Shortage of Vets

  • suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18615
    #2289553

    I am really frustrated today. My young Golden is ill. She has been semi lethargic since Sunday and not eating well. Something is wrong and its time to take her in but our main vet wont see her today. We called when they opened. Our secondary vet wont see her and a random local vet I called wont see her. I was told there is a severe shortage of vets and vet personnel.
    It is unbelievably aggravating to have these vets turn me away after all the business I have given them knowing full well all they would need to do is postpone one teeth cleaning.
    Everybody points to emergency care and we all know what that means. $$$$$$
    I ended up scheduling her at an urgent care today and they already warned me of the cost. Rant over.

    TH
    Posts: 537
    #2289555

    Now vet medicine is similar to human medicine. That’s doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    #2289556

    That sucks. I have friends who are vets, and they both mentioned this shortage to me several years ago. Wishing the best for your pup!

    FinickyFish
    Posts: 548
    #2289557

    That’s frustrating. My vet has always found a way to squeeze me in as long as it’s during open hours. Definitely had my share of emergency vet visits after hours. I’m in the west metro so probably better availability here, but I’d definitely give your vet an earful. Also I can’t stress enough pet insurance. Most advertised plans are ridiculously expensive but I can recommend some reasonably priced ones.

    Mike Schulz
    Osakis/Long Prairie
    Posts: 1245
    #2289560

    good luck with your pooch!!

    JEREMY
    BP
    Posts: 3894
    #2289562

    My BIL paid a boat load of money to get his 6 year old lab in the other day for the same reasons. Did xrays and blood work and said she might have cancer. Might? Aint that what the tests are for.

    gimruis
    Plymouth, MN
    Posts: 17348
    #2289565

    I’ve experienced this before too. Not uncommon. Definitely a buzz kill when you can’t get the dog the health care it needs. Just the world we live in, lots of shortages of workers in many industries.

    Brad Dimond
    Posts: 1452
    #2289566

    There are fewer vet schools in the U.S. than there are medical schools. A friend’s daughter is a large animal vet in Minnesota, she looked for a year before finding someone to bring in to her practice to offload work. When calves are dropping there is no saying no, especially to her husband who is a dairy farmer.

    Hope things go well with your dog.

    10klakes
    Posts: 526
    #2289583

    Vet urgent cares even struggle- one blue pearl clinic in EP shut down then a clinic under a different name opened elsewhere. They are offering top dollar pay and taking vets and support staff from local clinics. Just adds to the local shortage.

    No one wants to be a vet tech and get paid $20/hr when you can make equivalent or more doing much less stressful work in a different field.

    10klakes
    Posts: 526
    #2289589

    There are fewer vet schools in the U.S. than there are medical schools. A friend’s daughter is a large animal vet in Minnesota, she looked for a year before finding someone to bring in to her practice to offload work. When calves are dropping there is no saying no, especially to her husband who is a dairy farmer.

    Hope things go well with your dog.

    Yep. U of M vet school gets around 1,000 applicants a year, only accept around 100. 8 years of college and much more rigorous course loads and requirements to be a DVM than a human doctor. And human doctors get paid a good amount more. Health Insurance bs plays a big role in pay I’m sure.

    KP
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 1375
    #2289824

    I am really frustrated today. My young Golden is ill. She has been semi lethargic since Sunday and not eating well. Something is wrong and its time to take her in but our main vet wont see her today. We called when they opened. Our secondary vet wont see her and a random local vet I called wont see her. I was told there is a severe shortage of vets and vet personnel.
    It is unbelievably aggravating to have these vets turn me away after all the business I have given them knowing full well all they would need to do is postpone one teeth cleaning.
    Everybody points to emergency care and we all know what that means. $$$$$$
    I ended up scheduling her at an urgent care today and they already warned me of the cost. Rant over.

    Were you able to get your pup to a Vet? Hopefully she is doing better if you did.

    Karry Kyllo
    Posts: 1269
    #2289832

    8 years of college and much more rigorous course loads and requirements to be a DVM than a human doctor.

    Are you sure about that?

