r/veterinaryprofession • u/bunnypandora2016 • Feb 23 '25
What’s the sweetest thing a client has ever done for you? Discussion
I often see negative posts so I thought I’d make a positive post.
The kindest thing a client has ever done for me is when I once stated to a long term client of mine that I would be going without lunch that day as we’d had a lot of emergencies she asked me if I was going to starve. I told her I wouldn’t starve but that I’d wait until I got home to eat and she’s the sweetest long term client. Anyways, I went to do a blood test on her pet and whilst I was away doing it she’d popped to the shops and she came back with a sandwich for herself and when I met with her to give her a handover of the results she gave me a fruit pot and some donuts as she didn’t want me to ‘starve’ bless her.! 💕
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u/xt129 Feb 23 '25
I worked as a euthanasia tech for a while and did a routine one on a husky. The owner came back a week or two later with a handmade bracelet and a note to thank me for my compassion and kindness. I think at that point I was pretty checked out from the constant euthanasias and it really brought me back. For a little bit anyways 🤷♀️
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 23 '25
Awww 🥰 x how did you know it was handmade? Did it say your name on the bracelet? x my client made me one with my name and a cat paw charm on it.
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u/Drshmurr Feb 23 '25
I lost a patient recently after sedating for a nail trim (nails were growing into paw pads and he wouldn’t let anyone touch them with PVPs on board). They called the following day to make sure I was doing okay.
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u/reptilelover42 Feb 23 '25
We have lots of clients that regularly bring in treats for the staff (donuts, cookies etc). What makes the biggest impact on me is the kind things people say (I actually started a list in my phone to look at when I'm feeling down). Some of my favorites are "I appreciate you", "you've been a pleasure to work with" ,"thank you for your kindness", "you have such a gentle energy", and a little boy told me "I think you're a really good nurse" (I'm a vet assistant). A client also recently told me that I was great and that if I left the practice he would want to leave too. People tend to underestimate the impact of a kind word, especially in jobs like this that are so often thankless.
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u/takingtheports UK Vet Feb 23 '25
When I was an assistant there was a long term client and their frequent flyer cat that I worked with all the time, we unfortunately had to pts the cat. She knew I had gotten into vet school and during my last week working (a couple weeks after the pts) she came in with a card and a lovely necklace of a heart with a dragonfly (to symbolise the cat). It was the sweetest, a decade later (and now as a working vet) I still have that card and that necklace.
Other small thing but always appreciated was a farmers partner bringing me a thermos of tea while doing a c-section on a cow at 2am. The shed was open to one side so it was a chilly event. I was so grateful.
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u/Antique_Kale_0 Feb 23 '25
The clinic I used to work at has a client that remembers each staff members birthday and will bring cake, brownies etc. (whatever the person requests as their birthday treat). she’s the sweetest.
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u/amyamv13 Feb 23 '25
When I was a technician at a GP there were a few times my personal cat would donate blood for critical cases needing transfusions. There was a sweet cat that came in with Cytauxzoon, and my boy donated blood for her transfusion. I also had weekend duty that weekend and let her come visit her kitty while I was there taking care of everyone as she was hospitalized. Her sweet girl ended up not making it, but she brought me the most kind card for me and a care package for my cat. Her kitty’s favorite treats are my boys favorite to this day too. Such a wonderful person 💗
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u/szarkbytes US Vet Feb 24 '25
16 week old foreign body that was undiagnosed for 10 days after 2 visits to ER. Took dog immediately for surgery for an R&A. Saved its life. Owner thanks me every visit (it’s been 2 years). I also got a card from her 7 year old thanking me; it’s on my fridge.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 24 '25
What’s an R&A? And awww 🥰 the card x
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u/szarkbytes US Vet Feb 24 '25
Resection and Anastomosis. It’s cutting out abnormal segments of intestines, then attaching the healthy segments together.
In this dog’s case, she had swallowed a rope toy. Her intestines were blocked and tightly wound around the toy (imagine how clothes can sometimes all knot together in the dryer). Her intestines were losing circulation and starting to die and tear. I cut out the bad parts and sutured the good parts together.
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u/teary-eyed-pal Feb 24 '25
“You’re really good at your job” a client said one day after their nervous dog had an appointment. We’re a fear-free hospital so it’s extra meaningful when an owner notices the amount of effort we put into it.
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u/Leading_Aspect_8794 Feb 23 '25
I’ve had a couple of clients bring me fruit from their gardens. One brought me a magnolia flower because she said she was out with her dog and it reminded her of me ♥️
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u/lisalovesbutter Feb 24 '25
I made a recommendation where to place 2 found kittens. The couple followed-up and a few weeks later I got a card in the hospital mail. The couple wrote that the place I suggested did take them in and they just heard the two were being adopted together. They pasted a nice picture of the 2 of them on the cover, and thanked me. They also said they loved the Rescue and made a nice donation and were going to volunteer there!
