From:
Christopher
Date: 2001-05-04 04:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Letter from a dismayed vet
I don't know about anyone else, but if I didn't have 100% faith in my
vet, I'd find another vet. Second opinions are one thing, climbing
into the ring with your gloves on and a hand full of printouts from
the FHL is quite another. I'm fortunate to have an incredible ferret
vet right here in town (Dr. Rossi, Jacksonville, FL)and another just
about two hours away, (Dr Bink, Savannah Ga). Ask around, contact
your shelter, post an inquiry to the FHL for a vet in your area, seek
out a local ferret club. In my particular area, my ferrets go to one
vet, my birds go to another and a third sees my dog and cat. I
imagine any one of the three could see everyone, but I want the best
for each of my animal companions. I've an excellent relationship with
each of the Drs I use and any of the three will discuss a case with
me in detail before we take action. Privately owned petshops are
another good resource. They usually have a working relationship with
the local vets and can advise you. If a trip to the vet is a sparring
match.. consider another vet. If a trip to any vet is a sparring
match.. reconsider your approach.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Bruce Williams, DVM" <williams@e...>
wrote:
> Tonight, I spent about an hour replying to a letter from a vet who
> was dismayed (I hesitate to use the word angry, but it may be
> appropriate) by a response from myself and another vet on this list
> to a post from one of their clients, and the way that they were
> apprised of it.
>
> While this is certainly not the first, nor the last time that I
will
> have found myself at odds with a practicing colleague, I must admit
> that the circumstances of this particular event was not what I had
> envisioned on the FHL.
>
> In this situation, a member who was unhappy with their vet's
> diagnostic and therapeutic approach to a case returned to the
office
> quoting my response to their question, and that of another vet, as
> well as someone else on the list who answered the post.
>
> While I can understand this member's frustrations, I do believe
that
> it could have been handled better. The responses that were given
on
> the list were done in order to help a ferret, not to embarrass a
well-
> respected clinician, or to provide a member with ammunition for a
> confrontation. Thrusting differing opinions into your
veterinarian's
> face is not a way to achieve your ends; it simply breeds resentment
> to the message which the FHL tries to send to the practicing
> community, and makes trouble for the people who consult on it.
>
>
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP