Gifts for Vets/LOR writers

[Vet Engineer]

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Does anyone have gift recommendations for veterinarians? I want to get a gift for the owner of the clinic where I work. Without him, I would have struggled to find a job as a vet tech with no experience. Now I have two years of experience and an awesome LOR that got me into vet school.

I was thinking about getting him a plush flea because he LOVES to talk about the flea life cycle, flea prevention, etc. I just want something small and fun to go with my thank you letter.

I also want to get a small gift for another vet at the clinic who was a tremendous amount of help and provided a ton of support for the past 2 years. She loves dachshunds, but I feel like everyone who knows her has probably gotten her some sort of dachshund themed gift.

Anyone have any general suggestions or places to look for ideas?

 

[sabriel777]

This may sound kind of boring, but as a gift for the vet who wrote me a letter of rec I just got him a gift card to a nice restaurant with enough money for one meal for two people. He told me that he took his wife out and he really appreciated it. Hope that helps 🙂

 

[goldengal]

I was the secret santa to one of the female vets that I work with. I noticed that she always would leave her wedding ring on her desk when she went in to surgery, and she is always paranoid about loosing it. I went to bath and body works and found this really neat cat ring holder. It was sterling silver, and the cat just had a really long tail for her to put her ring on while she was in surgery. She loved it!

 

[HopefulAg]

Let's see. I got one of my vets a nice (or well, I think so lol) horse painting, another a windchime themed for the school she graduated from, another some Star Wars stuff cause he's a fan, and another a scrolled cross thing.

 

[deleted266066]

I got my clinic one of those giant edible arrangements (SO tasty btw, got my mom one once and it was delicious and beautiful!). A bit pricey, but they loved it!

 

[goldengal]

I was always curious to whether those edible arrangements were any good! I just assumed the fruit must have been somewhat dried out by the time it was shipped, was that not the case? Sorry to get OT, but I always see the commercials and always wonder if it was any good (because it sure does look good!).

I have also given pens (high quality). I know that may sound silly, but every vet needs one very special pen that they use. One of the vets that I work with lost hers, and so I replaced it with one that had her alma mater on it! She loved it!

 

[purplesaurus]

I started canning foods (like jam, pasta sauce, salsa... mmmmm...) last year, so I decided to share some of my canned foods as a thank you. I don't have a lot of money right now, so something homemade seemed appropriate.

 

[deleted266066]

I was always curious to whether those edible arrangements were any good! I just assumed the fruit must have been somewhat dried out by the time it was shipped, was that not the case? Sorry to get OT, but I always see the commercials and always wonder if it was any good (because it sure does look good!).

Honest to god, the fruit was the best fruit I have ever tasted. Then again I have never been to the land of wonderful fruits like, such as, Colombia. (reference to Miss California? haha sorry I am feeling goofy tonight). The pineapple and strawberries were especially awesome. I'm tempted to buy one just to take it apart and gobble it all up! So juicy and sweet/sour in all the right ways. I'm pretty sure they prepare it the morning of the delivery (which is why you should order it at the closest location of the delivery site). Now I'm hungry!

 

[Trilt]

I've made these before... http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftsinajar/a/122099a.htm

Obviously with a little less floof on the top, but if you can get jars with pawprints or decorate them yourself, it's pretty adorable.

 

[ZebraFinch]

Then again I have never been to the land of wonderful fruits like, such as, Colombia. (reference to Miss California? haha sorry I am feeling goofy tonight).

That was Miss Teen South Carolina, not California. 😉

In the past I've gone the easy way and given coffee gift cards and a nice thank you note that was personalized. I gave someone a journal once because she was leaving for a cross country trip and I thought it would be nice to record her travels. I think it can be pretty personalized if you know someone well.

 

[deleted266066]

That was Miss Teen South Carolina, not California. 😉

In the past I've gone the easy way and given coffee gift cards and a nice thank you note that was personalized. I gave someone a journal once because she was leaving for a cross country trip and I thought it would be nice to record her travels. I think it can be pretty personalized if you know someone well.

Hmmm. Woops. Shows how much I keep up with pop culture!

 

[katryn]

I got one of my eLOR writers the printed compilation book of http://icanhascheezburger.com/. We had a constant running joke about lolcatz though....😀

 

[purplesaurus]

I was always curious to whether those edible arrangements were any good! I just assumed the fruit must have been somewhat dried out by the time it was shipped, was that not the case? Sorry to get OT, but I always see the commercials and always wonder if it was any good (because it sure does look good!).

From what I remember, they are fairly good. However, I was pricing them for a Valentine's Day gift once, and I think they are waaaay too expensive.

I've made these before... http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftsinajar/a/122099a.htm

Obviously with a little less floof on the top, but if you can get jars with pawprints or decorate them yourself, it's pretty adorable.

Omg! I am totally use this idea! This is right up my alley, and that's a great idea for the rest of my LoR thank-yous (running low on canned food, and it's a big investment up front, which I can't do for a few months🙁). Also, Christmas gifts!

 

[LondonBliss]

I have had 2 cycles of vets write letters for me, but have not gotten in to vet school. I have sent them thank you cards, but should i do more for them even if i haven't achieved my goal yet or do i wait to give them the really awesome gifts for when i get in?