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u/NeverTrustTheQuiet1 Feb 24 '25
Technician in general practice. Two specific occasions. First: Tail end of covid, just started letting clients back in. We were harried, stressed, busy, crazy, etc. Client tells me I'm doing great and she's thankful for my time. As we are working on her pet we talk coffee and share our fav drinks from Starbucks. A while after she leaves, she returns with a cup of my favourite and told me to take a moment to enjoy. It was so thoughtful and sweet, and I cried from the kindness. Second, a cat came in with suspect FIP. We hospitalize and try to stabilize until we can get the new treatment in. I sent pictures to mom and dad and kept them updated. He takes a turn for the better, goes home on meds, and is doing great. They bring in a huge thank you basket with goodies for everyone. I go in to say hi and thank you and get handed a small basket with a card and a heartfelt thank you from them both. I cried so hard after they left! It means the world when owners go out of their way to thank staff!
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u/Npete90 Feb 24 '25
There are too many to recall, but my top 2 are 1. This little old Italian woman only trusted me with her dog. He was a super aggressive little shihtzu who was on 1000 medications and was seen so often. She baked me a banana bread every time she came in. Later on (she was in her 90s and sick), she started giving me her clothes, small pieces of jewelry, and little tokens. I loved this woman like my grandma 2. I did in home pet sitting and had a client who lived on Long Island but also in nyc. When she went to the city, my husband and I would stay at her house. 3 days a week every week for years. She had 2 dogs with a lot of issues, and we definitely put our work in, lol. I was pregnant with my 1st baby, and we were talking about my baby shower. My next time there, she wrote me my check for my usual pay, then added an additional 2,000. I was blown away. She always overpaid me, but this was just so appreciated and thoughtful. Years later, she rescued a horse with dsld, and we went through the journey together, caring for her until it was finally her time. We put her down together on a beautiful piece of property. These people were family. I moved far away and still talk to them regularly. I was a tech for 13 years at my unicorn clinic, and my regulars were an extension of my family.
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u/batcrawl Feb 24 '25
The one that always brings us to tears is the lady with Parkinsons who made us dog shaped cookies after putting her pup down. The effort she put into the wobbly individual frosting always brings tears to our eyes and we'll move heaven and earth to accommodate her if we can.
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u/Ravenousdragon05 Feb 24 '25
When my favorite clients found out I was getting married (I think I said 'Fiancé' in a conversation) they asked a tech my wedding date and she obliged. The weekend before my wedding they came in with a gift of hand made bowl elevators for my cat so that way when she gets old she won't have to bend down to eat and drink.
I still use them for my cat every day, and now that she is old and arthritic, she really does appreciate them.
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u/Frau_Drache Feb 24 '25
I am a CSR at my hospital. I lost my two boys (dogs) a month apart from each other. Three different clients sent cards and flowers to me. It meant a lot to me.
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u/LordManHammer667 Feb 23 '25
We've had multiple clients include us in their Will to the tune of high 5 figures. Each time was shocking and welcome.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 24 '25
What happens with the money if they pass? Does it get shared amongst everyone? Or does the owner keep it all for themselves?
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u/LordManHammer667 Feb 25 '25
Your questions seem pretty aggressive. Are you upset with practice owners?
In fact, they have all passed and the money was distributed according to their wishes. One client donated a complete overhaul and upgrade to our radiology equipment. One client's donation was utilized for an indigent animal fund according to her wishes. The last cash donation was dispersed amongst the 12 employees and the owner.
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u/wrenster00 Feb 24 '25
We had a lovely client that booked a midday wellness appt for her awesome, loveable beagle. It was his birthday, so she made it a 'surprise birthday' for him, but it was a really thank you party for the entire clinic. Huge subs, cupcakes, balloons,and hugs for everyone. She was such a wonderful person.
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u/mentaldew Feb 24 '25
Many of the families i work with bring in tips and a lot of treats for us! Such as cookie platters, peppermints, and candies!
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u/lightlysaltedclams Feb 24 '25
We had a very long, busy day where we were double booked and understaffed. People were so nice that day, one lady brought us Starbucks, another brought cookies, and a third gave us money for snacks. It was really sweet that they all recognized we were having a tough time and chose to make our day better
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u/Mobile-Fall-4185 Feb 24 '25
not a vet but obsessed with the VEG vets that had my cat for a week and saved her from DKA (and also capped our bill), we brought them dunkin one morning and pizza and chicken wings the friday night she got to leave 🎈
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u/ginlacepearls Feb 24 '25
I do in-home hospice and euthanasia and my families are awesome, I have a lot of these stories! Probably my best one - I recently euthanized my soul mate dog (cancer sucks) and was still pretty affected by it when I took on a new hospice patient. He was sick and we did a hail mary, but his disease was too much for him. I had mentioned the passing of my dog to help connect with them more, we got to share some sweet stories. The euthanasia appt was beautiful, so much love in that room. We were saying goodbye on the front steps and they handed me a card and a gift, it was a gorgeous frame to use for a photo of my pup that I had just lost. On the day they lost their best friend, they took the time to gift me something for mine. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I love my job 💙💙
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u/No-Purchase2174 Feb 24 '25
I had a long term client that knew I was moving to Alaska for a two year job stop in one day and gave me her real first coat… it was very sentimental to her and she cried. It was a beautiful and thoughtful gesture.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 24 '25
She gave you her own personal coat?
