Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Jill Butterworth — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:52:35 GMT

Hi Same, I love your idea. It would make sense to use the existing BVA regional structure, however, since Covid our local ones have fizzled out. The Young Vet Network didn't catch on as well as it might have done, but I could never see why they were separated from the main meetings, as as you suggest, people would have the opportunity to meet older, more experienced colleagues for support. It could easily be formalised into a buddy scheme. Occasionally practice rivalries meant some practices stayed away from the meetings.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Paul Carwardine — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:04:55 GMT

With regard to Sam's earlier post regarding NHS A&E.

Being a glutton for punishment since retirement I have worked on a voluntary basis for the NHS for the last 5 years. My work entails going onto the wards unannounced and listening to patient's problems ( and trying to resolve them). I also attend feed back sessions where recently discharged patients discuss their hospital experience on a one to one basis with me.

The chaos in A&E appears to be down to GP's refusal to provide a 24/7 service. I used to be able to say "That would not have happened had the patient been an animal". It would seem this is no longer the case. Out of hours clinics may be fine to lessen the burden on practices but what about the owners ? . Where I live this could mean a 40 mile round trip . Suppose the owner lacks transport ? .During my moonlighting locum work I covered for a practice's night vet holiday break - doing domiciliary visits all over the East End of London . Visiting a night club owner's guard dog at 2am was to say the least a memorable occasion. That was about 50 years ago and I doubt that that service is still in place

Mention has been made that work outside the designated hours should be rewarded. When I went into industry my contract of employment stated my hours of work but also included the weasel words " and at such times as may be required",

So if I had to give up my Sunday to drive to Heathrow to catch a flight to attend a meeting at 8am the next day in France, or spend a weekend manning a trade stand away from home or on one occasion deliver urgently needed drugs to Newmarket over the Christmas break because the wholesalers were closed - that's what I did. As a so called "senior manager" this was expected of me - no overtime pay or time off in lieu.

Fortunately as I stated in my previous post, I still regarded being a veterinary surgeon was a way of life rather than a job.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Alistair Graham-Evans — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 18:48:36 GMT

In those days I was single Paul - not sure any relationship would have survived it!

Very much a rural community though and most of the clients supported me and made the job rewarding. After 3 years it was like visiting friends on my visits!

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 14:55:54 GMT

Thought some more about this and I think

my number 1 best bit is relieving pain and suffering of animals ( including PTS)

2 just being around animals as my job

3 working with amazing likeminded people who became my friends

4 helping animal owners and feeling useful in life

5 learning new stuff every day so never bored

I think my worst still remains HR , although my partner said I was really good at it it definitely took its toll.

Other worst bits

Seeing animals suffer because of ignorance and neglect

Dogs dying of distemper because unvaccinated

The first parvovirus outbreak was grim.

Being falsely called a liar by a colleague on this list was a terrible time for me.I stood for election to RCVS council as I wanted things to change and suppose some flack is to be expected. I was having a really bad time however , newly divorced and bereaved and trying to keep everything together at home and at work. As has even said elsewhere you never know what is going on in someone’s life and words can cause serious damage. That was definitely my worst and I wasn’t even at work but in my own home.

Funnily enough spending an entire Christmas Day away from my children with an Irish wolfhound who had eaten a whole raw Turkey was not one of the worst bits , being on call on Millenium night was not either.
I really enjoyed the vast majority of my working hours, it makes me sad to read that many of my younger colleagues are unhappy and disillusioned . maybe I’m just a bit weird and being a vet suited me and made up for the hours and the down sides.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Sam — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 13:41:18 GMT

So here is an idea about “how to solve the problems”.

I am sure we all have different ideas about what are the best and worst parts of our work as vets.

However, perhaps it could be said that whatever the particular issues or dislikes may be, the end result is stress?

The stress may be low grade and perhaps just an occasional irritation or at the other end of the spectrum could lead to suicide.

So how do we do something about it? Well, we certainly cannot expect the animals or clients to change; they won’t.

There is also little that vets can do to change general working conditions unless large numbers come together and lobby for change (whatever that desired change might be).

