To put in my two cents' - my vet is expensive but I feel they're worth it
for many a reason.  First, I've had the good luck to having been taking my
exotics to her for many many years - since she was barely out of vet school
- so I have a relationship with her.  Second, she makes silly little noises
at my ferrets when i bring them in.  She just can't resist their sheer
cuteness.  :) And third, she trusts my judgement and observations.  When i
relate something i've noticed to her, she takes that into account.  Other
vets i've seen (for cats & dogs) will just shake their heads and tell you
you're doing it wrong, no matter what it is you're doing, because *they're*
exclusively right because, well, they're the vet.  Well, no - the vet
doesn't have to live with the animal and see what makes it happy or unhappy
on a daily basis.  I've always felt that vets should ask the owners more
questions about feed and care - one or two key questions would quickly
establish to the vet what sort of food and exercise and environment the
owner provided.  That way, the vet could start by not assuming that the
client was either a cold, heartless owner or a too-giving, soft-hearted
pushover.  I've been to vets who treat me as though i were the *last* person
who'd know what to do with the animal they were looking at on the table.
Hmph.
 
Vet costs: i've worked for two vets, one with a kennels and one with just a
vet service.  The vet service stuff is easy and pleasant - just remember
that you'll be expected to work three or four times on the weekend, that
you'll only make the equivalent of $5/hr or so, and that it becomes a drag
after the third month of getting up at 6am on a weekend morning so that you
can go clean dog and cat cages.  :)
 
Well, at least for me.  I did love the opportunity to play with the pets,
though.  The moral is: it's much nicer if you live very close to the vet's
in question.
 
Melissa
 
 ___ Melissa Litwicki __ [log in to unmask] ___
 By the whole newsgroup devoted tennis showing
     it after scarfing fork and laughters
[Posted in FML issue 1842]