Last time we talked about using antibiotics appropriately. This time, let's talk about client status.
The most common complaint I see from farm managers is, "I called four veterinarians for an emergency & not one wanted to come out!" Sometimes that's followed up with, "Seems like vets just don't care about our animals."
Whoa there. There are a few reasons why a veterinarian you've never met before won't come to your farm for an emergency.
They don't know you or your operation. A professional relationship between veterinarian & client is built on mutual respect & trust. "Regular" clients are those that have a working relationship with that vet - the vet visits their farm a few times a year for health checks & walk throughs, has probably set up treatment protocols & educated managers about common diseases for each species, & generally understands who is on the farm (people & animals) & how things are run. These clients will take priority, as they have an established relationship & contribute to the daily livelihood of the veterinarian.
I've said it before & I'll say it again - part of helping pay for someone to be available at night means supporting the business during the daytime.
Ask most veterinarians if they like being on call for emergencies. Most of them will say no & many will say it's the worst part of the job. It takes us away from our families, our hobbies, it cuts into our personal lives. But we understand its importance! We understand that livestock don't follow the rules & do what they want, when they want! We understand that they don't follow the clock & turn off their disease or dystocia when the clock hits 5p! We understand that small farms do not have the labor & financial resources to keep someone watching animals 24/7! We understand that small farms may not have the experience or education in quickly recognizing & treating disease!
We care about the human-animal relationship. We are extremely concerned with animal welfare. We do not enjoy saying no because we're too busy. We do not enjoy saying no because of financial concerns. We don't want to get to a farm & have to euthanize because treatment options are limited or nonexistent based on the extent of disease. We are medical professionals who do our best to balance the economics of raising livestock with what's best for the animal & what's possible as far as medicine, surgery, technology, & state or federal regulations allow. All while trying to stay well informed, communicate kindly, & balance our personal lives.
SO! Establishing a relationship with a veterinarian before you need help in an emergency can prevent a lot of these issues. Prevention is always better than treatment - if we can prevent something from happening at all, then we don't have to deal with it!
Veterinarians are an essential part of the management team! Establishing a relationship with a veterinarian means you are adding an animal health expert to your team who can help you with the day-to-day, as well as emergency care.
Be open minded, as you're looking for a veterinarian willing to work on the species you have. School farms challenge us because of the diversity in anatomy, disease processes, handling, & metabolisms. So if you find a vet without much experience, but willing to try, stick with them! And then send them here for some veterinary resources that'll help them out.
Find your teammate!
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