Thank you gift for a vet

[MacknCody]

I need an idea for a thank-you-for-being-there-in-a-time-of-crisis for my two vets. My Mack passed away on Sunday, I found him at morning feeding and he had obviously died overnight. Called main vet and she came out to do a exam and to discuss options(necropsy). I opted not to do necropsy and she immediately arranged for body disposal. She checked Cody and told us how handle him in his mourning period since he had a few meltdowns. This morning the guy came to take Mack away and the vet came to stay with Cody and I while he got Mack out the stall. The vet I use is a practice of 4 vets, a husband/wife combo who own it and then two other vets- by luck of draw we get the husband or one of the single vets. Because Cody is mourning and so attached to Mack, the husband/wife combo lent us one of their own horses to babysit Cody while I figure out what to do.

Our vets are great, they took care of a great deal over the past 48 hours and then lent us one of their family members to make sure my Cody got through this alright.

I need to give them something, I'm thinking along the lines of a kidney but maybe someone has a better idea. Honestly though, it can't be insanely expensive, this was cheap and Mack already had one emergency vet bill this month.

On a personal note, it should be noted that the greatest horse died on 9/20/09 at 18 years of age from complications of colic. He was the best and nothing and no-one will be the same. He was Mack.

Please jingle for Cody-his surviving buddy who just misses his best friend.

I can't believe my Mack is gone.

[WorthTheWait95]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm pretty good friends with my equine vet and can tell you nothing makes him happier then a gift card to starbucks or a restaurant like Panera Bread Co from his clients. He can swing in both places while on a day of calls and pick something up quickly then be on his way for those days he needs extra caffeine or forgets to pack a lunch.

Along the same lines you could do a gift cert to a nice restaurant for the married vets...sort of a pre paid date night if you know of any nice places in the area that do that.

[Woodland]

I made up a basket with high end steaks, large potatoes for baking, a loaf of crusty bread and a split of champagne for mine - LOVED IT!

[lovemyoldguy]

I am so, so sorry for your loss.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Big hugs to you - so sorry for your loss.

[Long Spot]

Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry. Getting him out of the stall must have been hell on you.

I like Woodland's idea. Making up a basket with things you know they like is a much more personal thing than a gift cert for dinner.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems the grand horses are leaving us this month. I just lost one as well. I totally understand that hole in your heart.

What a sweetheart you are for thinking of your wondeful vets.

[Nauset]

Very sorry for your loss. :(

An Edible Arrangement is always appreciated at our clinic, and is healthier than all the chocolate some clients seem to think we need. ;)

[Ghazzu]

Food, but the most wonderful thing you can do is a thank you note.

I know of vets who keep a file of them and take them out to look at after having one of those days...

Sorry to hear about the reason you're asking, though.
Sounds like a pretty rough couple days.

[LisaB]

Mine likes Corona so I get him a 12 pack for Christmas.

[equineartworks]

Food, but the most wonderful thing you can do is a thank you note.

I know of vets who keep a file of them and take them out to look at after having one of those days...

Sorry to hear about the reason you're asking, though.
Sounds like a pretty rough couple days.

I agree ^^^ I had thank you notes made with some of may favorite photos of Dumplin'. Vets and their staff really do care about the animals, and they often grieve very much when they lose one...especially one they have cared for over several years. It shows them that you value the not only the care they gave you and your horse at the time of your loss, but also throughout their life. :sadsmile:

(hugs) to you, I am so sorry for your loss. Godspeed Mack.

[Carolinadreamin']

I am so very sorry for your loss.

When my vet went above and beyond for my very beloved pet, I wanted a way to thank her. I made a donation in her name to a rescue that I work with for this specific animal. In my thank you card (which I made with a picture of my pet on the front), I noted the donation made in her name. I also made cookies for the entire office.

It's so kind of you, in your sorrow, to want to express your thanks to someone who made a difference.

