why not use a vet you can talk to?

I'd love to meet someone that LOVES being a vet. All the vets I know are looking for an exit window or at best are apathetic about their career. Why? Don't they love animals? Is that not enough? The problem is they come with owners, a small few are know it alls, some dont rate their pet's quality of life as being important, most just don't pay their bills. Exceptions are few and far between. Should have been a grocer - nobody every leaves their shop without paying their bills.
 
In just over twenty years of owning horses and also working on yards vets have always come out when requested except for one occasion, his answer was I've been twice this morning you need to give the medication more time to work, me it's not working she is getting worse she is slamming her head into the stable walls
Vet well it looks like she's going to die anyway why do you need me to come out
That was a jist of the conversation between me and a vet on call in a practice I had used for years. My mare who had colic surgery was having major colic needed PTs it was clear. Vet never did return to yard my horse suffered because of it. So yes vets can and DO refuse to come out
 
my vet is great, i have used others in the course of work that i have not been impressed with! but i still challenge them and tell them if they suggest something that wont work-the current one at work thinks every horse is the same. if he arrives on the yard before i have caught one horse then he wont be looking at that one-i have to twitch it for him to vaccinate, but when the same horse went in for surgery and i requested my vet look at it he got bloods and the horse just stood with someone holding the end of the leadrope:eek:
i am still trying to convince my boss to change vets permanently-i just dont get why people wont change
 
Like you jools what amazes me is when people moan about their vets, say they don't trust them etc but don't change. I had 2 bad experiences with my then vets in fairly quick succession, and voted with my feet! I now have a great practice and have total confidence in them, they are always happy to listen to my views, as one senior partner said to me, no one knows their horse/dog better than its owner. I even had the slightly awkward experience of a puzzling condition with our donkey, which one of the highly experienced vets was puzzled by. My then vet student daughter went to a seminar on "exotic" animals which included a lengthy lecture on donkeys, and she realised what was wrong with our lad. Cue me phoning a vet who had been qualified for 20 odd years and telling him what a 3rd year student suggested for treatment - fair dos to him he took it on board and tried the new treatment.
Glenruby , so sad you feel like that so early in your career. In her first year working my daughter has already met some owners who have her tearing her hair out , but generally they are pretty good.
 
Murphysminder - for the first 18mths I thought I had the best job in the world. Slowly but surely that feeling was replaced by one of despair. Unfortunately, having recent met a group of college pals, this is not uncommon. Infact out of the 20 or so of us chatting, only 2 even remotely liked being vets. Sad but true.
 
I once had a vet refuse to come out. My normal vet from that practise was on holiday.

One of mine showed early signs of colic (sweating, not eating ,lying down) and I asked this particular vet for a call. I was told to keep an eye on him and call later. Things did not change so I called again, she was rather rude and said that there were proper colics to see. Fortunately nothing came of the problem, but it could have done.

That was the last time I ever had her come to any of my horses. I also had a problem with another vet from that practise again when my own vet was not on call.

I have move with my vet as he moved from one practise to another ,I trusted him, I can always talk to him and he knows that I would not call him if I did not feel it was necessary. He is now on his own and I have a far better service.
He knows that if I say that a certain horse does not do box rest , he does not make me stable that horse.

It is always helpful if you can talk to your vet and discuss any problems you have. Either face to face or over the phone.

I feel I am fortunate that I have a good relationship with not just my vet but my farrier ,my equine and human Chiropractor and my Equine dentist. I Or my insurance company pay the bills so I expect a good service.
 
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Wow I am amazed by some of these vets! I guess I have just been really really lucky, I've used primarily the same vet for the last 11 years and never yet had a problem with him. They are a very small practice (2 vets) and the second vet is just as good.
Re the comment above about vets not enjoying being vets, mine is the opposite!! He is the most investigative determined man I have ever met when seeking an accurate diagnosis!
Also - not everyone likes the same vets. I know the one I prefer to come from our practice does wind some people up as his bedside manner can be a little 'frank' but I would rather know his honest opinion though!
 
Glenruby

Your post about paying bills and you would not walk out of a shop without paying.

The difference is that you have a choice when buying fruit and veg or such and if there is a problem you can get your money back. Vets (and I presume that is what you are) if things are not right you are playing with an animals life

Food, cloths etc can either be thrown away or returned.

We understand that advances in treatments has made things more expensive but a lot of horse owner do more than one job to keep their horse/horses and the current financial situation just shows how people are struggling.

The vets that I have spoken to both Equine and Small Animal enjoy their job and are dedicated to that job
 
Ps I have the mobile numbers for both vets, wouldn't hesitate to call them directly out of hours or in hours if I have a direct question. Their practice manager is also knowledgable, helpful and friendly.
Think I might be very lucky!!
 
