[idlewild]

Originally Posted by Arabians4ME

I agree with majority of whats said and I think it's a good thread but so many times we get new or young members on here that will never see this thread before they create this. I couldn't count on my fingers and toes how many times I have seen threads that all say call the vet which is what needs to be done but just sometimes I think it takes someone telling some people that they need to call the vet, that they honestly don't know to.

That's my opinion from all the threads I have seen on here that needed vets, most anyway.

Agreed. Some people, bless their heart, love their animals, but they just don't KNOW enough to know when to call for help

My mom tells me a story of a couple she knew, they had cats, dogs, and a pony. They loved their animals like nothing else, they fed them well, they were all fat and happy, they got loved, they got groomed, everything! Just... these people didn't know that a horse needs to have their feet trimmed. My mom goes out, see's this pony who has toes a mile long and looks laminitic, and she tells the people that their pony needs farrier care asap or else. They were shocked, they plain didn't know! They felt horrible when they found out how much pain their pony was actually in.

...I digress though

I think we should slightly modify the title of this thread.
When in DOUBT, call the VET!!

[shyxpony]

Well-said! I completely agree! Too often I see people posting about how sick their horse is, and what they should do

CALL A VET!

[Lindsayanne]

Absolutely. Everyone knows if it's a real emergency you get on the phone and CALL doublebarr for advice. LOL


(Just poking fun at myself, guys, vets around here take hours to call you back- if they bother- so if I don't get a vet first round through my contacts list, I call doublebarr. )

[Preppy_Ponies]

I completely agree! But like Idlewild said I'd actually say something more like "When in DOUBT, call a vet!" Really I mean some people have no common sense.

I was raised in a barn where whenever there was an issue the vet was your first call and my trainer was your second. My current barn is just the same. Other than minor issues the vet is going to be the most helpful source available to you. Even if all you do is go over things on the phone it's better then relying on the help of forum members who you've never met.

I am very lucky at my current barn. My vet's clinic is actually on the property where I board. It's wonderful to be able to just walk over there to ask a question or for them to see my guy in an emergency. Plus I get to avoid all the call fees and gas surcharges

[IkesLittleHope]

I may be wrong, but it seems sometimes that the posters are younger people who may have no control over the situation because they have to rely on their parents to do the right thing.

[buck1173]

this should be a sticky... or at least, bumped daily...

[rageandglory]

i wonder if, sometimes, the hope of defraying the cost of a vet call inspires some folks to come here/to a forum. not that the info offered here isn't valid or given with the best of intentions, plenty of folks here with substantial and creditable knowledge and big hearts : )! but: it's just not hands-on, right-now, virtual-life, where and when it counts the most. no-one can see/hear/smell/touch the horse from here.

my discomfort is with the dispensing of medication advice.

i agree: this could be stickied.

[GingerSnap]

Originally Posted by rageandglory

i wonder if, sometimes, the hope of defraying the cost of a vet call inspires some folks to come here/to a forum. not that the info offered here isn't valid or given with the best of intentions, plenty of folks here with substantial and creditable knowledge and big hearts : )! but: it's just not hands-on, right-now, virtual-life, where and when it counts the most. no-one can't see/hear/smell/touch the horse from here.

my discomfort is with the dispensing of medication advice.

i agree: this could be stickied.

So very true, I have a gelding who is the oddest thing. When he colics he isn't typical with his signs the one thing he does do that you know for sure is he gets this horrible smell from his mouth it's so bad you can't get it off your hands. Whenever I start smelling that smell with him I immediately call the vet.

[PaintedRocket]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

Absolutely. Everyone knows if it's a real emergency you get on the phone and CALL doublebarr for advice. LOL


(Just poking fun at myself, guys, vets around here take hours to call you back- if they bother- so if I don't get a vet first round through my contacts list, I call doublebarr. )

LOL!! I would LOVE to call Cindy (doublebarr) for emergencies and advice (I havent tried calling her just to bug her yet hehe).. but I'd be scared to look at the bill when it arrived, LOL..

But yes.. when in any doubt, call your vet.

It is really one of my biggest pet peeves when I see threads like what the OP is talking about. It really scares me how some people are just ignorant and do not know when to call their vet. If you're going to own an animal, you need to make sure you know what you're getting into and what the animal will need health and care wise.

There have been so many times I've read a thread and I just want to scream, "CALL YOUR VET!!!!" as I slap myself in the forehead..

[sarahhowen]

I couldn't agree with you more - Any issues the vet is always my first point of contact - I even have them on speed dial on my phone