Vets no longer working in outlying area

[roscoe erf]

This is not a new situation or confined to remote areas and is only going to get worse there is more money in small pets and it’s easier work and more often or not covered by insurance.IN my area alone there are now 3 very large (factory) vets where there used to be dozens of independents

 

[Dead Rabbits]

If you’re needing a vet 8 times a year for calving assistance/ caesars then you’ve either got a crazy big herd (in which case hire one as staff?) or I’d say there’s something wrong with your herd management/ genetics.

I’d put my stats against anyone. Usually calve 950-1050. Might assist 24 with the 8 included. Dairy herd . Never seen a c-section nor needed one.

I wouldn’t have the work for a vet and it’s a high paid profession over here even first year.

 

[Highland Mule]

I’d put my stats against anyone. Usually calve 950-1050. Might assist 24 with the 8 included. Dairy herd . Never seen a c-section nor needed one.

I wouldn’t have the work for a vet and it’s a high paid profession over here even first year.

Yeah, that’s decent numbers. I’d give you that.
What’s the saw for?

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Yeah, that’s decent numbers. I’d give you that.
What’s the saw for?

Cut a calf apart to remove. Its essentially cheese wire you run through a tube.

 

[milkloss]

I’d put my stats against anyone. Usually calve 950-1050. Might assist 24 with the 8 included. Dairy herd . Never seen a c-section nor needed one.

I wouldn’t have the work for a vet and it’s a high paid profession over here even first year.

The problem here is that some work has to be done by a qualified vet by law. Anything much more than dehorning an adult bovine (even then I think it’s dodgy) can’t be DIY.

 

[MRT]

Sad but not surprising. Its not the job it was in the "Herriot" era. Mobile phones mean you are contactable 24/7. Not unusual to return to the car after a cow c-sec and find ten missed calls. On call rotas mean you may be sole charge for periods 60 hours plus and when called out at the wrong time still stitching up a cow when you were due on a farm Tb testing an hour ago on a Monday morning. Doesn't help that the occasional old boy still thinks that All Creatures Great and Small was a documentary!

 

[Woolless]

Shortage of vets has been an issue for some time. Large percentage of female vets which go part time and European vets going home the main issue. Pay and conditions which would be laughed at by others with similar qualifications also play their part. This was flagged up some time ago. In all fairness, the RCVS seem to be doing their bit to help by letting anyone come in and have a go...

 

[Dry Rot]

My uncle, long dead, thought very highly of a veterinary practitioner he used. He wasn't a vet but was licensed to perform certain veterinary operations. I don't know the details except that I think practitioners were discourage/phased out. Maybe someone knows? There can be no serious reason why there shouldn't be specialists who only attend to specific situations, like calvings, I'd have thought. No need to have such a wide sphere of knowledge as at present. A little knowledge is surely better than none being available?

 

[AftonShepherd]

I’d put my stats against anyone. Usually calve 950-1050. Might assist 24 with the 8 included. Dairy herd . Never seen a c-section nor needed one.

I wouldn’t have the work for a vet and it’s a high paid profession over here even first year.

Cut a calf apart to remove. Its essentially cheese wire you run through a tube.

Would a C-section and the chance of a live calf not be a better option than dismembering?

 

[Top Tip.]

My uncle, long dead, thought very highly of a veterinary practitioner he used. He wasn't a vet but was licensed to perform certain veterinary operations. I don't know the details except that I think practitioners were discourage/phased out. Maybe someone knows? There can be no serious reason why there shouldn't be specialists who only attend to specific situations, like calvings, I'd have thought. No need to have such a wide sphere of knowledge as at present. A little knowledge is surely better than none being available?

I suggested very similar on another thread but I was basically told that it would be over the RCVS’ dead body that would happen.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Would a C-section and the chance of a live calf not be a better option than dismembering?

I probably don’t monitor close enough to get it caught early.? We don’t dismember live calves. If I have a cow with an issue I check, see if I can get it, if I can’t I call the vet. He either tells me when he can come or gives advice on extraction. Typically within 3-4 hours he can get there. Not really conducive to C sections I guess. It’s never that the calf is too big it’s always something else.

 

[Dry Rot]

I suggested very similar on another thread but I was basically told that it would be over the RCVS’ dead body that would happen.

That's true. The vets are very keen to maintain a monopoly.

 

[MRT]

That's true. The vets are very keen to maintain a monopoly.

I don't think that is accurate tbh. There are some areas where vet type training is given eg. scanning, foot trimming

 

[Top Tip.]

I don't think that is accurate tbh. There are some areas where vet type training is given eg. scanning, foot trimming

Could you see them handing over control of caesarean’s,calvings and other non diagnostic procedures?

 

[HillLuing]

Work near big university practice! From what they say about 75% are females who from year one want to go into small animal veterinary as it pays better and has more sociable hours!

Having 15 years livestock experience behind me and leaving school aged 16 with box standard grades they have said due to the critieria of selection i woukdnt even be considered for a place even though i would want to study purely farm veterinary and have a much better knowledge of animals than an 17 year old with the perfect grades out of high school...

They agree it is needing a change and instead of worrying purely on best grades start taking people in who show a practical knowledge and or more practical based out of school...

 

[Optimus]

This is not a new situation or confined to remote areas and is only going to get worse there is more money in small pets and it’s easier work and more often or not covered by insurance.IN my area alone there are now 3 very large (factory) vets where there used to be dozens of independents

Cost more to do a caesarian on a dog than a cow.that includes the call out fee to the farm too

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Cost more to do a caesarian on a dog than a cow.that includes the call out fee to the farm too

And what about vaccinating? It’s insane the mark up.

 

[MRT]

Could you see them handing over control of caesarean’s,calvings and other non diagnostic procedures?

Calvings you are allowed to do already! C-section cow is a big op., but you never know. The RCVS needs funds to run. If it cannot provide the cover it wants to, and sees a reduced income who knows

 

[Henarar]

Our vets has vet-tecs that do suff like TB testing, disbuding, blood samples.
We must be lucky they they seem to have plenty of yong vets wanting to do large animal work as well as the older ones that have been there for years, good service too.

 

[M-J-G]

Because females tend to have higher grades and there is just more of them want to work with cuddly animal’s .

So do you think if they lowered the bar it would mean that the numbers would even out?