Changing vet practice (feeling very bad)

[TPO]

The smallest fry in the world but just need a wee gut spill.

I changed vet practice today after 10 years with my vet, and it's made me so sad.

My vet is amazing. He has gone above and beyond time and time again. I am so grateful for everything that he has done, especially for the last two ex racers. Unfortunately, there's only one of him, and he can't work 24/7.

The trauma that was losing Vinnie to cellulitis was "live streamed" on here. After another vets initial visit I called another twice to have someone come back out because Vinnie was in a lot of pain and getting worse. I was told there was no point in a visit and nothing else could be done any different than me giving more bute. Thankfully when I called the third time it was "my" vet on call OOH and he came straight out. He did a lot more than give a bute and continued to go above and beyond until sadly he had to put Vin to sleep.

During the course of Vin's treatment a third vet was out to assist "my" vet. They tried to pull a tooth out while Vin was sedated without any communication at all, without even having permission to look in his mouth never mind all that was going on at the time (my vet brought another vet to that appointment because things looked bad and might have needed to do a tap) and that they weren't asked or there to do anything of the sort. Aside from the fact Vinnie was close to dying even in a healthy 11yr old that cap should have been left (re confirmed with usual EDT).

That vet has been out once since to change a bandage and didn't do a good job (it was a big and tricky bandage job). "My" vet had to come back the next day and replaced it FOC. So i have tried to get over it but I can't. Even now recalling the tooth thing with Vinnie makes me so angry. I know vets are human and have really difficult jobs, we all make mistakes in our jobs and wrong calls but I can't understand their reasoning or actions. I just wouldn't trust them in and emergency.

When my current horse tried to amputate his leg on a Sunday night I called OOH vet twice and emails pictures but they were so resistant to coming out and ultimately didn't. "My" vet came out first thing Monday morning, stapled the knee and bandaged from elbow to hoof 16 layers thick. I'm positive if he had been on call he'd have come out as soon as I called.

So yeah, I don't have confidence that someone will come out when I need them or in the judgement of another one. I know it's the right decision for the horses but I'm just really devastated because "my" vet is so amazing. I've been with them 10yrs, pretty much since the practice started. All sorts has been flung at "my" vet and he has been brilliant every time. He is so thorough and conscientious.

There isn't really a point. I'm just feeling sad and wallowing.

I guess my only sort of point is I'd like to send "my" vet something as a thank you.( I have spoken to them and explained my reasons for leaving. ) What would be a good/appropriate gift? Just a card thanking them again or nothing at all?

My only solution is to win the lottery and have him as my personal vet

 

[AmyMay]

I can completely understand the move. You really have been let down at times.

I would send ‘your’ vet a thankyou card and probably some chocolates. The card, alone, will mean a lot to them I’m sure.

 

[TheMule]

You could keep your regular vet for planned appointments (assuming they allow you to request him), and register with another practice to provide OOH service, there's nothing stopping you being registered with 2 practices

 

[Hormonal Filly]

You could keep your regular vet for planned appointments (assuming they allow you to request him), and register with another practice to provide OOH service, there's nothing stopping you being registered with 2 practices

This is what I do, I also have another vet (2 hours away) I use for any lameness or ‘not quite right’ issues.

 

[Fjord]

I don't blame you for wanting to change, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'd definitely suggest getting 'your' vet a card, I'm sure they'd appreciate that.

 

[Melody Grey]

I also have ‘my vet’ for more complex issues and then another practise more locally for routine stuff. It works well and they know each other on good terms too which has been helpful in transferring work between them sometimes.

 

[misst]

When you have lost trust in such a traumatic way it is almost impossible to get it back. I would have to change. Maybe a personal card for "your" vet and a bottle of something or a cake/chocolates specifically for him would keep the lines of communication open if you want routine treatment from him alone.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The best remaining horse vet in our locality (the other retired a few years ago) is also a 1 man band, except when he has a recently qualified assistant and they never stay very long. Having had problems with OOH, we have sadly gone back to a much bigger practice. We have had the best vet out to treat back problems, his speciality, but for everything else the bigger practice works out best overall.
I think just knowing your reasons for changing and an appropriate card is enough, really.

 

[chaps89]

I can completely understand why you’re changing - and I’m sure ‘your’ vet can too.
Not quite the same, but when I lost M, I dropped a bottle of tipple, flowers and chocolates to my vet (we were on very good and, unfortunately far too familiar, terms) and I know she really appreciated it.

 

[meleeka]

There’s only one vet at my practice that is wonderful. The difference is I suppose the others are just ok, but there’s one that I definitely don’t want at my yard. I dread an emergency and her coming and it’s made me think about changing vets, after 20 odd years.

