Don't Wait

Yes, they all seem to do a wait see. They laugh at me because I call the vet first.

9/15/2008 10:07:43 PM

don't want to spend the money

9/15/2008 9:05:37 AM

not any close friends, but several people that I know casually

9/15/2008 8:46:46 AM

I have learned enough to know when to call the vet- or to just ship to a vet hospital.

9/14/2008 11:10:03 PM

Everyone feels they should try everything they can before calling a vet. Job losses contribute:)

9/14/2008 6:19:27 PM

I don't mess around with illnesses or injuries. If it needs a vet I call the vet.

9/14/2008 5:05:20 PM

Would you wait to call a Dr. if your child had more than a stomach ache? Why can your horse wait?

9/14/2008 3:28:05 PM

Not my "friends" but plenty of others that I know do. Sad!!

9/14/2008 8:28:31 AM

Vet calls are way too expensive!

9/13/2008 11:27:30 PM

Yes, the cheap ones do!

9/13/2008 9:39:52 PM

but they can barely afford their horses in the first place, so they don't want to spend anymore

9/13/2008 4:00:01 PM

But it's rare that I can get a vet to come out in an emergency!

9/13/2008 3:37:58 PM

They would not be my "friend" if they neglected their responsibilities!

9/12/2008 6:31:45 PM

I don't, many self-medicate, then call

9/12/2008 2:36:15 PM

Just the opposite, sometimes too quick to call

9/12/2008 12:56:04 PM

Most of us take a "wait and see" if we know the situation is not life-threatening

9/12/2008 12:01:46 PM

lots of common sense

9/12/2008 11:04:22 AM

And it is very frustrating to hear them whine about it later!

9/12/2008 10:22:02 AM

mainly because of costs involved

9/12/2008 7:50:21 AM

the horses for some as nothing more than furniture.....(sad)

9/12/2008 7:20:44 AM

Call to early- panic unecessarily

9/12/2008 5:31:42 AM

Yes, thet are not knowledgeable enough to realize how serious the injury/illnes might or could be.

9/12/2008 5:12:54 AM

No I'm a equine vet tech so they call me first

9/11/2008 8:16:05 PM

I know one who waited days for bad colic

9/11/2008 7:50:15 PM

Watched a horse die from "tie-up" over two days. Owner never called vet until horse went down.

9/11/2008 7:48:17 PM

I have some ask my opinion first, but no.

9/11/2008 5:43:50 PM

sometimes you do not realize you have waited too long

9/11/2008 5:20:38 PM

She KNEW BETTER! tried to pull a breech foal with a truck! Foal dead.Mare died next day. Sad, Sad.

9/11/2008 5:14:29 PM

And they have lost several because of the delay!

9/11/2008 5:08:39 PM

Yes and I'm guilty of the same mistake...

9/11/2008 5:06:08 PM

Sometimes but not usually is this the case.

9/11/2008 4:55:03 PM

It's usually apparent what level of care the animal needs to experienced owners.

9/11/2008 4:49:36 PM

Not my friends, but I have seen other owners wait. $ is usually the cause of the wait.

9/11/2008 4:25:53 PM

my friends call if their horse has a pimple

9/11/2008 3:56:54 PM

with economics so short alot of people are trying to take care of problems theirselves.

9/11/2008 3:45:50 PM

The economy is bad here and vets are expensive

9/11/2008 3:14:40 PM

Our vet is onsite at our stables, very convenient

9/11/2008 1:23:45 PM

Several of them don't seem to have learned to recognize subtle symptoms of illness.

9/11/2008 11:40:42 AM

they don't have enough knowledge to differentiate between emergent/routine illness/injury

9/11/2008 10:41:24 AM

Yes! Makes me so mad - then IF they have vet come they don't follow all instructions - horse died!

9/11/2008 10:05:09 AM

more education of horse owners is needed to help them determine when to call the vet

9/11/2008 9:56:44 AM

Mare in labor left for hours ended in her and foal's death

9/11/2008 8:40:22 AM

friends call me to avoid paying vet bill

9/11/2008 8:04:58 AM

In our area, it doesn't cost ANYTHING to give the vet a "heads up" call, and let her decide.

9/11/2008 7:05:06 AM

they use the "wait & see" method

9/11/2008 5:10:38 AM

most owners take care of their horse(s) than they take care of themselves. Sac. CA

9/11/2008 1:24:50 AM

Says she doesn't want to "waste her money" and that she knows her horses better than the vet (ugh)

9/11/2008 1:16:21 AM

I board horses, this gal lost 1 horse to colic,and had to do ER colic surgery on the other one.

9/10/2008 8:08:22 PM

I'd say if anything people call too quickly.

