mel_ Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I haven't gone to the vet alone yet, I always get someone to come with me to help me out when I'm paying, talking to the receptionist etc. I have a VERY hyperactive puppy who loves everything and everyone way too much and tries to bolt all over the place. Having that extra person there to have him under control while I'm busy really helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 My vet has a huge room as a reception area but they have wedged the chairs in one corner. Depending on the dog I am taking in I tend to stand off on the other side of the room. They are appointment only so there doesn't tend to be too many there as there is only 1 vet. That said the odd time I have had an issue I just very firmly tell them off. I have however had some horrific conversations in the waiting room, some people shouldn't own dogs and even rescued a sheltie there to get pts as he was a nuisance. That nuisance is now adored by his new owner, sleep on her bed and goes everywhere with her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I think we are too reticent about telling people they are over stepping the mark. It can be done nicely,but firmly and if people take offence, well that is their problem. I agree. I say firmly, but still try to be pleasant, that my dog isn't social so please respect our space. 99% of people then glare at us as though I have a child eating dragon at the end of the leash, but I'm not there to make friends so just flip through mags as if Im oblivious. Depending on which dog I have, the receptionist often says I can wait in a spare consult room too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 My Vet has a resident cat which sits on the counter and surveys everything. Had Abby there one day and was at the counter paying with Abby under my arm. She leant out a bit and was sniffing the cat's back. Cat suddenly moved and poor Abby nearly had a heart attack :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I think we are too reticent about telling people they are over stepping the mark. It can be done nicely,but firmly and if people take offence, well that is their problem. I agree. I say firmly, but still try to be pleasant, that my dog isn't social so please respect our space. 99% of people then glare at us as though I have a child eating dragon at the end of the leash, but I'm not there to make friends so just flip through mags as if Im oblivious. Depending on which dog I have, the receptionist often says I can wait in a spare consult room too. Glad you see my point :) . Yes, I've had the glares as though I am a nasty witch stopping children from enjoying themselves. LOL. Having such littlies, I have to have eyes on my ankles when I am paying the bill. If reception is busy, I just wave and say, I'll come back later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chezy Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'm afraid I was one of those irritating dog owners only this past Monday. Stussy has been sick on and off since Boxing Day so Monday we went in and they decided to test for pancreatitis, which meant we had to wait half an hour for the results. So I took Stuss through Red Rooster and I got some lunch, then we had a bit of a walk then went back for the test results. It was a very hot day so waiting outside or in the car wasn't a good option for either of us. The surgery was full by that stage and Stussy is an SBT who loves everyone and everything. There was a mini poodle, 18 years of age on a bed on the floor waiting to be pts and Stuss desperately wanted to go over to her to make her feel better (I could see in her eyes she wanted to give her face a lick/clean). There was a small black puppy and 2 kids and she so wanted to say hello to them all as well. Then someone with a cat in a little bed poked it's head out, but the thing that sent her over the edge was this grumpy looking man who came in and sat with the min poodle lady and for some reason Stussy acted like she knew him and went beserk - ear piercing barks, whole body wags. As I still don't have a lot of strength in my left arm I was getting her to sit and drop and shushing her rubbing her between my feet half under my chair. She didn't get close to any of the other animals or people but she certainly made sure everyone knew she desperately wanted to - like a kid in a candy shop. She even tried to get under the reception counter to say hello. As she had what ended up being a gastro bug she was also farting like a trooper and the smell filled the room. Luckily everybody was very good about her antics (and the farts) and none of the other animals in there were of the reactive type. Lots of apologising on my part. As for retractable leads - I think they are the worst invention ever and should carry warnings so that only small, non-athletic dogs are only ever attached to them. Unfortunately they make the leads big and chunky so people with bigger and stronger dogs think they are fine to use. An accident just waiting to happen. hahaha I don't think u r the type of person, you description made me :laugh: mine want to meet and greet and are not allowed too , not too many numipties at my vet , they have a side entry you can use to miss the wait area if it is too crowded , often ppl with reactive dogs wait outside and use this door Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'm afraid I was one of those irritating dog owners only this past Monday. Stussy has been sick on and off since Boxing Day so Monday we went in and they decided to test for pancreatitis, which meant we had to wait half an hour for the results. So I took Stuss through Red Rooster and I got some lunch, then we had a bit of a walk then went back