Vet refusing treatment

you*ess*bee

Last weekend my dog was seriously sick. It started off with some diarrhea, which led to vomiting white foam, and finally projectile vomiting black. I rushed her to the only vet I knew because I have driven by it so many times. <snip>.

I carried her inside and explained to the receptionist who replied 'sorry we close in 10 mins'. Needless to say I didnt just walk out, and got quite upset. She eventually offered me the number of their callout vet who would come to my house. I told her to shove it up her @rse. The same vet was in the backroom!
I ended up ringing one of my friends who suggested the UCD emergency vet and took her there. She is alot better now, but I am still outraged at<snip>and will never take her there again.

Has anyone else encountered this from vets?

Alun

That's just plain unacceptable. Did you make a formal complaint to them?

you*ess*bee

She most certainly knew I was not happy. I told her they would get a bad name by practising like that. Not sure a formal complaint would do any good if thats the attitude they have. Its obvious to see they are not in it for the animals, but for the money. I would never take my dog somewhere that knowingly did not care about animals. That was my last visit ever.

Feargal as Luimneach

Did you ring beforehand?
Perhaps the vet had a number of jobs to do first?
Was the vet busy at the time you arrived?

you*ess*bee

No, I didn't ring first as it was an emergency. Ive no way of knowing if the vet was busy or not. The car park was empty. The receptionist said nothing about, 'sorry were too busy'. Just that they closed in 10mins.

Anyways, i'm more interested if anyone else has ever experienced something like this. It seems very animal UN-friendly. I assume an emergency for a pet is same as for a person. You're not likely to call the A&E to tell them you're on the way.

ISDW

How old is your dog and how long have you had her? I find it strange that you say you rushed her to the only vet you know because you drive past it, which vet do you normally use? You aren't a client of theirs, and yes, obviously in an emergency they should treat animals, but what exactly did you tell the receptionist was the matter with your dog? If it was that the dog was being sick, then they probably didn't consider that an emergency. Maybe the vet was in the backroom getting all the stuff ready for the house calls that needed to be made? Or seeing to all the patients that needed to stay in that night.

Regarding calling beforehand, one of my dogs bloated a few months ago and I did indeed phone before I went in, after hours on a Friday night. I rang and couldn't get hold of the vet, so I put the dog in the van and drove, with my son ringing the vet from home all the time, until he managed to get hold of them to tell them I was on my way, as it was an emergency. The vet met me at the door, Nannuq had an operation during the night, and survived. So yes, I think if it is an emergency, nothing wrong with phoning ahead if you can.

Feargal as Luimneach

you*ess*bee wrote: »

No, I didn't ring first as it was an emergency. Ive no way of knowing if the vet was busy or not. The car park was empty. The receptionist said nothing about, 'sorry were too busy'. Just that they closed in 10mins.

Anyways, i'm more interested if anyone else has ever experienced something like this. It seems very animal UN-friendly. I assume an emergency for a pet is same as for a person. You're not likely to call the A&E to tell them you're on the way.

Alot of vets work by appointment only. Your better off ringing first so the vet can organise his/her work. Some vets share a rota so there might have been different vets taking over the on-call duties.

Knine

In fairness to the OP, I have had problems with this vets also, in fact I would never used them again.

If I rushed in the door to my own vets, they would have no problem seeing my dog, cat or whatever animal needed it if they were closing in 10 minutes even if I didnt have an appointment.

OP I use a different practice not too far from there, and if you like I can PM you the details.

Lizard Queen

I previously worked for a branch of theirs and did some work in hillcrest, and the receptionist would have been a vet nurse, and for the very little we get paid nurses are not in it for the money. Usually in that situation if the animal was sick like that there would have been an on call vet. That is a vet that works all the clinics on the week end and they should have admitted the animal and I do understand your frustration but I do get frustrated as nurses as we work so much. I could have been in emergency surgery till 1-2am in the morning then been back in at 7am and the clients don't know or care how muck work we put in. If you email them and explain your disappointment in trreatment it will be dealt with as they are very strict with staff.

you*ess*bee

Wow, I really feel like im getting beat down here. Is it wrong to be upset that a vet wouldnt treat my sick dog? Im my opinion, no. She is only a 6mo old puppy, and already had her injections and microchipping. So I hadnt taken her to the vet previously.