So perhaps we simply have to support each other through the problems and issues that every vet will at some point experience throughout their career.

So this is an idea taken from other groups in which the idea is working well. It seems to be simple but in other networks is a growing way of people coming together and helping each other.

It is simply a nationwide network of “hubs” of people where small local groups of people get together to support each other with common goals. My experience of this is for people who wished to grow vegetables during lockdown. We are blessed with a large garden and I do not like growing vegetables! So the idea was we allowed people who did like growing vegetables to use a small area in return for some of the produce. This kind of community project is growing in other directions now.

Modified to suit the veterinary community how about this idea?

Small local groups of vets meet together regularly with the specific goal of listening and supporting each other. The groups could be held on different days and times of the week so that there would be a chance for as many vets to be able to join these hubs as possible. Much of the communication could be online, but in-person social occasions would help to forge genuine supportive networks of veterinary friends.

The small groups could work on “the problems of being a vet” for each individual. It could be as simple as an experienced vet being able to offer a new graduate practical surgical experience if they are not feeling supported enough in their own practice or simply not getting enough cases to become confident. It could be a listening ear if somebody is having more personal problems or perhaps facing a complaint. It would be different according to the needs of the individual vets within the network. If the small groups could not support the individual themselves they would have access to the national network to offer support.

The problems I would see with this is that many vets are “in competition” with each other at a local level. So perhaps this could be where retired or non-clinical vets could play a role if the problem is particularly sensitive?

I also know that we have support networks in place already such as Vet Life which I think is a wonderful thing. However as Julian has previously pointed out he needs to retell his story each time he contacts them so perhaps a more local and individual organisation could be of some use?

I also know from personal experience that I often would have liked to talk but felt my issues where “not big enough”.

There is also not currently a network that I know of that allows for younger less experienced vets to be supported in practical ways such as with some extra surgical experience etc. I also realise that many people network at CPD events. However, the focus would not be upon CPD or learning from experts, but in supporting each other through problems small or large, personal or professional.

Since groups would be small the meetings could be really low cost. How about meeting at a local cafe? Support could be as inexpensive as a cup of coffee.

I am sure many will disagree with me but if we do not start a dialogue about how to solve the issues within the profession nothing will happen. I would politely request that rather than simply pressing the disagree button you give feedback and dialogue about how you see a way forward for the profession to deal with its issues. People can achieve massive things in working together!

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Francisco Gomez — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:39:41 GMT

It might be far too many hours to listen to, but I asked this question to most of my guests in my podcast. There's a link in my signature below.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Caleb King — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:44:38 GMT

Hi Jill,

I am a kiwi, an experienced large animal vet, and have only ever practiced in NZ, so my experiences may not fit your inclusion criteria. The best bits in rural practice here are the great people you work with, the client who gives you coffee or lunch after a difficult calving, one client regularly gives me free range eggs or venison sausages to take home after something as simple as a retained afterbirth, but that's not typical. Generally - helping the people that genuinely care about their animals is a rewarding and satisfying career. The job perks include driving around a beautiful country, seeing inspiring landscapes most days. Today we stopped and looked at the waterfall and it was awesome after the huge rainfall last night. www.vetsurgeon.org/.../0602.trim.B6FB8960_2D00_6FA5_2D00_4D26_2D00_BCC1_2D00_2AF553987F5E.MOV

The worst bits - assisted delivery of any ruminant in pieces, the smell, pr

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Paul Carwardine — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 18:53:12 GMT

As one past their sell by date ( I graduated in 1961 !) I can only comment on what I felt about the profession in 'olden days'.

I suppose the best thing was job satisfaction and the respect you got from the community you served. For me, being a veterinary surgeon was a way of life rather than a job. In those days you expected to work long hours at busy times like the lambing season a 12 hour day was not uncommon. We had an average of one day off a week and were 'on call alternate nights and being dragged out of bed was a fairly regular experience. This was not conducive to family life and was probably why my first marriage failed which resulted in me leaving practice and entering commerce as vets were expected to have wives to man the 'phones out of hours.

