We are very lucky. We have a vet at our local practice that is fantastic. I've even recommended her as vet of the year.
Our dog Flo has severe epilepsy. But Julie is amazing with her. Gives us loads of advice on controlling it and if she hears of any homeopathy remedies that can help she lets us know straight away. We've spoken to other people at the vets and they all try and get their animals taken to Julie because shes such a natural with them.
I did have one bad experience. I'd had my pet rabbit Buttons for 10 years. I know its just a rabbit, but it was like having a mini dog around. He'd lie on mylap and have a fuss and play. But he got very ill because he was old. And when I took him to have him put to sleep there wasn't a vet available so a nurse had to do it. She was so bloody hand fisted. She put the needle straight through his ear. She tried again, and ended up squirting heself in the eye with the stuff. I felt like slapping her and doing it myself. Again though with my other rabbit, when she had to be put down because she damaged herhip, Julie could barely find a vein, but she managed to do it without stressing Suki out.
It's honestly a blessing when you find a competant, compassionate vet. Because at the end of the day when the worst does happen you don't want a complete numpty dealing with your pets.
X

Sorry to hear, Nina..............

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"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will pee on your computer." --Bruce Graham
There are no rules, rules are only for people who fit inside a box, if you want to think out of the box there is no hope... Life has no Box. (Tony Howells)

Our dog is a little accident prone, he's been to the vets 3 times in the last 12 months for cuts hes got running through the woods! Everytime they want to put him under to put stiches in! We tell them everytime if they don't do it with just a local we'll take him elsewhere and surprise surprise they do it with a local no trouble.

The majority of vets are just out for the money.

The out of hours emergency vet linked to our surgery is £97.50 just for a consultation. Now that is really taking the piss!

I know of one VERY BAD VET that I would warn anyone against visiting. He lacks compassion, humility and all the vital skills to be a successful carer of animals.
Please PM me for details.

I think that may be you should edit that post and not actually mention the details of the vet - if you feel so strongly then ask people to contact you if they are in NW2 so you can give them the information.

You are laying yourself wide open by posting the details.

Sorry but trouble is always waiting round the corner

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Love your dogs

http://www.tollpeppertollers.co.uk

I suggest if u feel this strongly and have a good case for a grievence complaint you should go through the correct channels.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road,
London, SW1P 2AF
tel 020 7222 2001

oh Nina thats terrible, im so sorry xx

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"If the wolf is to survive, the wolf haters must be outnumbered. They must be outshouted, out financed, and out voted. Their narrow and biased attitude must be outweighed by an attitude based on an understanding of natural processes."
L David Mech

We have doomed the Wolf not for what it is, but for what we have deliberately and mistakenly perceived it to be..the mythologized epitome of a savage, ruthless killer..which is, in reality no more than a reflexed images of ourself." -Farley Mowat

I've only ever had to have one animal pts, a cat who had kidney failure. The vet had been treating her for a few weeks, but one evening she went downhill fast and I knew it was time. I rang the vet at 9pm and arranged for him to meet me at the surgery. He gave her the injection, and gave me time there to get myself together so I could cycle home safely. I asked how much it was, and he refused to take any money. He was a very kind person, very reasonable charges, ran his own 'scheme' where you paid up front per year (£25 for cat, £40 for dog at 1990 prices) after which all consultations were free, you just paid for the medicines. He later joined a local group practice and I think he has now retired.

Nina,

It's been quite a while since you've posted this and I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

I wanted to ask the vet professionals out there...
would there at all be interest by vets to have a device that could locate the veins basically mapping them out on the skin? Obviously, the area would need to be shaved, but if you could see the veins would it make treatment easier? The reason I ask is because there's a device that's launching in June of '09 for vein illumination in humans and I wanted to know if this would be something that a vet could use. I'm a rep for the company in the US and I'm not trying to sell anyone, but I'm an animal lover and if this is something that vets would be interested in then I think they should at least know about the technology. A lot of critical care nurses that I've spoken to really like the image it can produce in humans, so maybe it can offer the same care for our little buddies too.