Registering with multiple vets?

[Jingleballs]

Does anyone here have their horse registered with more than one vet?

When I first bought my horse I kept him registered with the same vet that his previous owner had and used them for vaccinations etc.

However since most of the people at my yard were registered with a different vet it made sense for me to also register with this new vet as it meant we could split call out charges for annual jabs etc.

This new vet also initially had better emergency facilities that the original vet so it made sense and I have used the new vet on most occassions both for jabs and treatments because again it seemed to make sense since they treated all other horses on the yard

I contacted the original vet today to arrange for my horse to get sedated for clipping. My original vet are significantly less expensive for call out and services and since no one else needs the vet at the moment I though it made sense to call them.

However they have refused to come out claiming that I can't have my horse registered with two vets and that I should go back to my new vet for treatment.

I can understand their view from the POV that they don't have the horses history as they haven't seen him since 2009 but it seems strange that they insisted that I had to choose one over the other - I knew a few people who are registered at two vets and based on the treatment they need will choose which one to use on the basis of things like areas or specialty.

I'm a tad miffed that they've refused to come out - just wondered if this is the norm though or if anyone has had similar problems.

 

[Flame_]

I am. I have to have the vet out every six months to get Flame's blooming bute so they can see she's still alive or something so i get the vets that come to the place most often, do a free callout day and give and stick to appointment times. For lameness and illness stuff I use vets I trust more but are more expensive and you never know when they're coming.

 

[Spudlet]

I think that if you take your animal to see another vet (other than in an emergency) they are supposed to contact your normal vet to let them know, as professional courtesy at the least and to make sure they are happy with the situation, before giving any treatment. So I can see how it might make life difficult, being registered with two practices.

Also from their POV, what if they were asked to treat a horse already seen by another vet, and then had something go wrong... who would be liable if the owner sued, for example?

The RCVS has this on their website in their guide to professional conduct for vets:

Referrals and second opinions

34. All veterinary surgeons should recognise when a case is outside their area of competence and be prepared to refer it to a colleague whom they are satisfied is competent to carry out the investigations or treatment involved. They should also be aware that the client has a right to request a referral or second opinion. Care must be taken not to give the impression to the client that the referral is to an 'RCVS recognised specialist' if this is not so. The initial contact should be made by the primary veterinary surgeon, and the client then asked to arrange the appointment (see Annex 3O, Referrals).

35. The distinction between a second opinion and a referral should be clearly understood by both veterinary surgeon and client. A second opinion is for confirmation of diagnosis, whereas a referral to a referral practice will be for diagnosis and possible treatment, after which the case will be referred back to the original practice. Neither a second opinion veterinary surgeon nor a referral practice should ever seek to take over the case.

36. The referring veterinary surgeon has a responsibility to ensure that the client is fully aware of the level of expertise of the referral veterinary surgeon, for example as a 'specialist' by experience, a certificate holder, or an 'RCVS recognised specialist'. The referral veterinary surgeon should discuss the case with the client and report back to the primary veterinary surgeon.

37. A full case history and instructions as to the particular reason for referral should be supplied, together with an indication of the client's wishes and responsibility for the fees incurred. Any further information which may be requested should be supplied promptly.

38. Veterinary surgeons should not use a referral as an opportunity to pass on difficult clients, or known bad debtors.


Supersession

39. Although both veterinary surgeon and client have freedom of choice, as a matter of professional courtesy and in the interests of the welfare of the animals involved a veterinary surgeon should not knowingly take over a colleague's case without informing the colleague in question and obtaining a clinical history.

40. When an animal is initially presented a veterinary surgeon must ask whether it is already receiving treatment, and if so, when it was last seen, and then contact the original veterinary surgeon for a case history. It should be made clear to the client that this is necessary in the interests of the patient. If the client refuses to provide this information the case should be declined.

41. In an emergency it is acceptable to make an initial assessment, and administer any essential treatment before contacting the original veterinary surgeon.

 

[indi4]

I know a couple of people who use two different vets. One uses the local vet for jabs as they're cheaper and then uses another for any lameness or illness issues. The other moved yards so uses her old vet for when dealing with an old illness he suffers with and the more local vet for all other issues, though both vets know about this.

 

[Capriole]

I am. Im with 2 practices currently, although it has been as many as 3.
My normal everyday vet, and an Equine Reproduction specialist. When it was 3 the other was a specialist in another area, and was recommended and worked in conjunction with the regular vet

nb. all vets have known about the other vets at all times

 

[scrunchie]

My horses are registered with 2 different vets. My new one is a specialist horse vet whom I prefer as my other vet was more into farm animals and could be quite heavy handed.

However, I've never had a problem with the old one not coming out. The old one is more local and handy for an emergency.

It's strange that your other vet refused to come out. Maybe being a vet is the only profession that is thriving in the financial climate?

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I have 2. My old vet as I moved so he's no good for emergencies but his expertise is amazing. I get him over to do my Vaccs as all on same schedule and for anything I'm troubled with, but for emergencies it's a different clinic. Nobody has issues with this thankfully.

Terri

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Note, that sounded stupid. Regular vet is great for lameness and getting to the root of issues quickly. He is also cheaper for vacs then others like the very local clinic. Strange that people who are a mile away charge more for a call out and more for Vaccs than my vet who is 45 mins away.

