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Vet takes animal 'to the back'

The Menagerie
#21

Our vets do pretty much everything in the exam rooms which I appreciate… Though they will take the occasional animal in the back if they know that animal is difficult or the human is starting to stress out the animal… Or if the person is distracting the vet with unnecessary chatter!

Kind of related, I’ve been in the room while the vet sutured and inserted drains, and then later removed a bit of necrotic tissue from my little dog’s injury, as well as watching many sterilizations and other routine surgeries with my fosters. I will happily leave on my own accord if I think it would be appropriate. I appreciate that they let me watch those things and want to stay welcomed to do so :slight_smile:
If I went to a new vet practice I’d request to be present for routine procedures. I think I’d have to see their techs and the vets handle my dog in order for some of that trust to be gained. There’s such a difference between everyone and I want techs who are confident and observant without being too sharp towards the dog, but I do know the difference between what is necessary and what is aggressive. I’ve not returned to a vets office because the techs seemed too tentative in their handling, petting and cooing too much to a wigged out dog… Made me too nervous that they were asking for a bite. Likewise I’ve seen some come in with all guns blazing, which isn’t the right way either. It really is a balance, and takes someone who doesn’t just like animals but who knows how to read them as well.

#22

I don’t like this either. I guess it’s because of my desire to be involved in all aspects of my animals care. My vet doesn’t do it, but I have to go to a different vet for my foster dog since her bills are paid by the rescue. I was surprised when they first did it, now i’m just like “whatever”.

#23

Double post

#24

Once your vets trust you, they most likely will do the procedure in front of you, but they have to trust you as well as you trust them.

I can see how too many clients freaking out that pookie must be restrained or poked with a needle has caused vets to just eliminate the problem by doing pookie’s pokey stuff out of sight of owners who think scruffing or gripping or doing anything to pookie that pookie doesn’t like is somehow cruelty, let alone having clients who actually yell at the doctor and “judge what is happening” from their perspective as a pet owner as opposed to a medical perspective as a doctor.

OP, once your vets trust you to be an intelligent, responsible pet owner they’ll let you stay. Judging, yelling, and “advocating for your animals” - as though those of us who don’t behave like you are not animal advocates ourselves - well, I’m sure any vet practices you left did the happy dance when they found out.

There are poor quality vets, I’m sure, but if I thought that any one of my vets had “occasional bad judgment,” they wouldn’t ever be my vet.

#25

[QUOTE=spotteddrafter;7168047]
I agree with Louise - I trust my vet. There are some things that my vet will take them back in the back for - blood draw, suture removal, etc. I think that sometimes removing everything familiar temporarily stumps the animals - they can get whatever done much more quickly that way. However, my vet also trusts and knows me. I can usually secure my animals better than the tech or assistant anyway, so they typically do most everything with me helping. I remember the first time I restrained one of my dogs for a rectal temp reading, the vet cracked up at me - offered me a job. lol[/QUOTE]

Mine do, but not always. It depends. For a blood draw they go in the back for convenience. There is a helper to restrain and everything is set up right there for a blood draw. It’s much like going down the hall to the doctor’s lab for a blood draw.

I took the Dollar Store kitten in for her first shots last month and they took her in the back because she was wiggling too much. She was so busy looking around, she didn’t even notice.

If I trust my vet enough to do surgery, certainly I’m going to trust them enough to take them into the back/lab area if they want to, why on earth wouldn’t I?

#26

How exactly do you determine ‘occasional bad judgement’ if your pet is ‘in the back’?

#27

[QUOTE=LauraKY;7168236]

If I trust my vet enough to do surgery, certainly I’m going to trust them enough to take them into the back/lab area if they want to, why on earth wouldn’t I?[/QUOTE]

Bingo!

My vet does pretty much everything in the exam room when we have a pet in there. The few small surgical type things (removing skin tags for example) that required more tools than were easily accessible in the exam room we all (dog and humans) moved to the back and did it there.

No idea if this is the normal way she does things for everyone. We are long term clients with a pretty long history with this vet.

I most certainly would not be worried if she suggested she needed to take my pet into the back and for us to wait.

Clearly if you do not trust your vet (and the staff that your vet employs) then it seems to me you have a bigger problem than the vet having a system that works better for them when the owners are not part of the restraint team.

#28

Yes, this becomes a problem when your vet retires, the vet you trusted for years, and you have to find a new vet and suddenly, fluffy is going to the back room. I went thru 2 vet clinics this way. Lost a few pets on the way. My current vet does everything in front of us…so far…no issues.

Clearly, some people are still enjoying their current , well trusted vet.

#29

Just tell the vet that you’d be more comfortable being with the cat, since she’s so old, and that someone restraining the cat, blood draws, etc doesn’t bother you.

