Vet to blame???

hudsonw

hudsonw

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Hi, I'm not sure if i have a claim against my vet?...My horse came in lame on the 25th June. After cold hosing his leg I turned him out. On the 26th he was worse so i brought him in and called a vet. My vet is a large practice with over 6 equine vets. The 1st vet (Mrs X) came and said it was an abcess, poulticed his foot but said i could turn out. The next day my horse was worse so i called the vet again (Mr Y). As it was a Sat night Mr Y said bring him in, give an extra Bute and he'd come out in the morning. Sunday morning Mr Y came and said it was a bruised sole or at worse a fractured Pedal Bone. Box rest for 3 days if no better my horse would need an x-ray. 3 days came and went with no improvement so i call the vet for an appointment and they refused to come out saying "I was told i would need an x-ray" I have no transport so an x-ray was booked for the Monday (4 days later). Monday the vet phoned to say the x-ray machine was broke but i asked if they could send someone anyway to check his progress. Another vet arrived (Mrs T) and said it was an abcess but have an x-ray as it might be his coffin joint. An X-ray was booked for the Wednesday. The Tuesday my farrier was due and he took one look at my horse and said it was Laminitis. He trimmed his feet told me to keep him boxed, bute, an ACP, Bed out his whole stable and soak his hay. I contacted my vet (Mrs T) and she wasn't convinced it was Laminitis and to have the x-ray as planned. Mrs T arrived on the Wednesday, took an x-ray and later that day called me to say it was really bad Laminitis. So 14 days after the 1st vet came out we were finally told it was Laminitis. The vet has now put foam pads on my horses feet for a week increased his bute to 4 a day, he's on 2 mls of Sedalin and reduced soaked hay. Mrs T is coming out again to take another x-ray and if my horse has improved or not got any worse he can have Imprint shoes on.
So...does anyone think that 14 days is too long for 3 vets to pick up laminitis?
My vet bill is now huge, do you think i shoud refuse to pay for the 1st 3 visits, up to the point that laminitis was confirmed?
If my horse doesn't pull through do you think i have a claim for neglegence?
Also, sorry to add this bit on but i've been told to soak my hay for 12hrs by some people and 24 hrs by others...which one?
Thanks and sorry for the long rant...
confused.gif
 
I would feed 24 hr soaked hay so you know that all the goodness is taken out, but do refresh the water after 12 hrs.
Honeypots on forum is good on lami in horses, she has 2 and one of them was in a bad state when he arrived at hers.
 
To be honest no, I don't think your vet is entirely to blame. it is very difficult to monitor a horse's progress if you have a different vet attending each appointment and they do rely on you as an owner to acertain extent to make a diagnosis. I would however question why no-one came out on your request.

Hay soaked for 12 hours will have absolutely no goodness left in it whatsoever and will be fine to feed.

If its any consolation a horse at our yard was recently diagnosed with lami having been lame for weeks (owner didn't get vet) xrays showed severe rotation but horse is now sound and back in work.

hope your horse mends quickly
 
I would say that 2 weeks and 3 vets to diagnose laminitis is apallling. I would ask to speak to a senior partner and explain that you are unhappy and unwilling to pay for the first 3 visits.

Soaking hay for 12 hours is sufficient to remove all the nutrients. Then rinse before feeding. 24 hours is unnecesary.

I wish you luck with your horse
 
I completely agree with teddyt. That length of time to actually do something helpful was way too long.

Personally I would refuse to pay for the first few visits - one vet tells you to turn the horse out again after misdiagnosis and the others were all barking up the wrong tree too!

I agree that it is difficult to monitor the horse's progress with each visit and a new vet each time, but that is why they have files. Much the same way that a hospital does, and if the vets haven't updated this over this period of time so they can monitor the horse properly, then they are entirely to blame.
 
I would say that it is partly vet to blame. I know they cant detect everything- BUT farrier spotted it straight away....... say it all really. I would not pay for visits untill the x-ray was taken. They completely missadvised you initially- and dissagreed with farrier!
 
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