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AMA
Original poster

I work in a vets AMA

127 replies

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 20:30

Have seen quite a few of these posts and have found them quite fun to read, so as it says AMA about working in a vets. Have been a lurker up until now and this is my first post. 😊

OP posts:
Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 22/02/2023 21:55

Back to the overweight pets issue.

My cat is 15, she has arthritis and some dental damage but nothing luckily that requires medical treatment. She's overweight and we've tried and tried with her weight but she's still 5.4kg. She's an indoor girl too so not ring fed elsewhere.

At her age is is worth trying other methods or just letting her be at her age?

XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 21:56

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 21:47

Do you work in the U.K.? I have literally never worked in a vets with coffins and I’ve been in practice for over 20 years. Both first opinion and referral

Show quote history

This counts for shit, as I was a teen on work experience... but I did a week in a vets, and the pets that had been put to sleep were bagged and labelled, and put in a a freezer. No coffins.
I remember the owner of a little dog that had been PTS turned up to pick him up... I was told to look in the freezer for "the warmest one".

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 21:57

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 21:53

In every practice I’ve ever worked in they go in a plastic bag. Never seen a box in my life! You have Great Dane/Newfoundland sized boxes? How does that even work storage wise? How would you lift that in to the freezer and back out again?

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Haha I did want to tell the “nicer” parts of the euthanasia process but yeah of course there are the bags too. They all fit because not every practice uses a freezer, a certain veterinary university hospital which treats equine and livestock have the space to store the patients they PTS and small animal uses that too, imagine it as a giant fridge. I actually haven’t seen a practice with a freezer in about 6 years, it’s all been chillers.

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 21:59

Tubbyinthehottub · 22/02/2023 21:53

When I was last at my vet's to pick up worm and flea treatment, there was a sign on the door asking clients to let the vet know if their pet is raw fed. Why would this be? I was worried about getting a lecture, but now I'm worried there is some specific concern they'd be looking for.

Because there is a high risk of salmonella poisoning from raw fed animals. We wear PPE when handling their waste and sometimes when handling the animals themselves.

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 21:59

XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 21:56

This counts for shit, as I was a teen on work experience... but I did a week in a vets, and the pets that had been put to sleep were bagged and labelled, and put in a a freezer. No coffins.
I remember the owner of a little dog that had been PTS turned up to pick him up... I was told to look in the freezer for "the warmest one".

Show quote history

you are aware there are more than one ways to store a deceased animal? Like I’ve just said chillers and coffins are quite popular nowadays. Sorry you had to deal with that on work exp, not sure how long ago that was but that definitely wouldn’t happen anymore…

OP posts:
Tubbyinthehottub · 22/02/2023 22:02

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 21:59

Because there is a high risk of salmonella poisoning from raw fed animals. We wear PPE when handling their waste and sometimes when handling the animals themselves.

Show quote history

OK thanks, yes I wondered if it was to protect staff in some way.

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:03

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 22/02/2023 21:55

Back to the overweight pets issue.

My cat is 15, she has arthritis and some dental damage but nothing luckily that requires medical treatment. She's overweight and we've tried and tried with her weight but she's still 5.4kg. She's an indoor girl too so not ring fed elsewhere.

At her age is is worth trying other methods or just letting her be at her age?

Is she on any pain relief for her arthritis? If not it may be worth making an appointment with your vet and seeing if she’s an appropriate candidate for something. This may make her more comfortable and more willing to mobilise and burn off some calories. Definitely not the best to let her be, she could have a good few years left and the excess weight won’t help the already sore joints :)

OP posts:
Username721 · 22/02/2023 22:03

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 21:23

So once you have gone we will place the body into a coffin with all the details on so there are no mix ups and in case the client changes their mind on what they want in terms of cremation etc, we then take them to the chiller where they wait to be transported to the cremation company. I know it doesn’t sound nice but all patients are treated with the love and dignity we’d give our own pets, I often give them a little kiss on the head before they go.

