Registered with more than one vet?

[MuddyMonster]

Is it wrong to be registered with and use more than one veterinary practise?

I’m currently registered with 3: the vet’s practise which is an equine only practise that I used for my old horse and when I first got my new horse which was the ‘yard vet’ for my previous yard, the vet’s practise closest to the yard (literally a mile away on) which is a mixed animal practise and then another equine specialist vet which we use as my current yard’s ‘yard vet’.

I’ve not used my old veterinary practise for about 3 years, as my current yard is on the outer edge of their regional cover and their call out fees are pretty high plus I had a couple of not so-great customer service issues, so it made sense to use someone closer or that the yard already used. But, I’ve never got around to actually telling them I’m no longer using them, so I presume I’d still be on their records.

I prefer to use veterinary practise 3 as all the vets are equine specialists (and I would always use them for an emergency, illness or investigation) but have on occasions used the local vets when vaccinations are due and it makes more sense to use the local vet’s as I can hack there or they’ll pop by on their way to or from their way back to the practise to reduce a call out or the need to bring my vaccination date forward by 3 weeks if I wait to use veterinary 3 (we have set vet clinics we can book into for free/low call out).

I was chatting with my friend about this t'other day and was overheard by another livery who thinks it’s wrong to use more than one vet’s and that if I sold my horse (he’s genuinely not for sale nor ever planned to be ) it could be seen as fraud by buyer’s or if I ever need to make an insurance claim?

Should I be worried & only use one vet's from now on?

 

[twiggy2]

Why would it be fraud if you sold your horse?
For insurance purposes to prevent issues you would just need to provide vet records from all vets if the insurance companies asked for them.
From the vets point of view it can be difficult if when presented with an emergency they do not have access to notes on medications or known conditions and it may restrict what they do or the drugs they use but it's the same for new horses registered.
Insurance companies can question it but if you declare it it's not fraud.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Did the new vets not ask for the horses clinical history?

I suppose I'm technically registered with two, as I had to register with the vet hospital to get Topaz investigated as my ex practice were so awful, and I have now registered with another local vets, but they did request the history?

 

[Casey76]

I'm not sure why it would matter.

I use one vet for vaccinations and another for everything else.

 

[milliepops]

I've just registered with a local mixed practice because my next door neighbour at the yard is one of their vets, and it's easy to arrange appointments for vaccinations with her Don't need to take time off work! Plus the other girls at the yard use them so can share call out. I will continue to use my equine vets for anything else.

 

[Annagain]

I guess I'm registered with 3 as well. My vet is a one man band so we're registered with another practice which covers his out of hours emergencies and his holidays. I've used them twice (one emergency and once when he was on holiday). M is also registered with the vet hospital following his investigative work and treatment last year as he'll have to go back there for any further treatment as although it's a joint injection it needs to be ultrasound guided.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Did the new vets not ask for the horses clinical history?

I suppose I'm technically registered with two, as I had to register with the vet hospital to get Topaz investigated as my ex practice were so awful, and I have now registered with another local vets, but they did request the history?

I'm assuming they did as the two I now use know I used the other vet's previously. I also presume they know I use each other as I have mentioned it to both. I've never actively chased up if they have requested the history though.

I think I speak to someone different & see a different vet every time though at both practise's as I'm (thankfully) not a regular client at either & my horse doesn't have a complicated medical past

ETA: Thank you for your replies - it's nice to know I'm not the only one who uses a few different vets!

 

[Goldenstar]

I am registered with two vets it's my money and choice where I spend it .
It's only dishonest if you do in order to prevent an insurance company or a buyer knowing the full extent if any issues a horse has had , and people do do this .

 

[AFB]

I'm registered with two, one local vets who I only trust enough for basics like jabs etc., and one about 45 mins away that I would use for anything 'important' as they're a much better practice

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We use 2 vet practices, one is a back specialist, who does acupuncture and is a brilliant vet but he is a useless businessman and can't cover emergencies. The other practice has many vets, some much better than others, they have 24 hr cover.

 

[Equi]

Im only "registered" with one as they are the only ones i would use for routine things, but in an emergency i call every vet i can think of and its whoever gets there first gets paid cash in hand lol

 

[Shay]

Ours are currently registered with 3 different practices for different things.

