Feline How-To Manual: How to Choose a Vet ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Any health care links located here are NOT to replace a veterinarian visit; please take your cat to a vet immediately at any sign of odd behavior or any symptoms of illness or injury. Call your vet and describe your cat's symptoms with any of your concerns about the cat's well-being. Your veterinarian may discover changes in your cat's health that you have overlooked. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Feline How-To Manual

This section of Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. contains basic instructions to care for an ill cat - from how to choose a veterinarian to how to treat and handle your cat during his illness, after his visit to a vet or his stay at a veterinary hospital.

If your cat has been to your vet for illness or injury, chances are he may require some continuing treatment at home, whether it be medication, long-term bed rest such as cage confinement for fractures, hand-feeding, or fluid administration. Your partcipation in the convalescent care is very important. It's up to you to follow your vet's instructions as carefully as possible to insure a speedy and complete recovery.

Cats have a remarkable capacity to mend and heal, owing to their patience, adaptive natures, small and lightweight body frames, tolerance of bandages and other appliances, and receptiveness to human touch. Communicate closely with your veterinarian. Please consult him in any complications in treatment or any additional problems you may have.

W A N T E D

Person needed to care for important family members and members of the community. Minimum eight years post-secondary school training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, pasrasitology, epidemiology, internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, nutrition, pediatrics, gerontology, animal behavior (including human), for all domestic animals and birds. Aquatic medicine is a plus. Master's degree in small business administration helpful. Must be available days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Every cat guardian has needs that are unique to his or her own circumstances, household, philosophy or attitudes about the role of cats. Consequently, veterinarians will wear many hats over the course of their professional lifetime in order to fulfull the needs of different cats and guardians. Here are some factors to consider when you are looking for a veterinarian to care for your cat. Since each factor can add value to the relationship you establish, weigh the importance of each carefully.

One Doctor or Two?

Or three, or four ... Historically, veterinary practices have been largely one-doctor facilities employing one or more assistants to perform receptionist and nursing duties. As veterinary medicine becomes more sophisticated and specialized, vets are moving toward working in teams in order to offer more services and better medicine. Large group practices are now very common. There are advantages to using group practices for vet care. Because several vets work together, they can more easily afford state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. Group practices often have doctors on staff with knowledge and possibly board certifiation in a specialty. Multi-doctor practices often provide their own 24-hour emergency service since the on-call responsibility can be shared. They may staff the hospital for the entire 24-hour period. Due to several doctors on staff, it may be easier to get an appointment on short notice or on any day of the week.

There are disadvantages as well. You can lose the personalized attention of a single or two doctor practice in large practices. Solo practices offer security: you know the doctor, who knows your cat, and you will never have to wonder which doctor you are seeing when you make a vet trip. Add to that a friendly, caring receptionist who has probably "been there forever," and the solo practice can seem very appealing. A busy and hectic multi-doctor hospital may not matter to you when come in once a year for preventative care, but how comfortable would you be if your cat was seriously ill?

But don't assume that just because a practice or hospital has only one or two doctors, its equipment or medicine is second rate. Within the walls of every veterinary hospital are thousands of dollars invested in the same supplies and equipment found in human hospitals. If a hospital chooses not to purchase and maintain its own ultrasound unit, for example, there are mobile vets with the equipment who travel into hospitals to provide this service.

Cost Versus Value for Services

Cost for services is one of the most important considerations people must face when deciding on which veterinary hospital to use. Clients shopping for prices for examinations and vaccinations call daily. When calling, make sure that the receptionist or technician gives you a breakdown of what the fees represent.

Dollar price quotes rarely gives enough information about the care and consideration that goes into services provided. The care and consideration along with the quality of products and services (which includes the expertise of the doctors), equals the total value provided.

Fees for services are set based on the expenses necessary to operate a veterinary hospital. These include mortgage and taxes, or rent on the building and land; insurance; salaries and benefits to employees; equipment purchases and maintenance; variables like heat, power, and phone bills; drugs and supplies; fees for licensing; continuing education; disposal of medical wastes; and the doctor pays himself a salary. All these fees must be met by fees collected.

A Warm and Caring Staff

Most clients evaluate the quality of veterinary care available, not on medical considerations, but rather on non-medical ones: the attitude of the receptionists, the cleanliness of the waiting room, the time it takes to get an appointment, etc. The qualifications of the doctors play a much lesser role - at least in the beginning.

