How to Say Enough is Enough, I'm Moving On to Vet

[Rapunzel]

I have been with my current vet for 10 years, following her when she started her own practice. She has since expanded the practice and has hired two additional vets. I use this practice for routine work - shots, teeth, injections and have been open to whichever vet’s schedule has availability. My original vet and vet #2, I respect. However, vet #3, a younger (I believe fairly recently out of school vet) has had 3 strikes with me now and I feel like I am out and would like to change to a new practice.
My question is, how?
Do I say anything to current practice? Inform them I am changing? Give an explanation as to why? Do I ask for all my records to be transferred?

Here are the 3 “strikes” on vet #3, for context:

1. Routine, yearly coffin injection on my older horse. He does have coffin arthritis (hence the injection) and I can appreciate that can make it hard to access the joint. She must have poked him 10+ times before finally getting the needle in a place where she could do the injection. He was bleeding. It was a bit alarming. He never moved once (so not horse’s “fault” for making it more difficult). I will say, the injection was done and the results were as expected and no complications.

2. Vet goes to my friend’s family farm to put down a horse. Vet is unsuccessful with two attempts/doses to get horse put down and, ultimately, my friend’s dad had to kindly end the horse’s life himself (his sister’s horse).

3. My 17 year old (very healthy) horse has a mild choke episode. A few days later, has another choke episode - SUPER weird. Emergency vet call. Vet #2 (who I like) comes out and finds his teeth are very unbalanced and he has a cross bite making it difficult to chew well. I have had this horse for 13 years and he has had LOVELY teeth - so much so that they are routinely complimented as wearing well. Vet #3 was the last one to float him late fall. Reviewing her notes, NO mention of a cross bite or lack of balance, only mentioned hooks. Leaving me to very much believe that her float caused these new issues.
   Horse has had no issues chewing since vet #2 did his “emergency float”.

If I stay with this current vet practice, I can request only vets #1 or #2 for my appointments, but would obviously have no say in an emergency. I also don’t know if I want the potentially awkward situation of vet #3 finding out I request she not come out but then having her have to fill in or something. I think I would rather just change practices.

[Simkie]

Just go somewhere else. They can request records.

If you’d like to have this practice as backup, have one of the vets you like out to do something easy every year. Vaccines? And switch everything else.

[quietann]

Whether you stay or go, I think it’s important that Vets 1 and 2 know about the problems you have had with Vet 3. Enough complaints, and your dilemma may solve itself. On the meantime, keep this practice for shots and Coggins.

[TWH_Girl]

I would absolutely move on, no questions asked. It’s hard to maintain use of a practice if you don’t want to use a specific vet. I agree with letting the practice know the issue but I would be gone yesterday.

[Demerara_Stables]

Is it possible to be on the record with multiple practices? I know someone that has each horse/dog with a different practice in the area so they’ll cover for emergencies. Having vet 3 on call during an emergency is obviously worst case scenario (when things are critical and not routine).

If you decide to leave, I think you absolutely should say something to your original vet, even if you just talk over the phone. In my area we’ve had a ton of equine vet turnover and one vet in particular (that I had a bad experience with) went to two practices before she left the area. I didn’t say anything to the practice because it wasn’t egregious (more like a difference of opinion), but if no one days anyone about bad medicine, the practice will never know.

[cayuse]

If you decide to change practices, something to keep in mind is what the new vet’s after hours emergency policy is. Many vets around here are starting to not do after hours/weekend calls at all. I had to change vets last year because of this and actually had a discussion about this with my current vet this morning.

[Demerara_Stables]

I thought we had it bad… do they just expect you to haul to a clinic?

[beowulf]

@Rapunzel

If I stay with this current vet practice, I can request only vets #1 or #2 for my appointments, but would obviously have no say in an emergency. I also don’t know if I want the potentially awkward situation of vet #3 finding out I request she not come out but then having her have to fill in or something. I think I would rather just change practices.

I was going to ask you if stating a preference was a possibility. I have a preference for vets with my practice, and they do not take it personally. I never had to justify this preference and they always did their very best to honor it. It’s not uncommon in multi-vet practices.

I would let vet #1 and vet #2 know. Vet med is hard. Without knowing the specifics of your situation this new vet may be struggling and just not have the same industrial experience as your more experienced vets.

I agree to make sure your new vet[s] have after hours emergency policies and make sure you even qualify. My practice that I mentioned above split, and the new practice has some very different requirements for their client base to be considered eligible for emergency services.

[Rapunzel]

Very good reminder on double checking the exact emergency policy. This current practice has been very responsive when I have had emergency calls and that is certainly a concern of mine with changing. But, then again, one of my concerns in staying is having vet #3 be the vet on call in an emergency.

