This letter is from a Vets Magazine
Pet care warning
WITH reference to P Dyer (September 23) and 24-hour veterinary care, I have every sympathy with the sentiments expressed. As a veterinary surgeon of 31 years I heartily deplore the trend of my profession - following in the footsteps of the medical profession - to "opt out” of providing round-the-clock care of our patients and instead devolving responsibility to agencies and central veterinary hospitals.
The classification of some practices as Animal Hospitals also throws up a smokescreen as only approved veterinary hospitals are required to have on-site 24-hour nursing care. Those of us who choose to have on-site nurses pay a financeial penalty for this service which we cannot pass on to our clients.
People who leave their animals at veterinary surgeries overnight, make the assumption - often erroneous - that there is nursing, supervision on hand. I would encourage owners to establish the facts before committing their pets as inpatients.
David Gabriel Avonwick, South Devon
