My friend has two GSD's George and Mildred, George is very vocal as friendly as they come but likes the sound of his own voice.  They went yesterday for their boosters and to be microchipped to the vet's they had gone to since George was 8wks old.  There was a locum vet and he was horrid, firstly he told Tracey that dog is dangerous I am not even looking at him without him being muzzled, she went to explain he would be fine if the vet just spoke to him but he said he wasn't there to argue whipped the lead out of her hand, dragged George across the room, jabbed him with the injection, threw the syringe onto the table, it missed and landed near the foot of her 8 yr old son who was holding Mildred's lead!  Tracey shouted to Kane not to pick it up, he then injected Mildred exactly where she was! All this she said happened so quick it was unreal and he then left the room.  Tracey not convinced the dogs had had their boosters asked the practice nurse she checked the syringes and confirmed they had been administered.  No microchipping took place, the nurse couldn't apologise enough was totally sympathetic and said she just couldn't understand what came over him!  Tracey had to call her husband as those dogs are a big part of her life and she cannot believe anyone would have treat them the way he did.  Her husband came and the vet did apologise to him, but Jim being Jim said he wasn't there for an apology he wanted his name and a name to write to.  Well he got his name as 'Bob' that's all and he said write to the Practice Manager.  Is there anywhere else he can write to?  Surely you spend enough in vets?  She has been going to this surgery for years with all of her pets why does one locum have to spoil her views on the whole thing.  She is really shook up about this bless her but the dogs seem fine! 

sounds like this was way out of order! To be honest, GSD's are the worst breed we encounter in the veterinary profession for biting, usually fear aggression. Everyone I know of who has been in the job for a length of time has been bitten by a GSD, and often its the only dog that has bitten them. The only dog to seriously attack me in my work was a GSD, but thankfully it was muzzled at the time or I may very well not be sat here typing away, it was that intense!
But even if this vet was wary of the dog he acted way out of order, we will muzzle a dog if we are not sure how it will react, if need be, but the situation is handled delicatly and explained properly.
Throwing the syringe about etc is NOT on!
Id say you best course of action would be to contact the RCVS ( royal college of veterinary surgeons) easily found on the net. Get the details of the vet in question from the practice, and see where you go from there. I dont like to hear of vets like this as they give the whole profession a bad name, the same as the odd ones who over price do!

thank you I will pass this on to her, She would willingly have let him be muzzled that was never an issue, what she said was if he thought the dog was dangerous, why did he drag him on his lead across the room before it was muzzled?? doesn't make sense to me cos in my opinion that would have surely made George worse?  Thanks for advice and i will certainly pass the address onto her when I have located it.

your right it would have made the dog worse! and if anything could have induced a fear attack!! Ive found a GSD tends to need firm but fair handling in the vet surgery, They need to know we are boss as it were, but not be provoked at the same time!
If a dog is nervy, too harsher handling will make it 10 times worse, if it is dominant aggressive over handling will also provoke a response as will namby pamby faffing!
Cool calm and firm is the way I have found best. well, touch wood, Ive not been bitten yet! lol

If George was at all stressed by this - and I imagine he was if his owner was, then it might not be a bad idea to take him back when the surgery is quiet and just let the nurse go over him and give him treats or a quick play with a ball.  This might prevent future problems if he has picked up on a problem

i wouldnt take my dog back to that place, i would find a better vet,

We had similar problems with our old vets which was a large chain of vets, we have since moved to a family run vets where we see the same vet every time who our dog is really happy to see.
The last straw came when we took our puppy to have his first injection he gave one injection then started talking about making an appointment to have him neutered !!
He then filled a second syringe and was about to give a second injection ,when we asked him what it was for he went bright red and said oh I've already given it have I and laughed !!
Its usually a bad time when you go to the vets the last thing you need is a stroppy vet on top of it, I'd change vets but I know you don't always have much choice if its the only one.

Steve

Send in a written complaint, it is only fair to let the practice know how badly the locum treated their customers. The clients pays the fees and the vets job is not just to treat the animal but to help the owner and put the clients mind at rest. If this 'vet' could not manage the dog he should have asked for the help of a VN who, I have no doubt, would have managed without trouble.

Do think it also unreasonable to refuse to have your dog muzzled if the vet requests it, but the vet should request not demand. It is after all their face and hands in line for damage and it matters not if it is because the dog is aggressive or fear biting, the bite is just as painful.

Hi Jackie she had no objections to George being muzzled at all just wasn't given a chance for any of this to happen.  This is a vet local to us both Jackie and one I have used several times for all of my animals but will certainly ask before making my next appointment just who i will be seeing! 

Not having a go at your friend at all, think she was badly treated and should complain. My comments about muzzles were in general as I have seen people refuse when the vet is being reasonable in asking for it.

