Last night every emergency vet hospital closed their doors on us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused about what op thinks veterinary hospitals operating at capacity are supposed to do when she shows up. Throw another emergency out the door and treat her dog?

Triage

Right. Is triage unreasonable?

1. Animals can't talk so triage is much harder.

2. They do triage as much as possible.

3. They were at capacity. So who would do this triage?

4. You do know that a concept in triage is to just let some go that can't be saved, right?

It can also be a regional area triage with a cooperative real time data system, as mentioned above. Experienced techs can do that, as RNs do this in hospitals. And yes, for many things, it is pretty clear how serious the emergency is, and, of course, for some, not as apparent. But it's a start.

What I've learned from this thread is that there is a crisis that wasn't really happening before in terms of service, but some of the endemic and specific issues have been building up, with a pandemic illuminating and exacerbating the problems. The vets are correct about a lot of things, of course, but the owner who is scared and expecting care from local ER providers as usual while not realizing what's happening really doesn't need to be raked over the coals as an entitled suburban Karen who doesn't even deserve a dog. If the veterinary community really believed that of people in her position, they wouldn't be also offering specialty services such a dog water PT, laser work for skin, ophthalmology or especially oncology. We interact entirely differently with our pets than even 20 years ago, and that is how the veterinary field grew to what it is today. It's like developments built with no infrastructure changes, like roads and schools. We are all Tricky- Woo's owner now, admittedly.* We don't realize there is a problem until it's a crisis. Over the years, we've had a few crises, and I was very frightened, which I guess is why they are called Emergency centers.

That is not to say that the vets need some understanding, our (client) realization of the situation, and compassion, not to mention kudos for hard work in a pandemic when the spotlight is in other places. More should be written about it, social media platforms associated with centers need to get the info out, pay needs to be increased, and yes, it's time to work with technology to help streamline emergency situations within a region.

** Tricky Woo is the very pampered pet in the James Herriott memoirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being this entitled. Wow.

Imagine being this clueless. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, OP, yes many vet practices are over capacity right now. Even the ASPCA poison control hotline is running really long waits. (I discovered both when my dog counter surged cooking food that was full of onion.)

What was most difficult for me is that I recently had to work really hard to find a vet to euthanize my very elderly cat that had been on hospice care. Both Friendship had Lap of Love had been providing care, but they were running 3-4 day waits for euthanasia. My spouse and I spent a morning calling vet practices to ask them to please euthanize our cat that day, which was a pretty terrible way to spend our last hours with a family pet.

We had the same issue with euthanasia. We ended up having to take her to a vet full of barking dogs to make poor old cat’s life ending time even worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused about what op thinks veterinary hospitals operating at capacity are supposed to do when she shows up. Throw another emergency out the door and treat her dog?

Triage

Right. Is triage unreasonable?

1. Animals can't talk so triage is much harder.

2. They do triage as much as possible.

3. They were at capacity. So who would do this triage?

4. You do know that a concept in triage is to just let some go that can't be saved, right?

It can also be a regional area triage with a cooperative real time data system, as mentioned above. Experienced techs can do that, as RNs do this in hospitals. And yes, for many things, it is pretty clear how serious the emergency is, and, of course, for some, not as apparent. But it's a start.

What I've learned from this thread is that there is a crisis that wasn't really happening before in terms of service, but some of the endemic and specific issues have been building up, with a pandemic illuminating and exacerbating the problems. The vets are correct about a lot of things, of course, but the owner who is scared and expecting care from local ER providers as usual while not realizing what's happening really doesn't need to be raked over the coals as an entitled suburban Karen who doesn't even deserve a dog. If the veterinary community really believed that of people in her position, they wouldn't be also offering specialty services such a dog water PT, laser work for skin, ophthalmology or especially oncology. We interact entirely differently with our pets than even 20 years ago, and that is how the veterinary field grew to what it is today. It's like developments built with no infrastructure changes, like roads and schools. We are all Tricky- Woo's owner now, admittedly.* We don't realize there is a problem until it's a crisis. Over the years, we've had a few crises, and I was very frightened, which I guess is why they are called Emergency centers.

That is not to say that the vets need some understanding, our (client) realization of the situation, and compassion, not to mention kudos for hard work in a pandemic when the spotlight is in other places. More should be written about it, social media platforms associated with centers need to get the info out, pay needs to be increased, and yes, it's time to work with technology to help streamline emergency situations within a region.

** Tricky Woo is the very pampered pet in the James Herriott memoirs.

Anyone who mentions Tricky Woo gets bonus points

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a regular vet had not been "lucrative" in decades: vet school is expensive, young people aren't becoming vets, old vets are retiring, and practices that could make it work are getting bought out by big chains. Emergency vets have even higher costs and a less stable client pool than daytime vets.

There was just a story in the news about a vet who's retiring and giving away his practice because if no one takes it his rural county will have no vets. No one will buy it, he is giving away everything for free including his truck.

My aunt was support staff at one that got bought last year: some of the vets stayed on as employees, some retired, and all the support staff were laid off. My aunt was retirement age already and working there to get discounted care for her menagerie; it's not like people were jumping on those jobs.

This is such a load of s***. I know two small time vets who are raking in over $500,000 a year and pay their one receptionist $12/hour. It's a lucrative gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a regular vet had not been "lucrative" in decades: vet school is expensive, young people aren't becoming vets, old vets are retiring, and practices that could make it work are getting bought out by big chains. Emergency vets have even higher costs and a less stable client pool than daytime vets.

There was just a story in the news about a vet who's retiring and giving away his practice because if no one takes it his rural county will have no vets. No one will buy it, he is giving away everything for free including his truck.