[KarenC]

My husband is an equine vet. I can tell you that a heart-felt thank you note would mean more than anything of monetary value. He got into this field to help horses AND people (not all vets are good at the people side of it) - and it means a lot to him to know he has made a rough time as easy as possible for a client. If you really feel you want to do more than that, I agree that a donation to a rescue type organization (my husband's charity of choice is CANTER as he has a particular soft spot for TBs) in the vet's name is a lovely idea and a nice way to pay it forward.

[Pony Fixer]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I agree about the thank you card. I have every one I have ever received in a box, starting from vet school until now. All the other stuff I have gotten over the years is long forgotten, but the cards always make me smile and tear up when I go through them (usually when I add another).

I'm not sure of the other vets' experiences, but I seem to always get gifts/cards for the ones we lose, not for the ones we save!

[nuts4cowboybutts]

We often give a gift certificate for two at a very nice fancy restaurant with superb food.

Those vets work bad hours and often don't get a really super meal most nights. We like to treat them to a real great night out with the wife. (Vets wives need TLC also because vets are rarely on time home for dinner.)

Just hoping they are not at dinner when the vet gets an emergency call.

[paint hunter]

Ditto to that already said by my colleagues. A personal thank you note means the world and I do keep them. I have a lovely one from a lady for whom I had to euthanize both her horses in one year. Taking it out and reading it again after a really lousy day (human or equine) brightens up my world again.

[kokoda]

We're very sorry for your loss.

A sincere thank you, a hug, a card ... I'm sure that goes a long way to express your gratitude to your vets. Do what fits your budget and deliver it personally! A basket of homemade goodies along with a card ... or if they have children, perhaps you can offer to watch them for a weekend while they have a get away of their own. Whatever you do from the heart, I'm sure they will appreciate.

OT: Pony Fixer brought up a very good point ... he/she gets cards for those he/she loses and not those saved. I'll be sure to give our vets a big hug when next we meet and will be sure to be more appreciative of all they do routinely as well as during a crisis.

[chai]

I am very sorry for your loss. I hope your horse is doing ok after the loss of his buddy. It is heartbreaking to watch them grieve, even when we're grieving, too. Our WB mare was bereft after losing her 35 year old boyfriend a few weeks ago and it was so hard to see her like that, even though she had other friends here on the farm. Anyone who doesn't think they love as deeply as we do is sorely mistaken.

I have given my vets small gifts of appreciation along the way, too, because I am so grateful to have such a compassionate group of vets. I would suggest a restaurant gift certificate, or if you know they are into gardening or any other type of hobby, a gift certificate for that kind of thing. I'm sure even a batch of home baked cookies or a movie rental gift card would be appreciated because there are not a lot of people who take the extra step of saying thank you. Just taking the time to say an extra thank you will mean a lot to them I'm sure.

[FatPalomino]

The kindest gift we ever got as a vet tech as the sweetest, kindest card, with a picture of the dog doing what he did best (running through the woods). But honestly, knowing we helped them through such a hard time, and that we actually could help, even in a little way, was more than enough thanks.

I also give a thank you note to my vet with an expensive bottle of her favorite liquor. I joke that she needs it just to put up with me (or the end of those stressfilled days).

So very sorry to hear about Mack. You are so lucky to have such kind people in your life.

[MacknCody]

Thank you for all the replies. I still haven't decided what get my vets but at least now I have quite a few ideas. Cody is doing a lot better now that Bella(vets loaner horse) has taken him under her wing. While Bella isn't part of the family, she is a great horse and seems to want to comfort me as much as she wants to comfort Cody. Cody has very much buddied up to Bella but does much better away from the barn, he guards the stalls and will not let Bella anywhere near Mack's stall. As good as he is doing he isn't himself. He suddenly seems older and serious and that isn't Cody.

I've been through this with dogs mourning their buddies but never horses. To see Cody call/look for Mack is too awful to explain. Hug your animals tonight.

[jen-s]

I'm not a vet, but I work in human healthcare. I agree with the others that the cards/notes mean so much more than the gifts we get. I have a folder with a nice collection that I look at periodically and it always makes my day. That said, I'll never forget one patient who brought me a couple of bottles of wine! ;)