Show quote history

Thanks for the reply. I hope the staff at my vets were as kind as this. After we collected the ashes and dropped them off some chocolates, they sent us a handwritten card with some forget me not seeds, so I think they’ll have treated her well.

The animals are lucky to have you!

TicTac80 · 22/02/2023 22:06

This is a great thread, thank you for starting it. I have a question…are there any basic courses that a layman like myself can undertake so that I can better watch out for any issues/illnesses with my cats (I have 4)? FWIW, I’m a nurse (for humans), but worked as a BMS before retraining as a nurse. Goes without saying that I take mine to a vet if there’s any concerns I have, but I’d love to learn more!

XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 22:07

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 21:59

you are aware there are more than one ways to store a deceased animal? Like I’ve just said chillers and coffins are quite popular nowadays. Sorry you had to deal with that on work exp, not sure how long ago that was but that definitely wouldn’t happen anymore…

Show quote history

It was mid/late 90s. It was a small independent vet practice, so that probably had a bearing on things.
I went on to work in a hospital. Is bags and no coffins with people. Probably different rules and laws.

I know when the time comes with my hound (she will be 13 this year), I will want her to cross the bridge at home, as she hates going to the vets. When that happens, will the vets take her away too?
Ha, I am welling up even thinking about it.

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 22:08

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 21:57

Haha I did want to tell the “nicer” parts of the euthanasia process but yeah of course there are the bags too. They all fit because not every practice uses a freezer, a certain veterinary university hospital which treats equine and livestock have the space to store the patients they PTS and small animal uses that too, imagine it as a giant fridge. I actually haven’t seen a practice with a freezer in about 6 years, it’s all been chillers.

Show quote history

Most GP practices have chest freezers. Universities and referral practices have walk in freezers. They still all go in bags though. No ones lugging a massive horse in to a box

XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 22:10

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 22:08

Most GP practices have chest freezers. Universities and referral practices have walk in freezers. They still all go in bags though. No ones lugging a massive horse in to a box

Show quote history

I have always wondered what happens with horses. They also have a choice of euthanasia don't they... injection or a gun. I have heard of horses really fighting the jabs.

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:11

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 22:08

Most GP practices have chest freezers. Universities and referral practices have walk in freezers. They still all go in bags though. No ones lugging a massive horse in to a box

Show quote history

Well no of course not but I was quite clear I’m a small animal nurse and not an equine nurse… I’m currently working in GP and we have a big chiller, no chest freezer on our premises, but I appreciate your efforts to try and undermine and make me look silly on my thread, 10/10 for effort :)

OP posts:
redboxer321 · 22/02/2023 22:13

No question to ask but I just wanted to say that the picture the OP paints sounds nothing like any veterinary practice I've ever been to.
They might work at that one-in-a-million practice but I think it's important for people, especially those who are responsible for animals, to have a more realistic picture.
Sorry.

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:15

XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 22:07

It was mid/late 90s. It was a small independent vet practice, so that probably had a bearing on things.
I went on to work in a hospital. Is bags and no coffins with people. Probably different rules and laws.

I know when the time comes with my hound (she will be 13 this year), I will want her to cross the bridge at home, as she hates going to the vets. When that happens, will the vets take her away too?
Ha, I am welling up even thinking about it.

Show quote history

Ah yes things have definitely changed since then, we treat work experience much nicer now!! Bless her that sounds like it would be the best and least stressful option for the both of you. It’s completely up to you, we would of course take her away and could organise cremation but she is also able to stay with you if you’d prefer home burial. Im not sure how much I can say publicly in terms of names but there is one cremation company I know who let owners take their own pets there as well as collection from vets, I think it’s a nice touch and can see why some people would want to do that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:15

redboxer321 · 22/02/2023 22:13

No question to ask but I just wanted to say that the picture the OP paints sounds nothing like any veterinary practice I've ever been to.
They might work at that one-in-a-million practice but I think it's important for people, especially those who are responsible for animals, to have a more realistic picture.
Sorry.

