Another Vet con to get more money out of us?

[Fiona9]

My boy has had Sedalin for clipping of his legs. I called the vet to get some more as his feathers have grown again.

They say they need to see him even though he's had Sedalin before and they saw him in December when they did the flu jab. They say they need to see him within 6 months before they can let me have any more.

So I pay a call out plus costs for Jabs. Then 6 months later I have to pay another call out plus costs for Sedalin and possibly more for them to check his heart.

Do you think it would be worth me asking for 2/3 lots of Sedalin when they do his jabs?

Mabye I should box him up and park him outside the surgery and get the vet to come outside!!! Sorry just wanted a moan about us equestrians being hit with more costs again.

 

[AmyMay]

Who did you speak to - the vet or the receptionist?

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

That does sound odd and silly really, my boy has a periodic illness they cant diagnose for which he has a bute sachet, and vet let me get 200 bute to just use as and when so I didnt have to get him out each time (and that was Royal Vet College).

 

[wishfulthinking]

Are you not allowed to just buy sedalin from the vet chemists over there?

 

[Baileyhoss]

You can order sedalin online.

 

[kizzywiz]

Sounds very odd to me, I need Sedalin for clipping & just ring them & go & collect, Baileyhoss, do you need a prescription or can you just order it out of interest??

 

[Gamebird]

Not a con, just the law I'm afriad. Sedalin contains ACP whichis a prescription only medicine. Vets can only prescribe these by law to animals 'in their care'. The definition of 'in their care' involves having examined the animal in the previous 6 months.

Many vets appear to bend this rule but could be in trouble for doing so.

Having said that there shouldn't be any problem getting several tubes at a time.

 

[fatpiggy]

I think many vets take this with a pinch of salt. My own mare has been on 2 POM medicines for 10 years, and another for 4 years, and my vet hasn't seen her at all since early 2005! I'm such a regular customer (think I keep the practice going single handed actually) that I only have to ring up and say "can I have a repeat prescription please" and they know who I am and my horse's name without me saying anything else - how embarrassing! My friend's pony has been on bute for several years, and no-one from that practice asks to see the pony either. Not all vets are money grabbing - my vet doesn't add a single penny on to the cost of my horse's medication, and even helped to negotiate a deal with the suppliers for me, but then we are talking around £250 every month.

 

[Baileyhoss]

http://www.bestpetpharmacy.co.uk/detailed_product.asp?id=1827

You need a prescription

F x

 

[Marchtime]

I tend to get a few tubes off my vet every time he comes out. I use it when my TB has been on box rest as he can be a nightmare to get to the field. I'd ask your vet for a few tubes in future - explain the problem and what you want it for and I'm sure they'll be happy to give you some.

 

[Donkeymad]

The Law says that a vet must have seen an animal within the last six months tp presribe such drugs. Many vets do bend this law, but some stick by it. Try to stock up on the next visit.

 

[chestnut cob]

I used to need it to clip my pony and never had trouble. Just used to ring my vet and they would send some out to me, and bill me. But agree with everyone else hwo says stock up next time. Get them to give you a few tubes.

 

[CrazyMare]

Oh to only be at the vets once a year....I seem to be in and out quite alot.

Never had a problem getting hold of Sedalin, however I can't think when we last had longer than 6 months between visits, what with pregnancy scans, pre swabs, foaling and new foal checks, jabs and general stuff...!

 

[MaverickMD]

Re - boxing your horse down to the surgery ......

Thats exactly what I do with mine for routine injections - saves me a bluddy fortune !

Worth a thought if all the vet needs to do is check heart rate etc ?

Maverick MD

 

[Doublethyme]

I think its a good thing personally - why should we have carte blanche to get adminster drugs to our horses without at least some basic regular checks in place.

 

[Fiona9]

Thanks for your help everyone. Yes methinks I will be asking for a few tubes when they next come out to do his jabs. Might even change to a smaller vet practice as I personally feel the bigger ones just want your money.

Had him for 6 years now but known him since he was 4 (he's 14 now) and he's only ever had the vet for his jabs, so CrazyMare I thank his lucky hooves for that and feel for you.

I know my horse and only try and clip his legs 2/3 times a year with drugs, the other times I get the scissors out. He has this permanent "stoned" look about him and it needs the whole 10ml to take effect!?

Once again thank you for your advice and rest assured I don't want carte blanche to give him drugs. However from your replies I think I've found my way round the problem.

 

[CrazyMare]

Think carefully before changing practice - I'm with a big practice, however they have all the facilities I could need, and can take my ponies down there to have anything done, with equipment to hand.

Am about to phone mine and book the next appointment Routine jabs - only pay for the drugs if you take them in. Diesel to get there costs less than the call out charge

 

[Laafet]

Ditto think carefully about changing practice, around here if anything goes wrong you'll end up in the large one for diagnostics which will then cost you more as referral than as a client. I am with the local large equine specialists and have no problem getting drugs out of them when needed without them seeing the horses, but then I do work with horses and do a lot of vet work with my job so they know that if I want them to see my own horses it is serious.

 

[SpruceRI]

I'm with a large vets practice so rarely see the same person twice.

I'm pleased to say I hardly need to see the vets and therefore if I ring up with what I think is a minor problem, they won't understandably just prescribe something without seeing my pony first.

I always box my ponies to them rather than paying the £60 call out, even with 3 to vaccinate I take 2 in the morning and one in the afternoon, an 80 mile round trip but still cheaper on the fuel if not a little bit of hassle!!

 

[Emma27]

I got Sedalin from the vet. Up until i walked into the surgery the vet didn't know me from Adam (new horse never used that vet before!) i told them i needed Sedalin and why i needed it and they gave it to me! Vet had never seen me or the horse before, although he was the vet for the yard i was in he had never examined my horse before and didn't ask to either.

 

[Doublethyme]

[ QUOTE ]
Once again thank you for your advice and rest assured I don't want carte blanche to give him drugs. However from your replies I think I've found my way round the problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry if you took my reply as personal, it was not meant in that way. It was a general answer to your general question of are vets trying to make money out of us.

Yes you are a responsible owner, but vets need (and should IMO) have guidelines and practices in place for those owners that aren't responsible (and there are many). Of course sadly like all these things, it does mean that it affects those that are responsible and feel they could self-manage an issue perfectly well, but what is worse, a bit of inconvenience and expense for the responsible owners (that's horses at the end of the day) or even one or two horses who suffer from misuse of drugs from the irresponsible owners?

 

[Doublethyme]

Scotch-Mist - convenient for you, but I find that a scary way for a veterinary practice to operate!!!! New horse to you, them not having seen it before! What would you have done if said new horse had reacted badly to the drug!

Sedalin given incorrectly can be dangerous like any drug and your veterinary practice are behaving very unprofessionally IMHO.