Many surveys show that most clients stop going to a veterinary practice because they believe the staff does not care about their pet - not because of dissatisfaction with the medical care or its cost. Less than 5 percent of dissatisfied clients tell the vet or the staff that they are unhappy. This means that a good doctor with a bad staff may never be aware of any problem. It also means that a client who loves the doctor but can't abide the staff may end up going to another vet.

Although a veterinary hospital's primary purpose is to provide care for animals, this is only a small portion of their responsibility. Because animals can't phone for an appointment, drive to the office, describe their symptoms, and pay for their bill, veterinary medicine is largely a people profession. The best veterinary hospitals provide outstanding medical care by highly trained doctors and staff. They are also committed to the customer - YOU.

Hospital Hours

Most veterinary hospitals have a receptionist on staff to answer the phone and a technician on duty to begin morning tratments by 8:00 AM, with doctor's appointments starting at the same time or shortly thereafter. Depending upon your schedule and responsibilities, you may need to find a veterinary hospital that offers doctor's appointments early in the morning or later in the evening one or more days a week. Also inquire as to whether or not the doctor permits patients to be dropped off outside of regular doctor's hours, as long as the owner is accessible by phone. Larger group practices are more likely to offer doctor's appointments on Saturdays as well.

Most veterinary hospitals do not have a staff member within the building 24 hours a day. Many people are surprised to learn this. Usually, a staff member (assistant or doctor) checks on the animals and does treatments late in the evening. Afterwards, the animals are alone until a doctor or assistant comes in the following morning. The animals are alone part or all of the weekend if there are no weekend business hours at the facility. If a critical patient requires round-the-clock monitoring, one of several things happens. Sometimes a staff member stays at the hospital overnight. Sometimes the patient is transferred to an emergency clinic and comes back to the same hospital in the morning. Sometimes the patient and the case is sent to a referral hospital that does have a 24-hour staff. Ask your potential vet which procedure is used at his hospital.

Emergency Services

There may be times when you will need medical assistance in the evening, on weekends, or on holidays. There are a variety of ways that vets can provide that assistance. In rare cases, some practices have a staff clinician physically in the building and on call 24 hours a day. This, of course, is the best possible option, but it is a costly service for a hospital, so only the larger group practices or university teaching hospitals are likely to offer this.

Some practices refer all after hours calls to an emergency clinic in the area. In this case, the clinic will fax or shuttle the paperwork regarding treatment of your pet to your vet's office. This will be placed in your pet's file for reference. Others have an answering machine that activates a pager when you leave a message. It will take some time for the doctor to return your call. They aren't going to be sitting at home waiting for a call to come in. They have lives - they may be shopping or with their child at a Little League game and will need to find a phone.

Quality of Care

Unless you have a medical background yourself, it can be difficult to evaluate the quality of medical care given at any one hospital. Here are some superficial thinks to look for that can give you some insight into the quality of care:

Physical characteristics of the facility are important. Examine the waiting room, parking lot and yard for cleanliness and odor. Are the magzaines in the waiting room current? What kind of merchandising does the hospital do? Are the posters or bulletin boards informational for the season, or are they ripped, faded, or quote twenty year old statistics on disease incidence? These characteristics are important because they reflect the concern that the staff has in making their clients comfortable and knowledgable, the latter indicating the staff's interest in educating their clients on important animal health issues.
The staff itself is important. Do they dress professionally in clean attire? Does the receptionist answer the phone by introducing herself and does she ask to help you before clicking you on hold? You have the right to have all your questions answered in a thorough and courteous manner. A good veterinary receptionist conveys information carefully and accurately to both the owner and the hospital staff.
Examine the treatment areas and wards. Most vets are very proud of their facility and will be happy to give you a tour when time permits. Look inside cages to see if the patients have something to lie on, and if the cages and runs are clean and dry. Use judgment, but don't hesitate to ask questions about kennel procedures. There may be some specific reason for a cage to be set up a certain way. You may be concerned about a cat in a cage without a water bowl. That cat could be scheduled for surgery or may be undergoing a diagnostic procedure that requires that water be withheld.
Learn how the hospital performs certain diagnostic procedures like laboratory analysis, electrocardiograms (EKGs), radiographs (xrays), ultrasound, endoscopy, anesthesia, orthopedic surgery, etc. Larger hospitals have more equipment in-house. That doesn't mean that if some procedures like an EKG, for instance, can't be done right there, that the hospital is substandard. Establish that the doctors do have access to diagnostic tools or specialty services either through teaching hospitals, referral centers, a central hospital, or mobile veterinarians, and that they are willing to use them or make the referral when necessary.

