Hi,

I am having a spat with my Vet currently. For ten years i have been more than happy with them around 2 years ago the full time vet left and we have had to put up with Locums. Now there is a full time vet and i have issues with the standard of care.

Among other things which unfortunately i dont have time to go into right now the main issue is have is, My old girl needs an x ray.

The vet wants to use a GA or Sedation. I dont want this as i know she will lie there queitly if i am there. The vet refuses to allow me to be present.

So my question is who's vet would allow you to hold your dog during an x-ray instead of GA?

mine would let me be there, and if not, I would be finding someone else asap. Luckily my vet knows me and my dogs and would rather do any procedure (within reason of course!) with my dogs being calmer, and if that means me being there, thats OK. BTW I was also present at an x-raying of one of my bitches for hip scoring, as the nurse had to pop out :-o although a different vet, no problem at all with me being present.

In fact I have to wonder why he won't allow you to be there, if you have doubts about his standard of care, I would wonder if you're not now having doubts about what he may want to charge you for aswell. I think if I were you, I'd be looking elsewhere :-(

Elf & Safety!

"Radiation health and safety rules mean that clients cannot come into the radiography room while radiographs are being taken. Our staff are regularly monitored for exposure and wear special protective clothing if they must stay with the animal" (That's from a website, but I imagine most vets abide by the BVA Rules for Radiography.)

I am more than happy to comply with wearing of protective clothing!

It is the dreaded H&S rules. I stay with my dogs for most things but if it is x-rays then they are sedated and although I stay we all leave the room as they are taken. Don't forget an x-ray is RADIATION and too much can be dangerous to you. Better not to be exposed unless you yourself need one on you , that is more than enough for most people. I would have thought (depending on the body part needing the x-ray) it would be benifitial for the dog the be relaxed during the procedure, most involve some pulling around.
Aileen

My Vet is also happy to allow me to stay with my dogs should they require an x-ray as long as I wear a protective apron.

No vets in my area wouldever allow you to be with your dog, or let's say I'd be very shocked if they would allow it. 

I was allowed to stay with my Dad when he recently had an ex-ray in hospital - I had to wear a lead apron, so I am sure if hospitals allow it vets could?

It is probabaly actually the vets insurance company that is stopping them allow you into the room whilst they xray. Insurance companies set all sorts of rules and then it gets blamed on health and safety when its actually the insurance company protecting their profits!

my vets dont allow owners in when x-raying, when i had a guinea pig done the vet held him down.

mine do......... every time....and I stay for all operations etc.......quite enjoy being part of the team and helping :)

I don't know about dogs, but I've had to hold my horse for x-rays, obviously wore a lead apron though (they're incredibly heavy!).

mine wouldnt,and cited health and safety.however,they did manage to xray him without a g/a.

One of my girls was x-rayed last year following the birth of a litter of pups (we all thought there was one refusing to come and say hello!!) ... she ended up on the x-ray table but she was put into a flat stay, had a few sandbags placed over her shoulder. I was kicked out the room but allowed to peer around the edge of the open door until the plate was due to be taken, so just for the couple of seconds I couldn't be seen by her I could still talk to her. She couldn't have cared less.

I did ask if I could stay with her at the table wearing protective apron, but for Health & Safety reasons (and very reasonably so) I couldn't.

I wonder if demonstrating to your vet that your girl will do a quiet stay ... so long as you are able to be nearby to quietly remind her she's doing a stay. I guess it depends what position they need her to be in for the x-ray. However, if they don't allow this, and you're unhappy with them anyway, maybe now might be a good time to trawl around other vets if you have some locally, and seeing what they say. Good luck.

If the reason is the Safety Elves, why are you allowed to stay with your child/elderly relative in hospital when they have an X-Ray?   Surely it would be the same ?

Well i am glad to say that after me sending in a letter of complaint against the new vet, i received an e mail back from the practice manager immediately and a phone call from the head vet within hours.
I was offered a re consult regarding the things that wasn't looked at buy the other vet, and they have agreed i can be present up until the last minute when i will be asked to stand behind a screen to take the x ray. Very pleased with the outcome.

Thankyou for everyones input.

So glad you got a good reply.

Hope all goes well.