How would you feel about this - vet coming out without tools?

[Snowfilly]

(Pony is ok, buted up and it turned out not to matter but …)

Found the old retired pony not eating this morning, showing signs of pain. Looked hungry but every time he tried to take a mouthful, he’d pin his ears flat back and spin away, looking distressed. Standing with his mouth open.

Called vet as they opened, explained I was 95% certain it was his mouth and that, as per his notes, he needs sedation to handle his mouth. They’ve been doing his teeth for years. I called half an hour before they leave on their rounds so plenty of time to sort equipment.

Vet arrived 6 hours later, which was fine, and the first thing they said was ‘I’ve only got a gag with me, no rasps or anything so if it’s tooth related I can’t do anything but someone could come out tomorrow and do it.’

I wasn’t happy with the prospect of two lots of sedation in two days, or two call out charges as well as leaving him in pain overnight.

Anyway, we managed to get the gag on and they had a look as best as they could with no rasp or mirror, although they did have a headlight.

Working conclusion was something in the poll or upper neck rather than mouth, but I’m just a bit surprised they could send someone out with no equipment when I’d said I thought it was mouth related. Is this normal?

 

[Rowreach]

Doesn't surprise me, I had a horse with an enormous abscess on his jaw, and the vet turned up without any ABs.

So long as your horse has been seen, and it wasn't teeth anyway, I would'by be too worried.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would speak to the practice manager and ask why the vet came out without the necessary equipment. I would not be happy to pay 2 call out fees in one week

 

[EventingMum]

Not ideal at all. Last week a vet (not the practice I use) came out to a livery with an eye problem and gave them drops with an expiry date of 02/18

 

[Melody Grey]

I had a situation where my local one man band vet came to a visit involving a dental without a gag- it had broken late the night before and was being repaired. He did all other jobs and came back another day (no call out fee) to do the dental. These things happen, but I’d have thought they could find another assuming yours is a practise with multiple vets?

 

[fredflop]

Whilst I would be very annoyed, we don’t know what the vets “excuse” was.

it they’d have needed to come back with the correct equipment I’d have expected the visit charge, sedation and examination charge to be FOC

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

I called once because my old ppid pony had laminitis brought on by cold weather, I told them over the phone what the issue was, a new vet turned up looked over the door at him and said oh he's got laminitis, which I already knew! I told her that winter and cold weather has a negative effect on him, she then told me I should tie frozen peas to his feet twice a day which obviously wasn't a good idea even if I could manage to get frozen peas tied on his feet. Then went to rummage in her car and told me she didn't have any painkillers so she'd ring the practice and I'd have to go and pick it up. The practice is 40 minutes from the pony and 5 minutes from my work which I had left early for the vet visit! I could have just picked it up on my way past in 1st place and saved everyone's time!

Was so annoyed at the examination fee on the bill she literally looked at him over the door for 30 seconds and then suggested the pea idea which would have done more harm than good!

 

[windand rain]

I called the vet to a filly with choke she had grabbed some nuts in too big to swallow mouthful. It was winter he arrived sedated her didnt have a working stirrup pump or jug or funnel I provided it fo him. he then proceeded to break the blood vessels in her nose and yes I guess it happens but he did it in both nostrils. by this time she was so heavily overdosed with sedative she couldn't stand up and OH had to do his best to hold her up with her head on the floor blood pouring out of her nose gasping for breath six hours later and freezing cold she was able to stand up I got a bill for 100 call out came less than 100 yards, 50 for consultation 50 for treatment and 57 drugs I was not best pleased

 

[irishdraft]

I made an appointment with my vet to have some sarcoids banded. Got horse out of trailer and vet says he can't find the tool or rubber rings to band so attempted to tie them with cotton thread which had come off by the time I got home . Not happy