Last night every emergency vet hospital closed their doors on us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bananas. OP is relaying a scary experience that we should all be aware of as pet owners in the area. Yes, a lot of us adopted pets during the pandemic. My dog was living under a truck... is it better if we don't give dogs loving homes because it's hard to find veterinary care? I'm sorry this happened to you, OP, and I hope your dog is doing ok.

+1

+100
What’s up PP’s blaming people for getting pets during the pandemic?! It’s a good thing isn’t it?! The shelters were certainly glad…

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry that happened OP. We support a German Shepherd rescue and they just went through something similar. They pulled five shepherds from a shelter. All five were very sick. Distemper 🙁 They could not get them in to see any of the vets they typically use. All were above capacity. Two of the pups have died. They finally got the other three admitted. It took several days and a three hour drive to find a vet.

We have been lucky. Our vet is busy, but we have always been able to get in. Especially in an emergency. Hope your pup is doing better.

[Anonymous]

OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

Got your back, my friend. It is agonizing to read the stories and personal accounts of vets, or hearing about it from friends. I am so sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that OP's tone was not the best considering vets in this country are in crisis.

OP, now you know it's not vets' fault. Keep the list of hospitals, and call from home next time your dog has an issue. Also do your own research, or ask on DCUM. Many of us could have told you that this wasn't a top of the pile emergency, but a potentially serious issue.

The most important thing is, your dog is better!

I think people are finding this out only when there's an emergency, not before. This pet owner was pretty scared, and we all should be. Now she knows, but most really do not. I would have been mortified as well, and without prior knowledge of a growing crisis, would not know what to do. There really were enough ER vets before this past four months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure the OPs story is completely accurate.

We had a potential emergency a couple weeks ago, we also live in Vienna so called Hope. They were as helpful as possible on the phone but they were at full capacity. They looked up the next closest animal hospital with space was. At that time it was as far as Woodbridge.

So, the OP is now a liar? Come on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

Yes, we understand that...and many sympathies. It doesn't mean OP was attacking anyone, she had no idea this was happening, nor do many others.

[Anonymous]

OP wasn't attacking anyone but other posters were completely ridiculous.

It has been this way for over a year. Not just the past couple of months.

Be nice. And trust me when I say I will go out of my way for a client who is a regular customer over someone who only calls us because their regular vet cannot fit them in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You had to make 5 calls and drive 40 minutes. Big freaking deal.

I had to do the same for myself last week when the suspicious bump on my leg, which had been there for a month, started bleeding. Luckily, the last derm I called could see me within a week. It is duty of care for yourself, your kids and your pets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

Yes, we understand that...and many sympathies. It doesn't mean OP was attacking anyone, she had no idea this was happening, nor do many others.

"WTF is going on. Are pets who need emergency care allowed to die? "

[Anonymous]

Also the dramatic subject. “Closed their doors on us” definitely implies that the clinics were doing something callous and wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

Thank you so much for all you do Dear Vet. We lost our dog last month. Friendship did all they could to try to get him better until he hit the point where his kidneys shut down. Yes, we went in as an emergency appointment many times, but they eventually see everyone. We are so thankful for the chance we got to say goodbye to our beloved puppy which was only possible because of the excellent care he received at Friendship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bananas. OP is relaying a scary experience that we should all be aware of as pet owners in the area. Yes, a lot of us adopted pets during the pandemic. My dog was living under a truck... is it better if we don't give dogs loving homes because it's hard to find veterinary care? I'm sorry this happened to you, OP, and I hope your dog is doing ok.

Do you think most people adopted by rescuing a dog from under a truck?

Okay, so should people let pets sit in shelters? C’mon. Rescuing an animal is a wonderful thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG

People hear but don't listen.

WE ARE SWAMPED. TAPPED OUT. EXHAUSTED.

Do you not get it? Keep asking " why can't the vet just see the sick puppy" and pretty soon all of the pups will be sick because the entire profession will crack.

Thank you for those who are sticking up for the vet.

And my PSA - if your pet is sick, you better (1) call the vet as soon as they start answering phones in the AM and (2) be a regular client whose pets are UTD on exams and (3) be nice.

If you need to go to an ER - call ahead. Many are diverting cases. (but Friendship Never turns anyone away - you didn't hear it here!)

BS - Friendship turned me away on Monday.

[Anonymous]

NP here with just a few comments.

OP, I am glad your dog is all right.

Vet PP, thank you for helping our best friends. I value my pets' doctors more than they know.

It is great that folks adopted during Covid, and now those pets will need care, so it's understandable that appointments could be delayed. I adopted too, and my dog had to wait 4 months to be spayed because the vet was booked. I think everyone is just doing the best they can. I don't think vets are purposely turning away pets to be spiteful or to make them suffer.