The UCD vet hospital I took her to ended up taking her in for a couple days, as she was severely dehydrated from pooing and vomiting so much. They had to give her special food, and medication to keep the food down and stop the vomiting.

In my head this was an emergency, and even if the vet were closing in 10mins they should still have seen her.

They wouldnt refuse a person at the A&E if it was an emergency. So why shouldnt pets be as important??

ISDW

Sorry, I don't mean you to feel like that, but one of the first things I do if I move is register with a vet so that if any of my animals get sick, I can take them there. Have you found another vet and registered with them now, so that if you have any more problems, you can get an appointment quickly? Usually word of mouth is the best recommendation, so I would ask around among other dog owners to find a vet that they are happy with.

I don't know the vets in question, have never been there, so don't know their policies.

Our man in Havana

Is there anything like the Hippocratic oath for vets?

Cavehill Red

you*ess*bee wrote: »

Wow, I really feel like im getting beat down here. Is it wrong to be upset that a vet wouldnt treat my sick dog? Im my opinion, no. She is only a 6mo old puppy, and already had her injections and microchipping. So I hadnt taken her to the vet previously.

The UCD vet hospital I took her to ended up taking her in for a couple days, as she was severely dehydrated from pooing and vomiting so much. They had to give her special food, and medication to keep the food down and stop the vomiting.

In my head this was an emergency, and even if the vet were closing in 10mins they should still have seen her.

This is shocking and you have every right to be upset about it.

you*ess*bee wrote: »

They wouldnt refuse a person at the A&E if it was an emergency. So why shouldnt pets be as important??

This, however, is nonsense. Pets aren't as important because they're not human beings.

you*ess*bee

This, however, is nonsense. Pets aren't as important because they're not human beings.

SERIOUSLY?! I don't have a superiority complex, so in my opinion every living being is entitled to care.

Cavehill Red

you*ess*bee wrote: »

SERIOUSLY?! I don't have a superiority complex, so in my opinion every living being is entitled to care.

Yes, seriously. Much as I love animals, people come first. If you believe that all species deserve equality, you're living on the wrong planet. If you're upset at how your vet's practice dealt with you, however, you're entirely right to feel that way.

mel94

Hi OP i totally agree that it was awful to be treated the way you were......

How long had your puppy Vomiting and Diarrohea before it started projectile vomiting?? It must have started during the day for the puppy to get as dehydrated as you say, why not phone the clinic for advise ect insted of leaving it till the last min to go down??

Anyway as i said its awful the way you were treated..... hope your little one is feeling better now!

LostCovey

you*ess*bee wrote: »

SERIOUSLY?! I don't have a superiority complex, so in my opinion every living being is entitled to care.

You have some kind of a complex.

Have you been to A&E recently? Seen how humans get on, queueing for hours? I would love to be sent home and told the on-call doctor would be out shortly.

Vomiting is not an emergency.

LostCovey

LostCovey

......and by the way, having a go at a named business that can't defend itself while you hide behind a pseudonym is pretty cheap.

LostCovey

Sigma Force

A vet is an animals version of a&e most vets if not all have an emergency service. It's not a matter of comparing humans care to animal care.
It's a matter of a hospital that deals with animals only refusing emergency care.

If some people feeel their animal is very important to them or as important to them as a child then that's their right you haven't a right to push your ideals on others.

FYI lost convoy vomiting IS an emergency when it comes to small puppies, did you not read where the pup was dehydrated and had to be kept in, it can be very serious in young pups and older dogs especially.

A touch of the runs and bit of a puke is all well and good but when the pup had it bad and the owner knows their dog and they were right to treat it as an emergency because the pup was very ill and had to be kept in.

I find our vets very tolerant now I would usually ring first I think there has been one or two occasions ever that I haven't rang ahead in an emergency..and have yes sometimes panicked over small things but they have always been good to my animals, looked at them as soon as they could and never turned me away.

OP all you can do is register with a good practice, of course noone expects vets or doctors to drop everything and that vets may have emergency call outs or be short staffed etc.

Hope your pup is feeling better soon, ignore the narky comments part and parcel of posting on a public forum unfortunetly.

you*ess*bee

Thanks for all the narky replies folks, when I was merely asking if anyone else had problems with that vet. Of course im going to name them if I had a problem with them.

I find it hard to believe that so many nasty people are pet owners. I thought I would get a bit more help and tips, than people slating me for not bowing down to the vets whims.

