thinking about switching vets??!?!?

[mrsgrubby]

I've always like our vet, and she and her staff always seemed to like our last rottweiler, Alexi. However, in hindsight I wonder if they were either scared or just uncomfortable working with her.

Alexi was a "pain" at the vet, and always there as she was a sickly dog. Maybe because she was always sick, or maybe because they sent off uneasy vibes, she was horrible. She would lick them and love on them, but the second it was time for business she would freak out.

It would always take 3 of them plus me to hold her down to get blood for tests, give a shot, take her temp, etc. It was really tramatic for me to take her to the vet and have them hold her down.

Even though she never once growled or tried to bite the one time she had stitches, they muzzled her.

The second the exam was over, it was back to giving them kisses and taking treats.

We now have Jasmine and although she has rarely been to the vet, they are having trouble taking her temp, examining her and such, and she is probably going to be more of an issue than Alexi, because she might actually bite.

There is a vet clinic connected to petsmart. Both jasmine and violet love to go to petsmart and we go several times each month.

I am wondering if it would be better to go to that vet. He is the vet for both of the rescue groups in town, so he is used to all different types of dogs, and the dogs are used to going to that building.

It seems like I have positive association on my side anyway. Say they go to Petsmart 40 times a year, and once or twice they get poked by the vet. they are likely to still associate going to petsmart with getting treats and stuff right?

I just don't think i can go through 9 years with jasmine like I did with Alexi, it was horrible.

What do you think?

[WolfRyder]

If you have a rottie rescue in town, see who is the vet for the rescue. I know here, there's a vet that handles all the dobies and is more an expert on Dobie problems than any of the other vets in town. And she and her staff are acustomed and equipped to handle the large dogs.

That's what I'd to, anyway.

[gaddylovesdogs]

I've heard bad things about clinics that are attached to Petsmarts.

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by WolfRyder

If you have a rottie rescue in town, see who is the vet for the rescue. I know here, there's a vet that handles all the dobies and is more an expert on Dobie problems than any of the other vets in town. And she and her staff are acustomed and equipped to handle the large dogs.

That's what I'd to, anyway.

There are no rottie rescues in town, or any where near. There are only two rescues in town, and they handle all types of dogs. Both use the vet attached to Petsmart becuase he is very supportive of rescues and he gives them great prices.

I am also unaware of any "good quality" rottweiler breeders in my area so I can't ask them either, but I appreciate your suggestion.

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by gaddylovesdogs

I've heard bad things about clinics that are attached to Petsmarts.

Like what have you heard? I've been there several times because they are the vet for the rescue I volunteer for but since I am just a volunteer I rarely interact with the doctor.

[crazy_paws]

Evie had quite a few issues when she was very young, and we used the vet associated with petsmart. Our clinic is fairly new, but the staff there was very attentive and wonderful. Our vet even gave us his cell and told us we could reach him 24-hours-a-day. I must say he has been a very valuble help to us. Our other girls go to a local vet that was rated #1 in the area. I would say that they are on par with each other, but the extended hours and weekend hours at petsmart are a great help. I hope that helps you with your decision!

[Shadowkins]

It surely wouldn't hurt to try someone else. If they are afraid of her, she can pick up on that and be more difficult. My girlfriend had problems with her golden and her vet at the time, so she tried a different vet and lo and behold, her golden just loved him and was quite co-operative. I think dogs are just like people, they don't always have to like who they see. JMO. Good luck!

[LVT]

Actually, why not do your part in helping train her to make a positive association with wherever she goes for vet care. Your dogs are getting away with being fresh when held. How much socializing and handling is your pup getting from strangers? Have as many people as you can restrain, touch feet and legs, etc in multiple places. Socialize your dog. Sure you can go to a Petsmart for the basics but you're just hurting yourself when you have an emergency and need to go to a full service hospital.

