We have been to several different vet practices in the 28 years that we have lived in Las Vegas. The vets always are in the exam room with us and our pets; sometimes they will ask if it's OK if they take them in the back (to clip nails or do the anal gland thing). Sometimes they do the procedures in the exam room with us present. If I didn't trust them with my dog out of my sight, I would be looking for a different vet.

The only time they said it would be best for us to wait in the exam room while they took the pet to the back room was when we had our very old and sick cat put to sleep. Vet said it would be best to take her in the back to start the IV and then they brought her back in the exam room with us to give her the "last shot" in the IV.

After moving to a new state 18 months ago I had to search out a new vet. It took 3 tries to find a vet we felt we could develop a relationship with. I have participated in every procedure, surgery and recovery--exams, x-rays, c-section, eye surgery, intestinal blockage surgery... My dogs have never left my sight. I realize I have found a rareness in the vet world.

When looking for a vet, there were a few things that I looked for besides vet skill.
1) I wanted the vet to come into the room and sit down--this to me said I am in no hurry and have all the time in the world for you and your animal
2) Confidence without arrogance--someone who presents all options, but ultimately lets me make the final decision for MY dogs.
3) Someone who either supports or sees past the raw diet I feed--I didn't want a vet who blames raw for any problems my dogs may encounter.

This vet has been very fair in his pricing also. He gives me a discount for surgeries because I do almost all the recovery. I sit with the dogs on the floor and monitor temperature and their waking from anesthesia. They don't have to bother with any crate cleaning when we are done because we go home as soon as they have recovered from anesthesia.

Ultimately I believe that stress plays a very important role in recovery and my dogs are less stressed in an unfamiliar environment if I am present.

Shannon

Interesting topic. I've never been asked to leave the room before (and I wouldn't) but I have been told that I am not allowed to restrain my dog for an exam - this was a special occasion, we were at the dog dentist (specialist) and there was both a tech and the dentist herself in the room with Oscar and I. Oscar was WAY nervous and I knew he'd only open his mouth if I was the one asking - but I was told that for liability reasons(!) the tech had to hold my dog while the dentist looked in his mouth!! (you'd think the risk of being bitten would only increase without the handler in control...).

I did try to talk my way out of it, but they wouldn't have it. So I took a step back and watched the two petit women squirm around with my 95lb dog - who didn't end up opening his mouth one bit, the best they could do was lift his lips and get a side view of the broken tooth... I felt like an awful mom for just watching all that, but the boy needed a root canal and despite her handling skills, this dentist was truly a pro, that would go on to fix his tooth beautifully... just had NO idea how to conduct a civilized exam!!

I also never understood why NONE of the vets or specialists we've ever been to have EVER let me into the x-ray room to help hold my dog for radiographs. I'm confident that I could help get Oscar still enough to not need sedation, and I'll sign any paperwork they want about x-ray risks to myself, I just HATE it that they have to knock him out for something so quick and simple... he has never handled anesthesia well at all and it usually takes a toll on his digestive system for days... but no one will hear my arguments...

~Natalya

 Quote: Shannon Reed

When looking for a vet, there were a few things that I looked for besides vet skill.
1) I wanted the vet to come into the room and sit down--this to me said I am in no hurry and have all the time in the world for you and your animal
2) Confidence without arrogance--someone who presents all options, but ultimately lets me make the final decision for MY dogs.
3) Someone who either supports or sees past the raw diet I feed--I didn't want a vet who blames raw for any problems my dogs may encounter.

Great post Shannon. It sounds like you've found a truly wonderful - and unique! - vet where you live. It probably helps that, as a breeder, you may give him more business over time than an individual with just a single pet. I don't mean business in just a money way, I mean it in terms of a more complex and farther reaching relationship - It sounds like you're highly respected by this vet for who you are and what you know about your dogs and their health, and that's priceless. In a way, YOU probably embody all the things in your list that you look for in a VET (patience, confidence, and an open mind) which makes it a great match!

~Natalya

Most vets will do most basic procedures in the room with the owner present. That's fairly standard, I think.

The exceptions to that would be if a dog is very protective, or very tense, in the presence of its owner and won't allow the DVM or techs to go near it. If a dog will relax away from its owner then moving it to the back room will ensure whatever needs to be done will be done quickly. Less stressful for the animal.

Some procedures are messy (anal glands, draining cysts) and may involve equipment that is not stored in an exam room, but in the back. Plus, some procedures may involve more than 2 pairs of hands. Exams rooms tend to be small, back treatment rooms larger, and better able to accomodate an extra tech or two.

The only reason I can think of for removing an animal for microchipping is the needle used is large and thick and might upset someone seeing it. Even when you know a local anesthesia is used to numb the spot it still makes your toes curl.

There are some owners who don't care if their dogs are taken away...others care very much...and hospital staff is aware this worries and upsets people. It never hurts to let the DVM & Techs know if you want to be present. They should, under most circumstances, be able to accomodate your wishes or be able to explain why they can't.

 Quote: Diane Joslin

If I didn't trust them with my dog out of my sight, I would be looking for a different vet.

I feel the same way.

For clarity I've never been asked to leave either. They simply want to do all the work in the back and "wait here."

I've been vet shopping now for a little over 2 years but this microchip thing was the final straw with the clinic I had been using until I found "the one." This however is not the first vet I've run into with this policy.

You can see from the picture below that Bodie is about as dangerous as a stuffed animal and his 3lbs of muscle strikes fear into the hearts of men. ;-)I'm thinking maybe it was a worry over the harpoon size of the needle for a chip.

My friend in Memphis took her dog to the vet for Rabies shot. It is the first dog she has EVER owned and went on my advice of ONLY Rabies (she needed to kennel him and it was required) and ONLY a 3 year vaccine. She was VERY explicit and wrote it down for them as well. They had no problem with it.

They took Joe "in back" and when they were done he had a full round of annual shots and a 1 year Rabies. She didn't know any better and let them take him. I have never been asked to be out of the presence of my dogs so I never gave her that heads up.

Needless to say, she was pretty mad, but it was done, so there was nothing much to do. She goes to a different vet now and NEVER lets them just take her dog.

My own vet has never done anything without me or Paul being in the same room. She explains everything she is doing and any meds she gives I am free to look at bottles. She has no problem with the raw diet and is interested in alternative medicines. I feel very lucky to have found her.

I was asked to let my dog go in back for a nail trim. They explained that many dogs are better without the owners.

I have seen this to be true with horses.

I'll bet that aside from that, many (maybe most) of the owners a vet practice sees on an average day would be a real hindrance in the exam room.

I can understand such a policy.... but I won't let my own dogs go without me.

So there ya go: definitive answer!

 Quote: Sarah Morris

The only reason I can think of for removing an animal for microchipping is the needle used is large and thick and might upset someone seeing it. Even when you know a local anesthesia is used to numb the spot it still makes your toes curl.

You're not kidding!!! I held Oscar while our old vet put in his second chip (we wanted a Euro chip in addition to his Avid) and GOSH GOLLY that needle is big!!! I couldn't believe it. No local anesthesia, but Oscar had been mildly sedated with Acepromazine first, so I don't think he felt much (at least I hope not! :eek...

~Natalya