Cant eat ?

[Stinklepig]

How many times have I posted that there is no need in ANY circumstances for a GA to either look at or trim teeth?

Much as I agree with you, sometimes there is a need - In as much as there's simply no vet within sensible distance who will do the dental without

The vet I use for dental work is very good with the tools, but totally resistant to doing anything without GA. I have to balance the stress of going any further afield against the risk of the anaesthetic, against the severity of the problem if left untreated. It's the same with x rays, I'm infuriated I can't find a vet who is not only open to trying without gas but also capable, but when I feel an x ray is the only way to approach something the risks have to be weighed up.

*If* vets could get a handle on doing such simple procedures without GA I'd be very happy indeed, but then they'd get less cash and leave themselves open more to legal action if when they fouled up (such as piggie managing to fall off x ray table, breaking free during a dental, etc). By sticking to "accepted" practice they can make a total hash of the anaesthetic but get away with it grrrr

 

[alcesterpigs]

This is the problem, a GA is unnecessary treatment. Any other profession carrying out unnecessary treatment/work would rightly be severely criticised. It is true that this nonsense will carry on for a long time to come and even more pigs will die and more owners will be so devastated.
Your vet. refuses to carry out dental treatment without a GA. What reason/s does he give when he must surely know that it is not needed?
How would he treat a pig, such as I have, that needs treatment at least twice a week? Needless to say I treat the pig myself.
I write this as 50/50 annoyance/sadness at another waste of a life.

 

[Stinklepig]

This is the problem, a GA is unnecessary treatment. Any other profession carrying out unnecessary treatment/work would rightly be severely criticised. It is true that this nonsense will carry on for a long time to come and even more pigs will die and more owners will be so devastated.

I agree, but when an animal is too poorly to travel across the country, what are the options? I know there's a lack of decent vets full stop in this county (Dorset), and so the only option is to go to the best of the bad bunch in terms of GA use. A boycott on cruddy vets might push a principle, but it lowers the animals chances even further if you're not taking them for any treatment. It's not a pleasant corner to be backed into

Your vet. refuses to carry out dental treatment without a GA. What reason/s does he give when he must surely know that it is not needed?

In his opinion it is needed, and after all "they only use mild sedation". Of course I've tried to argue this, but you hit that wall where many years of university (I once said college in such an argument, to find that tends to get them a bit worked up!) is an all powerful weapon against you or I saying many years of experience, reading and care.

One of my degus has quite frequent dentals, and though I agree it might be very difficult if not impossible to do so without GA I can also vouch that sometimes he comes home in a better condition than others. And that's with "only light sedation"...

How would he treat a pig, such as I have, that needs treatment at least twice a week? Needless to say I treat the pig myself.
I write this as 50/50 annoyance/sadness at another waste of a life.

Vets are a business. Whatever they may enter the field for, be it love of animals, something to do, a good idea at the time, the bottom line is when they get their white coats an animal is a means to money in the bank. Certainly there are some who genuinely care and want to do the absolute best, and those are easily determined from those who go through the motions, complacent in their training being sufficient and never feeling the need to update their learning or question their mistakes. But all we can do about this is try and push for more forward thinking treatment when needed, and suffer their attitude, lack of knowledge, and accept the risks when life saving treatment is needed and there's no realistic alternative.