of that but what a good idea. I’ll do that 🙂
 
I felt sad when my old vets went out of business during the pandemic as one of the vets had been brilliant with the piggies and buns, I registered at a new vets, so you could imagine my pleasant surprise when I walked into the examination room with Delilah (before she passed) to see my favourite vet stood there. Several of the vets had moved to the practice to deal with the increased workload. 👍
 
I'm sure most vets are on very good terms with other vets in the local area, and share expertise and offer residency opportunities to newly qualified vets from other practices, as well as offering referrals to other practices when other they know other vets have more expertise or more appointments available.
Our local vet has many trainee interns and locums who have previously trained at Rutland House exotics hospital, and they refer difficult cases there- while Rutland house encourages us to use the local vet if something is urgent. My piggies are registered at both places, and a third local practice offers the emergency out of hours support for the whole area.
Most vet practices have far more clients than they can always meet the need for, and are happy to share notes and patients with their colleagues at other practices.
I'm glad this is resolved Claire, and sending a card is a nice thought, but I wouldn't worry about offending anyone- most good pet parents in the UK have 2 or 3 vet options to ensure they can always get the best care, and most good vets agree this is best for optimal patient care and their own workload management x
 
I’ve just phoned my previous vets to cancel the guinea pigs nail appointment on Monday as I have them booked in at the new vets. Now I feel guilty all over again as she asked if I’d like to rearrange the appointment and I had to say that wouldn’t be necessary 😞
 
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