I posted this on the pet board too, but wanted to get y'alls opinion as well:
Not sure what we should do. DH wants to change vets. Here is the back story. Our vet was still closed for the holiday yesterday (no idea why he closed on the Tuesday after the 4th, never done that before). We took Biscuit to another vet (we only picked him because we go to chuch together) because she was sick (diareah & vomitting). He gave her some medicines, said he thought she was stressed because we had been out of town the week before, or she might have gotten into something unknowingly to us. Well later that evening I took her outside so she could do her business, she still has the diareah, and it was BRIGHT red with blood. So we took her to the only vet in town (who we had never gone to before) that will come in for an emergency visit (small town, no 24 hours e-vet, closest one is an hour away). DH wants to switch to this vet, and I do like our current vet a lot. We've been with him since I was little. Here are the pros/cons I have come up with:
Current Vet is very thorough, and knows our animals. They are caring, and have always taken very good care of our animals and us, and they know them, and are very comfortable with them. Also, when we have had expensive procedures, they have never once said we need the money now, they have always let us pay what we can, when we can. They are very good about this. THey have also been voted best of the best vet in town for the past 8 years. Also, they have very reasonable prices. They are probably the busiest vet in town, but they really operate on a small town mentality, which I like. And I love the whole staff. But, they don't do emergency visits.
Other vet...he was very throrough, and gentle, and you could really tell he loved his work and the animals. He was so gentle and caring. He was also very good at explaining everything he was doing and why. Very detailed. They do have emergency visits (although $150 just to come in...is that price typical?) They are one of the more expensive vets in town, and I really don't think they would do the pay it out thing, we had to put down a $350 deposit with a credit card just to get the vet to come in. But I can see that, they want to know they will get paid, since we weren't a client. I'm really really torn, and have no idea what to do.
Re: New vet?
I would say keep your current vet, since there's nothing that makes you unhappy with them besides the hours, and then use the other vet in emergency situations. That way, you aren't paying out the wazoo for normal stuff, but you know that there's an option when you need care after hours.
Good luck! I know finding a good vet is really stressful.
That is what my argument was. I mean how often is there an emergency situation? Very very rarely
This is probably what I would do...