One of the vets mentioned in a section here has refused to see my budgie because of something I said to the receptionist regarding Ivermectin. I think it was because the receptionist said that the vet must apply any treatments for the bird. I know that's not true from what I've learned here and said something along the lines of "Oh...more money for the vet". Due to personal experiences with Doctors and Surgeons putting the money before the patient I am a bit sensitive. If the vet or receptionist has a problem with me they should take it up with me and not put the bird's health at risk. I find this very unprofessional. Can someone tell me who keeps an eye on vet's dealings? Is there a governing body?

 

Anyhow I rang the RSPCA and they put me on the the Veterinary Surgeons Board. They told me nothing can be done. It's a business and they have the right not to see an animal if they don't like the owner.

 

I feel that this is wrong. They should not be allowed to put a personal problem ahead of the well being of an innocent animal.

 

If anyone wants to know the name of this amateurish vet just P.M. me and I will tell you.

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by Paul Smith

Thats not nice of the vets at all. I would assume that a vet (like a human doctor) would always put the animal first before the loved one. A doctor wouldn't not treat a patient because they had an "issue" with the loved one... Sounds unfair to me..

Thats ridiculous Patient first...if its a personality issue someone else can take the bird in. Either way there should be something said about the exact nature of the "issue" that they think is a good enough reason not to see the "patient" !!

I don't want to get started on a "bag the vet" section but MAN some of the stories I can tell you of vet treatment would leave you gobsmacked. I've worked with many different vets across Australia in the ag industry for over 15 years now and have had pets and livestock for as long as I've drawn breath, I also have many vets as personal friends so have a tiny bit of inside information!!!!! I have come across some absolutely brilliant vets both diagnostically (which is rarer than you might think) as well as bedside (or should that be tableside) manner and business skills. When you find one that you respect, that respects you and the fact that you are THE CUSTOMER - stick with them and support their business coz they are kinda rare.

 

Unfortunately as with all business and business people you get the whole range of good, bad, skilled and downright crappy AND unfortunately as the vet board says they don't HAVE to treat a pet if they don't want to.

 

It's like anything, providing a good service will bring customers through the door. Provide crappy service and you might get them there once but people can vote with their feet too and most towns now have a choice of vet surgeries, although finding a good bird vet is a bit harder, there is still usually the option to shop around.

I am livid at the moment and the thought of such unethical behaviour is hard to take. What about the poor innocent bird?

 

I have found a female Avian vet about 45 mins from here and will make an appointment on Monday. I feel good about finding a female vet. My G.P. is a woman too. I find generally they are more caring so I'm looking forward to meeting her.

I am livid at the moment and the thought of such unethical behaviour is hard to take. What about the poor innocent bird?

 

I have found a female Avian vet about 45 mins from here and will make an appointment on Monday. I feel good about finding a female vet. My G.P. is a woman too. I find generally they are more caring so I'm looking forward to meeting her.

Any business can refuse to sell or offer their goods and services.

You have a choice, you don't have to use their services, they have a choice, they don't have to offer them.

Vote with your feet. Getting angry about it is a waste of your energy. Why give your money if they are unwilling to take it or they will not serve you? Give it to someone else who wants it, and who wants to serve you. There are usually other alternatives.

On the other side, just because you have had a negative experience, does not mean that someone else will.

You are very lucky that there is another alternative. Sometimes, there isn't.

I guess not all vets are out to take as much money as they can after all.

 

The only times a vet is obligated by law to treat an animal is when the animal's life is in immediate danger unless they do something, or the animal is in severe pain/suffering. That treatment may be to give first aid, medicine, surgery or euthanasia depending on the circumstances.

 

In my own opinion, if the vet doesn't want to give you a drug which he/she could be lose their registration over, insulting them was probably not the best way to go about it. By law, anytime a vet gives an unregistered drug or it falls under the class of drugs that must be kept locked away (namely dangerous drugs or drugs of addiction), they must have what is called a 'bona fide relationship' with the client- a bond or trust. I don't know you or your vet and I am not trying to judge anything. But that is the main reason why most vets insist on having a consult (or more) to give certain types of drugs. The policy varies from practice to practice. If anything at all goes wrong and the pet (or any human!) comes to harm, even if it was the owner's fault not theirs, they are liable to go before the vet board and may lose their license to practice as a vet just because they supplied it.