Terri

 

[glenruby]

Yes many are registered with 2practices and if that's ok with the vets then fine. However, I am not in the least bit surprised that the old vet won't come out - you really are taking the p*ss!

 

[dafthoss]

Yep I have one at uni and one at home. The one at home does his vaccs and any thing else when we are there and the one at uni is for any thing we need when there.

 

[NooNoo59]

I have today been considering changing vets as the ones i have at the moment seem to be more interested in the money than anything else and are far less accomodating than they use to be. I have a zone visit booked for tomorrow for routine vacs, a vet from the same practice was at the yard tonight looking at two horses, now a vac takes two minutes so i called the office and said that to save the vet coming out again tomorrow shall i get her to do my horse now, i was told that i would then be charged for half a visit! So tomorrow the vet has to drive out to me and vac my horse on a free visit, when they could have done my horse tonight and used the time for someone else tomorrow, obviously they have no issue with the cost of fuel and using a vets valuable time to make two calls when it could have been sorted in one. You cant help some people! anyway looking at other practices that are a bit more accomodating.

 

[Jingleballs]

Glenruby - please explain exactly how I am taking the p*ss. Both vets know I'm registered elsewhere and as stated I only registered with the new vet because a) that's who everyone else in my yard is registered with and b) until recently the original vet did not have the best facilities and had my horse needed to be taken in for treatment he would have had to be referred to the new vets anyway.

 

[overtherainbow]

I have today been considering changing vets as the ones i have at the moment seem to be more interested in the money than anything else and are far less accomodating than they use to be. I have a zone visit booked for tomorrow for routine vacs, a vet from the same practice was at the yard tonight looking at two horses, now a vac takes two minutes so i called the office and said that to save the vet coming out again tomorrow shall i get her to do my horse now, i was told that i would then be charged for half a visit! So tomorrow the vet has to drive out to me and vac my horse on a free visit, when they could have done my horse tonight and used the time for someone else tomorrow, obviously they have no issue with the cost of fuel and using a vets valuable time to make two calls when it could have been sorted in one. You cant help some people! anyway looking at other practices that are a bit more accomodating.

I would think that paying for half of the visit is more because the other client can complain if they get charged full whack for the vet to treat your horse as well. I know it doesnt seem to make sense but theres risk of a legal complication if the other client decides to complain and fuel will be cheaper than that!

 

[glenruby]

Vanessa - the reason you would have been charged is that the client who actually called out the vet would otherwise have borne the cost of a visit for your and their horse. In the interest of fairness, coming out again tomorrow on the zv is the best option even though it doesn't make common sense if you know what I mean. It's a but of a difficult one.
Baby bear - you unlike the majority of the posters are using both for entirely selfish reasons. Most on here use a "specialist" for one thing and a normal practice for others - which is technically no different from using a gp and a consultant - they do a diffrent job. one person uses two vets in different areas. You use ones that cost less based on visit fee alone. You would not be a values client by either - I would not be surprised in the least by either refusing to go out to anything but an emergency.

 

[Horseback Rider]

I had my TB registered with one vets and the vet the two partners where "horse vets" they treated him for a series of lameness issues and twice for colic ( once when he had to be tubed)

One of the partners retired but then decided to work on a consultant basis in partnership with another practice.

So when my horse again had lameness issues recently I asked the vet who had retired and was now working for another practice to come out and see him.

It hasn't been a problem with either practice as far as I know and I will continue to use him for such issues as he is the only one who has been right about my horse on several occasions and I trust him implicitly.

If you are open about I really don't see what the issue is ? If you are trying to play on off against the other then that is a different story.

 

[jeeve]

I used to use a local vet for routine type things and an equine vet for bigger issues, now I have moved closer to equine vet tend to use them all the time.

Neither would have really been aware of the other as they tended to treat different horses and long time between treatments, not really any related treatments.

 

[scazza]

The only danger from using multiple vets is if you have to make an insurance claim, as they will want evidence from every vet you have used and that can become very time comsuming and frustrating when your waiting for a settlement claim!!!!

 

[LiveryList]

I am registed with two vets. One i used to be the sole vets i used but i had alot of rpoblems with them so changed to another vets whcih is further away (higher call out) but they are fab- recently proved when my mare badly injured herself. However, everyone else at my yard is pretty much registered with my odl vets 9the ones i dont like lol) so i have re-registered with them for routine stuff (stuff they cant cock up!) as this saves me money (cost me £22 shared visit for her jabs rather than £65!). Neither vets seems to have an issue with the arrangement.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yes, we are registered with 2 practices.
One is an excellent vet but a one-man practice. We have had problems getting hold of him in an emergency, so had to contact a large practice we used to use many years ago. We had a few bad experiences with them, so changed to a completely different practice, whose senior vet has now retired and they no longer treat horses. When we had a case of colic more recently we rang the large practice.
However, the 'one man' vet is an expert in equine back problems and acupuncture so certainly, should we need such treatment in the future, we will ask him to come out.

OP,how did the vet know that you have used a different practice?

 

[MagicMelon]

I have kept the same vet for my horses, but use 3 different vets for my cats! Depending on what is needed, I find certain vets better at others for different things. One is good for getting very quick appointments and aren't too expensive, one is just literally within walking distance of my house so great for vaccs and the other is expensive but does a really good job of operations (so I've had mine neutered there for example).