What did I dislike? The fear of losing a patient during elective surgery . Later to make ends meet I did a lot of locum work and was saddened by the way the profession had developed into a commercial business .rather than a vocation. Also the use of defensive medicine - prompted by the fear of litigation. In my early days when things went wrong the attitude was "Can't be helped vet - you did your best"

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:28:18 GMT

Bumping this back up, as I'd like to get as many posts about the best and worst things about life as a vet as possible before we do some quantitative research.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Nicola Cole — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:31:24 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238781#238781"]One of the reasons we sign up to OOH providers is so that staff can finish on time with cases being seen elsewhere[/quote]

This is one of the reasons I think the split to day and night practices falls down (don’t get me wrong-I understand there are advantages).

If practice does their own on call then the person who’s on call that evening stays late to sort the stragglers and everyone else goes home roughly on time (unless ridiculously busy all day and lots of things left over to do). The on-call vet is unlikely to have booked evening activity anyway (they’re on call) then can book things to do on their not-on-call evenings (as someone else will be staying late to pick up the extras).

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Sam — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 18:07:54 GMT

For me the best bits of practice were the clients who if I had met them elsewhere could have been friends. The worst bits were the more difficult clients whose names would make the heart sink when you saw them on the appointment list.

I loved problem solving but disliked feeling alone if out of my personal depth.

The buzz and efficiency are also great things about veterinary practice. My comment on efficiency comes from currently sitting in A&E with a person who simply needs antibiotics but we have been pushed from Online triage to Urgent treatment centre to A & E and now back to GP. I wish vets could teach the NHS about efficiency! Also such a waste of money with the same diagnostic tests performed numerous times in one afternoon. Veterinary medicine has so much going for it!

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

James Dunne — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 13:18:47 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238805#238805"]

We have taken more than a little pleasure in inviting a small minority to find veterinary treatment elsewhere. Most seem floored by the suggestion that we do not value their custom!

A relatively new pleasure to the job.

[/quote]

Hi Bob.

I wish there was a 'ha-ha' emoji to react to this with! I have to say, in 24 years of practice, I think I've only had 4-5 clients that I've asked not to come back. I'd say that in the past 6 months, we've nearly had that many already. It is a small minority, thankfully, as per your comment, but I wonder what it is in our nature that makes these ones stick out in our heads more than the very pleasant clients!?

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Bob Russell — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 13:04:21 GMT

We have taken more than a little pleasure in inviting a small minority to find veterinary treatment elsewhere. Most seem floored by the suggestion that we do not value their custom!

A relatively new pleasure to the job.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

James Dunne — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:46:35 GMT

Bits that I like are also the bits I don't:

HR - it is very satisfying when everything is running smoothly and everyone gets along. It is also satisfying when an individual in difficulty or causing difficulty can be won over/ sorted out, helped in some way and integrated back into the team rather than the 'grievance' approach previously mentioned by another contributor. It is absolutely nightmarish when someone, supported by legislation, takes advantage of their position and goes on the offensive. I am glad not to be a practice owner any more for that exact reason.

Employability - we moan about our low pay relative to other professions, yet the truth is that we are sought after and it is easy to find employment. It is also hard to find something 'perfect'! We will rarely, if ever, be short of work.

Customers - Many of the people who use our practice do so because of convenience, if we're being honest. However, some people remember things decades later and it is very humbling to be stopped on the street by someone long forgotten to have them wax lyrical about how wonderful their (sometimes long-deceased) pet turned out. On the other end of the spectrum, the customers who are nice as pie to the vets and treat the reception team like dirt are nothing but scum in my opinion. Rudeness seems to be on the increase, or perhaps we're becoming more sensitive, or perhaps there's a bit of both going on. We should certainly tolerate it a lot less than we do. I read a French article only yesterday indicating that the average per vet for abuse (verbal or physical) is 2 incidents per week in the Paris region. Things have not gotten to that extent yet here, but it probably isn't far off.

Surgery - I like complex surgery and it's a great way to ensure that you can disappear into a theatre and not have to deal with humans for a while. When orthopaedics goes belly up, though, you see those patients back with a problem that lasts for a long time and reminds you not to get too cocky. As Rene Leriche mentioned: 'Every surgeon carries within him a cemetary wherein he goes to pray from time to time for forgiveness'....

