[bay_blnd jmpr07]

I always seem to hear that people can't get ahold of a vet, especially after hours.

Maybe I just have a great Vet Practice?

The office closes at 8pm Mon-Thurs, 6pm Fri, 5pm Saturday, and vets have off on Sunday though clinic is open 2-5 for some in-clinic emergency deals.

We have an Emergency Line where the calls that come in after hours go to an "operator" type deal where you give info on the situation.

Small animals are referred to a 24 hour clinic.

But with large animals there's a vet on call from the time the office closes until it opens again the next morning. So you'd call the Emergency line (same number as the clinic, just gets transfered straight to the "operator") and the on-call vet is called who in return calls the owner back.

I've used it before...I've never had a problem getting a vet to see my horses. If it's a big emergency they'll postpone their road calls and go straight to the emergency.

Does anyone else have a set-up like this? What do you do when you can't get ahold of a vet and you need vet attention ASAP?

Sometimes I just don't understand how someone can't get a vet to their place right away.

[kizmet]

Yeah i have noticed that!!! My vet is open 24 for emergencys but i have heard of many people just getting a answering machine which isnt really good enough if your horse has a broken neck!!!

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

^^Yeah...this thread is kind of because of that foal. But I've also noticed through the years that people end up calling different vets that they don't normally use so their horse can get the care it needs.

I guess I'm lucky? We have about 5 vets that do large animal and 3 of them specialize in horses. And someone is ALWAYS on call and they come out whenever. I had a vet come out on Christmas(and she waved the holiday emergency fee for us...very tragic day).

[Lindsayanne]

You are blessed. When Ebony coliced I left message for 4 vets and never got a call back (and three of the four, left messages on their home and cell phones)

It's enough to make me want to move.

[Aussiesnapps]

The only Equine vet office in our area doesn't even have a service or an answering machine. It kills me so... I got the two of the three vets to give me their cell numbers when my horse had a surgery and one I found out live about 2 mi from me (reminds me I must have her over for a BBq, she's a great person).

[BettyBootsy]

Yep our area sucks for night calls too! We had a mare 7 ish months along abort and had major problems wouldn't pass it happened around 9 ish at nite had to wait till the am and haul her a hr 1/2 away to a vet that was open. Weekend and local vet is semi retired.

[Top Dun]

Well since I was a vet tech for several years I treat the minor stuff my self. and then if I really really need a vet afterhours or on weekends I call ALL 5 vets in two counties and PRAY some one answers their phone. One vet only has an answering machine at the clinic. One vet is supposed to have the after hours calls forwarded to their business cell phone. One vet is supposed to have an afterhours answering service. BUT there have been times when I haven't been able to get a hold of any one of the 5 local vets. As far as "house calls" go though we still have to haul the horses in at least 30 -45 miles and have hauled as far as almost 3 hours for a good vet.

Originally Posted by bay_blnd jmpr07

Does anyone else have a set-up like this? What do you do when you can't get ahold of a vet and you need vet attention ASAP?

[Redfishy]

We only have 2 horse vets in the area. However, the one I use has a setup like you mentioned above. The other one is a 9-5 Mon-Fri vet that will NOT answer calls on the weekends (always on the golf course or on vacation) Her (my vet) "911" service has all of her numbers and everyone in her family's number and the vet tech's number so that she can be found and reached if necessary. I've NEVER known someone not be able to get in touch with her in an emergency situation.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

I have one of the vet's home numbers LOL

My mom babysat for him one night and then he gave me permission to use it whenever, even if he's not on call and I have a question on what to do if I don't feel a vet needs to see it (or he'd tell me to call the line).

I love my vets. Fully trust them with my horses. They did so much for Lucy, going above an beyond(including sitting in her stall for several hours doing paperwork to keep an eye on her).

My mom baked the vet who did the most a peach pie...he returned the pie pan filled with a chocolate chip pie cookie; very tasty!

Why are these other vets vets if they don't take calls at all times? Do they just say "if there's a problem it can be dealt with in the morning after I have my coffee"?

[tbtrainer]

My vet just came out Monday to go riding with me... she was late because she had to stitch up a little filly that was attacked by the owners dog... my vet was upset because they waited untill the morning to call her, and the attack happened at 2 a.m....

Thats my kind of vet, I know she will be there if I need her!