when do you call the vet?

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horsesatemymoney

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in what situation and how bad do things have to be? I get mine out too much I think,like if there's lsameness for a few days....what makes you decide to call the vet out?
 
When something is going to get worse without immediate attention (severe bleeding, nasty wounds, bad colic ), I need a drug I cannot get myself (eg antibiotics), there's something I cannot treat myself (i.e need stitching) or I haven't got a clue what's wrong or has been going on for a while.

Rest I either do it myself (abcesses for example) or they just get rested until it's better (eg mild unknown lameness). Sometimes I'll call for drugs over the phone and they may or may not want to see the horse first.
 
I try and work out what they will actually do - if it's something practical that I can;t do - stitching/ antibiotics etc then they get a call.
If I'm not sure they they are usually happy to have a quick chat on the phone and help in the decision.
The only time I've called in a real panic was a tiny 5p size hole on his hock (no blood) but he was in agony - vet took one look and sent us off to horspital to have the joint flushed - and saved his life!
So I guess I'm also guided by how ill/ sick they look to me
 
If I can't diagnose it, or either can't treat it (lack of equipment, drugs etc) or don't know how to treat it. Or if its something I can deal with at present such as mild colic that could rapidly change to something I can't deal with such as severe colic. Basically if I don't know, I get the vet.
 
Littlelegs said:
If I can't diagnose it, or either can't treat it (lack of equipment, drugs etc) or don't know how to treat it. Or if its something I can deal with at present such as mild colic that could rapidly change to something I can't deal with such as severe colic. Basically if I don't know, I get the vet.
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Likewise.
 
If it's a problem I can't deal with.

If it's something likely to need antibiotics.

If I don't know what's wrong.

I'm quick to call for lameness.

Like Littlelegs, if I don't know - I call the vet.
 
amymay said:
If it's a problem I can't deal with.

If it's something likely to need antibiotics.

If I don't know what's wrong.

I'm quick to call for lameness.

Like Littlelegs, if I don't know - I call the vet.
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I am with lameness- I always worry I'd think I'd know what it was, get it wrong ,and ruin my horse. I'm paranoid though. :(
 
obviously they're on speed dial for emergencies like pumping blood , rolling eyes foaming at the mouth type things but generally i'm a wait and see kind of person.
I guess after a while you get to know your own horses and the kind of things they are prone to and how to treat them without needing the vet, but if it is something i am unsure of i will always phone, i'm lucky in that they are happy to chat over the phone and don't insist on pointless visits.
 
with the last horse - she would shuffle her feet and twitch her lip ad the vet was called


(that was the begninnings of colic)....



but generally if i dont know what it is.......or theres a lot of blood......or colic - the vet is called asap!
 
Similar to the above really. Wound wise I call out for anything that needs stitching or of course if a lot of blood loss but happy to treat other relatively nasty wounds myself and keep a course of antibiotics on the yard at all times as our vets half an hour away so a faff if you have to run in to pick them up. Lameness, depends on the severity - unless hopping lame would probably bute up and wait and see for a couple of days but would of course depend on circumstances. Mild colic we always give two butes and half an hour on the walker (vets advised us to do this years ago) and if it hasn't passed when they come off get the vet out straight away. If anything was unwell in itself, with a high temp / heartrate I would call out quickly and not sit on it. Sometimes I think it's worth the callout fee for peace of mind and a good nights sleep rather than sitting on things.
 
It differs according to problem and location. Severe bleeding and eye problems immediately, Just two examples of NOW. I have many years of experience so judge each situation on severity and knowledge or lack of. Sooner rather than later is a good way to go, despite the cost.

I don't go to the Dr for myself very quickly though - typical horse owner!!:rolleyes:
 
It's easier for me to say why I have called the vet in the last say three years.
Innoculations, review of health status of one pony (put my mind at rest), puncture injury, recurrent uveitis and one sedation for dental work. That's it.
I would call for colic, any 'illness' with high fever, any staggering, severe sweating, shaking, more severe injury etc. etc. It's hard to say without mentioning an awful lot of scenarios but anything I am worried or uneasy about would make me phone for advice at least.
 
Non resolving lameness after 48 hrs, depending on initial signs and symptoms
Elevated Temp
Probs with breathing
Bleeding i cant control
Obvious stitching job
Depending on the horse any signs and symptoms of colic thats not resolving in 30 mins
Trauma to the eye ball
Laminitis
 
Anything that worried me. I'm a wait-and-see person if the horse is generally well, eating and mildly lame or similar but if anything worries me, I'm on the phone.
Fortunately, I've not needed a vet myself in the last 12 months (except for vettings) but have advised two less experienced owners to call the vet NOW. One was something I suspected was azoturia (bloods confirmed it was) and the other looked like lameness from stifle and manifested itself in a complete reluctance to walk. It turned out to be an abcess but the vet did find the stifle was arthritic as well so is treating both!
I would never wait-and-see if I thought a horse was in pain, however - straight on at the first sign of distress.
 
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