9/10/2008 7:44:22 PM

we stay on top of things. we almost had a horse die from colic

9/10/2008 7:35:27 PM

This really irritates me. Asses and call

9/10/2008 7:34:56 PM

Usually, I do. I keep hoping they will gt better. It's so expensive!

9/10/2008 2:39:49 PM

not my friends, but I know of others who do wait too long.

9/10/2008 2:01:27 PM

I am a CVT so I encounter first hand almost everyday people who wait too long to call the vet

9/10/2008 1:50:25 PM

I'm friends with my Vet, Thank God!

9/10/2008 1:12:15 PM

only because there are no vets in the area

9/10/2008 1:11:25 PM

They think their horse will be ok no matter what

9/10/2008 1:05:05 PM

The wait and see what happens attitude is all too common

9/10/2008 11:44:44 AM

I am not one to go running for the vet for every little thing. most I can manage myself.

9/10/2008 11:40:13 AM

Sometimes they think they can diagnose as well and dont want to spend the money.

9/10/2008 10:45:08 AM

Most are skilled enough to do what they can THEN call the vet

9/10/2008 10:25:36 AM

Remember --never "cry wolf"--you want your vet to know you have an emergency if you really do!

9/10/2008 10:11:21 AM

Many are unsure of when to call. Usually they call me first, and I tell them to call.

9/10/2008 10:01:01 AM

The boarding facility I use, folks are pretty quick to call the vet.

9/10/2008 9:51:41 AM

I have one who thinks she can do everything herbally - not true!

9/10/2008 9:25:14 AM

I have had boarders who don't want to cll the vet unless it becomes life or death

9/10/2008 9:24:48 AM

Most of our horse friends have the same sense of urgency

9/10/2008 9:03:42 AM

Some don't want to spend money. I call right away for quick help, which in many ways costs less.

9/10/2008 8:55:31 AM

People make bad choices in life, this would be another one.

9/10/2008 8:54:49 AM

so we changed vets

9/10/2008 8:07:02 AM

I don't know anyone who doesn't call the vet immediately for injury or illness

9/10/2008 7:48:05 AM

If no prior appt. for the call, we get charged and additional $100 above farm call charges M-F

9/10/2008 6:52:43 AM

extreme fees

9/10/2008 6:49:25 AM

I'm very lucky to be around caring and knowledgeable horse people!

9/10/2008 5:09:12 AM

They go by what they read first to save money

9/10/2008 4:19:54 AM

And my 17yo Dutch WB is living proof of what TO do: when your vet says Colic Surgery DO

9/10/2008 12:35:03 AM

Most are quik on the phone!

9/9/2008 11:59:22 PM

I am a CVT with a big mouth. They listen when I say " If it was my horse, I would call a vet".

9/9/2008 11:52:12 PM

because of the high cost of having the vet out, even if the turns out to be ok

9/9/2008 11:47:43 PM

Most do not, but more recently some are due to costs.

9/9/2008 11:30:48 PM

I take my horses to my vet as soon as they dont look right even if its nothing, for piece of mind

9/9/2008 11:26:56 PM

I watched a horse die slowly from an impaction because the owner said she couldn't afford the vet.

9/9/2008 11:24:01 PM

One friend's horse was emaciated and said she's wait until Spring, but the mare didn't make it.

9/9/2008 10:43:06 PM

Yes -- because they don't want to spend the money. Often gets worse.

9/9/2008 10:31:48 PM

hoping that homecures work. Also very distant and have to haul to diagnostic at WCVM for most things

9/9/2008 10:19:37 PM

So much damage to the horses could be averred if only fast action was taken. Especially wounds

9/9/2008 10:18:35 PM

Thankfully my horse-owning friends will call the vet immediately if there is an injury or illness.

9/9/2008 10:08:35 PM

They know about horses, use common sense and have a good working relationship with their vets-calls

9/9/2008 9:59:54 PM

With todays increasing prices, we all tend to think that the wait may be benificial.

9/9/2008 9:59:38 PM

I find most call when not needed. In some cases causing more invasive treatments with less success.

9/9/2008 9:55:58 PM

Some people I know don't even call the vet.

9/9/2008 9:51:47 PM

Some underestimate the seriousness of the injury/illness & some hope it goes away so no vet & $$$$

9/9/2008 9:43:36 PM

They are not really friends, but more like acquaintances.

9/9/2008 9:34:08 PM

They call other owners like me wanting his to treat their horse so the problem is usually worse by t

9/9/2008 9:23:25 PM

If injury is mistaken as the worsening of a current cronic condition, a new injury maybe overlooked.

