Would you expect a same day vet appointment?

[HashRouge]

Not a complaining thread, just me fretting because I won't be able to speak to the vet until tomorrow morning!

My gelding has had gooey eyes since the weekend and it hasn't resolved with bathing his eyes, so I think some sort of infection is likely and would like the vet to have a look. I will need to take time off work to attend, and am trying to work out the logistics. If i ring the vet tomorrow morning, do you think there is a reasonable chance I'll be able to get an appointment that day, or do you think it's more likely to be Friday? It's been so long since I've had to get the vet for something that a) wasn't routine or b) wasn't an out of hours emergency call out!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Eyes are treated as urgent, so likely they will see him the same day as you call them.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Is it both eyes?
I’m a bit fanatical about eyes, however it’s one sided swollen, closed and watery discharge that worries me most. That would be a definite same day call out.
Gunky eyes are “probably” less serious but I’d imagine they would still come out same day if required.
It’s hard isn’t it, fitting vet visits in round work!

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've always had a same day visit for anything to do with eyes. As AA said my vets class any problems with eyes as urgent.

 

[HashRouge]

Is it both eyes?
I’m a bit fanatical about eyes, however it’s one sided swollen, closed and watery discharge that worries me most. That would be a definite same day call out.
Gunky eyes are “probably” less serious but I’d imagine they would still come out same day if required.
It’s hard isn’t it, fitting vet visits in round work!

It's both eyes, not swollen, just unusual discharge. I'd have called the vet already if it was just one eye and/ or if there was any swelling. He's also slightly prone to gooey eyes at any hint of flies/ wind/ dust, hence me not panicking immediately. But usually a few days of bathing his eyes (and fly mask in the summer) will clear things up, whereas this seems unusually persistent.

It's particularly tricky because work and the yard are quite far apart, so not easy to just nip out for the vet, and I'm a teacher so I also can't take unpaid leave or anything like that. I will have to tell work it's for one of the horses, but I'm probably going to have to make it sound much worse than it is!

 

[Landcruiser]

Our vet's (where I work) prefer to see eyes the same day. That said, if they can't fit you in, they can't. Most (possibly all) vets are under staffed and over worked, and can only do what they can do.

 

[HashRouge]

Our vet's (where I work) prefer to see eyes the same day. That said, if they can't fit you in, they can't. Most (possibly all) vets are under staffed and over worked, and can only do what they can do.

This is what I am conscious of. I'm just trying to decide what is the best option with work - it is SUCH a faff trying to get time off for things like this as a teacher, though obviously needs must and I always find a way!

 

[paddy555]

my vet arrives within a couple of hours for eyes. Last time I rang at 3.30pm thinking they would come the next day and by 5pm the vet arrived. Our receptionist is totally on the ball with this. I would expect your vet to arrive on the day you ring.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Could you fit in the last visit of the day after work? That would avoid having to take time off. It is difficult when you teach and the horses are ill in term time

 

[mavandkaz]

I am also a teacher, so feel your pain.
I've usually been able to get a same day appointment, for after 4pm. The three different vets I've been with have all worked through til 6pm.

If I have needed an emergency appointment I have to take the whole day off as can't just pop out when I eventually get a time slot due to the cover situation.

 

[SadKen]

Well, I wouldn’t need a same day GP appt for gooey eyes I don’t think. If it was one eye, swollen, closed or banged I would, that’s an emergency.

So if it’s gooey and happened before I’d say when the vet can, not hugely urgent, but would want it looked at by close of day Friday. Just my 2 cents.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

My horse came in with one eye closed. No discharge, no swelling and he was opening it occasionally and it looked fine, he just preferred to close it. No clear symptoms.

I called my vet and asked if I could have an appt in the next few days when they were in the area. The response I got was, "we'll come out now, we dont mess around with eyes". They got there before I did and even though it was barely 40mins later, he looked fine and eye was now open and normal.

He was sedated and had a full exam and tests, they found keratitis which is slowly responding to treatment but the vets have been very attentive with check ups as treatment progresses.

 

[Patterdale]

I would send them a picture then ask them to leave out the drops for you to collect after work.

 

[HashRouge]

Could you fit in the last visit of the day after work? That would avoid having to take time off. It is difficult when you teach and the horses are ill in term time

Unfortunately work finishes at 4.50pm and the yard is a 40 minute drive from work (normally I cycle to and from work) so I will need to get some time off, although I will aim for either the latest or earliest appointment in the day they can give me.

 

[paddy555]

can you get someone to hold him and then speak to the vet by phone later? I've done that for people, got the horse in and ready and taken in any meds. When I couldn't get time off work OH held the horse and got the vet on the phone to me at work so we discussed as vet examined the horse and decided what to do.

 

[Winters100]

Another who thinks they will come same day. Last time I had an eye problem was when a groom sent me a photo early one Sunday morning of a very slightly inflamed eye. I sent it to the vet to ask if there was something that I could buy at the pharmacy, but he replied that he would go immediately, and actually arrived to the stable a few minutes before me.

As Paddy said maybe there is another livery who can help? Or YO / groom? I am sure that someone would be happy to help out in this situation.

I hope that you have good news.

 

[poiuytrewq]

You say he’s prone to gunky eyes, has the vet ever seen him before about it?
Just thinking if so, as Patterdale suggested you could send photos and see if you can just collect some drops?
One of my ponies gets a bit sticky from time to time and my vet has checked him. So recently when it happened she was happy to leave some for me to grab after work.

 

[HashRouge]

Well it was all very easy in the end

I managed to get the last appointment of the day (3.30-4.30) and work were very understanding about me going at 3pm. Although I may have made it sound rather more serious that it actually was, and I think my line manager is now convinced that the horse is about to lose an eye...! But hey ho!

Is is conjunctivitis, which is what I expected, and I have got ointment from the vet. He was an absolute champ and charmed the vet by being utterly fascinated with the beam of light from her eye torch, and trying to chase it round the stable.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would except them to come the same day.

 

[Winters100]

Good news OP. It is always such a relief when they have something simple to treat, and glad that you managed work with no problems