 

[TPO]

You could keep your regular vet for planned appointments (assuming they allow you to request him), and register with another practice to provide OOH service, there's nothing stopping you being registered with 2 practices

I didn't even realise this was possible

I've switched now, spoke to my vet this evening, and my records have been sent across to the new practice. I'm an idiot

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I lost confidence in one vet practice so I switched. Still have the big equine hospital for "large, expensive" jobs and a smaller practice for routine stuff.

 

[SEL]

I can completely understand why you're changing practice. My practice has lost both the vets I trusted and I'm hanging on because the horses get on so well with the newly qualified vet that's looked after them now for 2 years (obv not NQ any more). I asked for her when M had to be PTS but if she moves on I'll move on too. I've been underwhelmed by the rest of the practice last year.

I'd go for card and a bottle to say thank you - sounds like your guy has gone above and beyond

 

[TheMule]

I didn't even realise this was possible

I've switched now, spoke to my vet this evening, and my records have been sent across to the new practice. I'm an idiot

That’s ok- just call tomorrow and explain you’d like to keep your account open. They’re hardly going to say no!

 

[TPO]

I can completely understand why you’re changing - and I’m sure ‘your’ vet can too.
Not quite the same, but when I lost M, I dropped a bottle of tipple, flowers and chocolates to my vet (we were on very good and, unfortunately far too familiar, terms) and I know she really appreciated it.

I've done this previously. When "my" vet went above and beyond we sent him a voucher for a popular cycling shop (that's his thing) and a card stuffed full of gratitude along with "say it with brownies" to the office. After Chip's amputation attempts I sent the cornish scones gift set thing so they could all have scones, cream and jam (or jam and cream ). He has always phoned to say thanks and that the words mean a lot.

Ugg, I feel so horrible leaving him. Why haven't they invented cloning?!

There’s only one vet at my practice that is wonderful. The difference is I suppose the others are just ok, but there’s one that I definitely don’t want at my yard. I dread an emergency and her coming and it’s made me think about changing vets, after 20 odd years.

That's how we (mum and I) felt too. Our vet is so amazing but when I made thst OOH call for Chip I felt sick that it might be the tooth vet.

I'm sure they are a great and experienced vet and we need to get over ourselves. It was one bad mistake, vets are human. I'm sure it was done with the best of intentions whatever they were. But the bottom line is we can't get over it and still, 2yrs later, find the memory very distressing.

Not "snowflakes" either and have been through and seen a lot but this one has just been truly awful. Probably because we were all stressed and sleep deprived trying to keep V alive so everything was heightened/intensified too.

Its just bleugh. I feel like garbage. My vet has been so amazing time and time againso I feel like an ungrateful traitor

Thanks for the replies and reassurance that I'm not completely wrong for leaving.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I've done this previously. When "my" vet went above and beyond we sent him a voucher for a popular cycling shop (that's his thing) and a card stuffed full of gratitude along with "say it with brownies" to the office. After Chip's amputation attempts I sent the cornish scones gift set thing so they could all have scones, cream and jam (or jam and cream ). He has always phoned to say thanks and that the words mean a lot.

Ugg, I feel so horrible leaving him. Why haven't they invented cloning?!



That's how we (mum and I) felt too. Our vet is so amazing but when I made thst OOH call for Chip I felt sick that it might be the tooth vet.

I'm sure they are a great and experienced vet and we need to get over ourselves. It was one bad mistake, vets are human. I'm sure it was done with the best of intentions whatever they were. But the bottom line is we can't get over it and still, 2yrs later, find the memory very distressing.

Not "snowflakes" either and have been through and seen a lot but this one has just been truly awful. Probably because we were all stressed and sleep deprived trying to keep V alive so everything was heightened/intensified too.

Its just bleugh. I feel like garbage. My vet has been so amazing time and time againso I feel like an ungrateful traitor

Thanks for the replies and reassurance that I'm not completely wrong for leaving.

There was one vet at the large practice that we use that I wouldn't have on the yard, or see with a small animal. Then we had 2 emergencies when he was on call, once to the yard and once at the surgery. We had to see him if we wanted a vet. Although I won't ever be asking to see him in particular, I found that he had grown up somewhat, isn't quite so sure of himself and takes a bit more care, so won't refuse to have any dealings at all with him any more.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I really feel for you, its blooming hard .

Fwiw, I'm also registered with 2 practices, 'my vet' knows this, I'm really happy with him and another vet in the practice but I've never met the 4th one, the 3rd one is forbidden (by me) to step out of a vehicle on my yard and senior vet knows this and reasons why. I did give that vet a 2nd chance but they completely blew it. I never did get billed for that visit nor 'my vets' visit 2 hrs later to right the wrong.

2nd practice I use at least once a year for zone visit for something routine, they have horsepital about 30 mins drive from me and I'm very familiar with the place.