9/9/2008 9:16:56 PM

Do you know an eye can turn to liquid and pour out of a horse's head in less than 24hrs?

9/9/2008 9:05:10 PM

Much to the detriment of their horses.

9/9/2008 9:01:29 PM

Most pet owners do, and horse owners are no exception

9/9/2008 8:56:20 PM

If they have they don't talk about it.

9/9/2008 8:46:05 PM

I have never noticed my friends doing anything like that.

9/9/2008 8:38:05 PM

YES colics they don't take a temp or use stethescope

9/9/2008 8:33:31 PM

People who don't call the vet, are the ones who love there horses to death.

9/9/2008 8:08:48 PM

They wait to see if it will go away.

9/9/2008 7:53:05 PM

They have a tendency to call the vet at the smallest injuries-ones they could've managed.

9/9/2008 7:26:49 PM

I and my friend have a saying" if it isnt right, call em out right away". Better safe than too late.

9/9/2008 7:24:41 PM

Most of my friends are very concerned about vet care for their horses.

9/9/2008 7:24:20 PM

Sometimes they think they can't afford to call, or that the condition will resolve.

9/9/2008 7:22:01 PM

I find knowing when to call the vet is the most difficult issue in breeding and raising horses.

9/9/2008 7:17:46 PM

My horses are worth up to $80000 I call the vet right away

9/9/2008 7:16:39 PM

Yes, the ones that are too cheap, or too uninformed

9/9/2008 7:12:46 PM

It worries me to see that many people first seek advice on internet forums before calling a vet!

9/9/2008 7:02:56 PM

I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth much more than a pound of cure.Don't wait!!!

9/9/2008 7:00:50 PM

no, we respect their knowledge

9/9/2008 6:57:20 PM

to the extent of near death events!!

9/9/2008 6:55:14 PM

People try to save$$,it's always the horse that suffers.

9/9/2008 6:50:23 PM

If anything, we all call too soon!

9/9/2008 6:47:59 PM

me too!

9/9/2008 6:43:07 PM

some hideous injuries treated without calling vet. wounds healed. no scars/lameness/infections

9/9/2008 6:30:12 PM

but then, I'm a call-the-vet-first person.

9/9/2008 6:27:59 PM

In my area, getting a vet is slim to none, unless it's for cattle!

9/9/2008 6:14:57 PM

costs of vet care outrageous (quality equine vets scarce) so owners adopt a wait and see approach

9/9/2008 6:13:18 PM

Often because there are no nearby equine vets

9/9/2008 6:11:45 PM

No one noticed her horse head down and drooling heavily. Was a ruptured stomach, and her horse died.

9/9/2008 6:07:51 PM

Usually they call me before the vet... sigh

9/9/2008 6:03:42 PM

4 of my friends own horses, any prolblems we know just about as much as the vets around here

9/9/2008 5:55:53 PM

Trying to save $$$, usually...

9/9/2008 5:53:34 PM

Some don't want to pay the vet bills, which always cost more by waiting

9/9/2008 5:36:27 PM

Yes, client didn't call vet when I told them to for a retained placenta. Their mare is not sterile.

9/9/2008 5:29:35 PM

Most can barely afford to keep their horses, let alone the vet bills.

9/9/2008 5:27:24 PM

Have a friend who has never taken her horses to a vet, doesn't do vaccinations, either.

9/9/2008 5:18:35 PM

they think they know what they are doing - NOT!

9/9/2008 5:14:16 PM

Trying to avoid the expense is the main reason

9/9/2008 5:14:13 PM

Most of my equine friends are conscious of their horses health, and quick to spend $ when needed

9/9/2008 5:13:05 PM

I don't!

9/9/2008 5:08:25 PM

after using common sense, vets are called if needed.

9/9/2008 5:04:21 PM

It's KNOWING/realizing there's a problem that is the issue!

9/9/2008 5:04:21 PM

No, everyone I know does the exact opposite--they call the second something doesn't seem right!

9/9/2008 5:04:06 PM

Most are too poor to call the vet which makes it even worse.

9/9/2008 4:57:36 PM

Calls around for folks' opinions....

9/9/2008 4:56:08 PM

I do not- it is usually worth t

9/9/2008 4:52:22 PM

Sometimes resulting in death

9/9/2008 4:45:59 PM

Very exasperating especially when colic is involved.

9/9/2008 4:45:03 PM

They usually call WAY too early and often!

9/9/2008 4:40:07 PM

they don't want to pay the vet. Most try their own remedies or ask unqualified people.

9/9/2008 4:39:53 PM

No, they're too quick if anything, but better safe then sorry!

9/9/2008 4:37:19 PM

I don't believe in calling for every "ouch" but some things mean an immediate call! eyes, stomach...

