Experiences with vets !!

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racebuddy

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Hi I have always got on well with my vets however I may have to make the decision to PTs one of them due to ongoing health issues long story , have always felt that got support from
Vets but when speaking just dodnt get the support and feel a bit isolated , has anybody else felt like that ?
 
No experience with horses but lots with other animals and I've found some vets just don't like putting animals to sleep, others want to do as much as possible for the money or for their own peace of mind maybe (one vet tried to get my mother to book her ancient cat in for a dental operation when she was dying of heart failure, she took her back the next day to a different vet at the same practice and had her put to sleep). You have to make your own decision, be firm and stick to what you want. Sorry you are going through this, it is a hard decision :(
 
You've got to trust your own instincts and do what you feel is right for any animal you own.

If your vet won't support you, then you need to change to one who does
 
Definitely - my old boy had clearly suffered a mortal injury and the vet wanted me to wait until later in the day to get it xrayed - luckily I had a friend with me who helped me stand my ground. He was 20+ years old and did not deserve to suffer.
 
In all honesty, I think that when a vet asks "Is it insured?" then many are going to milk the system.

I have had more than one case but possibly the worse was when a liveries horse bashed its head very badly, knocking itself out, the vet wanted to give him a chance.

I had been told by more than one vet and experienced person that a horse that is unconscious for more than 20 minutes will have brain injuries. This horse was out for 5 hours. He had smashed his eye as well as other injuries.
When he was walking he was severely unco-ordinated. Lead him in a stable and he would look at the door and swerve to the side and walk into the wall. In the field he looked fine when cantering but was wobbly and when coming down to a trot or walk just as likely to fall over.
The vet said he would be fine to start work after 9 months. I had disagreed all along although I hoped I was wrong. Only when the vet saw him canter loose in the field following the other horse, and he missed a 14' gateway crashing into the water tank, and me saying "Would you want your daughter riding that?" did he agree to have the horse euthanised. He had refused before so, had he gone on no money from the insurance. Vets bills had been way over the insurance cover.

I will stand my ground when I feel it is necessary.
 
Of course vets don't like putting an animal to sleep - no one does! It is an irrevocable decision and they often have to deal with owners later saying they wish they hadn't agreed. Plus from a legal standpoint they have to be sure that you cannot later say that they persuaded you in any way. Most go a touch too far the opposite direction and almost try to dissuade you - but that is entirly human. They're not robots you know!

You know your horse. Stand firm and they will comply with your wishes.
 
So sorry to hear your sad decision. I have been there :(

My vet was totally on side from the day I raised the possibility of PTS. We discussed all potential outcomes for my lad but both agreed that we kept coming back to euthanasia as the most humane. My horse was not hopping lame. It was chronic lameness and he could have handled light hacking, maybe, on a good day, with some bute... It was not the life I wanted for him, and this winter would probably have done for him anyway.

The practice sent me a sympathy card a few weeks later, signed by everyone - it was such a lovely gesture.

But, back to your question... It is really the one time you need you vet to be totally on board. You may have difficult questions that need answers, there might be feelings of guilt, and as happened with good friends of mine you may find yourself having to justify your decision to the well meaning but ignorant. This is where your vet needs to be on your side.
I would say that, if you are not getting this, it might be best to look for another vet, OR have that conversation with your existing vet (who may not be aware that they are giving you that impression).

Most important though, don't go through this alone.

PM me if you need any support xxx
 
my vet has been fantastic with my horse, we speak alot on the phone about how he's doing and we have an agreement that if the time comes then we will listen to each others opinions and not take what is said personally.
i rang him up a couple of weeks ago and asked him if he would PTS my horse if i asked him to in the next couple of months, he said he would do it if that's what i truely wanted but after our long uphill battle over the years he wouldn't push for it as my horse is now sound, happy and healthy (as possible!) but if i was serious then he would do it but i had to give myself some time to think about it. he also said that he wouldn't want anyone else to do it as he feels it would only be right if it was him.

so yes i have a good relationship with my vet, he hasn't kept my horse going for the money like alot of people have thought, he's done it because he's passionate about his job and is an animal lover and could see hope for my horse. i've had vets say oh PTS now or do this and that and it will cost X amount. i trust my vet completely.
 