Hi Jackie, no I didn't think you was having a go honest, i can never express myself over the net or by text as clearly as some people can, I've just been to see the so called out of control dog and I took my 15 wk old Cocker with me and both George and Mildred played with him for more than an hour quite contently and now my little bundle of joy is absolutely worn out!  I get to watch Corrie in peace (hopefully!)

Before writing to the RCVS, I would write to the vet partner in charge - not the practice manager who is unlikely to be a vet, but an administrator if it is a large practice.  The head vet is likely to be horrified at the treatment received from a locum, particularly as you have the evidence from the practice nurse.

Hi Craigles, the name of the vet must be on the dog`s vaccine card. The labels of the vaccines need to have been taken off the bottles put in the card & signed & dated by the vet who administered them. If you want to complain ring the clinic & demand to know the name of the vet, also see if you can get the name of the nurse who attended afterwards & verbally inform them you wish to complain. Then write out your complaint & head it to the senior vet & mark it personal & private then deliver it by hand(if by hand make sure you get a dated signature for the letter) or registered mail. I would do that ASAP while everything is fresh in everyones mind. If you want to take it further the link below will explain how & where to go. You can make your complaint to the RCVS by email.
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/vet_surgeons/complaints/procedure.html

Christine, Spain.

Forget that practice.  No one would treat my animals or me like that when I'm paying money.  Plenty more out there that you will find are great with you and your animals.  Imagine that man's attitude if your dog was seriously ill.  Would he care?   Would he be sympathetic?  I'm very lucky in that the first vet I registered with when I got my pets, present and previous, have been absolutely fantastic in health/sickness and death.  Don't tolerate less.

CG

I would write to both (the vet comlaints commission and the head vet of the practice).  I think the locum needs reporting, and I also think the head of the practice needs to know what happened.  I know I was unhappy with treatment by a locum I went and saw my vet on his return and he was horrified and could not apologise enough, the locum was never employed there again.

Thank you all I will print all of your advice/comments and pass them onto my friend who I know has already written to the practice as i went to visit her last night. 

Thats awful.
I remember when I was a teenager, I took my hamster in to the vet. It wasnt the normal vet, but one of his emploees. My Hamster had Wet tale. Not very well, so knew he had to have antibiotics and rehydration stuff.
The vet picked him up to inject him, and he promptly turned and bit her, The poor hamster ended up flying thru the air and landed on the floor about 1 1/2 meters from where she stood. She appologised profusly and the hamster was ok. I know it was a shock for her, BUT I have been bitten loads of times bt hamsters and have NEVER launched them.
These days I would have kicked up such a fuss about it. Then I was a shy teenager.
Lea :)

Just an update on the George and Mildred experience, the main vet contacted Tracy the owner of George this week and invited her to take George in which she did, the vet played with him he didn't bark once, he laid on the floor with him gave him treats, George was apparantly a darling.  To cut a long story short he apologised microchipped both dogs free of charge and assured her that whenever she made an appointment in future she was to ask for him personally and he would see them.  He apologised sincerely for the actions of the other vet and was more than happy that George was not an aggressive dog and may have picked up on the mood of the locum.  So a happy ending.  Thanks for all your advice which I passed on to her.

Hi Craigles,

I've just read this thread with my mouth hanging open, I can't believe what a prat that vet was!

I'm so glad the main vet has more sense than that other idiot!

I've had this kind of problem, although not quite so bad.  My main vet is male, the other vet in the practice is female.  The main vet never had a problem with my GSD's but the female was a bit cautious when she first met our male Shepherd (He is big, and dark, so I suppose he could look a bit menacing, even though he is a big softy!) She asked us to muzzle him, and we said we would, of course.  By the end of the visit, the muzzle was off and she was having big cuddles with him.  (Him with his paws around her neck!!)  Now, whenever I need a vet to come out, it's her and she always plays with all the dogs whilst she's here.
I tell you what, after reading this thread, I've realised how lucky I am!

Take care

Lisa

I changed to my current vet who I am really happy with, because of the comments of several GSD owning members of our training class.  (the fact that these were all ladies and he is a rather personable man has nothing to do with it :D ).

He has a really easy way with dogs, is not afraid of them so even instills confidence in the normally suspicious ones.  He4 us fast becoming the GSD and Elkhound Vet!!!

Some vets can be very good at their jobs, but lack the bed sise manner with animals, which is a bit sad.

Glad to hear the main vet is a sensible chap.  However, I would get your friend to ask the vet what he proposes to do about the locum.  He may never employ that locum again, but someone else will and someone else's dog may get the same sort of treatment - with a far worse outcome. The locum does not sound as if he has the right attitude to be a vet.