Just being a vet: it's a badge to be worn with pride and overall is esteemed within the community. I wouldn't choose another career even though I might have done a few things differently as a vet. The inevitable downside is your goodwill gets taken advantage of from time to time, particularly in social situations with people wanting free advice, but that's not a massive cross to bear.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it. I wonder could this be condensed as it may be useful for school-leavers or people considering a career change?

Kind regards

James

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Alistair Graham-Evans — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:10:37 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238781#238781"]

If someone is being expected to work beyond their agreed hours, particularly without being paid, and particularly on a regular basis, then it is exploitative.

[/quote]

I wouldn’t expect any of my staff to work as I did in the bad old days.

Remember my first full time job in Herriot style practice and the boss was sick in hospital- did 1 month on my own 24/7 with no help from practice partners in the other clinic- it was expected and I was reprimanded for asking for some financial reward. Could be used in a Monty Python sketch! Very steep learning curve as a new graduate and had to teach myself how to do everything.

Obviously I resigned later on when it suited me.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Clive Ansell — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 17:16:23 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238761#238761"]It's not about exploitation in any way whatsoever, it's about doing what we signed up to do (prevent suffering)[/quote]

If someone is being expected to work beyond their agreed hours, particularly without being paid, and particularly on a regular basis, then it is exploitative.

I didn't ever sign up to work all hours god sends, and in any event the prevention of suffering can be taken care of at the OOH clinic. One of the reasons we sign up to OOH providers is so that staff can finish on time with cases being seen elsewhere

Again, if someone rings and the animal needs seeing, I am more than happy to if they can arrive before close of play.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Clive Ansell — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:31:56 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238773#238773"] having worked in a practice who did caesarians for French Buldogs, they knew when the OOH service started and it was just plain taking advantage when the phone rang after 1800[/quote]

Again, if it cannot be completed sensible and safely within a given timeframe, I would redirect to the OOH provider. At 6pm, and given the premises is unmanned after 7pm, it would probably be directed straight to them as they open 6.30pm

[quote userid="8958" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238773#238773"]Would I stay for an emergency? Yes and have done on many occasions, RTA's are a good example.[/quote]

I have and would do the same, but these are usually a case of stabilisation before redirecting. Again, anything after 6pm is probably better being directed straight to the OOH clinic if possible (I once had a complaint because I agreed to see a collapsed dog late on a Friday night, and didn't direct it straight to the OOH provider! - the owners maintained they had extra travelling, extra costs, and investigation and treatment were delayed)

Where I am at the moment, all cases stay at the OOH clinic until concluded, there is no to and fro-ing with cases.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Julian Earl — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:41:55 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238773#238773"]1900 finish leaves no time for anything anyway. Too late for cinemas, theatres, squash ladder games as I have discovered. I honestly marvel at vets that can do this 4-5 days a week, year on year.[/quote]

