Vet Rant

H

helm

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 May 2008
Messages
122
Visit site
I am probably being completely unreasonable but I have to sound off!!!!!

Ponios sunburn on his muzzle hasn't really healed properly and seems to be spreading up his blaze. Decided to get the vet to come and have a look. When you try to put cream on it he goes mad. So the vet came - she was from iceland apparently and her English was not too great. She said "he needs cream"... explained to her problem of this and fact is that nice neddy goes mad and tries to kill you.... asked if she could give him a shot of antibiotics or something... after much discussion he was given a shot of antibotics and steroids... got blood in the bottom of the syringe and then gave me medicine to give him for the next five days. She was also arsey with me cos she wanted to do a blood test for liver failure as sometimes that makes them more suseptible to sunburn... i declined - i know why he's sunburn - i went away for a week, friend didn't check on him properly and he takes his sun shield off all the time and won't have cream on - he's also a grey horse! I'd booked the first appointment of the day as I HAVE TO WORK... they came an hour and a half late, not cos they'd been redirected to some poor beast colicing or in a nasty accident, but basically cos they could!!! Vets just drive me bonkers and this one seemed particularly clueless! Now I'm convinced horse will be dead when I get to the yard tonight cos she bodged the injection!
 
Haha dont vets just drive us all mad!! My vet is good but that is cause i know him as a friend so i am lucky.... but dont say that about the horse being dead :S My friend had a new vet out and she gave her her jabs in the wrong place - the horse got a really stiff neck and couldnt move :S! Didnt die thou thank goodness but was still scary!
 
Right well first of all.. A blood test really would not have been a bad idea.

Secondly, im assuming that the anti-biotics and steriods were given Intervenously.. in which case, she would have had to draw blood into the syringe to ensure she was in a vein...

I dont think she did bodge the injection to be honest...

Lou x
 
In defence of the vet, reacting to sunlight can be caused by liver problems, so she was right to suggest tests. Also antibiotics will only work if there is an infection, otherwise they will be a waste of time. Does seem poor if you and the vet cannot understand each other due to a language problem, and if they were late without a reason or phone call that isn't good. Perhaps you could have a word with the practice and explain your concerns and ask for someone else next time.
 
I just think vets are a law unto themselves. They seem to think that no one works - that we spend out entire days with our horses. I would love to do that - fact is i have to work to pay for the horse! Everyone understands when they get diverted for emergencies... but when u make a point of booking the first of the day and u impress on them that you need to get to work and they are supposed to turn up at 9 and then rock up at 1030 for no apparent reason it just does my nut in. That or they just see your horses as scientific experiments to spend thousands on for no good reason. I understand what you're saying about the liver thing and i know she's just covering her bases - I may be proven wrong but I'm fairly certain it's just nasty sunburn.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Right well first of all.. A blood test really would not have been a bad idea.

Secondly, im assuming that the anti-biotics and steriods were given Intervenously.. in which case, she would have had to draw blood into the syringe to ensure she was in a vein...


[/ QUOTE ]

Agree with this!!

Now, what if pony shows different symptoms related to liver problems a couple of months down the line?
Had you had a test now, any underlying problem could be addressed. As it is, you'll now have to play a waiting game and see if he gets worse.

TBH, I would have had a test done, just to put my mind at rest.

As for the lateness, I ask my vet to ring when he's half an hour away and then meet him at the yard. He is happy to do this and saves hanging around
smile.gif
 
Don't you think that the friend who left your horse's mask off should be the person you are ranting about, not the vet? I would have the blood test done too - sunburn at this time of the year is a bit unlikely due to the angle of the sun's rays, and if your horse is a grey, it should have black, not pink skin. As to not turning up on time, well I'm quite sure that my vet has been delayed on visits to me on more than one occasion. He or she might go on a call expecting to see a horse with a cut which needs a tetanus booster, and actually find something with its leg hanging off, and a hysterical owner who is no use to man or beast and needs alot of reassuring.
 