9/9/2008 4:33:52 PM

Normally they call me for advice first

9/9/2008 4:31:10 PM

We are on the phone real fast.

9/9/2008 4:29:54 PM

Everyone I know cares too much.Responsible horse people

9/9/2008 4:27:47 PM

I know 1 girl who never calls the Vet for anything. Even when she should.

9/9/2008 4:24:50 PM

They are very conscious of their horses' health & seem to notice any changes in health &/or behavior

9/9/2008 4:24:24 PM

no, but we don't waste the precious time of our vet w/unneccasary calls either.

9/9/2008 4:24:16 PM

Too many people call an "expert" friend when they should consult their vet.

9/9/2008 4:24:04 PM

Its not a matter of waiting; its vet availability. Our county has only two!

9/9/2008 4:21:04 PM

they call as soon as it happens

9/9/2008 4:20:20 PM

See it all too often.

9/9/2008 4:18:16 PM

my big concern is that this problem will increase with a tighter economy.

9/9/2008 4:11:28 PM

It's usually the opposite - better safe than sorry

9/9/2008 4:10:55 PM

We personally probably call to often and sooner than need be but the opposite is far worse

9/9/2008 4:08:10 PM

I know when I need a vet and when I can handle the situation.

9/9/2008 4:07:32 PM

Especially with colic symptoms.

9/9/2008 4:06:02 PM

not friends, but manage a facility - waited too long re colic and at least 1 case was fatal.

9/9/2008 4:03:11 PM

I have lectured until I'm blue in the face, thank God she hasn't lost anyone, it has cost her big$$$

9/9/2008 4:00:35 PM

after her 3rd loss (unnecessarily), you would think she would have learned - don't take chances!!!

9/9/2008 4:00:31 PM

I call as soon as I can...I'd rather have my vet tell me it's not necessary for him to see the horse

9/9/2008 3:49:50 PM

yes, waited until puncture would went septic. Never even washed the wound.

9/9/2008 3:45:51 PM

most of the people I know will "just wait and see"

9/9/2008 3:42:10 PM

Some of my friends are too frugal!

9/9/2008 3:39:01 PM

The ones who own the most horses are the worst.

9/9/2008 3:38:16 PM

My horse-owning friends are all vet-techs and know when to call

9/9/2008 3:37:33 PM

They drive me crazy!!!

9/9/2008 3:37:06 PM

So sad, but very true! Vet visits have become so expensive and often home remedies don't work.

9/9/2008 3:33:47 PM

I told her the horse had laminitis in June, had vet out in August when horse immobile from pain

9/9/2008 3:32:43 PM

They have lost 2 horses to colic that lasted several days from the first onset.

9/9/2008 3:27:59 PM

if the vet is even called, they try to play vet then if it fails, call which is usually too late

9/9/2008 3:26:16 PM

especially w/colic its dumb/dangerous

9/9/2008 3:24:24 PM

all to often to save money duh

9/9/2008 3:23:15 PM

Friends continue to show a horse that has changed in their performance w/o consulting a vet, why?

9/9/2008 3:22:13 PM

They should own horses. It's strained our friendship to the breaking point

9/9/2008 3:19:23 PM

Everyone I know shows extreme care & concern for their companions and treat them as a family member.

9/9/2008 3:18:56 PM

Since the cost of farm calls is so high, many people only call the vet as a last resort.

9/9/2008 3:17:11 PM

To save money, I've seen backyard-kep horses waiting for days before receiving proper care.

9/9/2008 3:10:02 PM

they often call me first, even when it's life threatening

9/9/2008 3:08:38 PM

yes, they pretty much let them exsanguinate

9/9/2008 3:01:17 PM

Waited a week to call the Vet when a mare could not deliver her foal, somehow they both survived

9/9/2008 2:59:49 PM

After-hours emergency costs are the biggest reasons for waiting

9/9/2008 2:59:47 PM

We call the vet and seek their recommedations as soon as a serious injury is known.

9/9/2008 2:56:20 PM

If they don't I will

9/9/2008 2:53:57 PM

To the contrary, some folks are WAY too quick to call the vet unnecessarily.

9/9/2008 2:53:27 PM

And she lost a foal and almost the dam because of it.

9/9/2008 2:52:56 PM

They have to be their own judge on their horses treatment.

9/9/2008 2:47:21 PM

Many of them really do not Pay Attention to the details and miss things that need attention

9/9/2008 2:32:08 PM

My horse is at a good barn, if your horse looks ill or injured fellow boarders, barn owner will call

9/9/2008 12:16:03 PM

but I call at the slightest sign--real or imagined

9/9/2008 12:06:20 PM