I have disagreed with this I'm afraid Neil... I have been a fully-competitiveracing cyclist sincemy hgourth year at University and i my first two jobs, both in Lancashire, the second being fully mixd-Practice and all doing our own OOH, I managed most weeks to race three times per week, specifically Wednesday evenings, events starting at 7pm about ten miles from home after a 630 finish, plus Saturday afternoond, usually a 2pm start near Preston 35 miles away and Sunday Mornings at 7am or Preston again, so followed by resting the remainder of the Sunday... The last time I tried this, nowadays as a Para-cyclist oif couse if you know my history? was in August 2018 when in my Sunday-race near Yoerk I was just empty-legged for this my 3rd event that week.I discvered the hard way that I no longer recover anywhere quickly enough for 3 tough-races per week, even tjhough 2-018 was one of my Best years ever looked at as a whole, a Series of cent Para- Personal Bests for me!! ow did I manage alloftheseaces earlier? Simples!! Ptroper planning!I I just made suret hat I was eating properly between times at work, plus getting everything ready and able for me to load up and go immediately on getting home. Plus deliberately avoiding tebiggest/ strenuous jobs on special race days! I am talking of eg., avoiding doing 25 cow-dehornings on a Race-day and either swapping or just delegating these! Of course do /I really need top point out that I was doing all of these events 3-4 times pr week I was of coursea lot, lot younge = rin the1980s so just into my late twenties even just over 30 hen in 1987? I also for awhile played weekly at alocalc hess club in the Mid-1980s at the Lancs. Town of Nelson for a shorts spell, but also cccupying one evening per week when not on call of course!Organisation and Planning are the two Key Words in my reply Here!! HTH?/ So a lateish finish can be dealttwith quite successfully after all!!Not forgetting that when not racing at weekends or in the ewvebnings I would inevitably be out training forhours at atme,may be upto 4to 6 nours on Saturdays or Sundays, Sports Nu trition became a Pet-subjectto study !! pet = o Prn intended of course. But fuelling for theseregular long rides was critically important in order to be ready to racer as well ,ayber just a fewdays later on the Wednesdays every week!!MAXIM recovry powder was my choice and drinking Isostar on the rides themselves etc., etc., etc!!

Nil Desperandum!!? Despite these Igh-energy products I've been Lean and Mean All of my life!! Now I am older and a Para-cyclist ~I find I am just Mean! Not qite as able to get outon those long rides as reularly nowadays!!

Julian

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:53:40 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238771#238771"]In addition, a colleague should not be made to feel bad, lazy or unprofessional because they choose to finish and go home on time. Not everyone is a martyr to the cause, and many of us have a full life outside of veterinary medicine. [/quote]

Yes Both Clive and I are locums but I do agree with this.

What other profession does this? A 1900 finish leaves no time for anything anyway. Too late for cinemas, theatres, squash ladder games as I have discovered. I honestly marvel at vets that can do this 4-5 days a week, year on year.

Would I stay for an emergency? Yes and have done on many occasions, RTA's are a good example. However a line needs to be drawn, having worked in a practice who did caesarians for French Buldogs, they knew when the OOH service started and it was just plain taking advantage when the phone rang after 1800

Neil

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Julian Earl — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:52:22 GMT

Good point GrooveJet; but not in the way you tmight hink??1. Since when do we base our standards on Medical GPs? Who as noted are sworn to save lives anyway, not to just pre vent/deal with suffering!! Secondly...! You may not be able to see your GP, but, So What?? if it was haemorrhaging enough, would immediately go to A and E emergency haemostasis?? And tha ti s what you or your OOH-providers are! are! Veterinary Accident and Emergency but for pain and suffering etc..in animals .! QED!!?

Thk you!!

[quote userid="11901" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238759#238759"]Go ahead and see if you can get an appointment at your GP at 6:55 for a burst haemorrhoid… [/quote]

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Clive Ansell — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:23:59 GMT

[quote userid="11901" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238759#238759"]And I’m sorry but that ruptured anal gland did NOT happen at 6:50! Go ahead and see if you can get an appointment at your GP at 6:55 for a burst haemorrhoid… [/quote]

I reiterate what I said earlier.

If they could get to the practice, and there was time or a free appointment available I would happily see them and deal with it. If not it would be redirected to the OOH provider. In reality, if they could make it before we go at 7pm I would probably see it, but it would have to be really quick, but one shouldn't be obliged too work beyond there contracted time.

Tonight I am fully booked, with 2 extras already, including a likely lengthy PTS at the end. If anything else needs seeing it will have to go to one of the other 4 branches (They are fully booked too), or to the OOH clinic post 6.30pm.

That is not a lack of professionalism, being lazy, or not doing what I signed up for as others may imply. It is simply at the end of a full on 10 hour day, it is the end of my working day and I am signing off and going home. It is not just a case of a 2 minute quick squeeze either; it is a full appointment, consultation to assess and deal with , and write comprehensive clinical notes (I have come across 2 cases fairly recently where clients were slotted in at the end of the day as extras, and both have complained that they didn't get there full 15 minutes monies worth.)