Keep in mind that how you are treated and how your questions are answered does reflect on the quality of care at a hospital. You probably used the same criteria to choose a family doctor: How nice is the office, how friendly and professional is the staff, what are the office hours, who handles emergencies, what hospital affiliation do the doctors have, and how eager was everyone to satisfy inquires.

Nonmedical Services

Many vets offer boarding. They may board both dogs and cats, only cats, anyone's pets, or just their clients' pets. Even those with a no-boarding policy often make an exception for some clients, especially those with very old or very young pets, or pets with chronic diseases like diabetes. If a vet doesn't board cats, ask if he can recommend a particular kennel or cattery in your area.

Check to see if the vet knows of cat care providers who could visit your home so that your cat can stay in his own environment while you are away. Chances are the staff knows someone who has this kind of business or may even provide this service themselves.

Other nonmedical services to consider are grooming, transportation or ambulance service, home delivery of prescriptions, products, or foods, behavior counseling and training, and in case of death, private cremation or other arrangements.

Visiting Policy

Most veterinary hospitals permit guardians to visit their pets during a long hospitalization. Some encourage this practice, others only consent to this if requested. Be sure to inquire about visiting hours and whether or not you must call ahead before stopping by.

Payment for Services Rendered

Most vets require payment at the time the service is given. If the pet has medical insurance coverage, the owner then bills the insurance company for reimbursement. Bank cards are usually taken for convenience, but be sure to find out which cards are accepted. Rarely do doctors bill clients on a regular basis. If you need the privilege of an account, make sure that you can make these arrangements in advance of services.

Considerations AFTER A Vet Has Been Chosen

One of our most powerful tools is communication. Use it with your new veterinarian. By working with your vet, the two of you will make an outstanding team in the best interests of your cat.

When taking your cat to the vet, here are basic questions that should be asked of your doctor. He should explain to you with patience and in layman's terms so that you can understand:

What tests can be done versus what he recommends and why?
What tests were performed?
Why those tests were performed?
What diseases were ruled out based on the test results?
What diseases are still a possibility based on the symptoms and test results?
What is the interim diagnosis or the final diagnosis?
What is the diagnostic plan if there has not been a final diagnosis?
What special diet is to be followed, how long, and why?
What medication is to be given, how long, and why?
What determines if the medication is, or is not, effective?
What are possible side effects of the medication?
What medication alternatives are available and are they as effective?
What are possible side effects of the medication alternatives?
What home care is to be done after surgery or other procedure?
What determines if the cat is healing properly or not?

A good vet will go over testing options, test results, review xrays, blood chemistries, etc. with you. Don't drop off your cat for his exams and tests, then pick him up later with little or no discussion with the vet. You and he both have a responsibility to your cat for open communication. If you have doubts or the desire for a second opinion or a confirmation from a specialist, he should take an interest in your wishes to discuss this and give recommendations and referrals, too. Should you want to go a different route, such as using a holistic vet, a good vet will work well with you.

How-to Articles in This Series:

Article   1: How to Choose a Vet
Article   2: Hospital Admission of Your Cat
Article   3: Preventive Care: Vaccinations, Serologic Testing, Spaying & Neutering
Article   4: Preventative Care - Dental Care, Flea Control, and Grooming
Article   5: Cooperation - Restraint Procedures and Trimming Claws
Article   6: Keeping Records
Article   7: Care in the Sick Room
Article   8: Keeping Watch - Your Cat's Vital Signs
Article   9: Nutrition for the Cat
Article 10: Feeding the Cat - Including Newborn Kitten Feeding
Article 11: Medications and Prescriptions
Article 12: Basic Nursing 101
Article 13: Managing Bandages and Splints
Article 14: Before and After Surgery and Dentistry
Article 15: Pregnancy and Delivery
Article 16: Euthanasia

Page URL: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/howto.html

Resource References:
Caring for Your Sick Cat Carol Himsel Daly, DVM and veterinary consultant
Cat Doctor, Mark Evans, B Vet Med MRVCS
Cornell Book of Cats, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University

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