If your dog is a working or sports dog, finding a veterinarian that is knowledgeable about your issues and challenges will be difficult. In my area, I have only found vets that are familiar with typical pet dogs, unless they are specialists in the areas of ACL injuries. Specialists, especially if they are surgeons, are very useful if you are going that route, but if you want to know all the options available to you, a generalist in the area of working and sports dogs is helpful. I don't know if such a veterinarian exists these days.
Things to think about when dealing with or looking for a new vet:
- Ask people you know or meet about who they use and if they like them.
- When you ask a question, do they thoughtfully answer and try to give you all the pertinent information? Or do they just fluff you off with vague answers?
- Do you find the vet keeps running the same tests, without giving you any answers that make sense in regard to the problem?
- Are you given the opportunity to assist in handling your pet when they are going through a procedure?
- Do you feel comfortable with the overall demeanor of the vet, and the information that they give you?
- Do they willingly give out referrals outside of their office for problems that are specialized?
- Do you ever get the sense that you are being taken advantage of monetarily?
- Does the vet seem offended or does not forward medical records when you seek out a second opinion?
- Is the vet cooperative with other vets or specialists that you may use (IE follows up, conferences with them)?
The following link has numbers that you can call to see if complaints have been filed or check on a veterinarian's association status.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/veterinarian.html
Maine and New Hampshire Dog Trainer
Mannerly Mutts Blog
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