JustMe
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I'm living the dream....Herding Cats!
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« on: June 13, 2008, 07:42:56 PM » |
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Wondering how many of you have cat-only vets? Finally found one half an hour away, haven't contacted them though. We've been with our regular vet for about 25 years, sees both cats and dogs. Just wondering if we're missing something for the cats, especially the seniors.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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Sandi K
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« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2008, 07:45:52 PM » |
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We dont have that available in our area, no specialists of any kind unfortunately. Wish we did and if you decide to take them there I would luv to know your experience. I can imagine it would be hard to change vets after 25 years though too, tuff decision to make.
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catbird
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« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2008, 07:52:35 PM » |
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I use a cat-only vet. I am very, very lucky that she practices both conventional and alternative medicine, including homeopathy and accupressure, and her office is a ten-minute drive from my house. I have used her for more than 15 years. She is a cat vet because she loves cats and has cats herself.
I like that there are no dogs or dog odors to stress the cats even further, since vet visits are already stressful enough. But the biggest plus IMO is that she understands in detail the special needs of cats. Vets with more general companion animal practices just don't have the chance to get that in-depth, since they must be knowledgeable about other animals too. Cats are just so--different.
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JustMe
Global Moderator
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Posts: 3922
I'm living the dream....Herding Cats!
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« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2008, 08:11:45 PM » |
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Our current vet is less than 5 minutes away. I was thinking of the cat-only vet maybe as a consultation for the seniors to see if she has any new ideas for them. Also, I read that she is not a vaccine pusher. The half-hour ride on a very busy highway to get there has me concerned. They've never been on long car rides. Lots to consider in the future.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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alek0
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« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2008, 08:41:44 PM » |
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I don't use a cat-only vet, I use a vet who does home visits. That is IMO the minimum stress for the cats. He has both cats and dogs of his own, and I like the fact that he discusses options rather than pushing things and also the way he handles cats, i.e. talks to them, tries to minimize stress etc. That trick with the eyedrops (approaching from the back and above rather than from the front) he taught us was wonderful. We disagree on nutrition, but he doesn't push dry food on me since he admits that what I am doing works and they are in good health. Home visits are definitely a huge advantage, as soon as the vet is gone all cats are immediately back to normal, while after being carried somewhere else they were behaving a bit differently for quite a while afterwards. And with three cats it is actually less expensive, since you get discount for second and third one. Not that this is an important consideration, but it is a nice bonus  |
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Mandycat
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« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2008, 09:36:23 PM » |
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I don't use a cat-only vet, although there is one in my area. But, I have been going to my vet for so many years (40+), that I value the personal relationship that has formed and he knows my cat so well that I would hesitate to change. It may be good to be able to consult with another vet for a particularly vexing problem, but my vet has done such a consultation in the past when necessary without my having to ask. It is a tough decision to make, Just Me.
Alek0 - Home visits would be a dream! I do agree that it is best for the animal. However, except in the rural areas, we don't have much access to that here. How lucky you are to have that option!
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kaffe
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« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2008, 09:44:14 PM » |
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I "explored" the idea of a feline-only practice, but the one near me had such a bad rap on the internet! Just goes to show that even with a "cats-only-practice," one can encounter a vet-from-hell type.... oh, shudder... I often wish that my darling vet was a holistic vet... but at least he listens.
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lesliek
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« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2008, 10:13:16 PM » |
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I think its more about the vet as an individual than whether or not they specialize. We do have a local cat only vet who I like but don't use. Her practice tends to push vaccines & conventional meds. My old vet was very open about that & diet. When he semi retired we looked for someone similar. However I have to say the cat only vet interned with our old vet,& when our husky Sitka had a stroke & could not be moved she did a home visit to put her to sleep. And then offered to help me bury her before my kids got home from school.She is cats only because of 2 traumatic dog bite experiences.Yet she still came here to help Sitka.
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"the world's most inept extortionist"
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mainecoonpeg
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« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2008, 11:59:12 AM » |
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I used to go to a cats only practice...........don't get me wrong, I looooove the doggies too.  Now I go to Angel Vet; a cats and wabbits practice  ............nothing better for me than being surrounded by bunnies too. And ssshhhhh.......some of the bunnies are BIGGER than my humongo cats ............silly me, but I am in my glory  |
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If cats could talk......They wouldn't
Tortie cats are like Almond Joys........Very sweet and a little nuts
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StillGoingNutz
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« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2008, 07:42:09 PM » |
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My vet treats both dogs and cats, I picked her because on her website she shares a story about how she take extra care when placing animal under because she lost one of her own that way once. Very important to me. Most of the time however I am usually at the ER vet my cats like to live on the edge  and give mommy lots of grey hair, and empty pockets they do not believe in vet appointments, they seem to cramp their style. There favorite time to go to the vet is usually at night when everyone should be asleep, the time Topaz ate a string I was at the ER vet till 3AM trying to induce vomiting and doing x-rays. Same with her worm incident and when she hurt her back. I should have frequent flyer mile by now or at least carte blanche to the ER visit fee which is now 150 bucks. OUCH |
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Bridgett
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« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2008, 10:56:53 AM » |
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I have used cat-only vets in the past. Now everyone just goes to the same vet. I can't say it was any different from the regular vet except more expensive.
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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jenny
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« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2008, 05:28:17 PM » |
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I go to a cat-only vet that is ABVP feline certified. http://www.catvets.com/professionals/education/other/Having two cats with IBD and pancreatitis and being very active on a feline IBD forum, the one thing I have found compared to a lot of other vets that I see mentioned is that she does a lot of research, tries to stay current on the latest treatments and diagnostics. Finding an ABVP certified vet can be difficult - I think there are only two in my state...but many cat only vets also are very into staying current. Jenny |
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trudy1
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« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2008, 04:57:52 PM » |
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I wish We had a cat only vet.
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins told Me that a cat vet would have known right away what was wrong with My cats, before any of my vets did.
So, I would go to one if we had one around here. In fact, she told Me to look for one.
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kittylyda
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« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2008, 08:22:44 AM » |
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I love my vet, but I have thought about going to a cat only vet in the past. It just seems like less stress for kitty if there are no dogs barking, etc.. Also, as someone else pointed out, a cat only vet might be more knowledgable about a cats special needs and problems. But I do have to admit that I like going to the vets office and petting all the dogs! alek0, I lived in San Francisco for 2 years and while there I used a vet who did home visits. It was very convenient, but I have to say in my situation we did not save the cats much stress. I lived in a studio apartment and there really wasn't anywhere to sequester the cats before the vet arrived so of course they would run under the bed and the poor vet and I spent a lot of time trying to fish them out! They sure have their ways of making any kind of vet experience one to remember! |
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