 

I agree with DrNat. Take your energy, time and money to someone who is happy to serve you and wants to do it to your satisfaction (within reason and law of course).

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by Chrysocome

"The only times a vet is obligated by law to treat an animal is when the animal's life is in immediate danger unless they do something, or the animal is in severe pain/suffering. That treatment may be to give first aid, medicine, surgery or euthanasia depending on the circumstances."

 

Exactly.

 

I wouldn't expect him to supply me with an unapproved drug. The receptionist only said to me that they don't use Ivermectin and the treatment they gave would have to be administered by the vet. I was not aware that the treatment can't be supplied to me. Breeders seem to be able to get what they need.

 

The fact that I somehow offended the receptionist should be between her and me. I may well have been out of line and would apologise if given the chance, if it would mean the bird would be treated. I'm only upset about the fact the the bird's health isn't being treated as the most important thing. In my opinion living things should, when possible, always be more important than money. As far as I'm concerned, refusing to give the bird the attention it needs because I offended is unacceptable.

 

Anyhow, I'm upset with that attitude and that's not going to change anytime soon. I will email the vet and explain my ethical point of view to him so that he can then ignore it. I'll be sure to quote the meaning of ethics from the dictionary for him.

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by Paul Smith

It's a tough situation... as we do not know what happened between you and the recptionist or what was being said, I can't comment and even if we did know what was said by you, it's still only half of the story... Overall, I'm kind of on the fence on this, yes, the heath of any living being is more important than personal issues, but that being said, if the situation was threatening in some way, or the Dr was asked to do something he or she didn't believe in, they have every right to refuse. I know it's very different, but when I worked in customer service, abusive customers can be refused service and even escourted off the property. In a medical situation, i.e Dr/Vet rooms, I would think this would be more of a risk. Again, I'm not saying you were abusive, just trying to get my point accross.

 

I guess when it comes down to it, if someone refuses to see you or your pets, you wouldn't want to see them in the end anyway... Good luck with the new vets!

 

(on a side note, you say you wouldn't want them to supply you with an unapproved drug, I thought (correct me if I'm wrong) that ivermection is not made for birds, therefor when we are given it, it's for off the label use??? Isn't that the same as 'unapproved'??? maybe I'm mistaken????

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by maesie

"on a side note, you say you wouldn't WANT them to supply you with an unapproved drug"

 

I said I wouldn't EXPECT them too. It's different.

 

Anyway I'll make an appointment with another vet on Monday and I'll be extra carefull not to have an opinion that may be contrary. After all, what matters is that the bird is seen to.

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by Paul Smith

"on a side note, you say you wouldn't WANT them to supply you with an unapproved drug"

 

I said I wouldn't EXPECT them too. It's different.

 

Anyway I'll make an appointment with another vet on Monday and I'll be extra carefull not to have an opinion that may be contrary. After all, what matters is that the bird is seen to.

 

okay... you wouldn't expect them to but possibly want them to. Maybe this was not voiced correctly or they may have misunderstood. Also, many vets will not simply supply ivermecton without a consult... especially if they don't know you. This would help avoid mis-diagnosis by uneducated owners... and then even sicker birds being brought in to fix up as they were treated incorrectly. It's the same as Dr's... you can't siply ring up and say... I need 'so and so' as I have a 'blah blah blah'... UNLESS of course you are a current patient who has been on the medication before and they are happy to continue to supply it to you.

 

But, as you say, your bird will be seen by another vet...

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by maesie

Perhaps in future you could do all your venting here on the forum and take care to be as diplomatic as possible with the Vet and staff?

Maesie reminded me of something I was going to say but forgot about.