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by LVT

Actually, why not do your part in helping train her to make a positive association with wherever she goes for vet care. Your dogs are getting away with being fresh when held. How much socializing and handling is your pup getting from strangers? Have as many people as you can restrain, touch feet and legs, etc in multiple places. Socialize your dog. Sure you can go to a Petsmart for the basics but you're just hurting yourself when you have an emergency and need to go to a full service hospital.

this is a great idea, however I have trouble getting strangers to touch my dog let alone handle her.LOL. I have a rottweiler, most people jerk their kids off the sidewalk if they see us coming, some even make snide remarks about bringing "those dogs" in public places.

Even the folks in my dog class are afraid of her.

i do socialize her, even bring her to work with me, but most people will not pet her, last week a guy wouldn't even come in the office, he stood by the door and talked to me from accross the lobby because she was there.

[LVT]

is your dog acting defensive from a distance? Bring her into dog friendly places, like pet supply stores, vet office, etc. It doesn't help your dog's behavior being surrounded by a bunch of jerks scared of a Rottie. How can they not love their faces? They are one of the most adorable breeds, IMO.

[WolfRyder]

I love rotties by association because they remind me of my dobie I agree with bringing her to the pet stores and such. T-Bone is gradually getting better about other dogs and my favorite place to take him is the pet store.

A lot of my neighbors were nervous of T when we first got him and he was anxious himself. So I try to take him out walking at dusk when there are few people/dogs/distractions. I have my treat bag with me too. There, I'll speak with a neighbor who will bring up the dog and pretty soon we're talking about him, the neighbor is patting him (especially when I explain about socialization and how people-friendly he is).

I even have a neighbor whom I asked if I could bring T-Bone over to introduce him, so T knows the neighbors. Those he knows he doesn't bark at out the front window. It really helps the noise levels

He adores my next door neighbor and leans all over her whenever we're out talking.

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by LVT

is your dog acting defensive from a distance? Bring her into dog friendly places, like pet supply stores, vet office, etc. It doesn't help your dog's behavior being surrounded by a bunch of jerks scared of a Rottie. How can they not love their faces? They are one of the most adorable breeds, IMO.

LOl....she is not defensive at all, and in fact usually just lays down if I stop to talk to someone. I had her in the bank today and she fell asleep while I was talking. Later someone came into the office and she went up to say hi then curled back up under my desk and took a nap while we had a meeting.

But people don't take the time to find out if she is nice or mean, they just assume she is mean because of her breed.

In our advanced obedience class a lady let her dog run off leash and it jumped on Jasmine while she was laying down. The two began to fight, but everyone is now afraid of Jas, not her dog, even though it was her dog that started the problem.

[eagle12167]

if i lived near or worked near you, you would be able to find her in my area getting spoiled. my brother had a rottie that was supposedly mean. he sent me to his house to get something. next thing i know it's six o'clock and we're still in the back yard playing tug-of-war.
i would not fear your rottie but i would respect her. my male is part rottie, he is such a baby.
just thought you would like to know if she lived near me you could find her at my house playing with the other furkids.

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by eagle12167

if i lived near or worked near you, you would be able to find her in my area getting spoiled. my brother had a rottie that was supposedly mean. he sent me to his house to get something. next thing i know it's six o'clock and we're still in the back yard playing tug-of-war.
i would not fear your rottie but i would respect her. my male is part rottie, he is such a baby.
just thought you would like to know if she lived near me you could find her at my house playing with the other furkids.

Thanks, she is sweet, just when we go to the vet she looses all her manners when they try to take her temp or give her a shot. My normally good girl starts climbing up the walls.

[Pearlulm]

This has been my experience with the vet clinics attached to PetSmart in my area. (Northern VA) The vets they hire are young and unexperienced. We had a dog once that was 13 years old, had an enlarged heart and cancer. He had been in regularly and they completely missed both things until it was too late. But they did want to send me to an orthopedic specialist to have surgery on his leg! Now is it me or with an enlarged heart and cancer I don't think putting him under for surgery was a good idea! Anyway, he ended up passing away the next week. Then...our 13 year old mini schauzer got lyme disease and they were at a loss at what to do. They ended up putting her on anitibiotics (my sugguestion) and charged me about $400 and gave her a lyme disease vaccine. I changed vets and the new vet said that the vaccine was not needed.
Also they charged about $250 to spay (that was about 6 years ago) I just paid $160 to have Gretchen spayed.