for the test results. It was a very hot day so waiting outside or in the car wasn't a good option for either of us. The surgery was full by that stage and Stussy is an SBT who loves everyone and everything. There was a mini poodle, 18 years of age on a bed on the floor waiting to be pts and Stuss desperately wanted to go over to her to make her feel better (I could see in her eyes she wanted to give her face a lick/clean). There was a small black puppy and 2 kids and she so wanted to say hello to them all as well. Then someone with a cat in a little bed poked it's head out, but the thing that sent her over the edge was this grumpy looking man who came in and sat with the min poodle lady and for some reason Stussy acted like she knew him and went beserk - ear piercing barks, whole body wags. As I still don't have a lot of strength in my left arm I was getting her to sit and drop and shushing her rubbing her between my feet half under my chair. She didn't get close to any of the other animals or people but she certainly made sure everyone knew she desperately wanted to - like a kid in a candy shop. She even tried to get under the reception counter to say hello. As she had what ended up being a gastro bug she was also farting like a trooper and the smell filled the room. Luckily everybody was very good about her antics (and the farts) and none of the other animals in there were of the reactive type. Lots of apologising on my part. As for retractable leads - I think they are the worst invention ever and should carry warnings so that only small, non-athletic dogs are only ever attached to them. Unfortunately they make the leads big and chunky so people with bigger and stronger dogs think they are fine to use. An accident just waiting to happen. The mind boggles, PS, but also laughs out aloud!!! Surely your wrist is still strapped, so people would know you are injured ?? How awful for the little mini poodle to have to lie in the waiting room. I know whenever I've had to make an appointment for a euthanasia, I've been taken immediately into a waiting room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 yes I have seen some frightful things at the vet! One family came in letting their child walk the out of control GSD and it pulled the child across the floor to attack a baby boxer puppy I don't know whether the boxer puppy's owner was frozen with fear or something but she did nothing to move the puppy as the GSD was heading for it and it was only because the vet nurse managed to race from behind the counter to grab the leash of the GSD that the puppy wasn't attacked. Thanfully now though the vets have separate weighting rooms for dogs and cats which makes life for us dog and cat owners alike a lot easier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 The Vet I've been going to I think lets his cats stay in the surgery overnight. Every time I'm there first thing in the morning (in uniform) I have to stand in the waiting room as the material chairs are full of cat hairs. If I bend over to talk with Maggie (Frenchie) I can often see cat hairs banked up against the front window. Last visit when I was first cab off the rank and taking her in to be neutered there was even cat poo on the waiting room floor! Not impressed at all but the vet is good at what he does so I try and weight up their pros and cons. I do worry about them starting the day with unclean practice as it's potentially not great for infection control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I also loathe those retractable leads. While the owner is texting away on their phone little Fluffy is either wrapped around the dog treat stand or over the other side of the room barking at a poor cat in a carrier There is a lady at our park who uses one of these with a stafford. It is one of the thin rope type ones - I really don't think it is suitable for the dog. When the dog sees another dog it takes everything she has got to hold him on it - she actually holds the rope part, and winds it around her hands. You can see it is hurting her but she said it gives him more freedom... He seems a nice enough dog but I wouldn't be using one like that on a stafford. We did have one for Ollie (it was made of the thicker leash type stuff). In saying that, I would never use in with Zig, I think he would break it. As for retractable leads - I think they are the worst invention ever and should carry warnings so that only small, non-athletic dogs are only ever attached to them. Unfortunately they make the leads big and chunky so people with bigger and stronger dogs think they are fine to use. An accident just waiting to happen. I have a retractable for Woo and, for her ,it is the best invention ever - when teamed with a harness. I always have it locked on short when needed - eg roadside etc. The huge benefit is that she now does not get herself tangled in the lead every few steps when loose leash walking. I do think that Staffyluv hit the spot when she said it needs to be suitable for the dog. There is no way on earth I would have used one on Kaisie - she would have ripped my arms off with 30kgs of lunge by the impetus she would have got up at 3 metres! Until I got Woo and found the use for them, I was a bit nonplussed as to why people would use them at all. So again, it's a case of horses for courses and equipment used correctly according to the circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I've been using retractable leads for years, Affies, Gordon Setters, Min Pins, Border Terriers. Noisymina is right. Like any equipment you have to know how to use them. All my dogs have always been shown on loose light check chains and know when they are put on, it's show time so when fun walking I use the retractables and a flat