I think a lot of vets don't really like being vets because it is a decision they made earlier in life than is necessary for many careers. The latest you can feasibly decide to go for it and get enough work experience in is 16ish (that gives you a year before uni applications). I think that's pretty early for career choice. I too know a lot of vets who would probably rather be doing something else.. and several who are having gone down the PhD route and then finding alternatives.
 
That is sad Glenruby, perhaps a change of practice would help?
My vets seem to love their job, in fact 2 of the senior partners now have children who are hoping to become vets too, so presumably their parents havent put them off.;)
 
I have rung up my current vet for advice, but I wouldn't have done with my old vets- I think they would have told me they needed to come out even if they didn't, just to get more money. They once charged me £25 for a bottle of lice shampoo that I could have got for £3-4 at the saddlery, telling me it was 'special', and they told me I had to bath (twice) my (just bought) relatively unhandled, underweight 3yo in a very cold april, when he was living out and too scared to have a rug on. I argued and they told me there was no other option and I was cruel to consider not doing it immediately, and no, I couldn't use a powder. :( Wish I'd changed vets then, not waited for another mistake. Thats probably why people would rather ask on here first, but I urge them to change vets, there are decent ones out there!
 
glenruby said:
I'd love to meet someone that LOVES being a vet. All the vets I know are looking for an exit window or at best are apathetic about their career. Why? Don't they love animals? Is that not enough? The problem is they come with owners, a small few are know it alls, some dont rate their pet's quality of life as being important, most just don't pay their bills. Exceptions are few and far between. Should have been a grocer - nobody every leaves their shop without paying their bills.
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What an extraordinary post it's just a galaxy away from my experiance of vets ,
Vets have a nice lifestyle all the ones I know live in lovely houses ,go sking climb mountains or do alsorts of challenging and interesting hobbys most I know are partners they have the challenge of running their own buisness developing professionally over the years.
Most don't pay their bills want b******t all businesses have a level of bad debt they just have to deal with as vets do with a debt collector and I don't know many other buisnesss where after charging thousands in drugs a vet decided we where treating the wrong problem cleared the issue up in a couple of days and had me the cilent pay the bill without a question.
People leave retail establishments all the time without paying ( I have personal experiance in this sector) you simply factor bad debt into your buisness plan I gather from your post you are a vet perhaps a change of direction is called for but I respectfully suggest that you avoid retail as from the tone of your post I think your temperament is unsuitable.
 
Personally I think vets need taking off the pedestal that many have put them on. They are only human for goodness sake.

The practice I am at I will only have out two of the vets there out of the four who do horses. One I would have out if if was an emergency the forth I would not touch with a barge pole. Having made too many mistakes with our horses in the past he is not welcome on the yard. I could leave the practice but the two we like are fab and trust completely. My Mare has a complicated condition and both oft vets had a decision with me and admitted that they were out of their depth and rather than me fork out for more and more and strong me along (Which vet no 4 would have done) they referred us to Newmarket.

Newmarket on the other hand have not been very good. As a rather neurotic owner I gave them heaps of information when she entered into their care on both occasions but yet did not follow my wishes for her care whilst she was their and now over a month after her return from them she is a nervous wreck and a shadow of her former self. They also saw fit to charge me double agreed limit! Unfortunately due to the complexities of my mares condition she will have to remain under their care as age needs specialist attention and in their credit they did correctly diagnose and currently manage her condition.
 
I have been really shocked at some of the comments on here. I have only really used two vet practices she I moved here for my horses in the last 15 years. The first vet was brilliant but sadly moved away.
Now I am with a large vet practice and have used all of the four main vets. I mainly deal with one as he knows my horse so well. He is brilliant, nothing is ever too much trouble, he will always discuss things on the phone first if I want. I even rang the practice this morning for some advice on a swollen leg, advice given over the phone and said to call back to let them know how things were. If I want him to come out he will come out. I have his direct mobile number if I need him urgently.
He always listens to what I have to say, and when having to explain things to my daughter when she was younger did so without being patronising.

Yes I know he sounds too good to be true but he is. There is also the added benefit of him being 'eye-candy'. Now I know he won't mind me saying that - it is a standing joke between many of us regarding his good looks - I know he plays on it as well :-).

Our horse's innoculations are due between Christmas and New Year and I always make sure he has a couple of bottles of wine as a yearly Thank You.

I think I am very lucky to have such a brilliant vet given that my 'spesh' warmblood is so injury prone.
 