BTW, whoever asked. I took her at noon on a saturday. Hardly waiting until the last minute. Its not as if I rolled up to the place at 5:50 on a friday.

If you dont have anything useful to contribute to the thread, other than abuse, then I ask that you keep your opinions to yourself.

Cavehill Red

You're potentially libelling a business, OP.
That's a fairly serious thing to do. You therefore have lost the right to dictate whether people question aspects of what you said.
Beyond anything else, an emergency 'in your head' is not necessarily an emergency, and no matter how much you love your puppy, they do not have the value to society that a human being does and therefore comparisons with A+E are both odious and irrelevant.
And I write this in full support of you being upset at how you felt you were treated, based on the assumptive truth of your post.

you*ess*bee

Jesus, why the hell would I post a lie about my dog being sick? She was sick, she had to stay in the vet hospital on a drip for 2 days!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine is that my animals are just as important as the rest of my family.

What the hell is wrong with boards.ie members? Why does everything have to be turned into a debate over whos right and wrong. Are people so shallow and pathetic, with nothing better to do than scroll through threads looking to start a fight!

If my post had been about animal abuse, I doubt a single person would have made a narky comment. If I had NOT named the vet, then everyone would be asking which one it was.

Im NOT here to please anyone, cause any trouble, entertain anyones sadistic pleasures of arguing or damage reputations. I think people can do all of the above on their own.

So now, I will only reply to posts which actually have something to do with the original question asked 2 pages ago!

Cavehill Red

You seem to expect your dog to be treated as well (in fact, better) than humans are when it comes to healthcare.
You don't like being informed that the majority of the planet disagrees with your position on the matter.
Your entire query is based on this equivalence between your puppy and human beings. But your puppy is not a human being and cannot actually expect similar treatment as a human being, no matter what you may believe.
Furthermore, you've potentially libelled a business whose job it is to look after animals, which undoubtedly they do.
I was entirely supportive of your feeling upset, based on the original post being an accurate depiction of events that occurred.
But now it seems to me that you simply want affirmation that your unrealistic demands that your dog be treated better than a human are reasonable.
Well, they aren't, sorry.

Cocolola

you*ess*bee wrote: »

Last weekend my dog was seriously sick. It started off with some diarrhea, which led to vomiting white foam, and finally projectile vomiting black. I rushed her to the only vet I knew because I have driven by it so many times. Hillcrest vet in Clonsilla.

I carried her inside and explained to the receptionist who replied 'sorry we close in 10 mins'. Needless to say I didnt just walk out, and got quite upset. She eventually offered me the number of their callout vet who would come to my house. I told her to shove it up her @rse. The same vet was in the backroom!

OP, I am really sorry about your pup and am glad to hear she is ok now.

Right my first problem is your attitude to the lady behind the desk. She tries to offer the most help she is able and you respond like that? With how sick your dog was I don't see how you were in any position to refuse help of any kind. Being rude to people no matter how bad a situation you are in is unacceptable.
Also, you say that you've never been to this vet before. So how do you know that the callout vet was the same vet in the backroom?

you*ess*bee wrote: »

Thanks for all the narky replies folks, when I was merely asking if anyone else had problems with that vet. Of course im going to name them if I had a problem with them.

I find it hard to believe that so many nasty people are pet owners. I thought I would get a bit more help and tips, than people slating me for not bowing down to the vets whims.

BTW, whoever asked. I took her at noon on a saturday. Hardly waiting until the last minute. Its not as if I rolled up to the place at 5:50 on a friday.

If you dont have anything useful to contribute to the thread, other than abuse, then I ask that you keep your opinions to yourself.

Honestly I didn't find any of the replies to be narky and I definately did not feel you were being abused in any way.
You wanted some help and tips? Well here was some:

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Alot of vets work by appointment only. Your better off ringing first so the vet can organise his/her work. Some vets share a rota so there might have been different vets taking over the on-call duties.

Knine wrote: »

In fairness to the OP, I have had problems with this vets also, in fact I would never used them again.

If I rushed in the door to my own vets, they would have no problem seeing my dog, cat or whatever animal needed it if they were closing in 10 minutes even if I didnt have an appointment.

OP I use a different practice not too far from there, and if you like I can PM you the details.

Guineapigrescue wrote: »

OP all you can do is register with a good practice...