collar. Our walks are always in the bush etc. If I happen to have them in town or at the Vets I use the check chains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 It's usually pretty good at mine. I mostly book the first and last appointments of the day to avoid the idiots. The one thing I get pissed about is if I take a pup in and people want to touch it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have been on both sides of the desk adn trust me sometimes the dogs and cat in thwaiting room have more braincells that the idiots that brought them in. I had one guy take mortal offence becasue after his offlead dog, yes signs said all dogs must be on a lead, there are leads outside the door, his dog didn't need one apparently - had cocked it's leg 5 times in the waiting room, I growled at it as it went to do it again and then picked it up. He spat it and said he doesn't know he isn't supposed to do that he is a dog. I said he may not know but you do and it's your job to either control him or teach him. He picked is dog up and stormed out the front and waited with his dog offlead in the carpark(pissing on everything) near a very busy road. Some people just don't list. We had resident cats but they sat on the counter, if the went into the waiting area they got plucked up and put out the back. If any dog or cat was worried or fixated on them, they got put out the back. I no longer work there but go to the same vet. I have had someone I know let their dog rush up to mine-luckily both friendly, then proceeded to tell me she was there because she had sarcoptic mange - I was ropeable!!!!!!!! I ahve one dog who loves everyone and roo roo's at them as she desperately wants a pat. Some people think she is growling. I always say to her clearly (more for the persons benefit) no youa re not saying hello, not everyone likes you. Some people have actually thanked me for not allowing my dog to approach them and/or their dog/cat. If a dog approaches mine I always tell them to leave it, seems that makes people think mine may eat theirs so they usually back off - not always. Luckily mine are small enough I pick them up. I take my dogs down the kennels but they are put behind a babygate in another room when dogs are dropped off or picked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Been trying to come up with a reason why it's good to have a reactive dog....tada, I get special vet entry. I go in and warn the receptionist,a path is cleared and a consult room awaits. I always carry him in over my shoulder and the whole room laughs at my " reactive" dog because he then sits with his face pressed against the glass panel next to the door looking cute. I don't think the vet really believed me and the other day insisted I go in general population to get weighed, despite warnings someone let their dog look and although I managed a hasty dash back to the consult room I think they won't ask me again and will just trust my number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsegal98 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) This thread is quite passive agressive! There are some ignorant types in most places, vets are no exception. Edited January 3, 2013 by Horsegal98 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 This thread is quite passive agressive! There are some ignorant types in most places, vets are no exception. If you can't vent on DOL, where can you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 This thread is quite passive agressive! There are some ignorant types in most places, vets are no exception. LOL, but the discussion is about Vets and their waiting rooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Maniac Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 My clinic must be special, then. Today with my pup's checkup, the people who waited were extremely respectful. A family with a purebred boxer greeted us from a distance and we had a lovely discussion about both breeds. They were very informed and very friendly. When their incredibly loveable and social boy "Harley" came to say hello to Sully (in his carrier), the owner made him wait and asked if my boy had had his second vaccination. I told him he hadn't and his response was "Harley's up-to-date, but best not to take risks at that age". A second woman came in with a staffodshire cross and when she saw my boy in the carrier, walked her along the far side of the room before greeting us from her chair. She explained that her girl was people-friendly but very animal-aggressive and she didn't want her to scare the puppy. The others who came in and out were very polite, very mindful of space, of their dogs and of others. ... what's the bet that, next visit, it will be chaos? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Put a muzzle on your own dog...... People soon keep their dogs and children away....... Works even better if it is a large breed dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverStar-Aura Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I've never understood why people let their dogs socialise with everything in the waiting room. I keep my dogs away from the others purely because I don't know what they're there for. If the other dogs have highly contagious diseases, I don't want my guys picking it up too. It's the same as a doctor's surgery. If I can help it, I'm not going to deliberately sit next to someone who is coughing and spluttering and oozing everywhere -- especially if I'm only at the doc's because I'm in need of a new script. I don't want to end up sick so why should I risk my dog? The mind boggles at the sheer lack of logic and common sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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