An after thought after my lame puppy thread

[poiuytrewq]

Because it’s something I stress a bit about but only think of when there’s a problem.

Vets, I really like and rate my vet. I get on very well with him, I like the way he is with my animals. I trust him and his opinion.
When we moved house I chose his practise because I’d had him before when he worked elsewhere and had rated him.

However, they are not 24 hour, and the only experience I had of the place that covers out of hours I didn’t like.
I took a dog- to be pts, I knew it was that. I didn’t want him examined or prodded I just wanted him pts. I said that on the phone. Their attitude I felt was awful. It was all about the money, I felt very much don’t bother coming if you’re not loaded. When we got there they refused to see him until we paid £250 up front * bearing in mind I had a dying dog in my arms
Luckily mr P was there and got angry, he stayed out and paid while I went in, they then tried to talk me out of it and give more treatment. All this time my dog was suffering. It’s also a long way.
Would you swap vets to a 24 hr one? I’d hate to but always panic that one will get sick out of hours again.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I know exactly how you feel . I was with my vets over 30 years but they were taken over by a group and gradually things changed . The senior vets retired and then they stopped doing their own ooh and you had to go nearly an hour away . Yhe last straw was when they expected me to take a collapsed dog to ooh to be pts even though it was only just after 5 when I called them. I have now moved to an amazing practice with a 24 hour hospital . It is about 35 minutes away but I don’t regret changing .

 

[AmyMay]

My vets don’t have 24hour care. But the referral vets I used for Jack (an hour away) do. My vets are excellent so on that basis I wouldn’t change - but I would use the referral vet if needed.

 

[poiuytrewq]

There’s a vet locally with their own out of hours. They are rated locally but I was a little unsure when I took a wild rabbit and asked them to pts. Thought the vet a bit weird and thought, again that they wasted time with a very obvious request

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Would you swap vets to a 24 hr one? I’d hate to but always panic that one will get sick out of hours again.

Round here I don't think there are any.

 

[Cloball]

I had more experience with our out of hours than our regular vet when we first got our cat. They were fab especially as it was COVID so I had to wait outside and didn't even charge us when our 'in retention ' cat peed all over them . I hope you find a good one it's such a weight off. Is there anyone on here locally that could recommend?

 

[Annette4]

I recently swapped between local practices from one which stopped their OOH to one who while they don't do their own OOH on site, they have a hospital which does which is less than 30 mins away should we need it.

I didn't like that the old practice used a chain vets for their OOH which meant travelling at least 45 minutes, not to mention paying over £200 just to get through the door.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I wonder, is it ok to register the gang with the 24 hr place incase of emergencies?
Might be ok in a real disaster but I’d have to rethink if one was ongoingly ill and records were required.

 

[Parrotperson]

I have Rocky registered with two vets. One independent (not been bought out by big money grabbing company yet). They go 24hr BUT if he ever had to stay in they don’t have anyone in the building. Just a vet going in as necessary. I don’t like that at all. What about a fire? Or other emergency?

So he’s also registered with a small animal hospital which has 24 hour care and someone there all the time.

 

[blackcob]

My vets don’t have 24hour care. But the referral vets I used for Jack (an hour away) do. My vets are excellent so on that basis I wouldn’t change - but I would use the referral vet if needed.

If they don't have their own 24hr service they are obliged to direct you to one and very likely have a contracted provider. It's worth finding out who this is as in the case of an emergency you may be directed to contact 'your' OOH provider first, if you call a different one (although no-one will reasonably withhold truly emergency first aid/pain relief if you present to the 'wrong' one).

The practice I work for has their own OOH (corporate chain) - not my nearest practice but the next nearest, 20 minute drive. If I ever leave or move then OOH arrangements would be a big factor in which practice I chose to register with.

 

[poiuytrewq]

If they don't have their own 24hr service they are obliged to direct you to one and very likely have a contracted provider. It's worth finding out who this is as in the case of an emergency you may be directed to contact 'your' OOH provider first, if you call a different one (although no-one will reasonably withhold truly emergency first aid/pain relief if you present to the 'wrong' one).

The practice I work for has their own OOH (corporate chain) - not my nearest practice but the next nearest, 20 minute drive. If I ever leave or move then OOH arrangements would be a big factor in which practice I chose to register with.

Yes they do, it’s the one I’m not keen on. When our cat was injured though we went elsewhere and they were better and treated him.
I just really dislike my own vets arranged out of hours.

 

[AmyMay]

If they don't have their own 24hr service they are obliged to direct you to one and very likely have a contracted provider. It's worth finding out who this is as in the case of an emergency you may be directed to contact 'your' OOH provider first, if you call a different one (although no-one will reasonably withhold truly emergency first aid/pain relief if you present to the 'wrong' one).

The practice I work for has their own OOH (corporate chain) - not my nearest practice but the next nearest, 20 minute drive. If I ever leave or move then OOH arrangements would be a big factor in which practice I chose to register with.

I know. Thanks.

 

[splashgirl45]

I’ve been at my local small animal practice for over 20 years and really rate them, they have a bigger branch a bit further away who are the 24 hour base and I had to take my collie there as she had gone downhill after hours and had already arranged for my usual vet to come home to PTS. The out of hours vets were lovely and all was done calmly and compassionately , I was a complete wreck and they let me be with her even though it was during the pandemic. As it’s the same vet group my vet saw the info when he came in and phoned me to make sure I was ok..bless him

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve been at my local small animal practice for over 20 years and really rate them, they have a bigger branch a bit further away who are the 24 hour base and I had to take my collie there as she had gone downhill after hours and had already arranged for my usual vet to come home to PTS. The out of hours vets were lovely and all was done calmly and compassionately , I was a complete wreck and they let me be with her even though it was during the pandemic. As it’s the same vet group my vet saw the info when he came in and phoned me to make sure I was ok..bless him

It makes such a difference. My normal vets let me be with both Jess and Doug when they left. I’d have been distraught not being with Doug in particular. Jessie didn’t love me like he did.

 

[planete]

I know exactly how you feel . I was with my vets over 30 years but they were taken over by a group and gradually things changed . The senior vets retired and then they stopped doing their own ooh and you had to go nearly an hour away . Yhe last straw was when they expected me to take a collapsed dog to ooh to be pts even though it was only just after 5 when I called them. I have now moved to an amazing practice with a 24 hour hospital . It is about 35 minutes away but I don’t regret changing .

I have done exactly the same.

 

[Thistle]

I wonder, is it ok to register the gang with the 24 hr place incase of emergencies?
Might be ok in a real disaster but I’d have to rethink if one was ongoingly ill and records were required.

It's ok the be registered at more than one vet