How often do you email your vet?

[mrw5641]

I am wondering how often do you email there vet and how quickly do they get back to you?

I email and I don't want the vet to think I am crazy or annoying.. I feel like you ask one question and then you have 5 more!

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi!
When Poppycat was sick, we were calling but then started emailing because that way I could have the information written down. They were, and are, always very responsive

Normally I don't contact them all that frequently.

Maybe you could try and gather your questions first, as much as you can and also be sure and put each question into a new sentence and paragraph, so they can more easily see each one.

Hopefully your vet is good about providing information, no matter how often you contact them.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I started emailing my vet last year when things started going a bit 'off the rails' with Feeby. The office staff prints the emails for my vet and typically if he is in the office, the following day, he will call me. I do it because I usually have a 'story' behind my questions, and hope that helps him absorb it all before he replies. He hasn't responded by email, but said if I like contacting him that way, it is fine with him.

I also email when I want to request copies of tests - in that case, the office staff simply emails me back with the copies attached.

 

[neely]

Since I usually only need to contact the vet if there's a problem I will call for an immediate response. However, if I have any follow-up information I will e-mail and generally speaking, prior pandemic, they are great about replying.

 

[mrw5641]

I get good responses from my vet sometimes a follow up a day or two later pending if it's an urgent issue or not.

The vet dermatologist is a different story. They seem harder to get replies from albeit my cats issue isn't as serious as some of the other dermatology patients. Do you think neely Furballsmom vet specialists are different? FeebysOwner

 

[gilmargl]

Perhaps in Germany things are different, but, I would normally only email a surgery to try to make an appointment. However, through my voluntary work with the local shelter, I know 2 vets fairly well and they have allowed me to use their private e-mail addresses. I only contact them in an emergency - normally to ask if they need to see this kitten or stray immediately or if I should give antibiotics or whatever. I send them photos to help them make an on-the-spot decision.

Meanwhile, after a vet visit, we also exchange mails about my own cats and their response to treatment. Both vets answer my mails very promptly both at weekends and outside surgery hours, so it is a great comfort to know they are there. I try not to take advantage but I think they both know me well enough to know that I am not going to bother them for some trivial problem.

So, I can imagine that specialists will not be too keen to spend time replying to emails and will leave that job to the office staff. But, if you know your vet well, you may be lucky and get more information in a personal reply.

 

[mrw5641]

gilmargl i think I agree with you on the specialists. Typically the staff will respond to the email saying Dr. Xxxx said this or something. I think he / they would respond quicker if it was more of a need to answer now question about a medication or something.

 

[Furballsmom]

I haven't had to work with a specialist, so I can't answer this with any degree of confidence

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

If I just want answers to some informational questions, I usually just call, leave message for the vet, let them call back on their own free time. But it's my understanding that emailing threads often are added to your pet's patient file, and so I normally only email when I want my questions and the vet's written answers documented for my kitty's file/paperwork.

 

[fionasmom]

I never email. I always call but try to be organized about questions so that I don't have to continue to bother them.

When I took my dog to a specialist recently, I was told that I could email questions before the appointment but was concerned that if they did not "find" the questions that would be a useless approach. Instead I typed up a list of questions, ran off two copies, and sent one in with the dog. It worked very well.... We went down the list on the phone and everything was answered.

 

[game misconduct]

i am lucky my vet has stayed opened during this whole covid thing along with not having many crisis situations where i am scared for graycie other than her short time of refusing to eat i called my vet and they told me its fine to call everyday if i needed to and take her in if needed anytime for emergency visit

 

[game misconduct]

plus my vet is less than a 1/4 mile from where i live

 

[LTS3]

I don't email the vet directly for the most part. I contact his secretary and she triages and lets the vet know. I'll send an email if I have a picture or video of the cat I need the vet to take a look at. I usually get a response back within a day, sooner if it's a concerning issue.