Part 3:
Ways to help your veterinarian
1. Be patient
- Pets don’t always cooperate with treatment or an emergency may have come in
- Take wait times into account when scheduling your appointment
2. Don’t take money problems out on vets and vet staff
- Just to be able to open its doors to you, vet hospitals have to pay rent, utilities, insurance, wages, and more
- They also have to pre-stock all the medications and supplies your pet might need when you come in
- Accusing a vet of not caring because you don’t like the cost of treatment is distressing and unfair
- Taking your frustrations out on staff whose job it is to take your payment is never OK
3. Don’t wait till it becomes an emergency
- Call the vet’s office as soon as you notice something is wrong
- Don’t wait till it becomes an irreversible tragedy or more costly emergency
4. Get pet insurance (or a rainy day fund)
- Sign up for pet health insurance as soon as possible to avoid a situation where you won’t be able to pay for your pet’s care
- If insurance isn’t an option due to your pet’s history or age, look into a pet emergency protection plan
5. Say “thank you”
- Your pet wouldn’t be able to get the care it needs without the joint effort of a whole team of people
- Don’t forget to thank everyone who makes it possible for your pet to receive care:
- The receptionist who checked you in and out
- The kennel worker who mopped up after your pet
- The assistant who brought your pet back to you
- The vet tech who answered your questions
- And the vet who examined and treated your pet
6. Be kind
- If a mistake has been made, remember that it’s never intentional – vets are human (just like you)
- They feel bad enough without you shaming or berating them
7. Raise complaints privately
- If you have a problem with your visit or bill, ask to speak to the practice manager in private
- Posting a negative review online is hurtful to everyone who worked hard to care for your pet