Hope your pup is feeling better soon...

Alun wrote: »

That's just plain unacceptable. Did you make a formal complaint to them?

All those people offered you tips including Guineapigrescue who offered details of a good vets they know of and many were in agreement with you. I think most if not all offered their sympathies.
Yet not once did you thank anybody for their advice or support and to be honest that really pi$$es me off. But that's not the point.

To answer your original question, no I have not encountered these vets.

barbiegirl

Maybe I'm wrong here, but the vets was due to close in TEN minutes. Therefore as a business they are still open. If it were a shop, software business support line, taxi service etc. the call would be taken as it is business and in these days business should not be refused.
To me a vet refusing to see a very sick puppy is unacceptable. If the vet was with another patient, in the middle of an operation etc. then not being available is understandable but the only reason offered as to why the pup couldn't be seen was that they closed in ten minutes. Not really acceptable.
I don't care whether the pub is registered or not. Any time I've brought an animal of ours to a vet, registered or not, call ahead or not, for an emergency they have been seen immmediately.
As to libel of the vets practise, so long as what the OP is saying is true, and he can prove it, it is not libel.
The OP has every right to be upset and to name and shame, in fact were it done more services would improve in every industry. Again so long as it is truthful.
People here are being very hard on someone who was very worried about his puppy, and very angry about a lack of service. As to the comments that a dog is not as important as a human being, whilst I accept that to some of you they may not be, to others they are a part of the family and deserve the respect and attention of someone who specialises in their care.

easyeason3

you*ess*bee wrote: »

Jesus, why the hell would I post a lie about my dog being sick? She was sick, she had to stay in the vet hospital on a drip for 2 days!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine is that my animals are just as important as the rest of my family.

What the hell is wrong with boards.ie members? Why does everything have to be turned into a debate over whos right and wrong. Are people so shallow and pathetic, with nothing better to do than scroll through threads looking to start a fight!

If my post had been about animal abuse, I doubt a single person would have made a narky comment. If I had NOT named the vet, then everyone would be asking which one it was.

Im NOT here to please anyone, cause any trouble, entertain anyones sadistic pleasures of arguing or damage reputations. I think people can do all of the above on their own.

So now, I will only reply to posts which actually have something to do with the original question asked 2 pages ago!

So did you get to the bottom of what made her sick?
Did she make a good recovery?

sionnaic

I for one completely understand the OP's anger and frustration. And people - a lot of your posts do sound very narky and aggressive whether you think so or not.
People harping on about animals not being as important as humans aren't really getting the point in this case and anyway should prob refrain from posting such comments on a pet and animal forum where many do in fact see their pets as fully fledged family members. It doesn't matter if they're not human you love them just the same, hence the emotional reaction of fear, worry and panic when they're hurt or sick. People who don't understand this probably shouldn't be pet owners and vets who don't understand this shouldn't be vets - IMO of course.
It seems the practice weren't even willing to see and make a 5 min assessment of the very ill puppy and then perhaps advise the OP to take her to the hospital if they weren't in a position to treat her themselves. A very cold and calculating approach to any kind of medicine, animal or human.
And I don't think it's fair to expect the OP to be all sweetness and light to a person whose actions could have cost the life of their beloved family member!!

Our man in Havana

Folks, please do not name businesses or companies. Otherwise this thread will be moved.

sambuka41

OP i feel for you,scary thing to happen and a shame to not get support of the vets. I was sat in my vets recently when two nurses and a vet left to take a very ill dog from a car outside. She was having a seizure, they brought her in and seen her straight away.

I heard the guy say she was his grans dog and that she was 13 and only ever been to a vets twice in her whole life. When i got to see vets after ages she apologised and said that she hoped everyone would understand. I TOTALLY understood even though i was waiting over an hour as a result. Its good to know that they would do the same for me, esp as this wasn't even a patient of theirs.

So its sad that they wouldn't even take the time to see if it was an emergency.

Discodog

Haddockman wrote: »

Is there anything like the Hippocratic oath for vets?

Yes. The caps are theirs. How can one equate this to the way that the OP was treated or the way that Vets destroy so many healthy dogs.

"I PROMISE ABOVE ALL that I will pursue the work of my profession with uprightness of conduct & that my constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care"

CrackisWhack

Mod edit : You may not ask for any information about this.