WWYD: my vets are no longer doing equine work

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

This week - completely out of the blue - my vet has written to me (and other clients) saying basically that he feels that his practice (a small affair with just two vets working, plus one other occasional other) cannot any longer continue to offer an efficient service to the equine clients (or words to that effect) and that we have all been transferred onto a much larger, specifically equine practice which covers a huge area.

Now, the reason that I registered with this practice in the first place was because (1) this particular vet was highly recommended as a good horse vet and (2) I'd come away from a large farm/equine practice with a very bad taste as I'd felt I was just an account number to them rather than a person.

This has come as a complete surprise. There has been no consultation, no warning, that this will happen. We got the letter midweek, saying we'd be transferring onto the new practice's list as from this Monday. IF I had been asked, I would have expressed a preference NOT to be transferred to the larger practice and would have preferred to have chosen a vet of my choice.

I already have a mare on loan, one of the conditions of the loan being that she remains with the owner's current vet, which also covers my area, and does (at the present time) farm & equine, but is a much smaller practice and not specifically an equine-only practice, it does small animal work as well. I am inclined to transfer my own horse to his practice as opposed to the large equine group practice.

Having been a client of a very large equine practice before (not the one we've been transferred to, a similar one operating in the area as well), it isn't something I'd want to do again, ever. There was no rapport with any particular vet, you saw a different one each time, and you never got to know any of them. All you were was just an account number, and that was all.

Having looked at the "welcome pack" which the new practice has already sent - I have the strong feeling that it won't be our (me and my cobby boy)'s cup of tea. I get the feeling that they deal mainly with big yards with expensive horses which are insured up to the hilt, not happy hackers like us.

No doubt there are others on here who are also clients of this practice. I'm devastated, totally wrecked. The vet concerned is an excellent and compassionate horse vet - I don't think I've ever had (or ever will have) such a good vet with a mixture of applied knowlege plus compassion, and a fantastic "nose" for diagnostics.

IF there are any other clients, please feel free to PM me; I'd love to know what others in this situation are going to do.

For me, I think I'm going to ask the vet that my mare has, if he will take my cobby boy on. It would make good sense to have my own horse as well as my loan horse, with the same vet.

So peeps, WWYD?

 

[glenruby]

Happening a lot in small formerly mixed practices these days. It's the out of hours that they just don't want to do anymore - and I don't blame them. You do t have to go with the practice they recommend - they are just trying to ensure continuity if care for you but no doubt some will go elsewhere now and you are free to do so.

 

[Capriole]

Id choose my own replacement vet. Obviously nothing anyone can do about the current vet calling it a day with the equines, but I would be having a think abut who I was going to go with for myself, whether it be the one they have passed their clients to or another practise entirely.

 

[Maesfen]

Just because they've transferred you from their books doesn't mean you have to go with the practise they've picked so check around and pick the one that suits you better. I use two different practises for different things (foaling/stud work and one for emergencies) plus a vet friend who freelances that does everything else; neither of them mind but some might.

 

[devonlass]

Can I ask which vets are no longer doing equine?? Can only think of one with only two vets,but that's Exeter based so prob not yours?? Hope not anyway as although no longer my vets one of them was a firm favourite with me.

I can highly recommend Wolfgar but I have a feeling they are way out of your area.Large practice,but with a small feel and some excellent vets IMO.

Is Cullompton reasonably close to you?? Excellent equine hospital and I assume practice??

Isle valley vets?? They have a large area that they cover and special rates for routine stuff that are very reasonable.

Sorry you are having to change from vets you get on with,hope you manage to find a suitable replacment

 

[BlackRider]

I'd just look around and go with the practice you are most comfortable with, as Maesfen says you don't have to go to the practice they've selected - although it is very good that they've taken the time and effort to ensure you do have somewhere else to go.

 

[WelshD]

I'd visit other vets too and get a feel for them

My trusted vet who deals with my pets and smallholding farm stock is great but he no longer does equines

I registered with a large equine vets and while their fees seem very high I did get good service and advice

Unless you have had a bad experience with that particular equine practice it may be worth giving them a chance. I can't say I was happy to go with the vets I did but I was pleasantly surprised that the world didn't implode when I did!

 

[canteron]

I think that every equine practice has good and bad vets within it, so it really is a matter of being picky with which vet you ask for.

After a bad experience with a junior vet, I always ask for the senior vet. I have a reasonably good relationship with him, so now I have talked this through and said that I am happy to have a more junior vet for more routine things, as long as he will promise me that he will talk the case through with them.

And yep, they do know how to charge so I don't feel bad about being picky!!!

 

[Montmorency]

Just to say I'm with a large equine practice but I still get to choose which vet I see (unless it's an emergency). My horses always see the same vet and I think the vet practice likes it that way for continuity of care- but they'd be equally happy if for any reason I did want to try someone else. My vet is off on maternity leave soon (very inconsiderate!) so I'm going to try out a few different ones to see who else I like.

 

[fatpiggy]

Something similar happened to me except that my vet died suddenly and unexpectedly and his family decided to get rid of the large animal side (he was the only mixed small/farm/equine vet left in the area). It was a blow as apart from his untimely death, I used the practice as it was 10 minutes drive to/from the practice so really convenient and if the worst happened I knew my horse wouldn't have to wait long. Now I'm with the local equine hospital but that is a 50 minute minimum round trip to collect drugs and it would be a long wait (at least 30 minutes) in an emergency. However the vets are lovely and that counts for alot. You don't have to stay with the practice you have automatically been transferred to. Ask around and see what practice local people recommend. THere is no rush after all.

 

[acw295]

I'd always want to use an equine vets that have hospital facilities - having had to use it for splint fracture surgery this year I was glad she went somwhere local and that I knew and trusted. I'd also rather know that my vets are up to date with the latest research, which is too difficult to do if you cover small animal and farm practice too.

I'd view all the equine ones that cover your area and decide which I like best, I think you'll find that all equine practices get their "bread and buter" work from leisure horses, not comp horses so I wouldn;t give that a second thought. Vaccinations, teeth and basic lameness is what pays their salaries!

I'd say though that the practice your previous vet has chosen is likely to be one that they trust, so I wouldn't write them off out of hand. I'd go with local recommendations.

Mine also has small animal and farm branches but also a dedicated equine unit and at least 6 equine vets. I can ask to se any vet I like, unless in an emergency. I also like that they don't "contract out" their out of hours cover which some smaller practices do.

 

[Goldenstar]

Just chose a new vet you like and register with them , your practice will have sold the client list to the big practice but you have no contract with them and are a free agent.