In what way?

OP posts:
RiverFlowers · 22/02/2023 22:17

Is the pay as bad as I have heard? I always hear people say you don't go into veterinary nursing to make money, you do it because you love animals?!

I know someone who was a RVN for a few years before moving to lecturing as she wanted more money, although I don't think the lecturing is paying much more - but it's more standard hours and no weekends!

onionringcheeseypuff · 22/02/2023 22:18

Thank you for replying and telling me about cat tooth brushing. I didn't even know this was a standard thing.

How often should a scale and polish be done, annually? How can a vet do it, our cat would bite us but I've seen the vet and vet nurses take no nonsense from him (orange cat. Very assertive) Blush

Gymmum82 · 22/02/2023 22:18

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:11

Well no of course not but I was quite clear I’m a small animal nurse and not an equine nurse… I’m currently working in GP and we have a big chiller, no chest freezer on our premises, but I appreciate your efforts to try and undermine and make me look silly on my thread, 10/10 for effort :)

Show quote history

I’m not trying to undermine you. I was genuinely interested at where you work that has animal coffins and how that would work. Because as I said I’ve never seen one in over 20 years, I work part time and locum on my ‘days off’ so I cover a lot of practices locally and have never heard of nor seen a cardboard box coffin for a pet. Sounds like a nice idea for cats or small dogs

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:19

Yeah the pay isn’t great, I’ve been qualified 6 years and in practice almost 10 and I’m on a FTE of approx 29k. I know it’s not the worst salary and I definitely get by fine with what I earn but I’m sure there are other professionals with similar qualifications on much more!

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 22/02/2023 22:19

Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:15

Ah yes things have definitely changed since then, we treat work experience much nicer now!! Bless her that sounds like it would be the best and least stressful option for the both of you. It’s completely up to you, we would of course take her away and could organise cremation but she is also able to stay with you if you’d prefer home burial. Im not sure how much I can say publicly in terms of names but there is one cremation company I know who let owners take their own pets there as well as collection from vets, I think it’s a nice touch and can see why some people would want to do that!

Show quote history

I think I would want the vet to take her, and bring her cremains back. My mum took both of her dogs to a lovely cremation company. They laid them out all nice for the final farewell and everything. But she had to take them there herself.. in her car under blanket. I know I could not cope.
I am proper crying now.. pathetic. My dog is out in the garden having a mooch and a piss... she has no idea.

Catnipcapers · 22/02/2023 22:20

What is your experience with gabapentin and anxious cats? I have an ex feral who I adore but still cannot be picked up - it takes gauntlets and him peeing himself in fright which makes me feel awful. He is booked jn for his booster tomorrow and I've been prescribed gabapentin for him. I've been told to give 1x 25mg tablet 2-3 hours prior but all the Googling I've done suggests 100mg. I'm going to stick with what I've been told of course but I'm already massively stressed that 25mg isn't going to do anything for him.

Catnipcapers · 22/02/2023 22:20

What is your experience with gabapentin and anxious cats? I have an ex feral who I adore but still cannot be picked up - it takes gauntlets and him peeing himself in fright which makes me feel awful. He is booked jn for his booster tomorrow and I've been prescribed gabapentin for him. I've been told to give 1x 25mg tablet 2-3 hours prior but all the Googling I've done suggests 100mg. I'm going to stick with what I've been told of course but I'm already massively stressed that 25mg isn't going to do anything for him.

Original poster
Howdoipickaname · 22/02/2023 22:21

Interesting you’ve never seen it. Of course like you said the bags are used but I really don’t think it’s as prevalent as it used to be. A referral I worked in a few years ago had a big chiller and we’d lay out bags on the floor and place them on top of the bag they would eventually need when collected by the crem company, so it just looked like they were sleeping and weren’t confined to a bag until the very last moment with us.

OP posts:
Lenax · 22/02/2023 22:22

How long did it take you to become a vetinary nurse in total?