Changing vets?

[Shilasdair]

Hi all
What's the correct etiquette for changing veterinary practices?
I don't want to offend anyone, but want to move back to an equine practice that is closer to where I keep my horses at livery.
One of my horses is in the middle of a health issue and I've lost confidence in the current (further away) practice - and 'my' particular lovely vet there has left so I've now no reason to stay with them..
Any advice welcome!

 

[HashRouge]

You can be registered with more than one practice, so I would just get yourself registered with the new practice and not worry too much about "leaving" the other one. You'll still be on their books and they might send you reminders for vaccinations, but that would be it I should think. I never "left" the practice I was with in Manchester before I moved down here - I just registered with a new one once I got here! I'd imagine they've still got my records somewhere, though they stopped sending me reminders for vaccinations a few years ago.

 

[Upthecreek]

Tell them exactly that - you are changing because you would rather have your vet closer to where you keep your horses. A very sensible thing to do in the current climate I think.

 

[Rob1585]

Hi, best thing to do is ring up the new practice, register and they will ring your old vets for the clinical history. Your old vets might ring to check its OK to send (GDPR) but they wont be offended by you moving, especially if its to a closer practice!! Clients move practices all the time.

Ps trouble with being registered with more than 1 practice is that each practice only has part of your horses history, rather than the full picture, which can put the treating vet in an awkward position. Often get a better relationship with them if you only use one practice.

 

[Snow Falcon]

We moved recently. New vets contacted old vets for history. Old vet contacted me to check it was ok to release details. I thanked them for their services and said the reason for move was the emergency cover system.

 

[Arzada]

My cat recently changed vets. Registered at the new one and I and they rang the old vets for the records to be transferred.

 

[atropa]

I moved practice about 3.5 years ago and called up the old practice to ask for my records to be transferred as I was in the middle of treatment.
The owner of the practice called me back to ask why I was leaving, was it anything they had done etc. At the time I said the practice I was moving to was larger and therefore could accommodate my work schedule better for appointments, but in reality I was unhappy with how my case with the original vet was going and that the owner/head vet had contributed to me breaking my finger by asking to see my horse lunged against my advice. In hindsight I wish I'd been honest with them rather than sugar coat it.

 

[Shilasdair]

Thank you all for the advice.
I am a bit conflicted as one of my horses is currently needing veterinary treatment - I'm not very happy with it so far, but dislike causing a fuss...

 

[TheBigPony]

There is nothing wrong with constructive feedback which may help them avoid the situation with someone else. Don't think about it as making a fuss but giving feedback that will help their business. The feedback shouldn't be personal though.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Just register with the new vet and start using them you don't have to tell the vet, I am registered with 2 and use them both on different occasions and don't explain myself to either of them.

 

[lamlyn2012]

I'm registered with two vets. One I use for routine issues and one I use for more complex issues.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi all
What's the correct etiquette for changing veterinary practices?
I don't want to offend anyone, but want to move back to an equine practice that is closer to where I keep my horses at livery.
One of my horses is in the middle of a health issue and I've lost confidence in the current (further away) practice - and 'my' particular lovely vet there has left so I've now no reason to stay with them..
Any advice welcome!

I was in a horrid situation a few years back, vets did not diagnose my mares condition 2 years runnig. I decided ( once she had passed), to drop said vet and go back to my previous one. All I did is not contact them again