 

[TPO]

There was one vet at the large practice that we use that I wouldn't have on the yard, or see with a small animal. Then we had 2 emergencies when he was on call, once to the yard and once at the surgery. We had to see him if we wanted a vet. Although I won't ever be asking to see him in particular, I found that he had grown up somewhat, isn't quite so sure of himself and takes a bit more care, so won't refuse to have any dealings at all with him any more.

I totally get that and I'm sure this vet is good too. We were just so shocked then angry at what happened that none of us (even dad, who was chief vinnie life saver) have gotten over it. It wasn't just what happened but why they would do that without even speaking to us about it and worst still to try to do it on a horse in that condition.

I have had them out since and it wasn't as awkward as I expected, I really did try. It didn't help that the difficult bandage they had to do wasn't done right (IMO) and "my" vet had to come out to replace it. It was tricky and could have happened to anyone but it just compounded things rightly or wrongly.

Having taken over two years to get to this point, spoken to new practice (have had dealings with them and know what they are like/about) and "my" vet I think a clean break is best. Given the proximity of the practices I can't see how using "my" vet for some things and not others would work. I don't think my tiny brain could cope either. It's been hard enough getting to here and making this decision. Just sucks and I wish I'd had better experiences with the other vets.

 

[atropa]

Am I reading correctly that you felt you needed an OOH for your horse who presumably had done some serious damage to himself, and the OOH vet refused to come? If so, I'm not surprised you're moving. I once had an OOH vet tut at me when she arrived for a colic callout where the horse had thankfully improved between initial callout and vets arrival. That was bad enough and I now specifically request not to see that vet. I cant imagine them not coming out at all when the owner feels it necessary to call.

 

[Caol Ila]

I changed vet practice after ten years because (1) old horse had been PTS so I no longer needed that continuity of care (2) similar to TPO, 'my vet' from the practice is amazing, but everyone else knows that too, so he is increasingly hard to get, and obviously in an emergency, you get whoever is on call (4) my yard is on the edges of their beat, so the call fees are expensive and only a couple other owners use them, meaning harder to share that cost (5) they have their own hospital which is like an hour away, if no traffic, and prefer to refer you there if they can. In the meantime, the university vet hospital is ten minutes down the road. It also happens to be within cycling distance of where I live. If, God forbid, someone ever needed hospitalization, I know where I'd prefer them to go.

I felt bad changing, but it just made more sense.

 

[SO1]

You and I have the same vets. I am actually thinking of changing vets when I get a new horse due to the two vets I liked leaving.

YO recently had to call them OOH and they seem to be using Equicall rather than sending their own vets now.

My only concern about moving practices is the distance in an emergency situation like a colic.

I can completely understand why you're changing practice. My practice has lost both the vets I trusted and I'm hanging on because the horses get on so well with the newly qualified vet that's looked after them now for 2 years (obv not NQ any more). I asked for her when M had to be PTS but if she moves on I'll move on too. I've been underwhelmed by the rest of the practice last year.

I'd go for card and a bottle to say thank you - sounds like your guy has gone above and beyond

 

[Birker2020]

I changed my vet practice twice.

Practice 1 who I'd been using for 20 years as small and large animal practice.

The first dreadful occassion with this practice when my younh horse had to be euthanised with a broken leg following a field accident and was shot twice and I was given a lie as reason for that 'mistake' and told 'we shoot all big horses twice' not that they'd missed and took his face off the first time. Suspected but wasn't confirmed till years later that this had happened.

Then I was given by the same practice not only an incorrect diagnosis with the next horse I had, but the vet was very unprofessional in her approach laughing and saying she 'hoped' my horse, my wonderful much loved 10 year old heart horse had EHV as "I will be the first vet in the Midlands to discover it and I can write my thesis about it". I could have cheerfully punched her for that remark. She's still in practice, she visits a fellow liveries horse and I can feel my anger even now, 18 yrs later whenever I see her. Rommy was later pts.

Practice two who I'd been using for 17 years:

I had the vet from this practice out to Lari, who I had owned less than 3 weeks and due to lameness and ataxia he carried out a sway tail pull test. The poor horse looked so pi**ed he couldn't walk in a straight line. I was devastated and visibly upset having previously owned a wobbler (see above horse misdiagnosed with EHV!) and I needed answers so asked for a neck xray. On seeing me upset he replied "I don't know what your getting in such a tizz about". Really???

How about I've just paid 12.5k for a horse who passed a 5 stage vetting but can't walk a straight line and was exhibiting mild lameness from day one of riding?

 

[lme]

I would use 2 vets. We have one fantastic GP ver for routine visits and emergencies and another for investigations and more high tech treatments.

