Where does one stand if your pet has an accident under the vet's care?

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Where does one stand if your pet has an accident under the vet's care?

Dave · Enlightened One

Hi Lita, hope Tyler is OK, I'd certainly expect my vet to pay for any injuries to any of my dogs if it happened whilst under their care (and if they wouldn't I'd be finding a new vet)...

Valerie · Guru

Must admit I read the story of Tyler, and thought same as Dave. If I'm asked to leave an animal at the Vets, the Vet is assuming responsibility for care, security etc. and as the animal expert should be able to assess an animal as to what level of restraint is necessary?

I think my only comment would be if the Vet was unsure in any way for the handling of your dog, did he ask you to be present? If not, you would assume they are fully competent in handling. I agree that it is only afterwards that your mind runs to the "what if", and really that is right and proper, because as good dog owners we are always trying to assess and plan for risks and minimise them, which is what you would expect the Vet to do, surely?

I'm afraid I would be considering changing Vet if I felt in any way worried, because I need to feel trust in the Vet. Or perhaps a heart to heart with the Vet direct to fully understand or seek assurances may be a more softly approach.

Poor Tyler went in for one thing and came away with something unnecessary - in my opinion.

Teresa · Enlightened One

i'm sure any vet would take full responsibility and treat the animal for free, if for no other reason than their reputation would be severely damaged by the bad publicity that the accident would cause.

as for the legal position, i would also assume that they are insured for just such an occasion.

however, assumptions are not good things so perhaps we, as owners, have a legal right to know that insurance of that sort is in place. i wonder if they need to display an insurance certificate of that nature ?

as Daisy is attending the vets at an alarmingly regular rate just now (see post "Daisy's leg"), i might just ask the question if i can remember when i'm next there !

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Thanks everyone for your comments. Yes I would also like to think that the vets have some kind of insurance scheme for such mishaps. If her injury had been severe I think I would have been 'really going to town'. Yes, Valerie it is only afterwards we start to think 'what if'', because at the time we can only feel concerned about our pet being OK.

Anyway, we took Tyler back tonight to vet to get her leg checked. To be honest it hasn't been that bad & caused her very little bother & is only a little inflamed now, but I thought better take her for that check in case of any repercussion. I told the vet the leg seemed fine and vet said "oh good - lucky for us". MMMM - I thought. They didn't charge us for the check-up tonight - but if they had, I was going to argue the case! I was geared up to ask more about the incident, but as it was a different vet on duty, I backed down. It would have been interestng to ask about table height and their handling techniques also. (Maybe a good topic to raise with Suzanne )

I think the Arnica pillettes may well have worked wonders for the bruising & inflammation

Suzanne · Guru

Hi hon - sorry to hear Tyler got a knock. Glad it was just a bruise.....but to be honest it can be easily done - that is not any onus on the vets - the table heights are all adjustable normally & are lowered to place the dogs on, the dogs are then pre-med'd to make them sleepy & the table is then raised to a level the surgeon can work at (without knackering our backs). Dogs all have a different reaction to being put in such a strange environment - so cope, some just flip out (we had a lurcher just the other day that immediately after having his pre-med so he could be x-ray'd - totally flipped out on the table - it took 6 of us to control it.

All vet staff are very experienced in handling animals, and of course all vets have insurance to cover them - which buisiness wouldnt? I think by the sounds of it your vets Lita have dealt with the situation perfectly. They have given you free treatment for the bruise & consults. There really isnt much else they can do. Its just one of these things that happen.

Animals are a completely different entity when in a vets - they react in ways that they may not at home because they are freaked. If a greyhound suddenly decides to jump off a table mid restraint, you couldnt imagine the strength in them - been there, got the bruises myself!!! In situations where they are freaking on the table you are best to be honest to let them go (if fit & healthy) & allow the animal to calm down before you do anything else to it (all doors are always shut in prep rooms/theatre so they cant ever escape). In that way they are less likely to injure themselves jumping off than by several folk trying to pin it down & freak it out even more.

Im not sure if thats of any help but, it really is just one of those things....as in any line of work/business - accidents happen. Looking at the 'bigger' picture - no-one meant for Tyler to hurt herself - far from it - the veterinary world is full to bursting with people that care passionately about animals, they are there to care & would have been upset that Tyler hurt herself. Bless them for being so nice to put on ice packs etc....sounds like you have a good bunch there....

Give her a kiss from me n the gang xx

doggymental · Old Hand

I'm glad it wasn't more serious. I know accidents happen but the vet should take full responsibility and being a business should be insured for such instances.

I hope Tyler recovers soon, big hugs for her

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Hi Suzanne,

I knew you would have something interesting to say on this and its good to hear the views from the other side.

I can fully appreciate that is must be really hard to try and cope with a stressed out animal, and yes I agree, its better to let the animal calm down first before trying again rather than any restraint, as I'm sure too that restraint would only make the animal more upset. So, yes I'm convinced the vet must have handled the situation well, as they did manage to complete the anaesthetic and get on with the job in hand!

No doubt the vets have their own insurance cover for the injuries they receive also!!!

Cheers

Suzanne · Guru

greyluvver wrote:

No doubt the vets have their own insurance cover for the injuries they receive also!!!
Cheers

Thankfully they do - I was back at the Glasgow PDSA last week - catching up with the staff, I asked why they were now muzzling every single dog that needed restraint/treatment - even the cute/butter wouldnt melt fluffy puppies....

then one of the nurses showed me her hand - a few months prior, they were trying to take blood or something off this Bullmastif pup - 8mths old, cute ball of fluff. It went beserk & sunk its teeth into the nurses hand - requiring 6 stitches & physio as it damaged muscle & tendons to the thumb, then it sank its teeth into her breast - puncturing just below the nipple....they had to prize its jaws off as it wasnt for letting go.....i couldnt ask any more as I was curled up just at the very thought of it...

Ive only been bitten by a rabbit so far, but yes - us nurses etc risk life & boob on a daily basis!!

max · Enlightened One

like the boob part Suzanne, good to hear from you again. Nora LOL