poodlefan Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 The other reason I like appointments is that its less stressful for the dog. Most of mine don't enjoy being at the vets so any way of lessening time in the waiting room is a good thing for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I ticked "prefer appointment" but if an issue is urgent, I appreciate being able to be squeezed in. Ditto ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Appointment with chosen vet - and an empty waiting room - or I'd find somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I must be the only one who prefers walk-ins. My vet used to have walk-ins except for litter vaccinations which were by appointment and they made sure they stuck to these appointment times. They have now changed to appointments and it is very difficult to know a week in advance that you will need to see a vet. Because they are breeder's vets and do so many emergency caesars, having an appointment often makes very little difference to waiting times anyway. They may be on time or the wait could be 90 minutes. Except for routine vaccines that I am happy to make an appointment for, I always end up having to wait to see the vet between appointments if something is wrong. Luckily the dogs I have now are pretty healthy and rarely see the vet but when they get older I can see it being a problem. Apart from routine vaccines most other ailments like gastro, injuries, etc require a vet the same day and if you need prog testing done on a breeding bitch they have to be done on the days required not in 5 days time when you can get an appointment. I think it is important to have a flexible system with some appointments for routine stuff but still allow for plenty of walk-ins. With dogs being pts I have never made an appointment in advance to have this done. I always make the decision that when it is time, it is time, make a decision, ring the vet to say I am coming in and have the dog pts the same day. I couldn't think of anything worse than knowing I was going to be having a dog pts on a particular day and make the dog suffer until I could get an appointment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 While I definately prefer appointments ... I think having some flexibility to squeeze someone in is also important (even if it is not considered "urgent"). When it came to having my rottie boy PTS I rang our regular vet in the morning and explained the situation but I couldn't get an appointment until 6pm that night. I am sorry but that was not good enough - we had made the painful decision but I couldn't sit around for the day and watch him in pain and suffering. I rang another local vet and they basically said to bring him in any time I wanted - which I really, really appreciated. Another similar situation with an elderly lady I know (same vet). Her large breed dog took a turn for the worst (terminal illness) and couldn't walk. She called the local vet (whom she had used for more then 15 years) and explained her dog had collapsed and couldn't walk and that she had no way of getting him in the car to get him the 2 blocks to the clinic. She asked if the vet could call in and give him the injection to PTS and they refused ... even though the vet drives past her place on his way too and from work. She ended up ringing a vet from a couple of suburbs away that she hadn't used since she moved 15+years ago ... he was there within 1/2 hour. I believe it is the little things that really count.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mokhahouse Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I like to have appointments so I can see the vet I like and my vets are good at keeping to appointment times but never rushing you out. I think they must allocate a generous (realistic) time for each appointment.In an emergency they have slotted me in very quickly. I would hate to have to sit in a waiting room with multiple sick animals or dogs that are not well socialized for an extended time. At my vets there is sometimes 1 or 2 animals in the waiting room but more than likely none at all as they have several rooms they work out of. Its a great system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I must be the only one who prefers walk-ins. My vet used to have walk-ins except for litter vaccinations which were by appointment and they made sure they stuck to these appointment times. They have now changed to appointments and it is very difficult to know a week in advance that you will need to see a vet. Because they are breeder's vets and do so many emergency caesars, having an appointment often makes very little difference to waiting times anyway. They may be on time or the wait could be 90 minutes.Except for routine vaccines that I am happy to make an appointment for, I always end up having to wait to see the vet between appointments if something is wrong. Luckily the dogs I have now are pretty healthy and rarely see the vet but when they get older I can see it being a problem. Apart from routine vaccines most other ailments like gastro, injuries, etc require a vet the same day and if you need prog testing done on a breeding bitch they have to be done on the days required not in 5 days time when you can get an appointment. I think it is important to have a flexible system with some appointments for routine stuff but still allow for plenty of walk-ins. With dogs being pts I have never made an appointment in advance to have this done. I always make the decision that when it is time, it is time, make a decision, ring the vet to say I am coming in and have the dog pts the same day. I couldn't think of anything worse than knowing I was going to be having a dog pts on a particular day and make the dog suffer until I could get an appointment. I have been at my vet for 9 years, i know i can ring up first thing tomorrow and get an appointment, they know me and will fit me, or anyone else that urgently needed to see them, in. I know that if there was a problem, i could ring their a/h number and be met at the vet in 5 mins, or they can come over here. I have dog aggressive dogs, the thought of sitting in a waiting room for god only knows how many hours makes me sick, so many dickheads who think it is ok to let their dogs play with others... at the vets at all places! even the most laid back dog can act different at the vet, or be sick and not feeling well.. My vet is a small place and I know that 99% of the time when I go in, the only other animals i will run into is the dog leaving before it is my turn to be seen, and the dog arriving as i leave. I would never to to a vet that didnt require an appointment. I also like knowing what vet I am going to, i have nothing against any of them, but out of each of the 3, one is better at somethings than others, and Atlas loves LOVES LOVES one vet over most, but will only let the female cut his nails :D so i like to mix and match! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 (edited) I don't know any clinic that wouldn't book Euthanasias on the day the client requested, even if we had to do it through lunch or stay back late. Euth's and emergencies are generally always seen straight away. In general though, people know that it is getting very close to the time their pet needs to be given their wings and can at least call us a few hours in advance. Edited December 22, 2009 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I must be the only one who prefers walk-ins. My vet used to have walk-ins except for litter vaccinations which were by appointment and they made sure they stuck to these appointment times. They have now changed to appointments and it is very difficult to know a week in advance that you will need to see a vet. Because they are breeder's vets and do so many emergency caesars, having an appointment often makes very little difference to waiting times anyway. They may be on time or the wait could be 90 minutes.Except for routine vaccines that I am happy to make an appointment for, I always end up having to wait to see the vet between appointments if something is wrong. Luckily the dogs I have now are pretty healthy and rarely see the vet but when they get older I can see it being a problem. Apart from routine vaccines most other ailments like gastro, injuries, etc require a vet the same day and if you need prog testing done on a breeding bitch they have to be done on the days required not in 5 days time when you can get an appointment. I think it is important to have a flexible system with some appointments for routine stuff but still allow for plenty of walk-ins. With dogs being pts I have never made an appointment in advance to have this done. I always make the decision that when it is time, it is time, make a decision, ring the vet to say I am coming in and have the dog pts the same day. I couldn't think of anything worse than knowing I was going to be having a dog pts on a particular day and make the dog suffer until I could get an appointment. I have been at my vet for 9 years, i know i can ring up first thing tomorrow and get an appointment, they know me and will fit me, or anyone else that urgently needed to see them, in. I know that if there was a problem, i could ring their a/h number and be met at the vet in 5 mins, or they can come over here. I have dog aggressive dogs, the thought of sitting in a waiting room for god only knows how many hours makes me sick, so many dickheads who think it is ok to let their dogs play with others... at the vets at all places! even the most laid back dog can act different at the vet, or be sick and not feeling well.. My vet is a small place and I know that 99% of the time when I go in, the only other animals i will run into is the dog leaving before it is my turn to be seen, and the dog arriving as i leave. I would never to to a vet that didnt require an appointment. I also like knowing what vet I am going to, i have nothing against any of them, but out of each of the 3, one is better at somethings than others, and Atlas loves LOVES LOVES one vet over most, but will only let the female cut his nails :D so i like to mix and match! My vets will see me any time I need them 24/7 but except for vaccinations it is never by appointment because the allocated appointments book up so fast. To see one of my preferred vets by appointment I need to book more than a week in advance. There are usually 2 to 3 vets consulting at any time and I rarely take my dogs into the waiting room, prefering to keep them outside in the car with me until they call me in. I do love the reaction of the average pet owner though in this waiting room if they happen to walk in when the wildlife specialist is on. Lots of bags full of squirming reptiles and occasionally koalas sure makes them do a double take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Appointment with chosen vet - and an empty waiting room - or I'd find somewhere else. So you wont use Vet who cannot clear the waiting room for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 (edited) Appointment with chosen vet - and an empty waiting room - or I'd find somewhere else. So you wont use Vet who cannot clear the waiting room for you? The one I use had purpose built glass floor to ceiling on two sides - you can see what is in there before entering. Appointments are for a full 15 minutes, so there is never a backlog of animals waiting to go in as they don't uaually run over time. I have been to other vets where you have to wade through narrow places between chairs to get to the counter and through to the consult room. My vets consult room is just as you go in the front door of the clinic. Edited December 22, 2009 by anniek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I prefer an appointment time so I don't have to contend with a bunch of dogs in a small area with a dog who can be aggressive to other dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) I like appointment only, emergencies excepted. My vet is by appointment only but is always late. 20 minutes is the usual wait time. Yesterday I arrived with Faith for her appt and there was a woman in the reception area with toddler in a stroller, a Lab on a lead attached to the stroller and a hyperactive GR also attached to the stroller. No way was I taking Faith in with that GR acting like an idiot. When it saw Faith outside I thought it was going to pull the stoller over. It was a scene of total chaos. Faith is old and frail and she has cancer. If the GR jumped on her she would be hurt. There was also a girl with a young, very large, very lively Dane pulling its owner out of the consult room into the reception area. The woman with the Lab and GR eventually left. The Dane left dragging the owner down the street at a rate of knots. After a 15 minute wait out in the street I thought it was safe to go in when along came a woman with a very nervous Sheltie. This lady was obviously afraid of my Rottweiler and picked up the Sheltie so I suggested she go in before me. At least she went into the waiting room area so I could take Faith inside to the reception area. Fortunately the Sheltie was only there for the nurse to give it a shot so they left farily quickly and calm was restored. My disposition was not good after having to hold Faith outside for so long on the corner of a major intersection with heavy traffic in all 4 directions. Hopefully our vet visit tomorrow will be a calmer affair. efs. again. Edited December 23, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 My Vet doesn't make appoitnment times. It has never worried me. I think the longest I have ever waited was about 10 minutes. He has 2 consult rooms and usually has 2 Vets on at any one time so there is rarely a wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks for all the replies. The clinic has always been a single vet clinic (with the previous owner there was another vet who worked 1 set day a week but now it's just the soul vet) so there's not really a problem with people not getting to see the vet they want. I don't think the place was as busy with the previous owner as it seems to be getting now, so I don't think the existing clients have ever had a problem with having to wait too long and with crazy animals in the waiting room! But you've all confirmed everything we had thought, so in the new year we are going to put up notices and start encouraging people to make appointments where possible in the future. Thanks! Your input is very much appreciated - sounds corny I know, but we really want to make the clinic something special and do what we can to help our clients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Personally, I think it will be a great success. You are seeking to find out what your customers want and need. Sounds like the kind of customer care we all want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Personally, I think it will be a great success. You are seeking to find out what your customers want and need. Sounds like the kind of customer care we all want. I totally agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Personally, I think it will be a great success. You are seeking to find out what your customers want and need. Sounds like the kind of customer care we all want. I totally agree awww thanks! It's so great to be apart of something that's not about the money and with someone who's completely open to new things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 You have me well trained - I think I rung last time and organised an appointment time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 No way would I go to a regular (non-emergency) and wait around until a vet is available. Not only is my time more important to me than that, I think it is a safety risk having lots of animals in the waiting room at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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