CorpsTerd04 said:

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These big vet clinics can be sick at times. A few years ago we were out of town camping when our geriatric 13 year old lab started to have some type of cardiac event. We took her in knowing she was defiantly dying and they tried to sell me on performing a litany of tests and procedures that would have cost a fortune. The dog was clearly in pain. They of course come at you when you are most vulnerable. I ask them how any of this would save the dogs life and I got a blank stare saying there was almost no chance. So why do offer this option first? To me this was animal cruelty. We asked that she be put down immediately to not have her continue in pain. I do not agree with many forms of treatments for animals like Chemotherapy for example especially in a very old animal, but I have had that also suggested for my 12 year old male lab. I was disgusted with the vet honestly.

We need to take care of our animals and keep them from unnecessary pain and suffering. They are not people and have no ability to choose or understand the situation they are in.

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Unless it's a case of immediate impending death we offer all the options. Too many people will tell the world on social media that "the vet wanted to kill Fluffy" if I suggest euthanasia as the first option even when it is the best. Hell, I've been raked over the coals for just mentioning it as a option if they didn't want to accept treatment options 1,2 or 3

Cowman1 said:

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I should have gone to vet school!!

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No you shouldn't have. Have you looked at the cost? 4 years and currently averaging 200-275k these days. The pay is pathetic in GP compared to similar schooling for other trades. Vets go into the industry because they like animals (mainly) and don't realize the compensation to expense is not in their favor. Some specialties can do well but it still takes years. especially when a similar amount of work will get you an MD and 2-3 times the pay.

Serious Lee said:

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One Aggie vet we tried bringing a donkey with a busted up leg to wouldnt do anything without putting it to sleep first, despite having all the necessary large animal holding equipment. My old man about laughed his ass out of the room.

Drove 120 miles to a more rural vet thats used to large animals. As soon as he finished flushing the wound and turned around to walk off, donkey kicks him in the ass. He just laughs it off and says "ill be feeling that one tomorrow".

I swear the wethers im feeding out right now have more balls than urban vets nowdays.

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I've been doing this for 46 years now, and did more than my fair share of stupid macho **** too. That's why my shoulder is shot, my back hurts every day despite multiple procedures, and I don't have any cartilage in my right knee. Having a brain and a desire to treat something thoroughly and properly doesn't mean a lack of balls.

Gunny456 said:

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Seems like the new ones just to want to work from only 9-4 and only four days a week...

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To be fair, that's about all I want to work as well...

You may not realize it but there are some physicians who have quotas to meet (for procedures and patients seen) and have some of their compensation based on production

Love it!
My grandpa was 100% German . He used to say " Vell I see you got you yet another von of dose quarter horses. You vill need a vagon load of quarters to pay for it already yet!"

When I first got out of Veterinary school I worked in a small town for a Veterinarian and we primarily worked on cattle with some small animal work. I prescribed a little dog some antibiotics one day and the practice owner told me to always give an injection. That clientele would not think I was a good Veterinarian if I didn't give an injection. Plus we could charge for it. That was back in 1982. I was salaried back in those days. I no longer do large animals and am so spoiled that I don't even like big dogs (lol).

In todays world most Veterinarians are paid on production... a percentage of what they produce. If you want to make more money... work harder. Plus as employers we look at average client transaction. We had the good fortune of employing a Veterinarian (temporarily) whose average client transaction was through the roof. He was incredible and the clients loved him.

I see a lot of Veterinarians who prescribe things that I would not and my cases get better without those things. For instance there's a daily supplement for joint pain that is commonly prescribed that is very expensive. I used to prescribe it too but only 30% of my clients thought that it helped. I have a difficult time prescribing an expensive medication that has a low level of perceived efficacy.

I know a good Veterinarian who will not euthanize anything because he's always confident that he can save them. His staff will confidentially tell a client that they will have to go to another clinic if they want their dog put to sleep.

I always tell my clientele that I expect my patients to be getting better every day and if they are we just need more days but if they are not then that is prognostically poor and we need to do something different.

All Veterinarians are a little different and some are a lot different. I would never criticize any of them. Most are just doing the best they can.


Just a few thoughts on this subject.

agrams said:

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our dog has anal gland discharge issues. after paying to get them expressed once, i just got a box of nitrile gloves and take care of that **** myself.

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lol. When we had two small dogs, that part of the grooming bill was like $30 per dog. I looked at my wife who is an RN and said get some gloves… you can do that to save us $60 every 2 months.

Yes sir. We had talked with Dr. King and he told us.
I was in WFS and had some classes at the vet school with
Dr. Laird. I understand he went through some sad stuff at the end. I really liked him and was honored to call him a friend.