My aunt was support staff at one that got bought last year: some of the vets stayed on as employees, some retired, and all the support staff were laid off. My aunt was retirement age already and working there to get discounted care for her menagerie; it's not like people were jumping on those jobs.

This is such a load of s***. I know two small time vets who are raking in over $500,000 a year and pay their one receptionist $12/hour. It's a lucrative gig.

My Vet (owns the practice) lives in a 5m dollar home and gets a new Lambo, Maserati, Aston Martin, Porsche, etc. for himself every year at Christmas. I suspect he is doing just fine.

[Anonymous]

Hard to staff vet practices due to idiotic unemployment benefits. Blame your politician dummies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vets and their stadd are committing suicide or leaving their profession due to overwhelming stress because:
1. People took on more pets en masse during the pandemic, but there aren't more vets;
2. Vets were already stressed before the pandemic because there aren't enough schools to produce enough graduates and
3. The take-overs by large corporations pressure vet practices to see more patients in less time for sometimes less pay or in difficult medical conditions with fewer supporting staff.

So yes, sometimes it ends up leading to terrible situations like yours.

How is your dog?

Also garbage pay especially for vet techs. You can’t live on what they make

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, OP, yes many vet practices are over capacity right now. Even the ASPCA poison control hotline is running really long waits. (I discovered both when my dog counter surged cooking food that was full of onion.)

What was most difficult for me is that I recently had to work really hard to find a vet to euthanize my very elderly cat that had been on hospice care. Both Friendship had Lap of Love had been providing care, but they were running 3-4 day waits for euthanasia. My spouse and I spent a morning calling vet practices to ask them to please euthanize our cat that day, which was a pretty terrible way to spend our last hours with a family pet.

We had the same issue with euthanasia. We ended up having to take her to a vet full of barking dogs to make poor old cat’s life ending time even worse.

We had a similar experience with euthanasia with our dog who was on hospice care.

[Anonymous]

Associate veterinarians do not make nearly what practice owners make. Most practices are staffed by associates with corporate ownership. I drive a fifteen year old Honda minivan. I live in a townhouse. Far from the luxury you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your dog ok now?

Op here. Yes she is ok now, thank you for asking. We are so grateful for the vets in Manassas who let us in.

So, just so you are aware, we tried to get our cat into the Manassas emergency vet this weekend and were turned away. Maybe b/c of your emergency??? So this goes both ways.

This who situation SUCKS and I wish that "they" could fix things. I have an aging dog and now a cat with medical issues. I'm anxious about the next medical problem b/c it's horrible calling around to 4-5 places to see who can take them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, OP, yes many vet practices are over capacity right now. Even the ASPCA poison control hotline is running really long waits. (I discovered both when my dog counter surged cooking food that was full of onion.)

What was most difficult for me is that I recently had to work really hard to find a vet to euthanize my very elderly cat that had been on hospice care. Both Friendship had Lap of Love had been providing care, but they were running 3-4 day waits for euthanasia. My spouse and I spent a morning calling vet practices to ask them to please euthanize our cat that day, which was a pretty terrible way to spend our last hours with a family pet.

We had the same issue with euthanasia. We ended up having to take her to a vet full of barking dogs to make poor old cat’s life ending time even worse.

We had a similar experience with euthanasia with our dog who was on hospice care.

Same issue with our cat. We had to do it at a vet's office, which I hate and which I did not want for my pet. But, like you said, Lap of Love was running days behind. The entire situation with vet care right now is horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused about what op thinks veterinary hospitals operating at capacity are supposed to do when she shows up. Throw another emergency out the door and treat her dog?

Triage

Right. Is triage unreasonable?

1. Animals can't talk so triage is much harder.

2. They do triage as much as possible.

3. They were at capacity. So who would do this triage?

4. You do know that a concept in triage is to just let some go that can't be saved, right?

It can also be a regional area triage with a cooperative real time data system, as mentioned above. Experienced techs can do that, as RNs do this in hospitals. And yes, for many things, it is pretty clear how serious the emergency is, and, of course, for some, not as apparent. But it's a start.

What I've learned from this thread is that there is a crisis that wasn't really happening before in terms of service, but some of the endemic and specific issues have been building up, with a pandemic illuminating and exacerbating the problems. The vets are correct about a lot of things, of course, but the owner who is scared and expecting care from local ER providers as usual while not realizing what's happening really doesn't need to be raked over the coals as an entitled suburban Karen who doesn't even deserve a dog. If the veterinary community really believed that of people in her position, they wouldn't be also offering specialty services such a dog water PT, laser work for skin, ophthalmology or especially oncology. We interact entirely differently with our pets than even 20 years ago, and that is how the veterinary field grew to what it is today. It's like developments built with no infrastructure changes, like roads and schools. We are all Tricky- Woo's owner now, admittedly.* We don't realize there is a problem until it's a crisis. Over the years, we've had a few crises, and I was very frightened, which I guess is why they are called Emergency centers.

That is not to say that the vets need some understanding, our (client) realization of the situation, and compassion, not to mention kudos for hard work in a pandemic when the spotlight is in other places. More should be written about it, social media platforms associated with centers need to get the info out, pay needs to be increased, and yes, it's time to work with technology to help streamline emergency situations within a region.

Great post. Some of you need to simmer down. When you're at an ER with an animal puking up blood, only to be turned away . . . well, it's horrible. And until you're in that position, you shouldn't be judging. Period.

[Anonymous]

This happened to our cat last Friday. Life threatening. Wait times 6-8 hours. In our case the cat was terminal on DNR so we euthanized the next day (age 16) but we STILL got the lecture why didn’t you come in last night? To where ??

[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.

The Hope center would have taken us (with cat above) in any case no matter what.