can i point out had vet out beginning of this month for yearly tet and flu, she tried to tell me as Ben had runny nose he had flu and needed medication i tried to explain that his laringinal means his nose runs if he gets excited (usually if his feed isn't fast enough) and she said if it gets thicker he needs antibiotics, so that was fine she then said his teeth desperately needed done (done 6 months before and dentist was due that day) she then said she could do his teeth for me so i explained the dentist was due at 4pm that day.

dentist came got mouth piece in and said to me who ever did him before did a excellent job he doesn't need doing and i would be ripping u off if i did him

so vet just wanted money ,money money
 
His nose is pink skinned.. and yes the blood test may come back to bite me on the bum.. he got sunburn in August... particularly nasty and it's not shifting and his blaze is now swollen.... I accept delays, everyone does... but she had been no where else today!
 
only bit I disagree with is the lateness, we also get our vet to call when certain time away.

Antibiotics are unlikely to help unless it is infected which it sounds not and we really should try and use them as little as necessary.
steroids might help but have other associated risks.
blood in the syringe is necessary/normal.

I would definitely have had the liver test as the couple of horses I have known with problems at this time of year have had liver issues (mine has a white blaze and a full pink nose and has had nothing on it for the last month as sun hasn't really been strong enough)
 
I have no idea what you are complaining about.

You didn't manage the sunburn;
You refused a blood test - when the vet was concerned over possible liver damange;
The horse was not correctly managed in your absence;
Some poor persons horse was collicking - but you'd rather they turn up to you first.
And the injection wasn't bodged - it is common practice to draw some blood back first.

Sorry, I think your attitude stinks!
 
Sally Smith I don't think you read the above stuff - VET HAD BEEN NO WHERE ELSE. Everyone accpets if they are diverted for something more serious!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sally Smith I don't think you read the above stuff - VET HAD BEEN NO WHERE ELSE. Everyone accpets if they are diverted for something more serious!

[/ QUOTE ]

Apologies - I misread that totally.

Either way, I think your ranting is somewhat misguided.
 
Sorry, but I also think your vet was right. Blood test to check for photosensitivity due to liver problems is pretty standard, and you do need to draw blood back in the needle to check the needle is in the vein before injecting the drugs - no other way it can be done!

Agree the delay is inconvenient - did you ask why? Perhaps you could ask the practice to call you in future if delayed.
 
I'm sorry but I agree that your rant seems a little unecessary. Firstly, as Booboos says, vets always draw back when injecting either into vein or muscle a) to check it's where it's supposed to be b) to avoid the potentially distastrous consequences of drugs ending up in arteries, or in a vein when they should be in muscle. I would be more cross if a vet didn't draw back on injecting. Also, if I were you i would seriously consider getting the blood test done. While it may well be sunburn, photosensitivity of white areas (blaze/socks etc) is a major sign of liver failure, for example with ragwort poisoning. At this time of year the sun shouldn't be strong enough to burn, and the fact that it is spreading up the horses face sounds like typical presentation of photosenstivity.
 
I agree with the others above who say this rant seems unjustified.
As regards being late, just because she hadnt been anywhere else that morning doesnt mean she wasnt busy (and possibly unexpectedly so). Before i go out on calls, il often see a horse at the clinic/sort out and treat in patients and try to catch up on memos/calls that came in late the previous evening and ring back clients who are looking for advice/queries. All this takes time and oftn far more than you bargained for!
To add to that I was very late for my calls one day last week due to getting horribly lost 4 or 5 times that morning. I was an hour late for my last 2 calls (I had done 9 calls by then). All it takes is each owner to say "oh can you have a look at X's leg/nose/skin while you are here" and no matter how much time you leave you wont get it right. If your vet is consistently late and you would prefer it, ask him to call you when hes ten/15mins away. most will oblige.
Of course the vet knows you have to work, we dont really have this problem of owners getting off work to see the vet in the middle of the day in ireland. If you cant afford to get the time off work, then I suggest you pay your yard owner to bring in and hold your horse for the vet. may well be easier (and cheaper) for you!
 
Sorry but I too think your rant is unjustified. Just because you booked a first visit, doen't mean she did not get delayed by another customer. vets have phones and such, or maybe she was on-call and out most of the night?
Agree with others re the rest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top