Which type of veterinary care do you prefer for your pets?

I totally go with number 1. I like to be able to ask questions and observe.

I want to be with my pets in the exam room and have never had the 2nd scenario occur.
Being present with your animal is comforting to them when they are under stress.
I held my cat at the groomers last week for his summer shave job too.
I wouldn’t use a vet that didn’t allow owners in the exam rooms with their animals.

Unfortunately, it’s a matter of efficiency. High volume practices follow the second plan.

Approach one: Think about you and your pet in a room – the doctor walks in, talks to you, examines your pet, walks out, finds a tech, tells them what tests to pull, the tech walks in, gets the samples, walks them to the back, runs them, finds the doctor, who walks back into the room to discuss results, works up a treatment plan with you (if needed), then walks back out, finds a tech, passes on the information, the tech comes into the room…...and none of this includes the documentation required for medical records. They often write their records at the end of the day.

The second plan means that when your pet goes to the back, the vet has examined it and made a list of tests he’d like, as well as treatment options. He then talks to you as the owner and gets your go-ahead, tells the techs to proceed, and they already have everything they need to get pretty much everything done. While the techs are moving ahead, the doctor sits down to write the record and discharge instructions.

(Keep in mind that I’m coming from this as someone who works in an emergency hospital, so efficiency becomes even more vital when patients are critical or dying.)

If you are uncomfortable with your pet being away from you, you should always have the option of requesting otherwise, although you shouldn’t be surprised if it takes longer for you to be seen. You should also always be able to tour the back area to see what the facilities are like, although you may have to wait a few minutes while any procedures that are going are can be completed. But if your vet allows you to restrain your own pet for the exam, that’s a vet who will not be in business long – it is unsafe for the clinic staff, and it is unsafe for the pet owner (vets have – and do – get sued for outrageous amounts of money for owners who have insisted on restraining their own pets and then gotten bitten).

@tingyfairy A surprising number of animals are actually better away from their owners. Aggressively protective animals will often calm down away form their people, and some animals pick up on their owners own stress and fear, making the trip worse.

I see. So any type of emergency/special care practices will follow the second treatment philosophy.

I almost think that the second scenario might be better for the pet. That way they do not associate you with the stress of treatment. Plus, I get woozy when I have to hold my pets as they get shots or have blood taken.

It depends on the pet. Molly tends to act up and be bratty when I’m present. Axel finds comfort with me present.

I have always been in the room with them and never had a vet take my cats to another room by herself. I prefer to be there to discuss any issues or ask any questions that the exam brings up.

Vet tech, Milo and I enter exam room. Tech does weight, flea check, temp., and Q & A. Vet comes in and we talk briefly about his geriatric dad while he (vet) gives Milo the soup to nuts stuff. Milo then gets his “Poster pet-of-the-month” award). For any extra stuff, tech takes over. But I can’t imagine not being there with the vet and the pet.

Receptionist gives us both a tickle before we leave. Milo signs a few autographs, we get in the car, he throws up and home we go.

Just as with the pediatrician for a child or the geriatric doc my mom saw, I can’t imagine NOT being a part of the exam and consult.

Definitely number 1. I need to speak with the vet and explain what the symptoms may be or what caused the problem etc and sometimes they ask questions as they are examining the animal which they can’t do if I’m not in the room with them. I also don’t think it is fair to the animal to send them in a strange, smelly room with someone they don’t know especially a dog like my JRT who isn’t happy with men that she doesn’t know (all the vets I have seen recently are men).

Obviously if it is an operation and the animal has to be in for a few hours then I din’t expect to stay with them.

I would not go to a vet who did not use the first method. But it depends on the animal and the owner. My animals find me to be a source of comfort and authority. I can handle them, in most cases, better than anyone else so I want to be with them. I had bouviers and akitas, many techs and vets are afraid of them. I had vets want to muzzle them the minute they walked in the door. I knew my dogs limits and how to handle them. And I don’t like muzzling dogs unless it is absolutely necessary, and in the case of my dogs it was not necessary despite their breed reputations.

Our vet is constantly speaking with us while doing the exam. “Walk and talk” is moving things along briskly enough. I help with any holding or comforting while it’s in progress. These are for the check ups when there is no need to panic. I didn’t stick around to see my dog get spayed as something like that isn’t allowed and I wouldn’t want to anyway. It’s out in the country where they have livestock as well as domestic pets and they are pretty friendly about taking a couple extra minutes to talk.

My vet uses a combo of both approaches. We’re in the room with the tech, then the vet, for the exam and any usual treatments, and we can talk with them the whole time. I usually hold my cats or let them walk around and explore the room in between exams/treatments, but we aren’t asked to assist in restraining the cats during. If one of the cats needs something more than usual (like an x-ray or something that would be upsetting to watch, or that will take a while), the tech takes the cat to the back while we wait (or go home and come back later).

I really like this place. It’s clean, modern, and very friendly.