Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:37:05 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]would it be unethical to advise a weight loss program prior to surgery being booked in?[/quote]

The pessimist in me says that for every one that actually does the weight loss then elective spay, you'll get about 20 that will agree, then disappear and resurface at your clinic some Saturday afternoon in the future, expecting you to do a pyo spay+aftercare, or a Caesar/spay, on their still-fat bitch for thirty five quid (or whatever it is now) plus the voucher.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 19:29:26 GMT

I don't blame you wanting the top up considering what dogs trust say on their website!

If you qualify under the scheme, and have booked an appointment with a participating vet, simply take along proof of benefit and photo ID (or two forms of other ID) when you attend your veterinary appointment. The vet will charge you £50 and the rest of the cost will be settled by the vet with Dogs Trust.

Naughty, as unless things have changed, they didn't cover the full cost of a spay! The veterinary practice was also expected to take a hit ... not that the client knew that.

From what I remember, the voucher did used to say that you agreed to only charge the client £50...and demanded a signature. I was wary of false certification.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 17:23:44 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]I always thought the voucher stated that it must cover the whole cost ... We weren't allowed to ask for a top up.[/quote]

Maybe it's because we are rural and the other vets are far away, but everyone I've given the option to has used us for the neutering.

[quote user="Jill Butterworth"]A compromise might be to just do an ovariectomy, it's much quicker. Counterintuitively, it is the cervical stumps which statistically give more problems, although I sweat considerably more with fat bitch ovaries! [/quote]

Not convinced. you have an extra ligature to tie with an ovariectomy. If you've removed both ovaries fully then no need to yank on cervix excessively. Much more secure ligatures on the uterine body just caudal to the bifurcation. The only problems I ever had with the cervix end resulted from me ligating too close to the thing!

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Jill Butterworth — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 17:15:25 GMT

I used to bite the bullet and take the loss, in case the bitch got pregnant in the interim, defeating the object of the exercise.

A compromise might be to just do an ovariectomy, it's much quicker. Counterintuitively, it is the cervical stumps which statistically give more problems, although I sweat considerably more with fat bitch ovaries!

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 14:06:58 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I always thought the voucher stated that it must cover the whole cost ... We weren't allowed to ask for a top up.

I always refused to accept them.

[/quote]

Me too.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 22:49:27 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]will take vouchers but the owner is liable for the difference in cost. [/quote]

I always thought the voucher stated that it must cover the whole cost ... We weren't allowed to ask for a top up.

I always refused to accept them. Couldn't see why I should heavily subsidise neutering, but with the owner thinking that the full cost had been paid by the dogs trust. I wouldn't have minded so much if it was made clear who it was actually covering the cost! (Although I still think that people who can't afford neutering can't afford to get a dog. This is a cost that should be budgeted for.)

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 21:31:34 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]As a practice we do a lot of Dogs Trust subsidised neutering and cat spays at a price that a CP voucher covers the entire cost[/quote]

Simple answer is to stop doing so.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 20:57:22 GMT

If a bitch is too fat to be spayed safely, then it is unethical to spay the bitch. Voucher or no voucher.

I have more than once told a client their dog could not be spayed unless they put her on a diet and got her weight to an acceptable level. One of these was a 15 month old lab that already weighed 40kg. The owners got her down to 30kg over 4 months, we spayed the dog and I never saw the feckers again. But she survived the surgery, and so did I.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

David Mills — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 20:08:52 GMT

Depends if you do it for normal clients or not. If you don't, then yes it's discriminatory. If you do, then it's perfectly fine. The charity discount is immaterial really. The standard of service, whatever that is, should be consistent and fair.

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Clive Ansell — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 18:28:59 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

Some of the bitches that come in to be spayed with a DT voucher are seriously overweight, which makes it a more annoying and sometimes lengthier surgery to do.

Given the fact the owners are receiving this service at a much discounted rate, would it be unethical to advise a weight loss program prior to surgery being booked in? (a bit like what the NHS do for certain procedures).

[/quote]

It could be argued that it would be unethical not to; if the surgery takes longer or is more challenging then risk factors increase, if the bitch is already grossly overweight it will be exacerbated after being spayed if lifestyle changes are not made, and it is an elective procedure so can justifiably be delayed.

Would you do the same for routine neuters where the full price is being paid?

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]I'm not suggesting telling the owners to bugger off until their bitch is slim again.[/quote]

Why not?

RE: Restrictions on Charity assisted neutering

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 15:38:21 GMT

No, it wouldn't be remotely unethical. It would be very good advice and good practice. But cynical old me suggests that the owners will decline your advice.

The other approach would be: you're doing it as charity anyway, so do it as charity even if it is more annoying..