vet recommendations?

[cellio]

I called VCA to schedule the annual checkups and shots and things, and found that, yet again, the vet I've seen for the last couple visits is no longer there. This seems to be routine with them -- vets stay for a year or two and move on.

For several years I had a regular vet with this practice (pre-VCA). Then VCA bought them out and the continuity of care declined. I haven't had bad experiences with VCA; I've just failed to have good ones. I much prefer to build a relationship with a specific service provider, one who will remember (when I forget) that Baldur is sensitive to this drug or that Erik should be monitored for kidney problems or whatever, and it appears that I can't build that kind of relationship with anyone at VCA. Yeah, this stuff gets written down, but checking the records doesn't seem to happen as often as I'd like. I should request my own set of copies.

I'm wondering if I can do better. If you're in Pittsburgh and like your vet, please let me know. Proximity to Squirrel Hill (or house calls -- I can dream, can't I? :-) ) and evening/Sunday hours are important. Price is not, especially; quality of care is much more important. No rush; I made appointments for this year. I'm just scoping out the options for later.

Comments

[tangerinpenguin.livejournal.com]

Sweeps went to the Cat Clinic in Bloomfield, too. Dr. Bebko has been there as long as I remember and I suspect is "the senior partner" or some such; there's at least one other vet that's in some days but we almost always saw Dr. Bebko. Decent after-work hours, straightforward about what's optional but maybe a good idea (especially if it'd be expensive) versus what Needs To Happen Now, partnerships with various other clinics and/or cat hospitals for emergencies after hours. Plus Dr. Bebko actively sought second opinions to "vet" his examination of Sweep when the allergy started showing up and we weren't sure what it was, rather than just acting all-knowing.

[cellio]

Sounds like a great place. Thanks!