What do you think? Re: Vet refusing to see a pet ETA: ETHICS CODE VETS ARE TO FOLLOW

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jgl
Love my little boys!!!

Member since 8/07

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Name:
g

What do you think? Re: Vet refusing to see a pet ETA: ETHICS CODE VETS ARE TO FOLLOW

Yesterday I went to feed my rabbit when I realized something wasnt right. Typically when he sees me he bolts out of his little hideaway house and waits for food. He didnt do this. I nudged him to come out and he moved a bit. I tried giving him a head of Romaine and even some of his seed/treats and nothing. I pulled him out and he looked really skinny and dirty on the face. His nose was all full of mucus so he sounded stuffed up. I tried cleaning him up but I could tell he was not good. He was barely moving and his body was like dead weight. I told DH it wasnt good and just cried.

I called our vet (who is also 30 mins away) but they were just closing and the woman said to go to a 24 hr vet because it was saturday (which was also at least 30 min away) because it seemed from what I was telling her that he would need observation overnight and no one would be there.

Both were too far and I didnt want to take that long to get him help so we went to the animal hospital near my house. I called when we pulled up outside and asked if they see rabbits. She doesnt say NO she says they dont have any appts. I tell her its an emergency. My dad who drove me said just go in, so I did. The woman is on the phone as im standing there with the rabbit iin my arms in a towel and crying and takes no concern to even acknowledge me standing there. She gets off the phone and I tell her the rabbit is in really bad shape. She tells me that the dr. is in with 2 cats and cant come out. I start really crying and say that someone really needs to see him. She hands us paperwork and repeats that the Dr. is busy with 2 cats.

I get that I dont know the situation with the 2 cats the vet is seeing, but she clearly sees that this is not a good situation and she is so unsympathetic,

She then walks away and comes back and says that the vet says we should go to an emergency vet who would be better able to help us. Chat Icon

I literally started balling and said something like "you cant just tell me he is dying and help me" and walked out. My dad was ****** and was like your kidding?

We got in the car and another patient came to us to tell us 2 vets we could go to and that "Just so we know" that since the vet had never seen our rabbit before that by law he cant see him in an emergency because if something happens to the animal he could have a problem (or something like this... honestly I was too much of a mess to focus). Does this make sense to you? So if an animal gets hit by a car outside their office and a person brings him in willing to pay for treatment, the vet wont see him? seriously???? I think he just wanted to go home.

If they told me they dont see rabbits that is one thing, although Im sure if they would have just looked at him they would have known the outcome, but to turn someone away with an animal that was in such bad shape without even looking at it????

We pretty much new that the rabbit was dying. We just needed someone to help us. Tell us that he was and we couldnt help him and put him down so he wasnt in pain. The vet never even looked at him. He made me take the poor thing to ANOTHER vet for them to pretty much tell me the rabbit is in very bad condition and IN PAIN. We had to have them put him down Chat Icon

This other vet was very nice. they took us in right away and when we made the decision to have him put down, he put every other patient on hold to do it, because the poor guy was in pain. His temp was 93 and it should be 99. Im so sad about this other vet and that my poor liittle bunny had to suffer for more time than needed. So heartless.

Thank you if you made it through this. Was what the vet did normal? Would you complain in some way???

ETA:

DH and I were looking at the ethic codes for vets and based on this as well I feel he was in the wrong...

In emergencies, veterinarians have an ethical responsibility to provide essential services for animals when necessary to save life or relieve suffering, subsequent to client agreement. Such emergency care may be limited to euthanasia to relieve suffering, or to stabilization of the patient for transport to another source of animal care.

When veterinarians cannot be available to provide services, they should arrange with their colleagues to assure that emergency services are available, consistent with the needs of the locality.

Veterinarians who believe that they haven't the experience or equipment to manage and treat certain emergencies in the best manner, should advise the client that more qualified or specialized services are available elsewhere and offer to expedite referral to those services..

Message edited 8/8/2011 8:48:32 AM.

Posted 8/7/11 10:54 AM