 

Vets have a legal requirement to "know" their customer before perscribing vet script only products to people. That would mean a consult for your bird BEFORE they will allow perscription drugs to be sold and TECHNICALLY (even though Ivomec Pour-On for Cattle can be purchased over the counter at rural merchandise stores) when products are registered for animals different to that being treated (cattle v's budgies) they become S4 vet script only drugs. As far as the vet is concerned it is illegal for him to sell you Ivomec for Cattle if he knows it's for a budgie without first seeing the patient.

 

Also TECHNICALLY, it's against whatever state dept regulates ag chemicals in your state, for you to actually USE Ivomec Pour-On for Cattle on a budgie even though you can buy it legally over the counter. The main issue is that the regulators believe that vets have the knowledge and understanding of chems and animals to be able to make the call on using a product differently to how it is actually registered but to you and me, average Joe Blow - we are too thick obviously. Really the BIG problems occur whan farmers use drugs and chemicals contrary to label registrations on food or fibre producting animals so the risk of residue becomes a major concern.

 

Renee, why should we have to be diplomatic when being treated poorly. Just coz they are a vet does mean that they should treat their customers badly, same with doctors, dentists and any other professional. Surely everyone has the right to be treated with respect (obviously bearing in mind that I wasn't there and maybe Paul might have been NASTY ).

 

Edit: Sorry Chrysocome I didn't read far enough - exactly what you said.

Edited May 16, 200916 yr by nubbly5

Sorry to hear that you ahve had a bad experience with a vet, but the vets I deal with around are great. I can get medication with out the birds being seen etc.

I have an appointment with another Avian vet on Monday. I hope the bird keeps on soldiering on until then. I was impressed with the way they handled my enquiry and I will watch my mouth.

I have an appointment with another Avian vet on Monday. I hope the bird keeps on soldiering on until then. I was impressed with the way they handled my enquiry and I will watch my mouth.

Sounds like an almost admission of "guilt"

Renee, why should we have to be diplomatic when being treated poorly. Just coz they are a vet does mean that they should treat their customers badly, same with doctors, dentists and any other professional. Surely everyone has the right to be treated with respect (obviously bearing in mind that I wasn't there and maybe Paul might have been NASTY ).

I think its wise to not bag the vet to the receptionist because as we have seen vets are human and can take offense and decide not to accept you as a client ...

Just a little side note to this diccussion.

 

It is illegal to decant a product to smaller containers for resale even though the intent is just.

disgraceful thats all

Just a little side note to this diccussion.

 

It is illegal to decant a product to smaller containers for resale even though the intent is just.

Very interesting

Just a little side note to this diccussion.

 

It is illegal to decant a product to smaller containers for resale even though the intent is just.

 

Tell that to the billion and one farmers that do it regularly and often. And then try and get either the Health Dept or the APVMA to do something about it - HAH! They will not even deal with vets who prescribe from their office chair and then send drugs out on trucks to farmers without ever seeing the farm, the animals or anything...... it's a farce.

 

Unless you are a soft target of course

Edited May 18, 200916 yr by nubbly5

Just a little side note to this diccussion.

 

It is illegal to decant a product to smaller containers for resale even though the intent is just.

 

 

How does this differ from my vet giving me little viles of medication for my birds? I have seen them pull out the BIG container and then fill my little bottle, put a sticker on it and give it to me

Just a little side note to this diccussion.

 

It is illegal to decant a product to smaller containers for resale even though the intent is just.

 

 

How does this differ from my vet giving me little viles of medication for my birds? I have seen them pull out the BIG container and then fill my little bottle, put a sticker on it and give it to me

 

Vets are legally allowed to dispense products (same as chemists). The little labels on the bottles have specific requirements to make sure everything is kosher.

Renee, why should we have to be diplomatic when being treated poorly. Just coz they are a vet does mean that they should treat their customers badly, same with doctors, dentists and any other professional. Surely everyone has the right to be treated with respect (obviously bearing in mind that I wasn't there and maybe Paul might have been NASTY ).

 

Yes professionals should treat their clients/patients professionally as should the client treat their medico or vet professionally too. If the client is not being professional or respectful then I don't see how it is fair to complain. You must give respect in order to gain it.