Also; where does one draw the line, where is the cut off point. Should we expected to stay on and extra 2, 5, 10, 30, 60, 120, - - - - - -minutes to "get the job done"? Beyond an extra 15 minutes I charge extra for my time.

In addition, a colleague should not be made to feel bad, lazy or unprofessional because they choose to finish and go home on time. Not everyone is a martyr to the cause, and many of us have a full life outside of veterinary medicine.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Jill Butterworth — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:43:03 GMT

Looks great Arlo.

I'd add getting blades of grass out of cats' throats and grass seeds out of ears and feet are very satisfying, and someone mentioned lancing accesses. All bizarrely fun things which are easy wins.

I hate interruptions when I'm concentrating so I asked the nurses to set aside a special time for calls/results.

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:10:00 GMT

This thread, that is to say highlighting and enjoying the best bits of practice, identifying the worst bits and finding ways to overcome those, really epitomises what this site and this community is all about.

I also think that following the recent decision to require good manners at all times in this forum, I need to get that message out to everyone who has been put off posting before, or who has never posted because of our reputation.

I also think we could do something productive with this thread by opening it to the wider audience and quantifying some of this, which I've discussed with the OP, Jill Butterworth.

So, so, so, said the cat in the hat,

I will be emailing everyone with an announcement about the new forums rules and why I've done it.

At the same time, I'll invite everyone to come and join in this discussion and add their thoughts about the best and worst of practice, safe in the knowledge that their contribution will be welcomed.

I will then gather together all the best and worst bits and ask members to share their tip for solving the worst bit, with a case of (good) champagne for the best solution or tip for dealing with a problem

Thinking about the best way to do this, I pulled together the best and worst so far. Problem is that there are lots of things which are the best for some people and the worst for others!

Working as a team
Making a difference to the lives of animals and their owners
Obstetrics / bringing new life into the world / calving
Complex cases
Orthopaedics
Euthanasia
Doing something new
Surgery
Puppies and kittens
Animals
Team rallying to find a solution
Variety in mixed practice
Being exploited by management
Putrid lambing
Prolapses
Bovine Embryotomies
Flyblown rabbits\
LVI meat work
Time pressure
Clipping nails
Clients being late
Drama clients
Clients who treat animals as disposable
HR issues / people management
Admin

I am sure the list could get much longer than this!

I think what I propose for the survey is that

a) we continue the discussion and invite more suggestions for the list

b) If necessary, I will then categorise the list

c) We'll then conduct a survey where we ask you to pick, say, 10 top hates and 10 top likes from the list, and rank them.

d) There'll be an 'other' option

e) Final question will be: can you offer a tip or advice for coping with or reducing your highest ranked hate on the list.

Does that sound workable everyone (Jill Butterworth in particular )

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Julian Earl — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:02:58 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30386/best-and-worst-bits-and-how-you-solve-it/238766#238766"]I would see the ruptured anal gland because it is/was painful.[/quote]

I agree t about the reason for attending to them.But I do sometimes ge the impression that others are objecting to seeing them because it is not angerous?/ If I am wrong her then I am sorry but iytis very definitely, as you say extremely painfuland as we swear to protect animal's welfare meaning alleviating such pain is our priority! arguably more than even a calving cow or similar?

Pain relief is essential for these dogs one way or another, be it analgesia or draining the abscessating gland etc?? I think one practical problem is knowing the cause of the dog's maybe vague-malaise before one sees it, unless the dog i indeed already chewing its rear end to a real mess already? But some of These dogs just off-colour for some vague reason in the owner's eyes may well get dismissed until the following day. So you can end up seeing everything off-colour, even just a little, 1/2 an hour after you went home for your tea or supper!! Grrr!! Iff it turns out to be just AG sacculitis then so much the better? Easy to identify/ treat and relievebefore your supper goes cold maybe?? The crucial thing IMO,

I'had better put my spoon away now and stop stirring this particular discussion-pot!!

Good Day to you all!

RE: Best and worst bits, and how you solve it

Bob Russell — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 08:35:25 GMT

I would see the ruptured anal gland because it is/was painful. Urgent but not an emergency.. I don't squeeze them any way. Too painful!!