Its a commercial world now. Whilst it use to be the case that one vet practice would provide continuity of care, if another provides a better or cheaper service for routine things like vaccinations - well thats life.

Come to that my cats will register with whoever has the cheapest vaccinations at the time too. We still have one main practice for anything else. But if another practice offers routine vaccs cheaper why should I not benefit from that?

And absolutely it is not fraud!

 

[Andalucian]

I'm another registered with 3 practices, reason is the exact vet. Two left my original practice, I wanted to maintain their services on two of my horses. They all know I use them all, no probs.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The horses are registered with just one practice, but it is a big equine practice with a horsepital, and only c25 mins away. I've always thought it to be a bit naughty to use a cheap vets down the road for routine jabs etc, but to then ring up the more expensive but much better practice in the middle of the night for an emergency. I know that vets think this, too!

I like my vets to have the whole picture of my horses' health. I can appreciate that for thoses folk who do not have a good equine practice nearby, the choice may not be so simple.

 

[catkin]

The horses are registered with just one practice, but it is a big equine practice with a horsepital, and only c25 mins away. I've always thought it to be a bit naughty to use a cheap vets down the road for routine jabs etc, but to then ring up the more expensive but much better practice in the middle of the night for an emergency. I know that vets think this, too!

I like my vets to have the whole picture of my horses' health. I can appreciate that for thoses folk who do not have a good equine practice nearby, the choice may not be so simple.

I agree with this.
When I did need to call in an emergency the vet who was on call that day had met the pony (and the pony had met the vet) because they'd been out to do vaccs previously.

 

[Cecile]

Registered with one equine vet practice and one equine hospital, one dog vet and one farm vet (All different practices)
However just heard that a new vet who works for a different equine practice is passionate about something I'm interested in so may ask him out for a chat

My original equine vet worked for a different practice when I had known him years, then started his own practice so I sort of joined him, if I have an emergency I have everyone's mobile numbers so if I had any delay or I got stressed out with the 24hr answer thingy I would go through the list until someone answered, my original vet used to pop in for a coffee and chat if passing so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable about calling him at silly o'clock, he would expect me to

Failing that my neighbour is a retired GP and he could cover until the vet arrived just to sedate me!

 

[LeannePip]

i am registered with 3 for variou reasons;

1) registered with the longest, close by for things like picking up prescriptions/ signiong passports and a few people at the yard use them so can share call out for jabs. but do not have a 'hospital' so cant take horse there to save on call out.
2) little bit bigger and have hospital so use them for things I want to take the horse there for; jabs (avoid call out) or similar
3) major equine practise with amazing facilities, would use them for anything exploratory or diagnosis. Also use them for annual teeth, more expensive but so much more thorough than an EDT/ local practice vet

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

We're registered with 2 vets. One we use for all the usual mundane things, vaccinations etc & the other is a specialist in competition horses/ loss of performance/ lameness issues. People travel long distances to see him. When I was last there a horse had flown in from Jersey so he's very well thought of.

Being registered with more than one vet should not be an issue as long as if you are selling a horse & they want to see vet history that you provide from both vets.

 

[ossy]

I'm registered with 2, one cheep and cheerful one close by for vaccinations and one more specialist one. I imagine it would be fraud if you were using multiple vets to try and hide specific vet history. When i claimed loss of use on my old horse the insurance asked for vet history of all practices that had seen my horse and a copy of vaccination page of the passport, as that showed a different vets attending my horse to the ones i had look at the LOU issue i had to send history from that vet too. Had i been registered with a 3rd vet and withheld and history from them i doubt the insurance would ever have found out but that i guess would have been fraud which is maybe what the person was getting at.

 

[Elbie]

I work in insurance and it can be a little bit of flag if several vets are used, especially if you suddenly use a new vet for one injury/illness. However, if you are open about it and say you're registered with x, y and z then it's a bit of a non-issue.

 

[wingedhorse]

Im only "registered" with one as they are the only ones i would use for routine things, but in an emergency i call every vet i can think of and its whoever gets there first gets paid cash in hand lol

My vet's wouldn't take a great view of this, if you rang at 2am with colic, and they got out of bed, only not to be first there! It's fine if you are totally up front about it, especially if the emergency vet is going to be a while, but you could easily get blacklisted if you weren't very up front!