Update on Booger , my pup , and my bad luck !! 7-22-09

[Cara]

Quote:
I'm not entirely sure where you got the idea that any of us were insulting the OP or unhelpful; many people have been more than willing to offer advice on how to treat the horse, and encourage the OP by letting her know the horse was not a lost cause.

 

[CountryMom]

All financial aspects aside on both sides, the most likely explaination in all of this is the fact that this vet may not be a good horse vet period. I have like 5 or 6 vets around my area (within a good hours drive) and only two of them are worth anything when it comes to horses. Vets specialize just like Doctors. Not every Doctor is good at Woman's health or dealing with the elderly - or even dealing with specific rare conditions. Most vets are general practioners that are good at some animals and by location deal with many they just don't do good with. I really think that this vet is exactly that.

From my experience that is why I recommended she find a new vet. Either that or see if the vet is willing to be open to your ideas. Like mine in particular is not very willing or knowledgeable to treat guinea pigs. So he has a folder now of research I have done and come to find out he is getting guinea pig patients.

The vet is what he is and hopefully he can help you in this and in the future without too much more bad advice.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I was not referring to you Cara.

If I was mistaken on some of the other's posts being somewhat less than supportive and helpful I do apologize and grovel.

 

[unionwirewoman]

Alright everyone...settle down . I'll put this to a stop .

Someone said I did not own a horse trailer ...I do ... a 4 horse to be exact . I used it to take the horses to the vet because the vets office only had one vet on hand that day .

I never once told the vet or office that I didn't have money or couldn't pay . I have used this office for the last 7 yrs , so they do know me .

I do understand that being a vet is very frustrating at times , but I disagree when it comes to profiling people . Yes I was dirty and my horse trailer isn't the top of the line.....It doesn't mean I can't afford to put my bill on my credit card ( which I did ) . Does this mean I can't afford to have the same info as somone with a brand new truck and trailer ? As a vet you know you have to do as much as you can to help an animal...period . If an owner tells you they don't have the money for what you've prescribed.....find a new plan .

Being a vet....wanting to be a vet was and is always about helping the animals .

I went back to the vet ( without my horse ) to get more cream....brought along my camera and the receptionist downloaded all the pics from the day before ( I had called them that day to ask questions ) they were supposed to call me back within 2 hrs after looking at the pics....still waiting after 2 days . I've talked with a person on here who is a vet giving me great advice , along with others .

I'm not bashing vets , I just don't understand why I was given an ultimatum , and given up on.....and apparently the wrong advice .

Sorry just had to vent ......

I let Booger out all day today without his bandage , put a cream on that deters flies / fights infection / anti-inflammatory....can't remember what it's called , but it works at least with the flies . Hosed him down tonight , put the cream the vet gave me on , fights proud flesh , and wrapped him up . Will take and post pics on saturday .

 

[SangaChicken]

Quote:
Okay, thats a LOT more information. In this case, sue the (insert word I can't use on this board to describe someone rather unsavory).

I know you weren't bashing vets. The only reason I suggested that everyone on the "fire the vet" bandwagon should chill a bit.. is because we DIDN'T have the whole story. And Vets for the most part, are extremely educated.

As for you being "dirty" the day he came? Lord, if my vet ran into me anywhere off this farm, he wouldn't recognize me. My friends joke that I always wear the same dress when going out because my jeans perpetually have horse poop on them.

If you've been there 7 years, there is no reason for them to not allow you to make payments.

I still maintain that it might have been in the Vet's mind that the best thing WAS to put the horse down. You yourself said in the first post, on the first thread, that it looked a lot worse in person. Vets are human and can be wrong too.

Yes, he should have done more. But you've picked up where he missed (several) beats, and the result is.. Booger should live out the rest of his life.

The only thing I disagree with is that Vets are obligated to do the best they can to help a money regardless of whether or not an owner has the ability to pay. Vet care is not human medicine. You are a responsible animal owner, so you probably don't see this side of it, but for those of us who have worked in animal clinics.. trust me when I tell you that there are a ton of people who are simply NOT capable of administering care on their own, and if Vets did everything they could regardless of whether or not they could be paid, they wouldn't be in business. Sure, there are exceptions to thisand some really dedicated, generous docs out there. But the cases of animals who are put down because the owner can not afford the care are pretty high. Should the vet have figured something else out, or maybe done more gratis? That's arguable.

I have 26 horses, which loosely translates to me having no money left over at the end of the month. (Or at least, not as much as I'd like!). I recently had a farm dog hit by a car, this farm dog was also the house dog, and the offending driver hit her in the driveway (mile long driveway). In all fairness, Pandy (dog) chased cars. We tried, very hard, to break her of it. But we knew eventually it would happen. We failed as pet owners in that the last little while.. we'd slacked on watching her, and the worst possible thing could have happened. Fortunately, people drive slow on our driveway and she lived. But the initial estimates of repair surgery for her were between $7,000 and $9,000. Could I have scraped together the credit to do it? Yes. Is it logical, regardless of how much you love her, to spend that much money saving an animal when that amount will feed and care for everything else on the property for 4 to 5 months? No. We brought her home knowing that she would probably end up being put down. Fortunately we found a vet who suggested an alternative method of treatment (Basically, let her heal on her own with some vet care mixed in for guidance).. and Pandy is fine. If this was a possibility, why didn't the first vet suggest a much more affordable (Around $1200 total) treatment plan that would save the dog? Who knows.

I'm sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusions about your situation, I assumed (apparently wrongfully) that you were not in a position to go thousands of dollars deep on caring for this horse, and unable to haul him to a University. I was suggesting that maybe the Vet inappropriately judged you beause of this.

I still stand by my congratulations though, on the care you've given, and the progress you're making.

 

[katrinag]

Can't wait to see the new pic. You are doing a GREAT job, keep up the hard work.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

I am happy to hear that you got the chance to air it out. That is great! Can't wait to see the next pictures. Take care~ Tacey

 

[Brindlebtch]

How is Booger doin'?

Could you please give us an update?

 

[onthespot]

yeah, show us your Booger... the black and white one!

 

[saddina]

First, you're doing beautiful with him, good work.

I'd like to gently suggest that you put far more effort and care into your horse than most people would, and that is wonderful. However, many people are unwilling to give that sort of devotion to an animal, and without it, your horse would surely be suffering. We had a cat be hit by a car last year, busted his hip bones right off, the vet gave him a 30% shot at walking, and that was only if he was given meds and 24hour kitty bedrest care. She was shocked when my hubby said we work from home and can do it. Coco is now quite active, he doesn't just walk he struts, he's even regained full motion in his tail. My point is we were willing to do the extra dirty work to get him better because he is family, many people think it's just a cat or just a horse, and for those animals being put down is better than a slow painful passing.

Again, you did very well, and your horse is very lucky to be loved like that.