Choosing a Vet

Sorry about all the posts but I don't know what to do.

I've already told the story what happened to my mare and what we went through. During that time I used two vets. Now it is time to call a vet for annual vaccinations, but I don't know which one to use.

The first one is further away and only comes on Tuesdays, he was really good with my last mare and really nice, but he messed up her teeth by filing down the back and when the front touched her back teeth didn't leaving her really sore, he also dismissed her not eating hay as a symptom so I was left questioning him and the practice. But everyone uses him here.

The second vet is more of a group of vets all specializing in different thing, one knows more about dental work, one general, one knows about drugs for putting a horse out for dental work, geldings, and putting them down. When I used them last they did blood tests, fecal and were really through of everything (the first one was too but he wouldn't do testing). They also worked with me to keep the costs down when it started to get out of control. I think I may be allowed to bring her to the clinic for the vaccinations, they work for the vet that I trust with all my other animals. They do have down sides though, like I am not the comfortable around them, they are rougher with the horses (not hurting them or anything), and less well known in the area so I have to go by only my experiences with them.

I don't know who to choose, I was thinking the first because the cost is cheaper, everyone uses him and travel costs are less. This is the one my mom wants me to use(depending on when, she may be the one there when the vet comes). The second vet would be able to do a good teeth floating (which I think Spice needs), but I might be able to bring her in for vaccinations and have the floating done when I have more money. They are more expensive because like I said they like to be through, and are not just equine vets so not set up to make regular house calls.

What one would you choose why? Feel free to ask questions, I just don't know what would be best for Spice and I feel weird calling either one of them after Mooney.

I don't think there is any harm in using the less expensive vet for shots and routine stuff. You could still use your preferred vet(s) for dental work and anything more than routine. It's pretty common around here. Our old vet is primarily a cow vet - and admits he doesn't know as much about horses as he should. However, he can still give shots - and is very competent at gelding. For anything more than that, he recommends an equine vet.

I agree with dee, I have vet that is great at regular things like vacc. Teeth, cuts, colic etc. and an awesome repro. Vet. But he will be the first to say that he is not a lameness vet. So most people use someone else for that stuff.
So for vaccinations, which is pretty routine, I would use the cheaper, closer vet.

That sounds like a good idea, I guess I never thought of using both. I don't really have the money to do a really good floating right now any way (later this spring I will when my work picks up), so using the cheaper vet for the routine stuff would be okay. Both are linked to such a negative event some times it is hard to think about all options.

I have complete faith in our local clinic. They have an expert for every horse issue from head to tail. But I am realistic for the day to day things. My budget only goes so far. I do my own shots. We are attending a coggins clinic that will save me HUNDREDS of dollars on the coggins for multiple horses.

I don't even know where you would buy vaccinations (vet maybe?) in Canada. I wouldn't be able to give them because needles make me weak in the knees any way, or else I would give it a try. We don't need coggins here so that isn't a problem (it is rarely needed for shows or to go to certain barns), she needs a tetanus and booster, pretty minimal unless I plan on bring her some where she may be exposed to other things, than she may need a few more. I'm a pretty cheap/money aware because I have to make money stretch between odd jobs. Doing it myself, second hand, and hard and exhausting work no one wants in the name of the game.

You might want to re-think on not doing a Coggins as there have been outbreaks of EIA in Canada. It's cheap, it's easy, I would just get it done.

It is quite common to have one vet for routine stuff and another for weird stuff or performance issues. I've moved completely over to my "performance" vet for everything as he is totally awesome haha and I want eyes on my horse as often as possible. When he's out for vacs or something else, I can get a quick flexion test done and pick up my Adequan from him. But, that's just me :P

Good luck!

I believe it was Ontario or out west had the EIA, probably wouldn't hurt to have it pulled any way, I looked it up and most major shows want it. I'll admit I usually just go with what the vet recommends as musts. Plus no vet does in clinic tests they are all sent out of province to a college making a simple test have a ton of fees added on.

Just curious what does a coggin test mean, if that makes since? That she doesn't have it when it is pulled, and that's it, I mean they could pull another a week later and the horse be positive right?

EDIT: Horse Disease Surveillance of Ontario had that Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia are the highest risk for EIA, interesting?

Yep I spread the love around LOL. Have the cheap vet here in town that I use for every day stuff. Something that's more difficult, I take to another vet that's great but more expensive. I think MOST horse folks use two or three vets, nothing wrong with that. Use the cheap clinic for routine stuff and use your "specialist" for special circumstances or things that the "cheap local vet" can't figure out. That's what we do :)

I would go with the second, personally. It might be more expensive, but a vet should also give a horse a basic once over when they give shots to make sure they are completely healthy. I would worry that the first guy would miss something.