Checking out a new vet

[Kathy and Mr. B.E.]

The day I picked up Mr. Big eyes after they started him on Prozinc, I knew I didn't want to go back to the vet I'd used the past few years. I received a printed paper from a staff person with instructions on how to administer insulin, a bag of 10 needles, and a bottle of Prozinc. The paper said you could use the needles several times, so I asked the girl how many times and she said about a week (storing in the fridge.) My brother was appalled. He and I were both given instruction on how to give insulin at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital where we took Mom's dog. They said to use each needle just once.

Today I phoned a vet a friend uses because he always talks to the vet (whereas I often have only dealt with staff where I've been going.) The woman I spoke to on the phone said they do fructosamine tests after a month and don't seem to do curves (because the cats get stressed.) They would do a fructosamine now, but then want me to keep him at the same level of insulin for another month. After monitoring and adjusting doses myself I don't really want that.

I called another vet office where the person on the phone suggested I bring him in and talk about what I've been doing. At least that left some possibility to have a discussion and share what I've been learning here and on catinfo.org. Unfortunately I'm in a town that has only about 6 vet options, so I'm hoping this one will work out for me.

Any advice about what to say when I go to the appointment?

Thanks!

Kathy & Mr. Big Eyes

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I made this up for another member a while back. Maybe some/all of it would be useful to you:

QUESTIONS FOR VET:

1. Do you treat many diabetic cats?
2. What insulin do you generally prescribe and why?
3. How do you decide on the starting dose of insulin?
4. Are you an advocate of home testing of BG?
5. What food do you recommend for diabetic cats?
6. Do you require in clinic blood glucose curves to be done?
7. Are you willing to work with an experienced owner who is very hands on?

Some of these seem trivial but give you a good idea of where the vet is coming from - eg. the question about recommended diet.

be clear with a new vet that:

• your budget is limited
• you do home testing and can't afford nor see the need for in clinic curves
• you feed him low carb wet food and that's what he likes
• you use a human meter because that's what you can afford and you understand how to interpret its BG ranges
• you track all your BGs in a SS (show a copy)

If you can convey all these things politely but firmly it should set the tone for your relationship with the vet. If he/she balks or gets on his/her high horse about any of them, that's not the vet for you.

 

[Kathy and Mr. B.E.]

I made this up for another member a while back. Maybe some/all of it would be useful to you:

If you can convey all these things politely but firmly it should set the tone for your relationship with the vet. If he/she balks or gets on his/her high horse about any of them, that's not the vet for you.

Thanks! Just what I need.