posted 11-17-2003 11:12 AM         

I interviewed one other vet, and he seemed pretty good. We had brought one of our other dogs there in the past and the vet did a good job with her, but it turns out that guy has passed the practice on so it is a different vet now.

I asked him about food, and of course he had never heard of the premium foods I mentioned. I sort of expected that, though. I asked him about taking my cats off their prescription diet and putting them on a premium food that claims to produce a low urine pH, but he said that wouldn't be a good idea. Hmmm.

So, last week I just happened to be standing in the vet's office that we use for our mice. (Stop laughing!) Actually, I was there to pick up some more medication for our chronically sick mouse. (Hush!) Anyway, the actual vet just happened to be at the front desk and she wasn't busy, so we started talking.

I mentioned the cat food, and instead of just saying no, she said if I wanted to switch I should test the cat's urine pH after he has been on the new food for a month, to make sure it is in the right range. She even had ideas about how to accomplish that. (Collecting urine from a cat is MUCH more difficult than collecting from a dog.)

I was quite impressed with her answer. She also explains things in detail, which I like. She has spent a lot of time with me on the phone answering questions. Perhaps I should consider her for the rest of the pets!

I have one more vet to check out - the place where I buy my dog food said she is a holistic vet, and sure enough it says in her ad in the phone book, "Holistic options considered" or something like that. I figured I should interview her to see what she's like.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my vet search with all of you!

posted 11-17-2003 03:03 PM         

For the cat urine collection, she recommended getting some of that crystal litter stuff. She said it doesn't absorb the urine, so if you put a liner in the box you should be able to dip the strip right into the pan. She said with two cats that I should get the one in question his own box and confine him to one room until he goes, so I know for sure which cat it was.

I may try it, or I may not. He's stressed out enough as it is because of Nala.