Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Not impressed with vets ..  (Read 6147 times)

crobertson

  • Joined Sep 2015
Not impressed with vets ..
« on: March 25, 2017, 07:57:36 pm »
We are registered with the local vet our dogs are at (mixture of small and farm animals) I have a bit of lambing experience but this has been my first time lambing my own. I had a bit of a tricky lambing the other day, the 1st and then 2nd twin both presented with both front legs back but it was very difficult to push the lamb back in as the ewe was constantly contracting and then when I did the front legs were very tucked up. I felt uncomfortable at this point, rang the vets and asked if a vet could come out to me as I was in on my own and they just said 'well we don't come out to lambing problems, you'll have to bring it to us'. I kind of thought this was a bit off hand as we're good, paying customers, happy to pay call out fees etc and essentially asking for help, I can't exactly drag an exhausted ewe into a trailer for a bumpy 30 minute drive. Is this normal practice for vets ..............

pharnorth

  • Joined Nov 2013
  • Cambridgeshire
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2017, 08:15:32 pm »
No

TheSmilingSheep

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2017, 08:35:21 pm »
I agree - "no".
What a shame for you - a good relationship with vets that you trust is hugely valuable...
Maybe time to ask around for some local alternative recommendations...

Tim W

  • Joined Aug 2013
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2017, 09:39:28 pm »

I would question the legality of moving an animal in pain over that distance ?

twizzel

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2017, 09:44:17 pm »
No definitely not- I would find a new vet preferably one that only deals with large animals. Our dogs are too registered at a mixed practice but the farm has a dedicated large animal vet.

juliem

  • Joined Aug 2014
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2017, 12:14:36 am »
My tenant was given the same response from the vet.I had to make the phone call.Could he possibly take the ewe in to the surgery to Bridgnorth 15 miles away .Last year when advised the lamd was dead inside the ewe...they pointed out that their fee would be more than the ewe was worth and was he sure that he wanted a vet to come out.Do vets not have some kind of code like doctors ?..When the vet did come out he managed to save the ewe though.

bj_cardiff

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • Carmarthenshire
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2017, 07:03:53 am »
I've just replied on a separate thread.

I've had to take a ewe to the vets a couple of times, a prolapse and a bad lambing. The first time they weren't able to send a vets because they didn't have one to send, but would give me prioroty if I took her to them. Second time I just took her there.

The ewe traveled well both times and didn't appear distressed and it was a lot faster than waiting for a vet to turn up. Its also a lot cheaper as there isn't a call out.

regen

  • Joined Jan 2013
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2017, 07:14:21 am »
"My tenant was given the same response from the vet.I had to make the phone call.Could he possibly take the ewe in to the surgery to Bridgnorth 15 miles away .Last year when advised the lamd was dead inside the ewe...they pointed out that their fee would be more than the ewe was worth and was he sure that he wanted a vet to come out.Do vets not have some kind of code like doctors ?..When the vet did come out he managed to save the ewe though."

I guess that this is the difference between a smallholder with a few pet sheep and a commercial producer with a thousand. If the vets did not know the client then they are right to explain the options although maybe it could be explained more sympathetically.

Even when you take a pet dog to the vet they will diagnose for about £30 then explain what forward treatment is required and the cost together with an opinion on the chances of survival and you then make a decision.

Regen

Backinwellies

  • Global Moderator
  • Joined Sep 2012
  • Llandeilo Carmarthenshire
    • Nantygroes
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Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2017, 08:01:03 am »
Normal practice in this area of sheepy Wales ... Sheep travels ok and sees vet quicker .... Or even sorts herself out on route giving birth in van in vet carpark before vet comes out to her as one of ours did this week!
Linda

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crobertson

  • Joined Sep 2015
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2017, 08:11:32 am »
I can completely understand if they had said there isn't a vet available to come out at the min, it would be quicker for you to come to us but it was just a no we don't come out to lambing problems. As i was on my own and the ewe was exhausted I couldn't even get her to stand up, let alone into a trailer and the lambs head was already fully out by this point.
Luckily I just persisted and managed to deliver both lambs who are now feisty bundles of joy !

shotblastuk

  • Joined May 2013
  • Proper Gloucestershire !!
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2017, 08:45:29 am »
In my experience with Vets as with other professions there are good ones, average ones and not so good ones.
 We  are very lucky in our area that we are surrounded by veterinary practices and have used them all over the last 35 years. We use one for the horses (specialist equine) one for the sheep/farm animals and one for small animals.                                          I must say if one wouldn't come out to see an animal in distress then the account would be closed the next day along with most of our local farming community knowing about this within a week!
We have found some of the recently qualified vets are thrown in at the deep end and can get a bit flustered on occasion, this can be quite entertaining sometimes ;D

 
 

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2017, 10:48:35 am »
We do understand that, with clients all over the County and across the Welsh border, our vets may be delayed at times but they specialise in farm and equine and have always been excellent.  I'm sure there have been a number of occasions when we've called them out when, if I guddled around inside the ewe for longer, I could have lambed them myself but this is a judgement call where I prefer to err on the side of caution.  If the ewe gets tired the lambs are also likely to be tired and then you're risking poor mothering up, tubing, using an adopter and so on. 

We had one yesterday with one leg back where we just couldn't get the lamb back in the ewe was pushing so hard, even with her back end tipped up on a bale and lots of lubricant, so when the lamb's tongue started to go purple we just had to cross our fingers and haul away.  Fortunately, probably aided by all that lubricant, it came out OK, but it was an interesting ten minutes.

farmers wife

  • Joined Jul 2009
  • SE Wales
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2017, 10:49:13 am »
You need to find a farm vets and be registered with them.  Ours is based just under 1hr away however they are a big practice and have vets in the area. They are usually here within an hour.  Our local vets is mixed however again they would ask to bring them in.

CarolineJ

  • Joined Dec 2015
  • North coast of Scotland
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #13 on: March 27, 2017, 07:06:56 am »
Very common here - there's only one vet and they have a huge, huge area to cover, so at this time of year sheep go in to them. 

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Not impressed with vets ..
« Reply #14 on: March 27, 2017, 09:35:14 am »
Yeah, I would expect to have to take the ewe in (and my vets are a big farm vet practice).  It's not like it can't walk in that state, so fit to travel to vets IMHO.  If the vets were to attend every bad lambing they wouldn't have time to do anything else.

 

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