Hi,
I read a post either today or yesterday to do with someone having to call the Vet on Xmas eve. I can't remember where it was so I am replying here. They were told to treat the dog themselves as the vet could do nothing. I understand that this may not of been a major life threatening situation but I think the vet should be 'Shot'.
My Mastiff Ragga became lame late on Xmas eve, I didn't want to upset my Vets Xmas so I thought I would try and wait until after the festive period. By the afternoon of Xmas Day she couldn't walk on her front end at all and was screaming every time she moved.
The top and bottom of it is I 'phoned my Vet 'for advice', I apologised for interupting her Xmas as I felt really bad. Jo (Vet) said I should have called her at the first sign of symptoms and to bring my dog in within the hour. I explained that my dog had OCD and probably only needed painkillers again but she still wanted to see her.
We took Ragga in at 4.30pm. When we got there there was a family waiting to go in, their poor little dog had been run over on the morning and they were there to have him euthanised. Jo had tried everything for him and even though it was Xmas she still took the time to sympathise with the family and let them spend time with their beloved pet.
When these poor people had gone we took Ragga in, Jo says she has severe arthritis of the elbow, not surprising as she has had OCD since 5mths, she put her on Metacam.
Whilst speaking with Jo she told us that while she was out with the little dog that had been run over her own little dog 'Molly' had ran past her Father and been run over as well. Through all her own worry she still saw it in her heart to give other animals should get the treatment they needed.
I don't think I could have a better Vet treating my pets I think she may be one of the most dedicated people in her proffession.
I would like to say thankyou to everyone at my Vets surgery, Weardale veterinary practice in Crook/Stanhope-in Weardale, not just Jo but Billy and all the other staff as well.
D4wn

Your vet is special,, very special
Susan

How is Ragga now? I hope he is better your vet sounds one in a million give Ragga a big hug from me xxx

Hi Joanna,
Ragga is a little better but when she feels better she jumps around and then she can't use her leg again. Being a Mastiff it is difficult to keep her still. I do have a very very big crate but I'd rather not have to put her in it now as she hasn't been in it since she was 18mths old.
Thanx for asking after her.
Susan. Yes my Vets are the best. Over the last 2yrs I couldn't have done without them. They are very good about bills as well, when I have had big bills they let me pay it off in bits. There have been times when I have took a rescue in and basically told them I had no money. They very rarely charge full rate.
Incidently, Jo never charged me a call out for Ragga on Xmas Day. How good is that??
D4wn

I wish that could be printed off and sent to all the vets that look upon themselves as "Gods" and have terribly snotty attitudes.  Thankfully I have a practice where the majority aren't like that but you do get the ocasional one.....

Was my habit to worm all the dogs when the bitches came into season, one year that happened to be Boxing Day, so I wormed and one of the dog had a sever reaction to the wormer, I gave Pririton but the dog was not improved in half an hour so I phoned the vet to see if I should give another and she said no if I brought him in she would give him and injection. So I went to the surgery and was saying how sorry I was to disturber her at Christmas she said it was no problem and then took me out to the hospital where there were 3 dogs and told me in order that the nurses could have the day off she had been coming in to check up on them ever 3 hours day and night and then phone their worried owners to reassure them.

Would like to think my vets are special but suspect that they are the norm and it is the 'could not care less ones' who are in the minority and I would not dream of using a vet that behaved like that.

I was away last xmas day & hubby looking after dogs, 1 of the greyhounds was spooked by gunfire & she ran into thorn bushes & cut along the top of her back. Hubby called the vet & he came out, sorted the dog out & then took hubby to hospital cos the dog bit him when he was seeing how bad she was, then brought him home.
There are some wonderful vets :)

Christine, Spain.

It was me who put the post in D4wn, i am pleased to say that the pup is ok now, yesterday morning i got up and all the bumps had gone...My vet in a way was thoughtful enough to tell me i could treat the allergy at home with out having to pay him lots of money (not that i cared about the money, i didnt) but he asked if there was any swelling and as i said no he didn't think the allergy was life threatening and would clear up in 48hrs with the piriton and he was right because it did. It doesn't stop you worrying though and i would have felt better had he seen her but it all turned out good in the end thank goodness....your vet sounds really good and its a shame they are not all like that, if i was in that profession i would see anyone's pet and probably wouldn't charge either at xmas but thats me :)
thanks for those who replied and i hope your dog is feeling better D4WN :)

Hi Jacki,
I suppose they have to charge but I must admit I am a bit over supportive of my vet. I first met him when he was newly qualified, the practice he was at dealt with my cat for ten years, when my cat was 23yrs old we decided it was time to release him. Billy had been treating my cat for 2yrs or more. We took him to be PTS, he was 23yrs old, Billy cuddled him, with tears in his eyes, for ages . We had come to terms with the event but Billy was gutted.
When I moved to where I live now, I went to register my pets ata the vet. Billy recognised me, he remembered 'Smokey', after all the years.
The thing is it is not only Billy that is an excellent vet but everyone he employs has the same attitude as him. They just love animals.
I have seen Billy with tears in his eyes more than once, he is so soft where pets are concerned.
You couldn't ask for a better practice to look after your beloved pets.
D4wn
P.S There was one vet I didn't like at the vets but I think he was a locum.

Hi

I too use the same vets.  I took in to abandoned kittens just beofre exams.  Both had server cat flu.... I had to take them to crook and stanhope everyday for injections and small eye operations.  On one day I left the shih tzu puppy in the kitchen while i went to pick up the kittens from there operations and cam back to find the ironing board had fell and knock my pup on the head. straight to vets again and jo and billy where fab and so understnading... the both need medals..... Four weeks later I am still going on a daily basis to see billy at crook he is brilliant

Hi Eddie,
As I said years ago Billy was the vet we took our animals to so when I realised it was his surgery when I moved here 18mths ago I was well chuffed.
Jo's little Molly was run over on Xmas day I hope she pulled through.
D4wn
I hope the kits are getting better, is the pup okay? At the moment I have a couple of rescues as well.

Yeah pup got all clear today.  The kittens still need to go for daily jabs and a small eye operation...its costing me a fortune but I couldnt bare to see the little babys suffer.  So what type of dogs have you got hun and where u from I now live in bishop

Hi Eddie,
Just posted on your other thread. I live in Stanhope. I have a Mastiff (with OCD), a Bullmastiff(with demodecosis) sp, 2 JRT's & a X-terrier with luxated patella (Going to get his leg amputated shortly). I also have 4 cats, 3 related & 1 rescue, 2 ferret jills & 3 degu. How's that for a houseful? This is why Billy and the rest of them come in handy. I only live 300yds from the Stanhope surgery. Oh!! and the kids.
Glad the pups fine hope the kits will be soon.
D4wn