Xray appointment - no vet tech

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Happycat

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Is it common practice for a vet to arrive with X-ray machine and no vet tech? My friend was unable to have her horse xrayed last week as the vet arrived, expecting her to hold the slides while he xrayed and she's newly pregnant so was unable to! Apparently they always X-ray that way.
My practice always sends a vet technician out with the X-ray equipment - have I just been spoiled...?
 
You have to go to my vets to get x-rays done, so plenty of bodies there to hold horses/slides etc...

I'm fairly sure if vet did come out with portable machine he would come on his own as normal unless he had a student with him...

Fiona
 
I've worn the lead apron on numerous occasions for holding horse and plates.

I've never had vets turn up in pairs excepts for newly qualified/students getting field experience.
 
I've been there with apron on to hold horse but they always brought a tech when doing xrays at my place.

Who was expected to hold horse if the owner was expected to be an assistant? We don't sedate Millie so couldn't leave her to her own devices, she'd have bogged off :)
 
Depends on practice I think. Recent vetting my vet came out and I was happily in charge of the digital plate until he told me how much it cost! Did not want to hold it anymore and still had both hocks, one foot and back to xray. Terrifying. Had someone to hold horse though. Maybe worth asking just in case and requesting a tech if you can't hold it?
 
My vet comes out with a tech, I still have to wear lead apron and hold horse. But they do grown up holding bits!! As people have said, depends on your practice, and possibly how fair away you are from the vets base.
 
My experience has always been the same as milliepops - I've worn lead gown and held my horse. I personally think it's very presumptive to expect the horse owner to be able to help with slides / oxray etc - eg my friends case, so she was unable to.
Or that there will be an extra pair of hands at the yard.
 
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I wear a lead gown and have often been the only person there I would not expect them to come with someone else if I was pregnant I would have told the vet because it's impossible to do the X-ray in that situation without a third person .
A shame but your friend probably has never had to think about it before .
Vets always asked when I was younger .
 
My vet is a "one man show", and when my horse needed x-rays, he came alone. I held the horse, he positioned the x-ray machine and held the plate, using a remote (on a long cable) button to take the picture.
 
My vet usually brings the nurse but I have helped instead on occasion. Last time, I was pregnant and was fine with the apron on. Its not like I was lined up in front of the machine.
 
My vets have always come alone for mobile x-rays and I've held the boards.

Tbh, if I was pregnant I'd probably have mentioned it when booking the appointment.
 
Ive had both situations.
I've held slide up for vet and other times they have had an assistant.

It's probably down to staffing issues. As for most companies!
Most owners I'm sure wouldn't mind helping.

But in this situation hopefully the owner won't get charged as the x Ray's couldn't he taken.


Also was there not someone else on the yard?
Just thinking even for a well behaved horses or a sedated one, the horse is usually held by someone for the X Ray's and this owner couldn't have done that either I'm her situation.
 
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