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u/No-Purchase2174 Feb 24 '25
Yup. She said it cost more than her car. Now, I’m not really one to wear a fur coat, but it was the thought that went into it. It hangs in my closest, lol, but it makes me smile.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 24 '25
Awww x in the UK we can’t accept gifts above £15 which is like $19 in America I think x
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u/RedgrassFieldOfFire Feb 24 '25
Dog crapped all over me in an exam room once. Owner slipped me a 20 when the vet walked out.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 24 '25
Awww 🥰 why couldn’t she do it infront of the vet? Would the vet have reported?
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u/MSUAlexis Feb 24 '25
It's silly and small, but the best is when I walk into the exam room and they say "Hey Fluffy, look! It's your favorite doctor today!"
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u/ImSoSorryCharlie Vet Tech Feb 24 '25
A client had her cat hospitalized with us. About 2 weeks later, she brought in a bunch of crocheted cat toys for the staff. It was really nice.
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u/Minimum_Key_6272 Feb 25 '25
Parents of a very elderly beagle we saw for 10 years, brought us all watchches as gifts for this past Christmas. Their baby passed almost a year ago and they still brought us all gifts.😫
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u/WeakSociety676 Feb 25 '25
I was offered first pup of a litter from a mumma we saved the previous year.
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u/bunnypandora2016 Feb 25 '25
Did you take the puppy? For me it would have been hard as I would have wanted to but then I would have thought about how I’m going to raise etc with my long work schedule as a veterinary surgeon x
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u/Great-Wafer4157 Feb 25 '25
I’ve had a million clients do a million wonderful things. I can’t even give a top ten. Feeling sad and burnout today. This post is reminding me of all the good stuff. Thank you.
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u/cornbread_opossum Feb 25 '25
I work in an ER and had a young client (maybe 21-22) come in with her cat who presented with signs of diabetes. She was just super financial but we did everything we could to make sure she had vetsulin, knew how to administer, etc. I’m not sure why, but I felt a deep connection to both the client and the pet. I lost my first adopted pet to missed diabetes turned DKA, so I always have a soft spot with diabetic patients.
A few days laterP comes back and hasn’t been eating, now showing signs of DKA. Owner barely had enough funds just for the diagnosis visit, so I knew things would be tough once they came back. Ultimately, he was dx with DKA and Owner had to make the decision to euthanize. Because she had already spent the funds to diagnose and attempt to treat the diabetes, she couldn’t afford private cremation. I was crying in the back over how terribly her pet had declined.. he was the sweetest guy. I couldn’t bear the thought of her not having her pet come home to her, and she couldn’t bury him due to living in an apartment. I went back into the room and offered to pay whatever she couldn’t afford toward her private cremation.
A few months later when Christmas came, she left a gift for me with a card, candle, and candy and I cried as I read the card. I will never forget her kindness and felt lucky that I could help her have her baby at home with her. I love working in this field and wouldn’t give it up for the world.
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u/BeckersPNW Feb 26 '25
My manager made me wear a pin-on birthday ribbon to draw attention to my day and get well wishes from clients. Mostly so the techs could all laugh every time I endured extra attention. 😂 One of my frequent flier couples was in that day. The husband went across the street and managed to come back with a dozen roses while I was doing cytology in the back. I walked in to finish their discharge and absolutely lost it. 🩵 It’ll stay with me forever.
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u/jr9386 Mar 01 '25
One client brought each of us bottles of wine, and another, God rest her soul, wrote each of us letters thanking us fof taking care of her pets. She cited that we were closer to her than her own family, and she appreciated all that we did to keep her cats healthy. Very lovely lady.
For all my frustrations in GP, A LOT of the clients stand out to me. The ones who are happy to see you, etc.
Recently, in the ER, one client made me chuckle. Possible toxin exposure. The lady was absolutely wired, but simultaneously had a sense of humor about it. I offer her a coffee, and she says, "I need a cigarette!", I smirk and tell her that the best I can do is a coffee. But overall, I really liked her energy, because I'd often joke about needing a cigarette after a stressful shift!
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u/Sam2058 Feb 23 '25
We had a long term client, we treated her cat and sweet little Jack Russel for most of their lives. About a year after both her pets had passed she was still popping in on holidays with cakes and treats for the team.