call vet or wait, that is the question

Fairynuff

Fairynuff

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2004
Messages
4,993
Location
italy
Visit site
so what do you do? Do you call the vet out at the first little thing or do you wait and see what the next hour or so brings and if its a cut/swelling etc, do you partake in a little DIY?
If you werent insured would that change your actions?
 
I judge it on the circumstances. I'm not one to call the vet quickly, but so far my decisions have proved to be correct. I haven't yet called a vet & later thought I could have managed without, nor have I ever treated myself then later ended up calling a vet. If I am sure I know the diagnosis, treatment & am able to administer it myself & a vet could do no more, I deal with it without a vet. If not, I call one. Only variation is things that I would use a farrier for. Or something that can quickly deteriorate. Eg mild colic I can manage, but its difficult to judge whether that will progress to more severe so I would ring to be safe. Obviously what I can & can't manage has changed with experience over the years.
 
For minor cuts and scrapes I deal with them myself, but for those needing stitching or on/very close to a joint I get the vet as antibiotics will probably be needed and if it needs stitching the sooner its done the better. At this time of the year the vet is here most days, with the mares, so I get him/her when they are here. If it was a suspected colic I would take no chances if there hadn't been improvement in an hour (as long as I found the horse just a bit out of sorts), if I found the horse throwing itself around and in a bad state I would call the vet immediately. Finally the insurance situation makes no difference as none of ours are insured.
 
littlelegs said:
I judge it on the circumstances. I'm not one to call the vet quickly, but so far my decisions have proved to be correct. I haven't yet called a vet & later thought I could have managed without, nor have I ever treated myself then later ended up calling a vet. If I am sure I know the diagnosis, treatment & am able to administer it myself & a vet could do no more, I deal with it without a vet. If not, I call one. Only variation is things that I would use a farrier for. Or something that can quickly deteriorate. Eg mild colic I can manage, but its difficult to judge whether that will progress to more severe so I would ring to be safe. Obviously what I can & can't manage has changed with experience over the years.
Click to expand...


This^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ours are not insured, so that plays no part in the decision.
 
I never used to call the vet but i probably do more now than I used to! but most of the time its been for colic or chokes, not just cuts!

I left my gelding lame for a couple of days as I thought i'd see how he was the next day, then he was fine, but was really lame the following day, so got the vet and it was an abscess so i kicked myself and wished I'd got the farrier out first! that was an expensive lesson learned!

I never consider insurance as my bills have always ended up being just under the excess!
 
littlelegs said:
I judge it on the circumstances. I'm not one to call the vet quickly, but so far my decisions have proved to be correct. I haven't yet called a vet & later thought I could have managed without, nor have I ever treated myself then later ended up calling a vet. If I am sure I know the diagnosis, treatment & am able to administer it myself & a vet could do no more, I deal with it without a vet. If not, I call one. Only variation is things that I would use a farrier for. Or something that can quickly deteriorate. Eg mild colic I can manage, but its difficult to judge whether that will progress to more severe so I would ring to be safe. Obviously what I can & can't manage has changed with experience over the years.
Click to expand...

This, 100%.

Neither of the two are insured so that doesn't sway my decision. Have to admit I panic more easily with Meg than I used to since her colic in February but I'm getting better!
 
kerrieberry2 said:
I never used to call the vet but i probably do more now than I used to! but most of the time its been for colic or chokes, not just cuts!

I left my gelding lame for a couple of days as I thought i'd see how he was the next day, then he was fine, but was really lame the following day, so got the vet and it was an abscess so i kicked myself and wished I'd got the farrier out first! that was an expensive lesson learned!

I never consider insurance as my bills have always ended up being just under the excess!
Click to expand...
You did not know it was an abscess, therefore you had to wait till symptoms became clear, in such a case the farrier may ask for a vet, or vice versa.
 
littlelegs said:
I judge it on the circumstances. I'm not one to call the vet quickly, but so far my decisions have proved to be correct. I haven't yet called a vet & later thought I could have managed without, nor have I ever treated myself then later ended up calling a vet. If I am sure I know the diagnosis, treatment & am able to administer it myself & a vet could do no more, I deal with it without a vet. If not, I call one. Only variation is things that I would use a farrier for. Or something that can quickly deteriorate. Eg mild colic I can manage, but its difficult to judge whether that will progress to more severe so I would ring to be safe. Obviously what I can & can't manage has changed with experience over the years.
Click to expand...

This.
 
I always call my vet if unsure. They offer free over the phone advice so can tell me what to try first or come if they think necessary. The scale advice I get at my yard is immense and I end up more confused xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top