Vets making me feel like a neurotic owner

dressagelove

dressagelove

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 February 2010
Messages
1,903
Location
North West
Visit site
You may have seen my post a few days ago about getting the vet to do some scans on my horse's suspensories. Well he is coming today. I want the scans done for peace of mind. However, he is not actually lame, just has symptoms of DSLD. the vet called me this morning and has made me feel like a neurotic owner for wanting the scans done when he is not actually lame.

What does it matter, if I have the money and want the scans done, who is he to belittle me and make me feel like a stupid owner. I know my horse, and I know something is not quite right and I want to catch anything early. Even if there isn't anything.
Not looking forward to arguing my corner later on :(
 
Quite right, some vets are arrogant muppets.

I meant to say on your other thread, when my horse was resting his back legs a lot, he was actually struggling with his back and saddle. Physio and a clever saddle seem to have solved the problem. Just in case you want to check out this direction?

I hope you can sort your horse out.
 
You are the client, and if the vet doesn't want to spend your money on scans - then change practice.

However, any good vet worth their salt will listen to an owner when they say something is wrong. After all who knows their animal best???
 
I have called my vet out on many a wild goose chase - on one particular occasion I asked him to come out on a weekend as thought my cob had a hay seed stuck in his eye, but turned out just to be a change in pigmentation! I felt a right wally but my vet just said that he wished all of his clients were so conscientous.

If your vet is not providing the service you want, I would change vet. You should feel comfortable with your vet, not worried to call them out....also the vet is still getting paid for the scans whether your horse has a problem or not, so can't see what the issue is.
 
Perhaps the issue is not that the vet thinks there is no problem, but that you have already decided what the problem is? You want to have the suspensories scanned -which might find a problem. But what if in doing this for you the vet doesn't do a full examination, finds nothing wrong on the scan of the suspensories but misses something else that is causing the problem? Perhaps that is what is worrying him?
 
Thanks for the replies. I guess what it might be, is that I have actually changed vets. This is a new vet, so he doesn't know me, I could be anyone getting him at it I suppose. I have heard good things about him, so hopefully we can talk it out today...

Thanks flame, but he has regular physio visits and had a made to measure fitted just last year. Last time physio came out she said there was no pain at all in his back, and I was like, 'good cos that saddle cost me a fortune!' :)

He said he wants to come and do some flex tests first, but not sure what that will indicate if he is not lame anyway? All my horses are barefoot, and I am fed up of having to argue my corner about that to everyone as well. If this vet comes out and tells me to put shoes on him, I may scream.
 
Take a deep breath let him come look at the horse do some flex tests and take it from there.
You can meet him show him what's worrying you when the horse is in its own enviroment.
 
Just in case you're not happy with the interpretation you could ask for copies on cd perhaps to send to a specialist. I've done this before with x rays
 
hmmm theyre getting like doctors ! suprised they havnt stated stress or virus . horse not you ! its your horse and your money. how dare they be so condecending. stand your ground .
 
its a lot easier to diagnose any illness or injury if the vet can examine the horse rather than just do one specific test - you may be looking in completely the wrong place i.e. back rather than suspensaries. Also any changes on the scans especially if subtle need to be interperated in combination with full examination and clinical signs.
Not all vets want to spend owners money willy nilly - at least some of them want to examine the animal and diagnose the problem in the most logical and straightforward way.
 
I think this is a new relationship and you are both making assumptions about each other, apologies if im wrong but if im reading this correctly, youve not yet met this vet and theyve not yet seen the horse.
Dont you think its better to let the vet come out, see and assess the horse then between the 2 of you discuss the findings, but bring the scan in the event it might be needed if your suspicions prove correct, it sounds a bit like your telling the vet what's wrong and not really letting them do their job, i think that might p1ss of most professionals
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top