Vets Bill Grumble - Beware check insurance.

Even if the punter asks for a quote/estimate Verdie?...... If they did not when asked I'd be changing vets.

I understand that in the event of an emergency things are not so easy.
 
Spook said:
Even if the punter asks for a quote/estimate Verdie?...... If they did not when asked I'd be changing vets.

I understand that in the event of an emergency things are not so easy.
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Firstly my name has no e .2nd Im married to a vet and im a farrier and i can say that when it comes to PTS vets are not the answer.Mrs verdi disagrees and ill have to live with that but having had to put animals out of there miserie with a browning 9mm pistol i would never call a vet if possible.
 
I apologize for spelling your name wrongly Mrs verdi.

I agree that the vet is often not the answer for PTS. The local slaughterman/knackery is usually efficient and much cheaper.

Are we disagreeing? I do apologize if there has been a misunderstanding.
 
Local hunt. Christmas Eve last year - pony found dead in field. Phoned them at about 6pm, they arrived at about 9pm & took her away. Total cost - £60. Had there have been an urgent need to PTS they would have been there within the hour, but the cost would have been the same.
 
I paid £110 for my old pony to be shot and disposed of by the local knackerman last year. I normally use the hunt but their winch had broken. The guy was very professional, handled the pony well and I wouldn't hesitate to use him again. The only time I have had a vet arrange disposal they just phoned the same knackerman and I payed him direct with no extra to the vet.
 
On reflection Panic was my problem, mare was just 11 years old and fully fit and healthy, the cause of her being PTS was a horrifically broken leg in the field, the cannon bone pierced the skin and leg became detached (leg was lying flat on the floor with just the skin from the tendon area attaching it when i got there!) Yard owner who found her was a complete mess as was her husband who was trying to help, there was a lot of blood and bits tissue of all over the corner of the field plus to make it worse the other horse who shares the field with her was very upset. I had no idea who the local hunt or knackerman was (only moved to this area a year ago and never got to hunt in this area) and had never looked into costs for disposal of a dead horse (I wanted to bury her at home but vet told me it was illegal - which i know now is not strictly true) when filling in the forms to PTS i asked about costs and the vet said "if you tick all the first boxes that’s the cheapest option" but did not quote any sort of price, vet did not want to use a pistol because of other horse.

I’m looking for a new horse now (part of a different story I’m not enjoying that either!) following this dreadful experience I will be looking into all the options regarding extras to future insurance policies and moving vets practices to one closer as when it’s an emergency yet need to get to you quickly not nearly 1.5 hours later and have a plan for if a future horse (heaven forbid) has to be PTS.

The point of this post which some people might of missed by the sound of it (maybe I did not make myself clear) is that was that what I had done was the cheapest vet provided option to have a horse PTS and disposed of no wonder some horses end up abandoned or sent for meat in appalling conditions as in my opinion it almost rules out doing “the right thing” as a viable options for ill or aged uninsured equines.
 
Gosh, poor you, that sounds horrific :(

I agree with you and it's never really occurred to me to check if disposal costs are covered on the insurance, I've just checked and mine is covered up to £500 but I can see whe the cost would be prohibitive to some people :( It sounds morbid but I have always had the knackerman's number at hand but I think that only happens if you are unfortunate enough to have been in that situation before. Of course if the horse is insured you need to have them pts by a vet anyway and in a situation like yours I doubt any of us would be thinking about the costs involved as you have no time to think.

I do wish you luck in your horse hunt :)
 
LizzieJ said:
.......and in a situation like yours I doubt any of us would be thinking about the costs involved as you have no time to think.

I do wish you luck in your horse hunt :)
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You're quite right, and in the case of an emergency, few are prepared. Were I unable to do it myself, then it would be a case of whoever could get there first.

Alec.
 
I have to say it sounds about right to me my vet has just quoted me £150 for euthanasia and £250 for disposal. Obviously this is within working hours.
 
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