I've had the talk with my vet. Her answer was ultimately its my decision as she's an old girl. I see her everyday and she only sees her when she's ill. However she did make a big point about quality of life. This vet didn't ask about if she's insured or not, just treated her like any other horse. She is insured but we don't claim for laminitis as its written off the claims.
 
I have no experience of horses, but recent experience of an elderly poorly cat has led me to be very sceptical & distrustful of vets. The only useful thing they did for him was PTS. He had weight loss and terrible diarrhoea, they tried to get me to have his teeth cleaned, this must be a real money spinner. I asked whether this could be causing the problem , er no, she admitted. There were a number of other issues, clueless was the only way to describe, I will never go to that practice again.
My friend yesterday was quoted £4500 to treat a cat with urine crystals causing a blocked bladder, with no guarantee of success and probability of recurrence. She declined and pts instead, but was made to feel wretched and terribly guilty.
 
Depends on the vet. I find small animal vets are more likely to push for unnecessary treatments rather than put to sleep.

2 examples : a yard cat (totally wild) who had been hit by a car and shattered its pelvis. Took to vets to pts - advised a £5k operation to repair with months in a cage while it healed. Vet really need strong words to comply with PTS request.

Recently got dog a passport as other dog was pts and didn't want to leave said dog with sitter while we went to the seaside across the pond. Vet quoted £180 for passport -fine. Then said they advised tick treatment. We're going to be at the beach we replied. Well, there are sand flies so I would advise you do it. Er, no it's -2 and there are no sand flies when the beach and even the sea is frozen.

Specialist equine vets tend to understand and listen better ime.
 
Over the years I had built up a good relationship with my vet, and when I realised my gorgeous girl had really had enough, I rang my vet and asked him to come out and assess her. He absolutely agreed that the time had come, that there was nothing else I could do to improve her quality of life and was extremely supportive of me. Afterwards, I sent him a Thank You card to show my appreciation of the care he had shown her over the years, as I did for my farrier...I've been very lucky I know after reading some of the horror stories on here.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this dreadful time, and really hope you get the support you need.
 
When my elderly mare became very poorly my vet was very supportive and she was PTS very peacefully, it couldn't have gone better and I will always appreciate the vet for that. Also when my miniature had a still birth last spring the vet, not my usual one but another partner came out and he was fantastic and handled two very upset ladies and a teenager with such respect and understanding while being very practical about the situation. So to be honest I can not complain about my vets other than they are very, very expensive compared to other local vets but due to the service I have received in the past I am very reluctant to change.
 
I do think it is important to be able to trust your vet, and to talk to them and build up a relationship based on mutual respect. I don't like using mixed practices, in an emergency you may well get one who doesn't really do horses but is providing cover. And although I feel very disloyal when I do need to change, I will do - I had a lovely old dog with an ongoing problem which I knew (from a Yahoo group) could be managed but my then vets were just waiting to PTS. I emailed all the local practices to ask whether they had experience of the condition and went with the one who had the most positive response. Not the cheapest but very understanding with a "we can do it together" attitude. But when her time came they listened to me, because we had that mutual respect, and they know I knew her better than they did.
My horse vet listens as well - and then gives his opinion whiich I listen to. We make a decision together.
 
Vets are getting a little ridiculous these days!! On another forum someone shared a story of a small animal vet who would do an expensive procedure (which owner could not afford) provided owner surrender the animal to the vet. "So yes lady, I'll do the procedure on your cat but you have to let me keep it!! " I think that vet was writing the $ off as charity for abandoned animal so they could get practice at new/rare procedure.

I've been on the receiving end myself of some bad vet behavior. OP don't feel bad about getting someone else to do the work for you if your current practitioner is getting cold feet.
 
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