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AIBU?

To ask whether vet should pay for this?

48 replies

TempusEedjit · 22/06/2017 13:17

I took my dog to the vet this morning for his vaccination. During the appointment he became very distressed and jumped off the examination table, landing on the side of his face. He's only a small dog so it was quite a drop for him. Both vet and I had been holding him (I was helping to hold him at vet's request) but at that point had let go. He just jumped off without warning, he's never done similar before. He appears to have concussion, a possible bruised spine and blood was coming from his mouth.

The vet thinks there is no long term damage but is keeping him in for today to keep an eye on him anyway, however they asked whether I have insurance? As well as being worried about my dog I am also worried about this as I have a £75 excess on my policy which will be a stretch to find the money for as I'm not working right now. As the accident happened in the vet's care are they liable? Or is it just a genuine accident? I just tried calling my insurance provider but they just said they would cover any treatment if the vet didn't but I would still need to pay the excess.

Sorry I feel awful talking about money whilst my dog's poorly but I am really anxious about this and don't want an unnecessary argument about payment with the vet

OP posts:

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Wolfiefan · 22/06/2017 13:20

I'm so sorry his has happened. Your poor dog. I'm not sure if they "should" pay (legally etc). You were holding your pet and chose to let go so they could actually blame you I suppose. Given the circumstances it would be a nice gesture for them to waive or at least pay towards the excess.
Hoping he makes a full recovery.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 22/06/2017 13:23

Firstly I hope your dog recovers quickly and is okay

I think you'd struggle to prove the vet liable, so you're probably more likely to get a goodwill gesture if anything. Did the vet ask you to let go? If they did; that may help your case.

BarbarianMum · 22/06/2017 13:26

I don't see how the vet is liable tbh. I also don't see why they are keeping him in for today - can't you bring him home and keep a close eye on him? How was the "possibly bruised spine" diagnosed? Was the blood from a cut to the tongue or cheek?

Put it this way - a child with this injury would be checked over by a doctor and sent home with instructions to keep out an ete for concussion unless an actual serious injury was discovered.

waitforitfdear · 22/06/2017 13:29

I hope your little dog is ok op

I ageee with you I think any treatment should be done free as a gesture of kindness.

TempusEedjit · 22/06/2017 13:33

Thanks for responses.

We were both holding him, he was wriggling and she said a couple of times "I think I might need someone to come in to help" but she didn't. Once treatment was administered I think we both let go around the same time which is when he jumped off the table.

I'm not looking to blame anyone, I just wasn't sure whether I or the vet have ultimate responsibility for what happens in the treatment room. It seems ambiguous which makes me feel better if I have to pay.

OP posts:

TenForward82 · 22/06/2017 13:39

Hmm, your last comment swung it for me. You are not obligated to keep your animal safe but they are. If the vet knew help was needed and chose not to call a nurse in but to use you, I think they should pay. You were there in an owner's capacity, not to subdue your pet. Imagine if this was a child / parent scenario in a hospital - surely the hospital would be liable?

TempusEedjit · 22/06/2017 13:42

BarbarianMum my dog kind of fell on the side of his face and neck, all his legs were outstretched bolt stiff and he was conscious but quite unresponsive which made the vet think he'd suffered a shock/bruise to the spine. Don't know about his mouth, vet couldn't get his jaw open. The vet wanted to keep him in, it's not something I asked them to do.

OP posts:

RunYouJuiceBitch · 22/06/2017 13:54

Has he actually had any tests or treatment, or has he just been kept in for observation? What are you actually having to pay for?

I think it's just an unfortunate accident. You're not the first it's happened to, and I'm sure you won't be the last. Hope your dog is okay xxx

Twooter · 22/06/2017 13:58

I would imagine the insurance question was in case he needed further investigation/referral if there was spinal injury ie, work that couldn't be done in house.

UrsulaPandress · 22/06/2017 13:58

Your poor dog!

