Meeting Mr Penman

[DG]

Yesterday I had to go into the Penman's vet clinic to reluctantly pay and further discuss a bill that I am in dispute with (long boring story).

However, when my sister and I were at the reception desk a very distressed woman arrived carrying her poor wee terrier. Both woman and terrier were covered in a fair amount of blood and were clearly shocked, shaken and upset. Turns out that the woman and her husband had been out for a jog and a big blck dog had run out of a garden and attacked the trerrier. The distressed woman was struggling to carry her bag, dogs lead, etc while carrying her dog so my sister helped her by holding onto her things. When Mr Penman came out to get the woman my sister asked if he could help by taking the womans things and was met with his horrified look and a backward step . We explained that the extremely distressed woman in front of him was unable to carry the things and her bleeding dog but he said absolutely nothing and continued to look angry and horrified he'd even been asked to carry anything. Even the poor woman was trying to say 'I'll just balance them here..'

What was that about?! He made no attenpts to comfort or reassure the woman, let alone even talk to he other than gruffly nodding for her to come through to the back surgery room.

I have heard many negative stories over several years about the lack of bedside manner this man has but, as I have never before met the man, I have ignored what I've heard. However, it all started making sense after we left the clinic. The man is positively interpersonally inept

So...the point of this thread was to have a moan, express my odd experience, and ask...can anyone recommend a good local vet?!

DG

PS It looked like the wee dog would be okay - a very b loody ear and slight cutting to head area ... but still able to wag his wee tail when we clapped him - hope he's okay.

[DG]

I have to add that the reception staff and vetinary nurses are always lovely and very helpful. I do not intend to be critical of the whole service. The nurses were great when my cat Jenny was run over by a car, when Chester died in their waiting area and when Sara and Kitty have needed attention now that they are older.

Perhaps, hence my shock and surprise at Mr P's lack of manners.

DG

[bellybabe]

I can't say I'm a big fan of his. Not very helpful when I'm trying to manage reluctant dogs and recalcitrant children and pushchairs and bags.

However, I am a fan of the youger chap, whose name I can never remember, and who has always offered us kind, caring, friendly service since we moved here (and our dog jumped out of the upstairs window on our first full day in the house), and so I stay with them. He was exceptionally good to us (and me in particular) when said suicidal dog became extremely ill with a brain tumour and had to be put to sleep .

BB

[Lizzie]

[Dadaist]

[bellybabe]

[xxxx]

[bearcub]

[DG]

Glad to hear it's not all negative experiences with Mr Penman. Perhaps he has another side. May try the Musselburgh vets next time and thanks for the recommendations .

I used to go to a vet at the Loretto end of Musselburgh many years ago. Don't know if he's still there (John was his name) but he was great. Used to let me take 2 cats in one box and charge me for one consultation. This was handy when I had 4 cats and very little money . Never one for enouraging you to do anything unnecessary or expensive. I had my name on his list for fostering cats however, as I had to keep the last one, Kitty (dumped in a shoe box outside his clinic) I decided this perhaps was not such a good idea .

DG

[teddygirl]

[Gemini]

[Gemini]

[Epykat]

[maureen mclaughlin]

That’s a shocking thing to have happened, I have never meet the man but like you have not heard good things about him although good things about the other vets. Any way I had to take my cat Brodie to the vet in an emergency and was recommended Roger Gordon 111 Market Street Mussel burgh, 665 2124. All the staff were lovely and looked after Brodie very well, they called regularly to up date me and more important were very reasonable priced. Brodie is doing well now.
Maureen

[teddygirl]

A few people have mentioned the fact that Penman is more expensive than the Musselburgh vets, this is probably due to the fact that the overheads in an Edinburgh practice are higher than those in other areas. This fact was brought home to me while visiting my old vet in Huntly as an emergency one holiday and when I commented on the reasonable price of the treatment, that was what I was told.

Personally, I would rather pay an extra few pounds and have my vet almost on my doorstep in an emergency situation as I do not have use of our car during the day and trying to transport a sick dog in either a taxi or on a bus wouldn't be much fun.

[Gemini]

My friend and neighbour frequents Penmans, and has no problems with him regarding the treatment of her dog and 2 cats.

My wee dog has a blood disorder which neccesitates frequent blood tests,
I am thinking about taking out a 2nd mortgage to cover the fee's

I had pet insurance in place for 10 years, stupidly cancelled (on principle)
when she reached 10 and the costs went up by 50%

[Maria]

I'm assuming that Mr Penman and Mr Bates are known as the "Abercorn Vet Service"
I took Marco along there for his first lot of vaccinations 2 weeks ago and found the service excellent. It was a younger man (Mr Bates?) who looked Marco over. He was really good with him, plus he told me various tales about his family and his own cat. There was no rush and although I just booked for a vaccination he gave Marco a thorough check-up. I'm due back there next week for Marco's booster jags and when I offered to pay after the initial consultation he said that was unnecessary and to just pay after the final treatment. There was no mention of buying food from them and I only knew that they sold it when a customer asked to buy some. Marco already eats the product they sell anyway as according to my BIL it is one of the best around.
My BIL is a vet and claims that all the money is in small animal practice - his is a rural one dealing with horses and farm animals, so he would say that - but I do know that the cost of vaccinations, antibiotics etc. is a considerable part of the fee. He also claims that cats in particular HATE Vets and are stressful to treat. He wouldn't go any where near our last cat who did nothing but scratch and hiss at him

Gemini, I'm trying to persuade Homer that pet insurance may be a good idea to little effect so far

[Poppy]

[Sandra]

[Pal of Porty]

[Dadaist]

[Maria]

[bellybabe]

[Maria]

[Dadaist]

[bellybabe]

[Porty]

[bellybabe]

[Porty]

[bellybabe]

[Porty]

[CatzVP]

[Gemini]

[Pal of Porty]

[Gemini]