Veterinarian drugged my horse without my consent?!

[jollyholly]

My horse lives in a herd and the other day the other horses in the herd had treatment from a veterinarian. The other horses were drugged and then sleepy, but my horse didn't understand that and wanted to play with the others (He is 2 years old). The vet and the owner of the other horses then decide to drug my horse so that he would not be so "annoying" towards the other horses. They didn't tell me about this or ask if it's okay to drug my horse. I was quite upset when I heard about it, but I don't know if I am upset because they drugged him down or because they didn't ask me about it first. They could at least asked me first or told me to be there so I could keep him away from the others. The owner obviously thinks I'm overreacting, so what do you think? Am I overreacting?

I do not intend to take the case further, but then it cannot be ethically correct for a veterinarian to drug a horse without the owner's consent because it is "annoying"? Had it been an emergency situation, of course they should treat the horse, but here he was just annoying...

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

They should have asked for your consent I would be annoyed as well I hope they don't expect you to pay for it.

If the owner of the other horses was planning the vet and having her own sedated they should have let you know, at least then you could have held your horse out of the way.

 

[bonny]

Whereabouts are you OP ? I find it hard to believe a vet would sedate a horse in that circumstance.

 

[ycbm]

If this was in the UK and not an emergency situation, and the YO told the vet the horse was not hers, then you could report the vet for sedating your horse without your permission, it would be completely unethical.

You aren't over reacting, I would be furious. Apart from anything, there is a choke risk to sedated horses being allowed to eat too soon. Did they even try to contact you?
.

 

[jollyholly]

I live in Sweden, but I do belive that it is not allowed to treat other people's horses without consent in non-emergency situation. He treated all her horses so in my eyes it's quite obvious he wasn't her horse as he was the only one not being treated.

The owner did not intend to tell me. I found him in the herd completely lethargic and thought he was seriously ill..

 

[Surbie]

I would be absolutely livid and would be contacting the lead of the vet practice to complain in detail and in no uncertain terms. I would also want the name of that vet to take reporting them further.

And, if there isn't a YO to take it up with, I would be looking for somewhere else to keep my horse as that is a wanton lack of regard.

 

[SEL]

I would be absolutely livid and would be contacting the lead of the vet practice to complain in detail and in no uncertain terms. I would also want the name of that vet to take reporting them further.

And, if there isn't a YO to take it up with, I would be looking for somewhere else to keep my horse as that is a wanton lack of regard.

Exactly this!!

One of mine weighs in at 650kg but needs the dose of 200kg and if you don't know that you will have a serious problem on your hands (as we found out the first time she got the full dose). My vets even ask permission to sedate my own horses - they don't just crack on with it.

 

[Peglo]

No I don’t think you’re overreacting. I too would be so annoyed. As you say they should’ve contacted you to either take the young horse away for a while or ask you if it was alright to sedate him too. I feel very sorry for you. They better not charge you for it, definitely don’t pay them anything if they try to.

 

[Birker2020]

That is disgusting, what if your horse had a reaction that you knew about to the sedative?? That would be a very interesting position for the vet to find himself in if he had killed your horse, its not unheard of. Report the vet if you have proof that this was done.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I live in Sweden, but I do belive that it is not allowed to treat other people's horses without consent in non-emergency situation. He treated all her horses so in my eyes it's quite obvious he wasn't her horse as he was the only one not being treated.

The owner did not intend to tell me. I found him in the herd completely lethargic and thought he was seriously ill..

Thats a disgrace and young horses are not often used to sedation so should be monitored closely afterwards so they don't do something silly.

I would report the vet and get out of that yard you can't stay somewhere with people like that.

 

[Melody Grey]

Aside from the ethics of sedating your horse without consent, just wondering what the procedure was that required them all to be sedated out in the field together? Doesn’t sound like a very safe approach overall?!

 

[jollyholly]

Aside from the ethics of sedating your horse without consent, just wondering what the procedure was that required them all to be sedated out in the field together? Doesn’t sound like a very safe approach overall?!

She had their teeth done out in the field. Do I think it safe? Absolutely not, so that's why I initially did not join the treatment. When my horse then ends up being drugged anyway I get pissed off

 

[Cloball]

How do you stop a herd of horses eating after sedation in a field
People that vehemently tell you you are over reacting to something you disagree with are almost always the ones in the wrong imo.

 

[jollyholly]

How do you stop a herd of horses eating after sedation in a field
People that vehemently tell you you are over reacting to something you disagree with are almost always the ones in the wrong imo.

Exactly! They did not do anything to stop them from eating. Luckily no one choked, but what if my horse did that? It could have ended so bad

 

[ihatework]

I am in general pretty relaxed. I have manged a herd of youngsters on acreage with minimal facilities and yes at times we have utilised sedation on some to get procedures done.

But despite that I too would be pissed at what you describe. Thought needs to go into these things and if you are dealing with clients horses so does communication!
So I'd be pissed at the YO and a little concerned at the vet (although they may be a little led astray depending on how the yard owner presented the situation)

 

[maya2008]

Exactly! They did not do anything to stop them from eating. Luckily no one choked, but what if my horse did that? It could have ended so bad

If just grass, apparently it’s not so much of a problem. Hay/feed is, but I have been reassured that if they are with it enough to walk around and want to eat, grass won’t be a problem.

In terms of the sedation, I can see it would have been a safety issue. Yours needed to have been removed from the herd/headcollared and held.

 

[jollyholly]

If just grass, apparently it’s not so much of a problem. Hay/feed is, but I have been reassured that if they are with it enough to walk around and want to eat, grass won’t be a problem.

In terms of the sedation, I can see it would have been a safety issue. Yours needed to have been removed from the herd/headcollared and held.

They only have hay, no grass

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

I would be fuming and contacting the correct societies. I am pretty sure the Vet could get get struck off for this!

 

[Fjord]

That is shocking and I would be furious. I would definitely raise it with the vet practice and also the yard owner (assuming it's not the same person as the owner of the other horses).

 

[ycbm]

They only have hay, no grass

This is a shocker. I have always been warned, every single time, not to allow my horses access to hay until the sedation is worn off.
.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I would be fuming and contacting the correct societies. I am pretty sure the Vet could get get struck off for this!

I do agree with this and I would also be fuming. But we can't know how the horse was presented to the vet, they may well have accepted that it was one of the YO's horses and for whatever reason they weren't wanting it treated with the rest?

 

[CJoe]

I would be livid....say your horse had a bad reaction?? who would be liable?? They needed to get consent, end of!

 

[Archangel]

So they sedated a whole herd of horses just to do the teeth of one?
I'm gobsmacked.

The fact they were on hay is even more of a worry.
I would be incandescent with rage.

ETS - just realised more than one horse had their teeth done. Even so, it's bonkers to sedate another horse who is not being treated.