#30

Wow LauraKY, I thought the Dollar Store nearest to me had everything. But it doesn’t have kittens! :winkgrin: Was there a Coth thread on that kitten? I’d love to hear the story.
I did have a Bob’s Discount Furniture Cat not too long ago though. She came free with the purchase of a kitchen table and chair set. Turns out she was also a “set.” We bought a table that seats 6 and got a free cat carrying 6 kittens, LOL!

My regular small animal vet left the practice I use about 6 months ago to open her own clinic a few towns away.
The new vet saw my kitten when I first got her for her booster shots. She did the intro and wellness exam in the exam room, then walked out with the kitten. I was left all :confused:. I know kittens are cute but she can’t just take mine! :eek: :lol:
She came back in 5 minutes later handing me Lilah and telling me her shots were done. Oh! Okay. Did mention to her that I’m fine around animals and medical treatments and issues and won’t yap her ear off, freak out or transmit any nerves to my pets. She smiled and said, “Oh good, can you hold them for treatments too?” Yup, no problem and if possible I’d prefer future treatment be done in the room with me.

Sometimes it’s that vet’s normal procedure and sometimes it’s a possible owner issue, some owners might not realize that even a little bit of nerves worrying how their pet might react or feel is easily transmitted to the pet. I don’t have issues with the practice but I’d prefer to have them treated in the room with me. Not so I can check the vet’s actions but so I know how my pet reacts and also know what’s been done.

#31

[QUOTE=Coffee;7168287]
Just tell the vet that you’d be more comfortable being with the cat, since she’s so old, and that someone restraining the cat, blood draws, etc doesn’t bother you.[/QUOTE]

I did tell them that, they insisted. I should have yelled or walked out. I had been going there for some time and kitty was on thyroid meds. I left shortly after that.

Edited to add: new vet put old kitty down at age 22 while husband held her in his arms…not in the back.

#32

I think honest, respectful communication are key. OP your respsonse could have been, “OK, Lets go” And if they insisted that you could not be with the pet, you simply say, “I am not comfortable with that policy, will you make an exception or shall I leave now?”

#33

[QUOTE=Ticker;7168302]
I did tell them that, they insisted. I should have yelled or walked out. I had been going there for some time and kitty was on thyroid meds. I left shortly after that.

Edited to add: new vet put old kitty down at age 22 while husband held her in his arms…not in the back.[/QUOTE]

(I accidentally deleted my original post when it showed up twice on my screen, thought I was deleting an extra.) Why yell? Just tell them you’re not OK with that. Stress can be enough to push an aged cat right over the edge.

#34

[QUOTE=Sobriska;7168315]
I think honest, respectful communication are key. OP your respsonse could have been, “OK, Lets go” And if they insisted that you could not be with the pet, you simply say, “I am not comfortable with that policy, will you make an exception or shall I leave now?”[/QUOTE]

Oddly, when I first started working with this clinic, I told them that I was leaving my current clinic because they took my pet ‘to the back’ . I was told, no problem.

If my kitty didn’t need her meds refilled, I probably would have left immediately…while yelling. I was taken by surprise…it will not happen again.

#35

‘yelling’ is my very strong …sometimes loud…authoritative voice that assures all that I’m very serious. Not to be confused with a high pitched rant.

Edited to add: Just to be clear, I have had the conversation about NOT taking my pet to the back BEFORE transferring my records or using any services. I am now on my third …forth clinic.

#36

I trust both of my vet practices. If I didn’t I wouldn’t stay there. That said, my vet must also trust me, because the one time he took my dog in the back, he told me he was going to and why.

I was relieved I didn’t have to be a part of what he had to do. She screamed, it got done and we were all ok.

#37

[QUOTE=Ticker;7168302]

Edited to add: new vet put old kitty down at age 22 while husband held her in his arms…not in the back.[/QUOTE]

this is a little different. The vet usually expects the owners to be there for a euth.

#38

[QUOTE=threedogpack;7168378]
this is a little different. The vet usually expects the owners to be there for a euth.[/QUOTE]

So, (edited) they have to take her to the back to give her a vaccine…

#39

Here you go…I really need to get some new photos. Miss Lily has decided that Penny is not so bad after all. She’s discovered trees, bugs and the barn. She still sticks pretty close to the garage unless I’m outside and I just started letting her stay out at night.

She’s had her first shots and we’re going to have her spayed at the end of September, when it’s a bit cooler.

She’s a doll baby, purrs if you look at her cross eyed.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-411336.html

#40

My vet does just about everything in front of me. The vet techs (love them - they are so gentle with the kitties) usually do the restraining which is usually just scruffing them. I’d help but I get the feeling from their body language that they’d rather do it. I think the only thing they’ve taken one to the back was for xrays. I really don’t expect to be in the room for that.

That said, I have no problem dropping off a cat if I need to get to work. To me that equals them “taking it to the back”.

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