should we complain?

[SNORKEY]

Hi, im quite annoyed and upset at the mo, my mother called me up really worried this morning, she got uo the yard to find her mare with colic symptoms, she was scrapping the floor and looking at her tummy and her tummy was having contractions.
We could'nt get our usual vets out quick enough so called another local one, the vet came out and said she thought her gut was twisted and that we should put her down straight away, mum was'nt so sure and the vet said she's come back in an hour to do it when she had time to get used to the idea, she then called me, in tears, so i rushed home and when I got there her mare was standing up and did'nt look that bad, we called the vet back to say not to come back for a bit, as she started eating hay and walking around, she then looked a lot more happier in the next hour or so, the vets been back out and said she now looking like she will be fine.
Surley this is not on, if my mum had gone by the vets reccomendation this morning we now would'nt have a horse, its only because my mum does'nt give up on animals quickly and that she had her doubts, we still have her with us tonight.
Would you complain about this?

 

[SunSmile]

It does sound like a hasty decision

I'm not sure i'd complain but i certainly wouldnt be using those vets again!
Glad your horse is ok now.

 

[jrp204]

Its difficult to say, since if you had gone on the vets advice and pts you would never have known if it would have improved. I suppose the vet went on what she saw and advised as much, she would have been neglecting her duty if she left an animal in severe pain. I would think yourselves lucky that your horse improved. Your own vet may have advised the same anyway.

 

[SNORKEY]

Thats true that our own vet may of said the same, but it was a hasty decision from the vet, and its not like she was down rolling or kicking at her belly.

 

[mattilda]

My horse has had colic several times, usually caused by windsucking. My vet has always given bute and muscle relaxants which ususally do the trick. On one occasion my horse had collapsed and stayed down but the drugs did work eventually.
My huisbands horse had severe colic and the vet suspected a twist when the drugs had no effect. She suggested surgery which we declined due to his age, he was 26. At that point the decision was made to pts.
Her decision sounds a little hasty but we weren't there so it is difficult to say.

 

[teddyt]

QR- Why did the vet think her gut was twisted? Did she do an internal? That isnt definitive anyway. Sounds like a very quick decision to make based on what you have said. If a horses gut was twisted there would be sevral signs of the serious situation such as darkened gums, signs of shock, very elevated heart rate, etc. Even then most vets would give pain relief/anti spasmodics and then decide. Unless the horse was in a very bad state most vets wouldnt say put it down now.

 

[lisa_dundee]

I would definitly complain, this vet could go out to another colic horse and give the same prognosis and that owner may immediately follow that vets advice and lose their horse, this isn't just a little mistake, this could have cost your horses life and its a mistake that vets... the people we trust to save our horses should not be making!!!