Small animal clinics contracting out large animal work

RE: Small animal clinics contracting out large animal work

bob lehner — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 16:41:30 GMT

Not quite sure where you are going with this. Clearly a solely SA practice, which advertises as such, and makes no pretence to do large animals, is only going to be able to provide some form of basic first aid to an injured horse - and I don't think the vets would be expected to make any particular effort to maintain competence in equines, beyond what they learnt at vet school. Nor would the practice keep a stock of specifically equine drugs.

However if it is a mixed or equine practice then that is totally different - they would need to provide immediate first aid to the injured animal and then either take the owner on as a client - or refer back to the original VS.

RE: Small animal clinics contracting out large animal work

Beats — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 11:06:51 GMT

[quote userid="6897" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29888/small-animal-clinics-contracting-out-large-animal-work/230798#230798"]So a SA practice should provide whatever first aid they can to the injured horse[/quote]

Yes. And their vets should be competent to do so. If they are no longer, then they can consider means of maintaining their competence to do so.

[quote userid="6897" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29888/small-animal-clinics-contracting-out-large-animal-work/230798#230798"]tho' clearly this may be limited by lack of suitable drugs[/quote]

only if suitable equipment and drugs are not stocked - a conscious decision.

[quote userid="6897" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29888/small-animal-clinics-contracting-out-large-animal-work/230798#230798"]Then ensure contact with a more appropriate practice.[/quote]

Or suggest contact with a more suitable practice in the first place for reasons of convenience.

Should they pay the practice for providing this professional service on their behalf however?

I'm not advocating this as a solution to difficulties in recruitment in rural clinics with OOH commitments etc, but it does seem unfair that some clinics operate with less professional commitments than others, but don't subsidise those with these commitments who subsequently find recuruitment of vets harder etc?

RE: Small animal clinics contracting out large animal work

bob lehner — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 11:00:25 GMT

From the Code of Prof conduct;

''3.8 A veterinary surgeon on duty should not unreasonably refuse to provide first aid and pain relief for any animal of a species treated by the practice during normal working hours.

3.9 A veterinary surgeon on duty should not unreasonably refuse to facilitate the provision of first aid and pain relief for all other species until such time as a more appropriate emergency veterinary service accepts responsibility for the animal. ''

So a SA practice should provide whatever first aid they can to the injured horse (tho' clearly this may be limited by lack of suitable drugs). Then ensure contact with a more appropriate practice.