Hurt Pig, Frustrating Vet Visit

[Hops_in_Heaven]

It's been a while since I've posted. Hello everyone! My herd consists of Bliss, the leader, her sister Cuddles, and Frolic who gave birth to Tickles.

I feel the need to vent, and I'm hoping there are some who can relate.

Yesterday when I was giving the piggies their breakfast veggies, I noticed that Cuddles' eye appeared to be stuck closed. Further inspection revealed that a rather long piece of hay had gotten lodged there. My boyfriend easily removed it. We went to the market, and when we returned, her eye was closed, swollen and boogery.

I wasn't sure what to do. My usual (excellent) vet clinic is closed on weekends, but I did not want to wait until Monday. I think they have emergency services, however, I wasn't sure if that was true, or what to do. Another vet clinic was open, so we went there.

I know that I dropped in without an appointment, and that's annoying. But my animal was hurt, I didn't know what to do, and vet clinics have people who do know what to do. I would have been understanding if they told me to come back at a one thirty, or something. Instead they said to wait in a room, and that they would see me in twenty minutes. They came back and told me to actually wait an hour.

I waited for two hours and half. My pigs (Cuddles and her sister Bliss for comfort) were stuck in the carrier with very little hay, and no access to water for two hours and a half. After two hours I'd started to wonder if they'd forgotten about me. I ended up going to a restaurant next door and ordering a salad (no dressing, of course) so my pigs could eat the cucumber.

The first thing the vet said to me was that they weren't an emergency service for my usual vet. She sounded annoyed that I'd come at all. Look, my pig was hurt and this place has people who can help her. It's as simple as that. I'm just trying to take care of her properly. Overall, I didn't feel welcome, and it didn't seem like anyone except me cared about my pig.

I work for minimum wage at a restaurant for a living. The restaurant has to be open 24/7. I work through every holiday. My job isn't important. But when my nana gets diagnosed with cancer the day after a national holiday, she's out of luck because all the important doctor people are on vacation. When my pig gets hurt outside of the weekday 9-5, we're a nuisance. I don't understand this stuff at all. Lives are at stake here.

We were given eye drops, and a honey-flavoured medicine to syringe-feed her. A day later, she's already looking better, but I'm annoyed at my experience with this clinic.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Wiebke]

It's been a while since I've posted. Hello everyone! My herd consists of Bliss, the leader, her sister Cuddles, and Frolic who gave birth to Tickles.

I feel the need to vent, and I'm hoping there are some who can relate.

Yesterday when I was giving the piggies their breakfast veggies, I noticed that Cuddles' eye appeared to be stuck closed. Further inspection revealed that a rather long piece of hay had gotten lodged there. My boyfriend easily removed it. We went to the market, and when we returned, her eye was closed, swollen and boogery.

I wasn't sure what to do. My usual (excellent) vet clinic is closed on weekends, but I did not want to wait until Monday. I think they have emergency services, however, I wasn't sure if that was true, or what to do. Another vet clinic was open, so we went there.

I know that I dropped in without an appointment, and that's annoying. But my animal was hurt, I didn't know what to do, and vet clinics have people who do know what to do. I would have been understanding if they told me to come back at a one thirty, or something. Instead they said to wait in a room, and that they would see me in twenty minutes. They came back and told me to actually wait an hour.

I waited for two hours and half. My pigs (Cuddles and her sister Bliss for comfort) were stuck in the carrier with very little hay, and no access to water for two hours and a half. After two hours I'd started to wonder if they'd forgotten about me. I ended up going to a restaurant next door and ordering a salad (no dressing, of course) so my pigs could eat the cucumber.

The first thing the vet said to me was that they weren't an emergency service for my usual vet. She sounded annoyed that I'd come at all. Look, my pig was hurt and this place has people who can help her. It's as simple as that. I'm just trying to take care of her properly. Overall, I didn't feel welcome, and it didn't seem like anyone except me cared about my pig.

I work for minimum wage at a restaurant for a living. The restaurant has to be open 24/7. I work through every holiday. My job isn't important. But when my nana gets diagnosed with cancer the day after a national holiday, she's out of luck because all the important doctor people are on vacation. When my pig gets hurt outside of the weekday 9-5, we're a nuisance. I don't understand this stuff at all. Lives are at stake here.

We were given eye drops, and a honey-flavoured medicine to syringe-feed her. A day later, she's already looking better, but I'm annoyed at my experience with this clinic.

Thanks for reading.

I am very sorry! But glad that you have persisted, as eye injuries can deteriorate very quickly.

Thankfully, with the correct treatment (which you have been given, however grudgingly), they also tend to heal fairly straight forward as long as you give the antibiotic gel regularly. The honey flavoured medicine is metacam (which can be sold under other brand names); it is a painkiller and anti-inflammatory.

Please always take a bit of soft hay and juicy veg in the carrier when you have an emergency, but rest assured that your piggies are not coming to any major harm over this kind of period. Not all general vets are happy about seeing small animals and emergency cases over the weekend...

 

[Pawz]

I don't understand vets who act this way, you were doing the best for your pet and it's not like their service was FREE. You still paid them for their time it should not matter if you are a regular patient or not.

I once registered my dog (years ago, he is long since passed now) at a vet who turned out HATED dogs! In fact he didn't like MOST animals. Of course we moved vets asap but it always made me wonder why he chose such a profession. It's like a dr hating people!

 

[VickiA]

We've all had bum experiences with vets at times. I'm really lucky that my vets are compassionate and caring, but they don't do their own emergency cover and I've had bad experiences with the out of hours vets in the past. But as they are being paid (and handsomely) to see your piggy the vet should be less grudging and more professional.
I hope your piggy is soon on the mend.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

You poor things, that's awful! It sounds like you were a lot nicer/calmer than I would have been! I've changed vets so many times because I've felt like they just don't care about animals. You're right, it's weird they would choose such a profession!

Considering they're taking your money I would expect them to be the most accommodating people in the world! I bet they charged an arm and a leg for all that attitude and rudeness. My mum always said "a smile costs nothing", sounds like they couldn't even give you that and they're paid to do it! Charming.

 

[Hops_in_Heaven]

Yeah, it wasn't cheap, but she's getting better now.

Also their regular vet is great! She laughs is Cuddles' amazingly hairy feet, and aws at Bliss' delicate pink lips. She told me that she was going to tell me that Frolic was overweight, but it turns out that's because she's a little ball of pure muscle. She said that she's a big fan of mine, too. I'm lucky the pigs' regular vet is so awesome.

This was just a bad experience, which I hopefully won't have to repeat any time soon. I'm also super glad you are all here for me to vent to today. I needed that.

 

[gizzy]

That is so bad , l am sorry you and Cuddles were treated in such a shody way! when all said and done without people like you the vets would be out of work ,
and l don't think that would make them happy

 

[Betsy]

It sounds like nothing would make that vet happy @gizzy!