No idea about responsiblity but agree if the vet mentioned getting someone in to help then I think that shows she knew there was an issue.

Nikephorus · 22/06/2017 14:00

If the vet knew help was needed and chose not to call a nurse in but to use you, I think they should pay.You were there in an owner's capacity, not to subdue your pet.
I disagree for 2 reasons. Firstly, part of the owner's responsibility is to hold their pet - if you can't then you ask for help. Secondly, the vet obviously thought that help might be needed TO ADMINISTER TREATMENT when you need the pet to stay relatively still i.e. when you're giving an injection. That part was over - OP says "once treatment was administered" - so obviously the vet would let go, expecting the owner to get the pet down again / into a carrier etc. If you have a wriggling pet (and I do!) then you keep a very firm grip of them at all times, not just when they're having an injection. My dog has injections on the floor because she'll try and launch herself off the examining table & she's too powerful for me to be able to hold her still enough for injections when she's doing that routine.
As for keeping the dog in for a bit, that's concussion. A person would often be kept in hospital where concussion was involved.

TempusEedjit · 22/06/2017 14:18

Vet has just phoned back, they want to do an MRI scan due to potential bleed on brain. The excess is the least of my worries now, I won't be arguing with them. Thanks all for the responses/ flowers etc.

OP posts:

fannydaggerz · 22/06/2017 14:25

I hope your dog is ok

TheGirlWhoWasntThere · 22/06/2017 14:28

I hope you dog is OK.
Thinking of you both.

Wolfiefan · 22/06/2017 14:30

I'm so sorry. I hope the MRI reveals nothing too serious.

SmilingButClueless · 22/06/2017 14:45

Your poor dog. I hope the MRI doesn't show anything too serious. Frightening how quickly these things can happen.

TenForward82 · 22/06/2017 16:07

Nike, is it the owner's responsibility to hold their pet? Genuinely asking. Is that a thing? Because generally I hand over to the vet and only step in if requested in case I'm in the way. I'm also not trained in animal restraint the way I would expect a vet / nurse to be. Would this scenario be the same if OP was elderly or frail?

The vet thought they needed (professional) help. If the dog was distressed, by letting go at the end of the treatment, even if OP was holding on, the dog might still have fallen. Surely vet responsibility is to get the dog on the ground, treatment and discussion concluded, before they are absolved?

LaurieFairyCake · 22/06/2017 16:13

They should definitely do everything the dog needs and allow you to pay your excess off with them in payments

I'm so sorry

RainyDayBear · 22/06/2017 16:14

I do hope your dog is okay

I'm really on the fence with the liability as I think there's fault on both sides here. However I think because she said she needed help and didn't get a veterinary nurse to assist I feel there's probably a bit more responsibility on her side.

RainyDayBear · 22/06/2017 16:15

Sorry I didn't meant 'fault' to sound like that as it was clearly an accident, I just meant you both inadvertently let go at the same time. Apologies if that sounded insensitive!

MintyChops · 22/06/2017 16:17

Oh no, your poor dog, I hope he is ok.

OlennasWimple · 22/06/2017 16:21

Poor dog, hope is ok

I would hope that the vets don't charge full cost

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CremeFresh · 22/06/2017 16:26

Your poor dog , I hope the MRI is clear. Are there any signs in the vets about responsibility ?

I hope your dog is ok x

Nikephorus · 22/06/2017 16:56

Nike, is it the owner's responsibility to hold their pet?
Always has been at the practice I go to. If they're wriggling a lot they might say "are you okay to hold them" which I always assume is a polite way of saying "hold the bugger still"! And once the treatment is over then they're your responsibility because you're (hopefully) taking them home so need to get them in the carrier / on the floor ready to walk.
Paws crossed for OP's pooch though

TenForward82 · 22/06/2017 16:58

But treatment wasn't over. The immediate procedure was.

Also, "are you ok to hold them?" sounds to me like "are you adequately able to restrain your pet? If not, I'll get a nurse" but maybe I'm projecting!

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