 

[HopefulAg]

I have had 2 cycles of vets write letters for me, but have not gotten in to vet school. I have sent them thank you cards, but should i do more for them even if i haven't achieved my goal yet or do i wait to give them the really awesome gifts for when i get in?

I waited, but then, I also spent about $50 on each of their gifts to kind of compensate lol.

 

[that redhead]

I was always curious to whether those edible arrangements were any good! I just assumed the fruit must have been somewhat dried out by the time it was shipped, was that not the case? Sorry to get OT, but I always see the commercials and always wonder if it was any good (because it sure does look good!).

I have also given pens (high quality). I know that may sound silly, but every vet needs one very special pen that they use. One of the vets that I work with lost hers, and so I replaced it with one that had her alma mater on it! She loved it!

Yes on the pens! One of my co-workers got into vet school and as a going away gift we got him a really nice pen with his name and DVM etched on it. It sounds silly but he loved it 🙂

 

[nyanko]

I have had 2 cycles of vets write letters for me, but have not gotten in to vet school. I have sent them thank you cards, but should i do more for them even if i haven't achieved my goal yet or do i wait to give them the really awesome gifts for when i get in?

I waited and spent more money, like HopefulAg.

I actually bought people small things from the UCD SVM bookstore (cowbells and such 😉) and sent them with cards and gift cards for places I knew the individuals would like. The only one I haven't bought anything for yet is my MS major professor - I plan on getting her something nice after I finish my thesis as an all around thank you so I figured I might as well wait.

 

[racccjlm]

Six packs of a choice alcoholic beverage 😉 --- which is all they wanted.

 

[Jakesmom]

What do you think of the idea of sending a thank-you card for writing the letter and then giving a gift for if/when you get in? I feel like a schmuck for not giving some sort of "thank-you" right away.

 

[HopefulAg]

Oh yah I sent thank you cards after each cycle, just no gifts.

 

[squibby]

Last year I sent thank-you cards to all of them, and dropped off a homemade carrot cake at the office of the one who was local. I think this year I will send a small gift as well, like a gift card or something.

 

[hunterjumper12]

As soon as the LOR are submitted, I plan on baking a lot of cookies or whatnot and giving a plateful to each of my recommendation writers. Who can turn down cookies? 😀

 

[reachforthesky]

As soon as the LOR are submitted, I plan on baking a lot of cookies or whatnot and giving a plateful to each of my recommendation writers. Who can turn down cookies? 😀

Yes! The Dr. I was an assistant to for a couple years LOVED Choc. Chip cookies, so much our so called "man station" has a pic of the Cookie monster on it.(only 2 guys in a clinic with 60 women, we HAD to have a safe zone) I havent worked with him in a year, and dont need a LOR yet, but im sending him a gift just to keep in touch and say thanks for everything and more:

I found this great recipe that I hope wont disappoint, hell its martha stewart...

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe...gallery/chocolate-chip-cookie-recipes#slide_6

I also plan to make some homemade Vanilla ice cream-
Hey, what else can another broke student do but bust out his crafty side!

 

[Trilt]

You should make these, too.

 

[Lab Rat83]

One of the vet clinics in particular loved receiving baskets of goodies from clients. I was going to get a box of local made chocolates and some other snacks and send them to the clinic for everyone to share.

 

[smilin1590]

Yes! The Dr. I was an assistant to for a couple years LOVED Choc. Chip cookies, so much our so called "man station" has a pic of the Cookie monster on it.(only 2 guys in a clinic with 60 women, we HAD to have a safe zone) I havent worked with him in a year, and dont need a LOR yet, but im sending him a gift just to keep in touch and say thanks for everything and more:

I found this great recipe that I hope wont disappoint, hell its martha stewart...

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe...gallery/chocolate-chip-cookie-recipes#slide_6

I also plan to make some homemade Vanilla ice cream-
Hey, what else can another broke student do but bust out his crafty side!

Ok that giant cookie looks so flippin good right now...can you bake me one

You should make these, too.

And Trilt, I must say the cupcakes are adorable and Reachforthesky should totally make them along with the giant chocolate chip cookie 👍

 

[StartingoverVet]

If you are looking for a cheap gift for a vet, but don't want to spend much money, but don't want to look cheap you can try this....

I bought really old versions of veterinary textbooks (circa 1900)..... it has the feel of an expensive rare book, but in fact you can pick them up with some work for not much money $5 or so.

Hopefully you can find one appropriate for the vet, in their area of interest or expertise. They were kind of interesting to look at to see the changes in the profession.

 

[Will Scarlet]

I love the idea of giving old books. The first vet I worked for had kept all of his textbooks, from undergrad, grad school, and vet school. I'll have to keep that in mind: I have this ancient book on avian physiology that he'd probably get a kick out of.

What about for teachers? I would really like for my undergrad thesis adviser to be one of my evaluators, because even though she's behavioral biology and not necessarily vet-related, she taught me a lot. I would like to send her a thank you gift, but I don't know what level of present is acceptable? I don't want to seem too over-the-top, but I also want to show her how much I appreciated her help!