Can a vet refuse to treat an animal?

Hugo's There · Jul 22, 2009

I had someone ring me for advice today as they were very upset. They had taken their disabled rabbit to their vet for treatment for bloat, and the vet refused to treat the bunny saying that because it was disabled is should be pts as it was a welfare issue :? The rabbit wasn't even at the vets for its disability they just wanted treatment for bloat, are vets allowed to do this?

halfpenny · Jul 22, 2009

I think vets can refuse to treat an animal for non emergency issues, but are obliged to treat an emergency. I think they are obliged to do as the owner requests though, therefore can't pts without the owner's permission. I will try to remember to ask our vet tomorrow, but can't promise as my mind will be wrapped up in Jess's op.

Michelleox · Jul 22, 2009

I'm off to the vets tomorrow too so i will ask as well

ecudc · Jul 22, 2009

I would have thought there would be more of an issue with not treating being a welfare issue if the bun had bloat & was therefore in proably a large amount of pain. Either the bun should have been offered treatment there and then or PTS. If she wasn't going to accept PTS then they vet should offer treatment.

Hugo's There · Jul 23, 2009

ecudc said:
I would have thought there would be more of an issue with not treating being a welfare issue if the bun had bloat & was therefore in proably a large amount of pain. Either the bun should have been offered treatment there and then or PTS. If she wasn't going to accept PTS then they vet should offer treatment.

The vets did want to pts but the owner refused as she does still have quality of life at the moment. The owner is now having to treat the bloat as best she can at home but the bunny hasn't improved in the past couple of days

bunlover · Jul 23, 2009

Hugo's There said:
The vets did want to pts but the owner refused as she does still have quality of life at the moment. The owner is now having to treat the bloat as best she can at home but the bunny hasn't improved in the past couple of days

i guess it depends on what your perception of quality of life is i can understand sometimes people feel it is kindest to pts. i think the vet is able to refuse if they feel it would cause more sufffering to the animal i dont realyl know what disability the animal has but certaintly some kind of pain reilef should be offered its a tough call i suppose for any vet and owner to make there are owners(and im not saying in this case as i dont know details) who will keep a bunny going regardless of what suffering it is having as they dont want to let go and ar e not thinking of the rabbits welfare in that case i can understand why a vet wouldnt want to treat... i hope the rabbit is pain free as soon as possible can she not see another vet? x

Hugo's There · Jul 23, 2009

The rabbit has splay legs and has recently seen a specialist at cambridge, she is on pain relief

ETA I don't have all the details of it's treatment at present.
Also the vets said they did not see the point of sanctuarys like mine as all disabled buns are not worth helping as there are too many healthy ones that need help :?

bunlover · Jul 23, 2009

Hugo's There said:
The rabbit has splay legs and has recently seen a specialist at cambridge, she is on pain relief

hope in that case they find a new vet xx

Hugo's There · Jul 23, 2009

bunlover said:
hope in that case they find a new vet xx

I hope so

I was just wondering if they could make a formal complaint based on their refusal to treat :?

After all you wouldn't not treat a child in a wheelchair for say, tonsilitis

Michelleox · Jul 23, 2009

Hugo's There said:
Also the vets said they did not see the point of sanctuarys like mine as all disabled buns are not worth helping as there are too many healthy ones that need help :?

:evil::evil:

ING

S

I will try to remember to ask the vet this afternoon

halfpenny · Jul 23, 2009

So will I. Forgot this morning- too stressed.:lol:

devoted2buns · Jul 23, 2009

some vets are just :evil: why does most things have to result in PTS, they get on my

Tamsin · Jul 23, 2009

I would take the rabbit to a different vet!

The practice manager and RCVS would be the people to contact to discuss the matter.

prettylupin · Jul 23, 2009

Hugo's There said:
Also the vets said they did not see the point of sanctuarys like mine as all disabled buns are not worth helping as there are too many healthy ones that need help :?

I find that quite a shocking thing to say! I didn't realise that disabled, sick or elderly buns were less important than healthy ones?!!! :shock:

Every bunny deserves help and compassion, thank god for sanctuaries like yours is all I can say.

PearlyGirl · Jul 23, 2009

My vet wanted to pts stew, she is a disabled bunny, that's why we went to fhb at harrogate who disagreed...her son is a specialist at Cambridge so if they don't want to pts why do other vets insist they should?:evil:
Haven't been back to mine as yet, but no way will i be listening if he says we should unless i agree

Hugo's There · Jul 23, 2009

prettylupin said:
I find that quite a shocking thing to say! I didn't realise that disabled, sick or elderly buns were less important than healthy ones?!!! :shock:
Every bunny deserves help and compassion, thank god for sanctuaries like yours is all I can say.

You would think all vets would like disabled sick and elderly bunnies after all they wont make much profit on healthy buns :?

halfpenny · Jul 23, 2009

Sorry forgot to ask again, but will try again tomorrow!:roll:

My vets are really good, as long as the animal isn't suffering, they are interested to see what they can do , not only for the profit.
I was speaking to one of the vets today about Fliss(rat) being on an inhaler and corvental and he was really impressed.

Was it an old fashioned vet, or a large animal vet- they are sometimes less 'sympathetic', I think. I suppose they are used to thinking that animals are no use unless they are healthy.

Michelleox · Jul 23, 2009

I saw a nurse instead of the vet and i asked her. She was quite shocked and said she would be very suprised if the vet in question didn't offer the bun treatment. Unfortunately she wasn't sure on codes of conduct etc so not a concrete answer i'm afraid:?

Hugo's There · Jul 23, 2009

halfpenny said:
Was it an old fashioned vet, or a large animal vet- they are sometimes less 'sympathetic', I think. I suppose they are used to thinking that animals are no use unless they are healthy.

As far as I know, and I don't have all the details, it was a surgery that the owner has used regularly for her rabbits for many years so I'm guessing they should be pretty rabbit savvy, and I know the opinion was shared by more than one vet at the practice :?

Rachel89 · Jul 23, 2009

I know my equine vet resfused to do my pony for jabs or non important things as he was too danfgerous but if he was in urgent need he would of no doubt.

Thats stupid I went to my vets before and asked this as someone I know said something and if the animal need vetenary attention wether big or small they should treat any animal like any other.

Can a vet refuse to treat an animal?

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