a question about vets - second opinions

Stinkbomb

Stinkbomb

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2007
Messages
3,974
Location
Cloud cookoo..
goldenoakmochachino.blogspot.com
Inky had his xray yesterday and i find myself in a bit of a situation. The vet seems to think that he is having an eruption problem with his teeth which has caused a large swelling on his face. He has said he wants to leave it till winter to see whether the problem sorts itself out but he thinks this is unlikely, but doesnt want to operate at this stage.However he says the lump is now probably permanent and will never go as it is calcified . I think this lump is massive and am gutted at this thought.

I am aware of a vet who has operated on another mini who had the same problem and it solved the eruption problem and he removed the bony lump.

I am not claiming this treatment from my insurance as yet as its not cost over my excess but will have to notify them.

Now the problem i find myself in is do i ask for a second opinion from the vet who has more knowledge and experience of miniature horse problems. If i do ask for a second opinion and he says he would operate where do i stand with my insurance company if one vet says not to operate and the other says to operate???? Will they pay???

The first vet is a very well known experienced equine vet ( please dont ask who as its not right to say ) but i just think hes wrong to wait
 
Get a second opinion by all means, but have you thought that perhaps this other case with the other vet although 'similar' was easier to operate on. I'm sure your vet would operate if he thought he could? Have you explained to him that you think he is wrong? Perhaps you should discuss it more with the first vet before getting a second opinion.
smile.gif
 
I would discuss it further with your first vet before you do anything else.

A couple of years ago I had to get a second opinion (the first vet was a bl**dy cow vet come out to see my young TB mare. I don't know if this has to happen everytime, but when I then wanted another vet to come and assess the situation and treat my mare, we had to wait for the first vets to give the go ahead to the second vets
 
Yes im going to speak to the vet tomorrow but would still like a second opinion to be honest. I understand im no vet but from speaking to this other horses owner her horses "symptoms" were much the same. Like i said i do appreciate im no expert but just wondered where i stood with regards the insurance?
 
If you are not 100% happy get second opinion, then possibly broach it with 1st vet. It may very well be that it doesnt need invasive surgery from 1st vets point of view as lots try and avoid it, but if it could be solved and 1st vet knows you would rather go that way then may be worth getting both to speak to each other, under the guise that he is mini expert hence you spoke to him!
 
If I were you, I would ask for the opinion from the vet that specialises in miniatures. I have a Falabella x mini shetland. When my dentist did his teeth the other day, she was telling me about the problems minis have with their teeth (thankfully, Charlie's teeth are really good). At the end of the day, Inky is your pony and you want to do your very best for him. Vets are used to being asked for second opinions and your original vet shouldn't take it personally. Some years ago, we asked for a second opinion on a mare we had that was acutely lame. I am so pleased we did, as our original vet was obviously out of his depth.
 
I sought a second opinion with my mare over hind suspensories. The first vet practice basically said she was recovering from a "tweak" & were so patronising to me, but i knew something was wrong with my mare & she was not right. So i sought a second opinion. The second vet confirmed she was lame behind - in both legs & had secondary lameness in both forelegs caused by the hindlimb lameness. I do not for a second regret calling out another vet. I sent all the bills to the insurance company KBIS & explained why i sought a second opinion & apart from the excess they paid up to the £5,000 limit for treatment - no hassels.
 
Thanks everyone, am just not sure that the insurance will pay because the first vet is a REALLY well recognised vet but im just not happy. I will speak to him tomorrow but i have made my mind up to seek a second opinion but think its only curteous to let the first vet know my thoughts. If the second opinion backs up the first vet then it is probably the best for Inky but at least ill know
 
The Veterinary surgeon that has been contacted to carry out a second opinion on another Vets clients has to contact that Practice and ask permission to go ahead with the second opinion, It is a rule that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have and if not conducted the Vet can be reprimanded by the RCVS.
 
Most insurers will not cover a second opinion as often this involves them re-doing the same stuff as 1st vet but they may cover a referral if asked beforehand. Discuss it with your insurers before you go any further. If you can't get a referral then the insurers may cover only the bills for the 2nd vet onwards but he/she would need to be the one who continued treatment and then they would not cover any bills from first vet but speak to them FIRST as otherwise you could have problems now and later !!
 
Speak to your insurance company and they'll let you know if they'll cover it or not. I think most insurance will only cover a second opinion if it's refered by the vet currently treating your horse.
 
I would be tempted to just discuss the situation again with your vet. I assume that you are going to want to show Inky again this year, so the problem left as it is could cause problems.

Unless the vet thinks that it's detrimental to the outcome of the problem I can't imagine that he won't be sympathetic to your requests to the get the problem sorted sooner rather than later, especially if the outcome is going to be the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top