    Gitchi Gummi
    Posts: 3021
    #2289833

    sorry to hear that suzuki. I’ve had the same issue up here in Duluth for the last couple of years. Have you looked her over really well for ticks?

    Brad Dimond
    Posts: 1452
    #2289878

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>10klakes wrote:</div>

    8 years of college and much more rigorous course loads and requirements to be a DVM than a human doctor.

    Are you sure about that?

    True. Last I heard there were 33 vet schools in the U.S. as opposed to >150 medical schools. Competition is fierce, costs are high ($63k.year)..

    MX1825
    Posts: 3319
    #2289885

    <blockquote
    And human doctors get paid a good amount more. Health Insurance bs plays a big role in pay I’m sure.

    This might be true but a vet I know personally has bought 2 farms(275 acres) and started an Angus breeding herd. Has put all new fences around all of it after a lot of land clearing and built 3 new buildings(1 is 60×120 half finished and heated as a shop). All done in the last 8 years. His tax man said he had to spend some money. I think he is doing ok. whistling

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18615
    #2289887

    Very bad news. Looks she has blasto. Right now we are focusing on survival and according to the vet it’s going to get rough. Hunting is absolutely out this year. Everything came to a head today and my wife and I are doing our best to process.

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    #2289889

    Oh yuck. Sorry, man. Hoping for the best outcome!

    LabDaddy1
    Posts: 2440
    #2289897

    Dang zuki, very sorry to hear it. When your dog is in bad shape it’s so easy to just lose it and feel wrecked (Guilty wave ).

    I’ve had many close calls with my lab where I freak out and panic, but usually turns out fine or at least ok. I hope this is the case for yourself and your golden!

    glenn57
    cold spring mn
    Posts: 11804
    #2289898

    Dang, sorry to hear about your pooch. Tough to comprehend. Hope all goes ok.

    LabDaddy1
    Posts: 2440
    #2289899

    Oh man I didn’t see the last part. Is she getting some medication/antibiotics for it?

    My dog recently had to go through an extra round of blood work/exam because of traces of anaplasmosis. I was pretty worried because I’ve picked 1172.29 deer ticks off of her over the last 6 years grouse hunting. She has always had her meds and she is fine now, vets cleared it as nothing to worry about- small traces. Still hoping the best for your pooch!

    LabDaddy1
    Posts: 2440
    #2289900

    Son of a.. I was thinking it was more like a tick-borne disease. Just read some. It sounds like it can be hard to treat, but recovery rates range a ton. If it’s caught and treated early enough it sounds like there can be a good bounce back rate?

    Timmy
    Posts: 1235
    #2289910

    I have successfully been through that battle. It was nip and tuck for a while, but she finally pulled through.

    KP
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 1375
    #2289911

    So sorry to hear that! Hopefully she can recover!

    Gitchi Gummi
    Posts: 3021
    #2289919

    terrible news suzuki. I wasn’t super familiar with blasto so I had to look it up and familiarize myself on it. So if I’m understanding correctly, she would have inhaled some type of fungal spores? absolutely crazy that’s even a thing

    We’re all pulling for you guys. You got this!

    crossin_eyes
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 1379
    #2289946

    Absolutely horrible. We are all praying for Stella and the whole family.
    Please keep us posted the best you can.

    CaptainMusky
    Posts: 22718
    #2289947

    I have heard of it, but didnt know what caused it. Researched it and only smokes. Sounds terrible poor dog hopefully she recovers.

    crawdaddy
    St. Paul MN
    Posts: 1588
    #2289971

    Best of luck to the dog and your family. Hoping for a positive outcome.

    10klakes
    Posts: 526
    #2290030

    Ah dang, sorry to hear it is blasto. Can’t imagine if my young golden got it. Hope for the best!

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18615
    #2290049

    Its like waiting for a hurricane. You know its coming but still relatively calm weather now.

    John Rasmussen
    Blaine
    Posts: 6334
    #2290062

    Its like waiting for a hurricane. You know its coming but still relatively calm weather now.

    Sorry to hear this bud. Hoping the best for you guys.

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