 

[palo1]

You are not wrong to change practices! I have, in the past used 2 different vets for very similar reasons and like @Pearlsasinger there is one vet at one of the practices that I used that I absolutely will not have on the yard (OH has the same view). I prefer to have 1 vet tbh so currently trialling a system where the local vet is used for most things and I am able to go straight to an equine hospital/specialist for other stuff. Your 'best' vet will definitely appreciate your generous gifts and they will understand that owners have to have faith in the team, not just 1 individual. Also, it's your horse and your money so you need to be sure that you are happy with what happens to both.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d imagine you’d still be registered at the old place? I’ve got both dogs and horses registered at a few place. I generally only use the ones I prefer for both but like the option of having a few to choose from in an emergency, eg when my horse broke his leg I got the closest one out. Had he been weirdly lame I’d have got the best one out.
Pick and choose as suggested above.

 

[southerncomfort]

I did similar except 'my' vet moved and I followed him to a much bigger practice. The remaining vets weren't great, and their was one in particular that I wouldn't have on my yard again.

It's a shame as I like to support small practices, but at the end of the day, you have to know you can trust a vet in an emergency situation.

What you went through with Vinnie was traumatic and upsetting, and I don't blame you one bit for needing a clean break.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Went through this last year as well. After 15yrs we had to change practices as the care for our ailing horse was well below standard. Our vet was a lovely chap who had always done such a great job but due to some personal issues was really dropping the ball. Despite being part of a large specialised practice it was not run professionally so there was no back up for the poor guy.

Calling him to tell him the horse would not be coming to him for care but going to the competitor was awful. He was so hurt.

Competitor practice, large corporate took the opportunity to wrap themselves around us, fixing the horse and ensuring we switched permanently.

I did call the first practice, made a time to speak to the Managing Partner and practice manager to give feedback, thanked them for the previous 15yrs of great service and explained why we had to make the decision.

 

[Birker2020]

Went through this last year as well. After 15yrs we had to change practices

I did call the first practice, made a time to speak to the Managing Partner and practice manager to give feedback, thanked them for the previous 15yrs of great service and explained why we had to make the decision.

The practice manager called me to find out why I'd asked for the horses history and asked if I'd left them.

I confirmed I had and was very frank with the reasons why. The same vet had blown up on me twice before which was totally out of character but telling me 'I was getting in a tizz' when the reason for that was obvious (reply 22) was rude and very unprofessional. I did relay how delighted I'd been with three of the others vets so it wasn't all criticism.

And their prices had gone up astromnomically. I also felt very resentful of the fact that I'd been paying £1.15 for a sachet of bute, when I found out after years that they operated a price matching service at 64p per sachet instead plus prescription charge saving me £64 per 200 sachets! A lot when I was on naff money at the time.

 

[maya2008]

We did this in our previous location (different county, so had to change anyway when we moved here). The practice had become too large, and was very money orientated, with horrendous retention. So you rarely saw the same vet for long, and none of them had much experience. My horse was mis-diagnosed and therefore wasn't getting better. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting a second opinion, so that's what we did. Second vet practice noticed things the first hadn't (more experience...) and solved the issue. Stayed with them until we moved. I have no issue with young vets, everyone has to learn somewhere - but you need a balance of young and old, so when someone's stuck or unsure, they can go to a more senior member of the practice for help. When all those more experienced vets are gone, it's really not great. They now have a reputation for only being good for vacs and basic emergency care.

 

[Chianti]

You could keep your regular vet for planned appointments (assuming they allow you to request him), and register with another practice to provide OOH service, there's nothing stopping you being registered with 2 practices

How does this work in practice? I thought when you registered with a vet they asked for your horse's records from the previous practice. Do both know that you're with the other?

I moved vets last year. I'd been with another local practice for a few years and been very happy with them. They were a five vet practice but suddenly were down to three - one of the owners and two much younger vets. I was concerned about my pony and called and asked for a visit from the senior vet as I thought he needed to be seen by someone experienced. I was told I'd have to wait because he was very busy - which I said was OK - so he was booked for ten days later. I called on the morning to get a time for the visit and was told one of the younger vets would attend. I was a bit cross about this - said I'd waited over a week for ~~~~~ and wanted him. They called back later and said he'd be there that pm. When I got to the yard about an hour before the visit time I saw I'd had a missed call from the vets. Called back and was told ~~~~~ had called to discuss why I wanted him to visit. I explained - again - possibly ulcers back. A few minutes later ~~~~ called. It was very obvious from what he said and his attitude that he didn't want to come out - he told me he was doing a work up in the clinic. He could obviously tell I was cross and eventually said he'd come out - which I agreed to but then phoned straight back and cancelled as i thought I'd probably just be rude to him. I was so cross because I felt that if I'd had a 16 hand eventer and I was 'name' he'd have been on the doorstep at the right time. I moved back to the vet I'd been with years ago and now get really great personal service. I did email the first vet to say why I'd left and got a very disinterested reply - from the receptionist!