One of the best relationships you and your pet can have is one with your veterinarian.  A good alliance with your pet medical provider is as important as your alignment with your child’s teacher.

Here are some important pointers regarding veterinary care for your pet:

1.      There is a national veterinary shortage in the United States. This means that getting a timely visit with your veterinarian may be difficult.  Be patient and have a plan.  If you call in with an urgent matter and your primary vet care provider has no appointments, they may refer you and your pet to an emergency or specialty center.  Be open to this.  Just like with our human children, the advice that the veterinarian gives is the correct one.

2.      Be kind to the veterinary staff.  Those who work with animals love what they do. While there is a lot of customer service involved in the veterinary industry, vets and their staff are not there to be your life coach and take your frustrations.  Just like your child’s teacher, they are not against you; they are with you.  Be kind, and they will help you. 

3.      Have a back-up plan if your pet should get sick.  This starts with finances.  Pet insurance is recommended for most households.   Be sure to get it PRIOR to illnesses, as once your pet is sick with a condition, it will be classified as a “pre-existing condition.”  Your veterinary provider may be able to recommend pet insurance companies that are better than others.  Always read the fine print when signing up for pet insurance.   Some will cover more than others.  All require payment up front.   For households that do not want to use pet insurance, be sure to set up a side fund for your pet.   One trip to the emergency hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area can easily cost a couple thousand dollars.  Be prepared.   It is also wise to know the emergency hospitals in the area in case your vet is not available for care or advice.  You can call ahead to find out the wait time.  Some cities have veterinary urgent care hospitals.  These tend to be great options, as the cost of care isn’t quite as exorbitant as a veterinary emergency hospital and the wait times are not quite as long. 

4.      When visiting your veterinarian, be mindful of suggestions.  To avoid pet debt, realize that recommendations made by your vet often involve options.  If you cannot afford some of the options, that is okay.   Just be open to communication with your vet so you can create a new plan.  Vets are not trying to make you feel guilty if you don’t elect the most expensive gold-standard treatment option.  They are simply giving you options.  Vets are used to working with various situations and various levels of financial capabilities.  If you truly have NO money, do NOT put this burden on your vet.  Own your situation.  NEVER try to barter with your vet for a lower price.  Instead, research your area for non-profit veterinary hospitals that can offer basic care.  Just be prepared that you are getting basic care.  Don’t expect catered service.   You get what you pay for.

5.      Take responsibility: Before purchasing a pet, know your breed.  Specialty breeds may be cute, but they often have health issues and can be pricey vet purchases.  Bad behaviors can break a household.  Ensure your home is conducive for the breed.   Brachycephalic dogs, such as pugs and frenchies, have airway issues among other congenital issues, and they often end up costing pet parents thousands of dollars in veterinary bills.  Brachycephalics are not good pets to have in hot climates.  Many will keel over and die in the heat.  Some pets don’t get along well with other animals or children.  Some breeds are known for being temperamental.  These can give you a headache and visits from authorities if they bite people.  Working breeds, such as Border Collies, need a large area to run.  If your dog needs tons of exercise, limiting them to long hours alone will result in destruction of your home.  Your dog isn’t being naughty.  They’re just not a good match for your lifestyle.  Returning dogs to the shelter is never ideal.  So, get to know your dog-to-be prior to adoption.  Adopting from a foster home is a great idea, as the foster parents really know the personality of the animal and genuinely want them to find their forever home.  They aren’t looking to “unload” pets, so a candid discussion about your household and the pet personality is necessary.  Breeders, on the other hand, often look to make money off of their pet sales, so be wary of them.  There are some great breeders out there, and even more terrible ones.  Research, research, research and ask lots of questions prior to adoption.

6.      Don’t skimp on good quality food.   Avoid raw foods.  Avoid boutique foods that may be devoid of certain key nutrients and can cause long-lasting illnesses.  Some top-line dog foods include Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina.  There are plenty of other mid-range decent dog foods out there, as well.  Pay attention to food recalls.  Ignore the advice of pet stores.  They will talk about “grain free” for dogs.  This is baloney.  Every pet store clerk that has tried to educate me on dog food has been an overly confident hippie that doesn’t know two things about nutrition.  Trust your vet’s advice and not that of a pet store clerk.

7.      There aren’t many vets for exotic pets.  Plan ahead in case there is an emergency.  It’s a good idea to get into an exotic vet at some point for a wellness check.  Once they are familiar with you and your pet, there is a much greater chance of being seen in the future when an urgent matter should arise.   Vets prioritize their existing clients over new patients.  Unfortunately, if there is ever an emergency, most emergency clinics do NOT care for exotics.

8.      Vets are never in it “for the money.” Do not ever accuse a vet of this.  Because veterinarians are advocates for animals, they will speak for those who have no voice.  If you overstep your boundaries with the vet hospital and insinuate that they are more interested in the green-backs than the fur-backs, you will likely be silently black-listed from that vet hospital.  Remember that vets are part of your team.  

Where do I go if I have an emergency with my dog or cat?

San Francisco East Bay Emergency & Specialty Outfits:

•  Oakvet in Oakland
• Pets Referral in Berkeley
• Pacific Veterinary Hospital in Lafayette
• Veterinary Emergency Group in Dublin
•  Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro
• SAGE Centers in San Ramon and Pleasant Hill

Don’t forget the option for an urgent pet hospital:

• Urgent Pet Care in El Cerrito
• SAGE Centers Urgent Care in Dublin and Concord

Emergency Exotic pet care: Pets Referral in Berkeley

A healthy pet is a happy pet.  And, sick pets add stress to the entire home.  Our pets are our fur-babies, and we want them to thrive.  Be prepared, have an emergency fund ready, and align yourself with your primary care veterinarian.  In doing so, you will have the greatest chance for a positive outcome for any pet medical situation.

Laura D