Comments on: Why doctors should hate veterinarians

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:15:16 +0000

Here’s something New Zealand is doing right- socialized medicine. My local doc’s office apologizes if they can’t get me seen that day. I might have to wait a day or two! Granted, I live on the outskirts of the city, so the city-dwellers wait longer to see their docs.
Take my advice, folks, don’t put off those annual physicals. My thyroid nodule was detected during my immigration physical, and that turned out to be cancerous. (I’m ok now).

By: puppynerd

puppynerd — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:28:43 +0000

While you definetly have a point, the main reason my pets visit the doctor more than I is that in their case, the person making the appointment is not the one who will be stuck with the needles. If there was ever a (bad) excuse to procrastinate…

Also, I can make an ‘annual physical’ style vet appointment for sometime next week. For the same at my regular doc, it’s nine months+ in advance. Who knows what I’ll be doing in nine months?

By: Colorado Transplant

Colorado Transplant — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:38:46 +0000

I hear there is a shortage of primary care physicians in Massachusetts. A lot of doctors go into more lucrative fields.

I think my present doctor doesn’t like me too much—I don’t always go along with his planned invasive testing.

I just took my cat to the veterinarian today and got all my questions answered. I really like him. If only my doctor was as easy to get along with and talk to as my veterinarian.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:55:28 +0000

Amen to that. When was the last time you actually had your doctor give you a good, thorough physical exam? They’d rather reach for diagnostics, bloodwork, rads, anything except actually putting their hands on their patients. Blarg.

By: VJ

VJ — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:30:11 +0000

Amen, Christie, Amen. Agree with you wholeheartedly and do exactly the same.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:34:55 +0000

I had a doctor like my vet. She was wonderful. She refused to join a group office. Her staff never changed (Mary and Karen, the best!), and she listened, questioned intelligently and insightfully, listened, educated and even sometimes lectured. She fought for her patients with her medical group and with the HMOs.

Finally, her medical group pushed her so hard to join a group office, spend less time with her patients, do less specialist referrals, etc., etc., that she decided to retire instead.

Now, I have a young doctor whose tendency is to hustle you in and out, but who, if you go in well-prepared and ask, ask, ask, has turned out to be informed and responsive.

Still not as good as my vet (or my previous primary care physician), but not as bad as it could be. I actually think as she gets older, she might be OK … she shows signs of growing into her professional self, and developing confidence in her ability to push the system.

My vet …. a great, great man. Always there for me, never afraid to say he doesn’t know — but he’ll find out, refers to specialists when in the pets’ best interest (and oversees the specialist like a mother hen). Cries with me when we have to let one go.

I didn’t realize what a rare gem I had in my prior physician until she retired. I absolutely do realize how wonder my veterinarian is.

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:40:36 +0000

All I can say is . . . . YES! You NAILED it!