The Veterinarian and the Elderly Beagle
The window was rolled down so I could hear the veterinarian say to the Beagle, ‘bring your mother inside.” The beagle was portly with more than a hint of grey on his muzzle. He lumbered into the open door with his nervously smiling owner. (The veterinarian did not demand the owner go through the door first–as many trainers do.) He knew the importance of his four-legged guest. When I have an older dog, I told myself, I will bring him here. This is a veterinarian who recognizes family ties. Unfortunately, that veterinarian retired before Cagney was a senior.
The veterinarian who purchased the practice is excellent and I trust her and not just because she has a laptop as well as a smile! Caring about old Beagles will always be and should always be important but today the economy has made medical decisions difficult. Somehow guilt and shame have entered into Beagle choices. However, I have seen my veterinarian cry over the death of a pet and the death of an owner. And, I have heard veterinarians discuss their hurt and sadness when they lose a client. Veterinary medicine still has corners and nooks of warmth that can not be measured with a digital rectal thermometer.
Today, laptops and mutating-species-jumping viruses complicate tradition. The diagnosis may not fit this elderly Beagle without blood tests. It is a delicate balance between modern medicine–tradition and spirit. Each veterinarian shapes the hospital practice. It is their hospital–shaped and formed by them. My dogs’ medical care is my veterinarian’s spirit.
The hospital then and now is AAHA-accredited. AAHA stands for the American Animal Hospital Association. In order to earn the evaluation there is a quality assessment review of the facility, equipment, practice methods and pet health care management. I wonder if that still fits old Beagles–probably not. And, it probably wouldn’t even fit a young Beagle. Pet health care management has become linked with key economic decisions.
Recently AAHA conducted an interesting survey in which it found more efficiency if hospitals were merged. In other words, fewer and fewer individually owned veterinary hospitals. It also found that if hospitals increased the number of feline patients, their bottom line would benefit. (Good luck with that in rural Pennsylvania!) And they found that most veterinary students preferred to work in hospitals with multiple veterinarians so they have the option of working part time. 68% of the hospitals had an increase in revenue from 2008 to 2009. The average visit increased .8% to $109.20.
Behind the curve–applause for us–we live in an area of the Commonwealth where most of hospitals are individually owned hospitals a vanishing– an endangered symbol of a tradition of caring– not part of today’s modern animal healthcare system. As clients we need to salute their presence, appreciate them and feel proud of the privilege of having our animals cared for by veterinary staffs which are part of each hospital’s family. Some of these hospitals and clinics may not pass AAHA standards but let us hope they continue in their Jane and James Herriot tradition and pass the Beagle test!
(The Beagle was chosen as the hallmark breed/dog for all the Beagles who test dog food for the many clinical nutritionists! They have defined good health and longer lives and–unfortunately obesity for generations of canines.)
Jul 16, 2010 | | Uncategorized