Several days ago, a client was waiting for a procedure to be finished on her “therapy cat,” which she can’t be separated from. Interpret that how you will, but it’s safe to say this client would fall into the “high maintenance” category. To be honest, I am not sure she is from this planet originally…. Read More
Life With Clients
The First (but not the last) Time a Client Told Me I Sucked
As anyone who’s worked in the clinic more than a day or two knows, client communication often plays out like a game of telephone, conversations warping and bending over each retelling into a final version that bears little to no resemblance to what we actually told the owner in the first place. In this excerpt… Read More
15 Outrageous Pet Owner Requests of Vets
As the man pulled off his shirt and draped it over his dog, I remember thinking, “I hope my technician comes in right about now. No, wait. I don’t.” The appointment had been uneventful until I informed the dog’s owner that his dog had a heart murmur. The man replied, “If you think he’s got… Read More
A Prayer for Dog Owners: A Devotional for Those Who Love Canines
For me, medicine has always had a deeply spiritual component. I often say little prayers for my patients and their owners, and it is for this reason that I started to think about what I would pray for if I were a mere pet owner, and not a veterinarian asking for medical miracles. Here’s what… Read More
Is It Your Vet’s Job to Keep the Cost of Care Down?
“Veterinarians are in it for the money. If it was just about caring for pets, they wouldn’t charge so much.” This is one of the most common misperceptions I’ve heard from pet owners. And let me tell you, it hurts. Personally, I’m not in this career for the cash. Like most of my colleagues, I… Read More
Should Vets and Clients Be Facebook Friends?
It just happened again. The little head-shaped silhouette in the top left corner of my Facebook page lit up, and a wonderful pet owner I recently helped reached out to be my online friend. I have seen Mrs. Morgan a half dozen times in the last six months, and she is delightful. She has two English… Read More