I think that it is very important that the relationship people build with their vet is very important.
If as a customer, you are unhappy with your vet, get another.
Equally, many owners have an intimate knowledge of their horse, and a good understanding of some diseases which affect their horse. If would be foolish for a vet to discount some of the owners opinions.
Equally there are poor vets, and owners who are as mad as a box of frogs, just life really.
As an owner you need to employ a vet with whom you can get along.
Whether as an owner you want input and be part of the decision making, or rely completely on the vet and their professionalism.
 
I can't edit posts on my phone, it is very important, it is very important, lol.
No very very important, in truth I cannot say how important it is being so important.
 
Firstly, my original post was in the early hours of the morning which is partially responsible for the miserable tone! However, most of those vets you have spoken about in the above posts are partners and entered a very different career than recent graduates. Wages are not what they used to be and without being a partner you cannot e pect to earn a good wage. As a student I too saw vets with a good quality of life. Not so now- and it is not just a product of the economic times we live in. I am currently in the process of joining a partnership however for years I have had the stress of trying to manage staff/ client accounts and the bank balance (!) without due credit. This has resulted in regular 16-20hr days. A lot to take on when you are still Learning your trade. I still enjoy the practical aspects however I do agree, having to make life decisions when still a teenager ( and whenvet was a different lifestyle
 
jools123 said:
fair point!:D
i have commented on that post and its not one i would have issue with, its more when people want someone to fix a problem via the forum without ga] getting a vet in the first place or b] listening to what the vet has said or c] discussing the individual animal with the vet-its the same at work sometimes (i work a a vets on reception part time) people phone up and say 'my dog has not moved all day' or 'my cat has not eaten for 4 days'..'can you tell me whats wrong'
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lol that made me laugh, I work as a vets receptionist aswell. I had a call the other day .Man "My cats been violated, what are you going to do about it?".
 
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spottybotty said:
lol that made me laugh, I work at a vets recetionist aswell. I had a call the other day .Man "My cats been violated, what are you going to do about it?".
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what did he mean!?

a few years ago one of the vets was called out to sick a 'sick' dog that was not eating and just laying about... he was horrified cos when he went to examine the dog it had been dead for at least 3 days and was as stiff as a board and a wee bit smelly:eek::eek::eek:
 
glenruby said:
I'd love to meet someone that LOVES being a vet. All the vets I know are looking for an exit window or at best are apathetic about their career. Why? Don't they love animals? Is that not enough? The problem is they come with owners, a small few are know it alls, some dont rate their pet's quality of life as being important, most just don't pay their bills. Exceptions are few and far between. Should have been a grocer - nobody every leaves their shop without paying their bills.
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I quite agree. Your supposed to save little Benji and be paid in eggs and flour and be thankfull like the good old days when James Herriot was around :)
 
jools123 said:
what did he mean!?

a few years ago one of the vets was called out to sick a 'sick' dog that was not eating and just laying about... he was horrified cos when he went to examine the dog it had been dead for at least 3 days and was as stiff as a board and a wee bit smelly:eek::eek::eek:
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A ginger Tom had mated with it lol. Had the same with a tortoise, man brought it in said he didnt think it was well, vet looked at it and it was dead, eyes sunken! No wonder it had stayed in the same spot in the garden for two days! :)
 
glenruby said:
Firstly, my original post was in the early hours of the morning which is partially responsible for the miserable tone! However, most of those vets you have spoken about in the above posts are partners and entered a very different career than recent graduates. Wages are not what they used to be and without being a partner you cannot e pect to earn a good wage. As a student I too saw vets with a good quality of life. Not so now- and it is not just a product of the economic times we live in. I am currently in the process of joining a partnership however for years I have had the stress of trying to manage staff/ client accounts and the bank balance (!) without due credit. This has resulted in regular 16-20hr days. A lot to take on when you are still Learning your trade. I still enjoy the practical aspects however I do agree, having to make life decisions when still a teenager ( and whenvet was a different lifestyle
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Will you enjoy working with your new partners ?
Do you like and trust them?
Is the something else you would like to do do you have another plan even if it is half formed or ill defined in your mind.
These are questions I urge you to ask yourself
My BF is one of the senior partners in a very big vet practise yes things are not as easy as they where but it's the same for every one everywhere, I think perhaps the universities dont concentrate at all on the skills vets will need to manage a large buisness manage staff and cilents negiote with fellow partners etc etc.
I don't know how old you are glenruby but you can change things take a new path if you want to I thought in my late twenties it was to late too make a big change now many years later I am amazed at my stupidity I should just have done it.
I am sorry if my reply to your post upset you but it was an instinctive reaction from someone who has paid enormous vets bill ever year ( around £10,000 last
year )I was offended by your post .
I think a few days holiday might do you good have you any coming up ? discuss your feeling with your nearest and dearest Good Luck.
 
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