Finding a good Veterinarian

[Kakesie]

Hi Everyone,

I am a new member of the Cushing's Support Group, but I would like to pose this question to the whole group. Does anyone know of a site where dog lovers like us can recommend good veterinarians and share our experiences with the veterinarians in our area? I belong to support group for another canine disease, (MegaEsophagus) and they have started a list recommending vets who have specific knowledge of that disease or are willing to learn and go the extra mile to help their afflicted dogs.

It seems to me that if we could somehow poll all dog owners online, maybe we could get some valuable feedback about where to find the best veterinarians, (and what they specialize in), in any part of the country.
This information could be very helpful to someone moving to a new town or state, or when traveling with your dogs should an emergency arise and you need to find a vet fast.

It seems to me that with the wealth of information online, surely there is some place that dog lovers can rate the veterinarians they've had experience with and help each other out. Does anyone know how to find that information?

Thanks so much!
Karen, owner of a dog with Cushing's Disease and a dog with MegaEsophagus Disease

[Fishslayer]

OK. I'll start.

I highly recommend Dr. Wheaton at the Alicia Pet Care Clinic in Mission Viejo, California.

http://www.mypetsdr.com/

Dr. Wheaton did Lucy's spay when my regular vet was dragging her feet. He recognized the importance of getting it done before she went in heat and seemed comfortable with Lucy's diabetes & the fact she was a bit underweight.

He also encourages home testing and recognizes that finances are a concern to a lot of us. He recommends NPH as standard.

In addition, the spay was significantly less costly than quoted by my regular vet.

Dr. Wheaton also runs the Pet Rescue Center as a 501c3. A low cost spay/neuter program is available.

http://www.mypetsdr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=170&Itemid=1

Rick

[k9diabetes]

I'm going to chime in here with Vet Schools I like from what I've seen from people who have taken their dogs there or the information they provide.

Currently my two favorite vet schools are:

University of Georgia Athens
http://www.vet.uga.edu/

Texas A&M
http://vmth.tamu.edu/

Another one where I've seen good results is:

University of Florida Gainesville
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/ (http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/)

I don't know any dog that's been treated at the next one but the quality of the information they provide is especially good:

Washington State University
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/diabetes.aspx

And though I don't know much about the vet school...

Dr. Jack Oliver
University of Tennesse Knoxville
http://www.vet.utk.edu/
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/endocrinology/personnel.php

is a saint in my book for his atypical Cushings testing and his willingness to correspond with owners directly with treatment recommendations and analysis.

Natalie