Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / September 2005

I have a sick horse.  I called the vet and when I called the vet asked
the symptoms.  I told him that the horse has a swollen ankle and is
having a hard time getting around.  He has never seen this horse, but
he said from what I describe, the animal should most likely be put
down.  I said that's not why I called.  I called to get help.  I have
a rifle and know how to use it, and I can put it down myself, if that
is what I wanted to do.  This is a rural area, and this is the only
vet in 50 miles that will work on horses, so I dont have any choice of
vets.  The other vets either do small animals, or only do cattle and
refuse to do horses.

The vet was pretty insistant on the phone that the horse is beyond
help, but said that if I want to pay for a visit, he will come and
look, but again said that he will most likely just tell me to
euthanize.  The vet came, looked at the leg, and said I must euthanize
the horse.  Note, the horse is only 5 years old.  The vet did not do
any tests, or anything.  Just felt the leg and said a bunch of medical
terms.  When I asked what that all meant, I was told the bones in the
joint are not properly lined up.  I asked if surgery would help.  The
vet said that it might, but it's expensive and the horse is not worth
it, he said the horse is useless because it can never be ridden.  That
really pissed me off, to be honest.  This horse means a lot to me, and
even if he can not be ridden, he's my pet and my pal.  I only ride
about 3 times a year anyhow.  I just like the horse as a pet.  I was
boiling mad by then, and said again, forget the cost of the surgery,
will surgery help this horse?  My question was never answered, I was
told to save the money and buy another horse, there are plenty of
cheap horses, bla bla bla...

The vet said he will go get his stuff and put the horse down.  I
flatly refused, and said if he is going to be put down, I will do it
myself and save the money.  The vet told me to suit myself, and handed
me a large bill (for doing nothing).  Then he said that the horse
needs to be euthanized in the next 2 days, and said that he is going
to come back in a few days to be sure the horse is gone, and said that
if I do not kill the horse, he is going to have me charged with
inhumane treatment.  

Inhumane my a.s...... I know the horse is hurting, but I am trying to
help the horse.  I am even willing to do the surgery if there is any
way to pay for it, and fully intend to do what I can.  Hell, I have
broken my legs several times, and I know how painful it is, but they
didn't put me down, and this horse does not have a broken leg.  I
think this vet is going way beyond their limits.  This is MY horse.  I
make the decisions.  If I was starving the horse, or beating it, I
could understand the "inhumane", but the horse is sick, I am trying to
get help, and willing to do most anything to help.  What gives this
vet the right to insist that I kill my horse, especially after doing
absolutely no tests or xrays or anything, just feeling the leg.  I am
going to say right now, if the vet does come back, I am going to tell
him to leave.  The horse is in the barn, and he cant see it.  If he
enters my barn, I will call the sheriff and prosecute for trespassing.

This vet will NEVER step foot on my property again.  In the future, I
will learn to care for my own animals, and if I can not do the job, I
will either have to spend a fortune to get an out of town vet, or rely
on my farrier who knows as much as most of the vets I have ever dealt
with.  In fact, I called my farrier first, and he said that from what
he sees, the horse has the equivalant of a sprained ankle in a person,
but told me that the horse has a crooked leg (which I knew), and said
that I might not be able to ride the horse anymore, but said I need to
get a boot on that ankle and give some pain meds, and he should be
fine, but may limp. (I have been giving pain pills, and am waiting to
find a place to get the boot). Today I plan to call animal hospitals,
but already know they are going to ask me what the vet said.
I am not sure how to deal with that....

I know this is a vet newsgroup, and while this may upset some people
on here, I am going to be honest.  I have always hated vets.  They are
just out to make money and dont give a damn about the animal or the
owner.  Vets seem to think they are God, and us owners are all
complete idiots.  But after this incident, I dont think I will ever
call another vet. I am real tired of their egotistical attitudes.  I
used to think medical doctors were bad until I had to call a vet.  I
hate all of them........

Loran