One of our cats recently became worryingly ill and the vet was very thorough and understanding and the other staff were brilliant (I turn into Mrs Pathetic when one of the animals is ill).
At no point did they look at me as if I was wasting their precious time or swinging the lead.
The cat is okay now (he had pancreatitis) but I'm seriously considering going "miaow" ocassioonally the next time I start coughing!
And it's much easier to get a same day vet appointment.....
Our vets are brilliant. One of our dogs had an unexplained fit last week and they were great. Calm, collected, (which neither me nor my OH was), fitted us in the middle of aftenoon surgery etc.
Had blood tests done and the results were back the next day.
What a difference to the NHS!
"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne
aged Mother took a fall recently and was whisked off to hospital - after ten days of her being there, they still "weren't sure" if she'd broken an arm as well as her shoulder................
Had that been my dog, the local vet would have had it all sorted in a matter of hours!
From bitter peronal experience, UK hospitals are falling apart - overstretched, tired out disillusioned staff (grossly understaffed usually), nurses who have no conception of "nursing" (often with little comprehension of English or of the word "hygiene"), whilst the doctors are on a small fortune, as are the "suits" - much loathed in all hospitals.....
I'll stick with the alternatives - it's safer!
http://solarwind.org.uk - a small company in Sussex sourcing, supplying, and fitting alternative energy products.
Amateurs encouraged - very keen prices and friendly helpful service!
I bet my vet would have whipped my wisdom tooth out by now. Hospital will do...but they want to take out another tooth that's not causing problems (its a buried tooth) and i've got to wait 2 months for the priviledge... and since yesterday, it hurts to smile, so i
ll just stay miserable. Its easier!
Vet here is wonderful on the other hand - always beautifully clean (cleaner than the local hospital!!) and understanding. Took Finlay there a couple of weeks ago because he ate some nurofen. She took him straight in, made him really really sick, then walked him to the car where he promptly ate something he found on the ground - she said she can understand why his nickname is pest now!
I completely agree. In fact, the Other Half was just commenting on this.
We have a lame piglet and called the vet this morning. She came out within two hours, was not patronising, had a great manner (with me, with the boys, with the sow and with the piglets!!), spent much more than three minutes examining the piglet (outside, in the rain and mud), treated it, filled in the medicine book, and had a nice chat with me.
And as the OH commented, how is that vets can do that and run an excellent practice that co-ordinates a number of vets across many different species and get them out to you no matter the weather, the time of day or which day of the week it is, while the NHS with vastly more resources can't even manage to have a doctor available to see you at the time and location they've specified?
Yes, I know we pay for the vet and pay directly. But we also pay for the NHS - and quite a lot at that - for what feels like minimal return, especially when you are seriously ill.
the.fee.fairy wrote:I bet my vet would have whipped my wisdom tooth out by now. Hospital will do...but they want to take out another tooth that's not causing problems (its a buried tooth) and i've got to wait 2 months for the priviledge... and since yesterday, it hurts to smile, so i
ll just stay miserable. Its easier!
Two months? Lucky you. I'm up to 21 months now with this damned abscess. And nine months with the stomach problems.
the ancient Chinese were no fools, I'd suggest we re-adopt their scheme -
when you're fit and well, you pay the doctor; when you're ill, he doesn't get paid.........because he's failed in his duty to keep you well!
That'd wake the b****rs up!
http://solarwind.org.uk - a small company in Sussex sourcing, supplying, and fitting alternative energy products.
Amateurs encouraged - very keen prices and friendly helpful service!
the.fee.fairy wrote:I bet my vet would have whipped my wisdom tooth out by now. Hospital will do...but they want to take out another tooth that's not causing problems (its a buried tooth) and i've got to wait 2 months for the priviledge... and since yesterday, it hurts to smile, so i
ll just stay miserable. Its easier!
Two months? Lucky you. I'm up to 21 months now with this damned abscess. And nine months with the stomach problems.
I saw my dentist 2 months ago, who referred me -which took two months, and now i've got another 2 months to wait.
Have a go at going to A&E - i did that last saturday. I had morphine and it still hurt so the doctor wrote to the hospital about it.
Or, tell them that the local anaesthetics don' work (i'm immune to the bloody things!!) and they'll refer you for surgery.
our vets are so kind, they know that my mum has so many pets she has to set a limit of spending on treatment for them, but they will give the animal whatever treatment they need and not charge her the full amount if it goes over her limit. wonderful really, shows they really care about the animal getting well and not just the money.
A long time ago, when I was a student, a vet gave me a special student's reduction... He x-rayed my cat and, in the end, had to put her down - inoperable cancer. And that vet wasn't overrun with patients, so I don't think he was one of the rich guys who could easily afford it.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
And nine months with the stomach problems. 
