Vets Insisting on another call out and exam

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Oh great thanks for embarrassing me in front of everyone! Thought we vets werent meant to question each other in front of clients but maybe just tactfully point it out privately. I was quoting the senior equine partner at my practice who always tells our clients that.I did think it odd when he first told me but didnt question him. I'll go and look it up myself.

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sorry, but none of these guys are our clients. and most of them know which drugs are licensed and which not! Isn't it kind of an essential thing to know which drugs are licensed for the animals you're treating? It's def a good idea to be sure of your stuff before you post it on a public forum as a professional. Sorry if you feel embarassed but you have to be careful about what you post on internet forums.
 
I do understand the vets concern about the drugs being "pushed" round the yard. I do understand the concerns of gastric ulcers - my horse had these so she was changed to Danilon. But should my old girl start to have any further issues she will be pts anyway. All i am trying to do is give her the most comfortable life i can before she goes, ,and i am not slating all vets - many of you are extreamly helpful and do not treat your customers as cash cows - but i have over the years spent what i consider to be a fortune seeking a cure for my old lady and i think i finally realised that my buttons were being pushed when i was told she needed each limb and joint x-raying - really what was the point in this? The horse was given a course of cartrophen last May to help with her arthritus what else do i need to prove that she is under treatment for. Again i do not have an issue with a 12 montly check up - but its only just gone 7 months - so in hind sight i should have lied about her requirements and stocked up a few boxes whilst she was "under treatement". Tbh - if the vets work out the last time i had a box of danilon they will see it was 50 days ago - which is why i tried to re-order yesterday.

Sorry vets - i am not personally slating you -we all have rules to follow - but i am annoyed that its another 70 odd quid for basically nothing - and what happens to all these x-rays and blood tests - do you know i have never seen the results of any of them - and surely if i am paying i should at least be given them.
 
In order for a vet to prescribe drugs, the animal has to be "under their care". Depending on the client, most vets are happy to see the animal at least once a year, preferably twice. After this, you are not bound to buy the drugs from them, but they MUST issue a prescription if requested and can charge for this. They normally charge about £10.00 - so you can then buy your drugs elsewhere. In the case of a drug like Pergolide, it is normally much cheaper to get a prescription from the vet and then take it to the chemist, rather than buy from the vet. If your vet last saw your horse in May or last year, then a visit is definitely due before they can prescribe any more drugs. This is the law - not the vet being difficult. Be very careful about buying POMs (prescription only medicines) on line. Although the packaging can look the same, the drugs may not be what they appear!
 
I think it's very appropriate for the vet to check the horse before prescribing more painkillers.

8 years is a very long time to be on such drugs and I'd be questioning the effects on the internal organs by now- you probably owe it to your horse to have the liver/kidney functions done periodically anyway.
 
I can understand that it is frustrating (and I know I would be pretty irritated at being charged the full whack when I only want the drugs). However, the other thing to bear in mind is that the horse may no longer be on this earth, and by repeatedly issuing prescription drugs, an unscrupulous owner may be able to sell these on at inflated prices. It is in everyone's interest that the visit be made, but to make the full charge for it seems a bit off considering the amount of money the OP has spent already with the practice.

A bit of give and take may not be out of order here. How about calling your normal vet and explaining that you feel that they are not being as helpful as they could in your situation:?
 
She had liver/kidney checks done in May - part of the £800 quid bill - and as i have already asked - why do i never get to see the results of these or get a copy...... by doing this i am basically being prevented from moving my horse to a different practice becuase i will basically be starting all over again.

Can some one tell me who actually "owns" the x-rays and blood test? - Me because i have paid for them ? or the vets because they did them (or there lab did). I have noway of comparing her bloods for any of the last 8 years - i have no way of comparing the endless x-rays she has had I have never been given the opportunity to see them !
 
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. The only thing we have to make sure is that the passport has been signed at the back to say the horse wont be going into the human food chain.

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Never had that happen - out of curiosity, does everyone else's vet ask for and sign the passport.


If you spoke to the receptionist is it possible that they are just repeating the rules but if you spoke to the vet directly they could be a little more flexible.
If your horse has been under ongoing treatment for that condition maybe they could issue a repeat on the basis they will check up next time they are out there for something else.

We're lucky, we get our vet's mobile numbers so we talk to them directly.
 
The vets continue to own xrays etc.
You are not being prevented from moving practie. Once you register with a practice you ask your new vets to contact your old practice so all medical history may be handed over to them - its that simple.
What benefit would there be to you having all her bloods over the years? Or xrys? Comparing them is (and I dont mean to be/appear patronising here) above the scope of most horse owners (unless you have a background in human/vet med or medical labwork?). That is afterall what your vets have been paid to do.
As has been said above, vets are required by law to see animals under their care every6mths. One of these visits usually coincides with vaccination (no charges for "reviewing" the situation obviously. The other may coincide with any other visit necessary or as in your case, an extra visit may be required. Use the time to talk to yur vet about any other queries you may have too - you might as well since you are paying fr it. In our practice we do these checks on free zone visits so exam fee only applies(no call out).
A blood test once a year is a very good idea for any horse on long-term meds (the fact that you would only put her down if she was ill is irrelevant-most horses on long term meds are in the same situation).
Horses are expensive animals, you surely knew that when you got into them. And as for it creating a welfare problem (re costs)- quite the opposite! It improves the welfare of far far more animals than it disimproves.
Either way, your vets hands are tied. They must see the horse within 6mths (as far as repeat prescriptions go). Its more than their job is worth to not do so. I have refused to give out drugs in the same situation before - we MAY give a little leeway if annual vaccination is booked in for the following few weeks - but only give out eough drugs to tide over til then.
 
i think 12monthly would be ok for most tbh....
btw you can get a script from the vet to use online/ at a chemist, you dont have to buy from the practice.
if they insisted and said its EU rules i would check this and if true, box the horse up there if you have transport....
 
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. The only thing we have to make sure is that the passport has been signed at the back to say the horse wont be going into the human food chain.

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Never had that happen - out of curiosity, does everyone else's vet ask for and sign the passport.


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the vet doesn't sign the passport, you should have done that - just the little section at the back to say horse wont go into food chain. before i graduated my vets made sure i'd done that before they would treat my horse. it should be done by all vets but i'm sure there are some out there not following the rules.

in response to who owns the xrays - the vet does and is legally required to keep hold of them. you are perfectly entitled to a copy of the blood results. if you want to move practice that is fine - your new vets will ask your old ones for a full medical history. it's not your job to supply that to the new vets.
 
Thanks for all your replies - but when i pay for x-rays for myself i get given the x-rays as i have paid for them and the doctor does not own them - why is it different with horses?

I am paying for them - it is not like the NHS
 
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Thanks for all your replies - but when i pay for x-rays for myself i get given the x-rays as i have paid for them and the doctor does not own them - why is it different with horses?

I am paying for them - it is not like the NHS

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it's just the way the law is - it says that we own the xrays. i dont know why it's like that, but it is.
 
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