Why Choosing a Rockstar Vet Is Essential for Your Pet’s Health

Twenty one.

That’s how many times we went to the vet last year, according to my year-end credit card statement. Twenty-one times.

Now, I don’t have any idea how many times most (normal?) people see their vet in a year. And I know our twenty-one visits are spread over two dogs, three starting in December. But when I tallied it up, that just seemed like a lot.

Their annual exams were in there, of course. Plus all of Emmett’s cancer checks. Then all his liver stuff (still ongoing). Then there was the time Lucas got kicked by a horse. And Cooper has mange. And so on. (And, no. Sigh. We don’t have pet insurance. I think it’s probably too late for Emmett, but the other guys… maybe! As long as no insurer reads this post. Ha!)

So, ultimately, we went to the vet 21 times in 2010.

But here’s the thing: I actually don’t mind.

I want the boys to be healthy, of course. I want them to have their annual checks, and I want to have every lump checked out – we’ve become very sensitive about lumps around here.

And on top of that, we have a rockstar vet. Seriously. Rockstar.

Here’s why you need a rockstar vet: You never know what might happen. We never could have predicted Emmett’s cancer situation. We never could have predicted the horse thing or that we’d adopt a puppy who started losing his fur a couple weeks later.

And if the unexpected happens, isn’t it better to have a rockstar in your corner than someone whose office is convenient to your work or whatever?

I know I can call over there and get my boys in right away, and I know when I get there, it’ll be fun for them. They actually enjoy going to the vet! How great is that?

I know she’ll call me with test results and explain them really, really clearly. And I know she answers my emails and all my questions. And most importantly, I know she takes great, great care of my guys.

We’ve already been twice in 2011; Cooper got his last round of shots, and Emmett is still having tests done to determine what’s going on with his liver/urine situation. But I know that no matter what comes up, they’re going to be well taken care of.

What’s your relationship with your vet like? Do you have a rockstar in your corner?