It sounds pretty unanimous that I should let the other two vets know my experiences with vet #3. I agree that it is useful information for them and the practice as a whole, just not totally sure how to go about it. I suppose I could just request a phone call from at least the original, practice owning vet to start.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I don’t know if you are in an area where there are lots of vets to choose from, but good equine vets are becoming increasingly hard to find in many areas. I don’t think I’d be inclined to completely move on from a practice that I have a long history with that has two vets that I am happy to have treat my horses.

Vet 3, being new, may be a little out of her league. She may get better, she may not. But unless the more senior members of the practice get feedback on her performance, they certainly won’t be able to help her get better. I think talking directly with the owner vet would be the best way to let the practice know your experience.

If you had an emergency where vet 3 was the only option, could you haul to an equine hospital rather than having a vet come to you?

[Rapunzel]

There are “enough” vets to choose from as far as the routine stuff I have this practice do is concerned, but really only one other practice (with 4 vets) that I consider close enough to be comfortable in emergency response time. I don’t want to burn bridges either up and leaving because there is no saying I may not need this practice again in the future.

I can trailer to a clinic for an emergency or otherwise. So, I suppose that could remain an option if vet #3 was the vet on call.

It sounds like I really just need to start with talking to my original vet.

[Scribbler]

When I’ve used vets in group practice I have always stayed with my vet of preference as we build a relationship. I specify who I want when I book the appointment.

[Rapunzel]

Maybe my desire to be accommodating was where I went wrong

I 100% agree that building a relationship and the vet knowing the horses and me is super helpful. It sounds like I shouldn’t view it as rude or awkward to just request one of the two vets I enjoy working with when making my appointments!

[endlessclimb]

If you don’t want to have “the conversation” can you just oh-so-friendly say “hi I’m calling to schedule fall shots with [Vet 1 or 2]” for the next appointment?

[Rapunzel]

I can do this. I think the decision on having the conversation is whether that information is helpful for the vet to know. I doubt vet #3 went back to the office and mentioned that she poked my horse 10+ times before getting the coffin injection done. Hopefully she said something about the inability to put the horse down. And, not sure if vet #2 would connect and mention the choking in conjunction with vet #3 being the last to do his teeth and how unbalanced his mouth was.

It is a decision of if my feelings of discomfort as a client (and a good one) are “worth” mentioning.

[Montanas_Girl]

@Demerara_Stables

I thought we had it bad… do they just expect you to haul to a clinic?

That’s the only option for emergency veterinary care for those of us who live in rural areas, unfortunately.

[Demerara_Stables]

🤦🏻

[candyappy]

@Rapunzel

Very good reminder on double checking the exact emergency policy. This current practice has been very responsive when I have had emergency calls and that is certainly a concern of mine with changing. But, then again, one of my concerns in staying is having vet #3 be the vet on call in an emergency.

I have used 2 area vet practices for decades with no problems. I do prefer to use a certain practice for horses but when they were not available I used the other and it went ok.

If you have a long standing client/ patient relationship with this vet I would bring up your issues with the senior vet ( owner of practice) on what has happened with vet #3 but we need to realize that every vet starts out like #3. We just have been lucky enough to get the experienced, finished product.

I remember when my mare( had just foaled 1 week prior) impaled herself on a post during a severe storm. It was a grisley wound and my vet of choice was on another call and I got the dreaded " just out of school new hire vet".

I was dreading the worst but he did a great job even though he had never seen anything like her wound before and he called me that night and frequently to check on her. I followed his treatment and she healed up perfectly.

He has his own practice now.

If you stick with this practice you may find that after a time you will have 3 choices for a competent, reliable vet if your horse needs it.

[RedHorses]

I was with a multi vet clinic for many years. The owner was the only vet who was there for all the years I was a client (until they retired and sold the business). There were some really good vets, some decent vets, and a couple of vets I wouldn’t have treat my horses. Neither lasted very long, and I just checked which vet would be coming when I made the appointment. I got lucky and never had to ask for someone else. I appreciated having 2-3 good vets, and only requested a specific vet when we were working on a long term/multiple appointment issue.

The new clinic I’ve been with for about 18 months is much the same. I can request a specific vet, or take whoever is available. I think I’ve dealt with four out of five vets so far and I’m comfortable with all of them.

[luvmyhackney]

I ask for specific vets. My pony is partial to one and loves her. He can’t stand the other vet as they are rough with him and try to manhandle him as he’s smaller.

Never any issues after a quick discussion with the ladies at the front desk.