Good Article on Large Animal Vets...

[Hasbeen]

Wanted: veterinarians for large animals. Must enjoy long drives through beautiful Kentucky countryside and long talks with colorful farmers. Strong stomach and big hearts required.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/104712.html

 

[Hasbeen]

Also a good read if you click on the "Drought means tough choices for farmers" article located under the photo.

 

[cfpinz]

Does anyone here know of a LA vet that has actually retired? Every one I know still does relief work or just works til they die. One of the relief vets in my wife's office is 87 years young. They must really love their jobs.

cfpinz

 

[cattleluvr18]

it took us awhile to find a good vet. once we finally found him, hes like 70 years old. he really seems to love what hes doing. i prey he doesnt retire until i learn more. and the guy even helps me learn. he'll ask me questions about the animal and whats wrong with it and if i get the answer wrong he'll explain the right one to me. *edit* he's also my farrier, which is nice.


i know i want to be a vet tech for sure. but i dont know anymore, maybe a vet wouldnt be so bad?

 

[dun]

Does anyone here know of a LA vet that has actually retired? Every one I know still does relief work or just works til they die. One of the relief vets in my wife's office is 87 years young. They must really love their jobs.

cfpinz

Yup, sort of. Now he only does dogs and cats at his clinic. He's only in his early 70s but doesn;t get around very well anymore.

 

[Vicky the vet]

My large animal vet owns cattle himself and obviously enjoys his job as the only animals he works on is large animals and makes farm calls only. He is also an ai tech. Darned good vet and no older than 40 years old. Nice as can be. The local vets here left alot to be desired. I am so glad I found this one cuz he is a goodin. Came out preg checked 40 cows, and implanted and ai bred not on the same day of course 3 cows. Charged me 55 dollars for the whole shebang ya cant beat that with a stick.

So the guy is good because he doesn't charge much? Hmmm....maybe these guys don't retire because they can't afford to.....

 

[ERodrig]

In my neck of the woods it's darn near impossible to find a LA vet. I found one that will only do limited work. I needed to palpate several heads of cattle and had to take them to him. I don't mind doing it because I personally don't have all the right equipment yet, but he told me that he's not planning on working on large animals very much longer. He's a young guy still (early to mid 50's). I guess I'll just have to learn like my grandfather did, by doing.

 

[Hasbeen]

I was a pet owner long before I got my first cow and I was amazed at the difference in fees. It cost only minimally more for the vet to come to my place, diagnose and treat a sick cow than it did to take my dog to the vet clinic for routine vacinations. Of course, dogs are pets and cattle are a business with a limited profit potential, but I wonder if maybe should allow our vets a little more leeway in the fees they charge? We would certainly be up the creek without them.

Vicky, what did you think of the article?

 

[redfornow]

My large animal vet owns cattle himself and obviously enjoys his job as the only animals he works on is large animals and makes farm calls only. He is also an ai tech. Darned good vet and no older than 40 years old. Nice as can be. The local vets here left alot to be desired. I am so glad I found this one cuz he is a goodin. Came out preg checked 40 cows, and implanted and ai bred not on the same day of course 3 cows. Charged me 55 dollars for the whole shebang ya cant beat that with a stick.

So the guy is good because he doesn't charge much? Hmmm....maybe these guys don't retire because they can't afford to.....

:nod:

 

[milesvb]

Vicky has a good point. With what our vet charges for a heifer workup I have to wonder if he's using the dog and cat practice to support his large animal hobby. ;-)

 

[dun]

Our LA animal vet is the husband of our dog vet. He does the clinic pet deal when his wife is layed up (bad habit of having babys) but hates the being tied to one spot thing. I sometimes worry about the fees they charge cause they're both pretty low as far as I'm concerned. I don;t pay them extra, but I make sure that every little thing they do is on the bill. They may not charge me for it, but it's on there if they want to. After having comer from an area that had a retired LA animal vet that only word on pets and hadn;t touched a cow in 20 years or a 125 mile drive to the other LA vet, I've come to really appreciate a good vet that enjoys the work.

 

[Jogeephus]

My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and be a LA vet but after a 10 year apprenticeship of delivering calves in some of the most miserable conditions imaginable, I chose another career path. My hats off to the LA vets. And no, I will not call one on the holidays. The cow will just have to die before I'll bother my vet on any of these days.

 

[gendronf]

. Vicky no need to be a smarta$$. If you act like this to your customers I can see why large animal vets especially in your area dont make much LOL!. Thats all im going to say Im done with this post.

You remember me a certain TTCLM. He was a real smarta$$.

 

[AngusLimoX]

. Vicky no need to be a smarta$$. If you act like this to your customers I can see why large animal vets especially in your area dont make much LOL!. Thats all im going to say Im done with this post.

You remember me a certain TTCLM. He was a real smarta$$.

Gotta disagree - TTCLM was a dumba$$.

Depends on whether he's taking his medication or not.

Second time he's mouthed off to Vicky under his "new" identity. The first time was after she caught him prescribing lethal doses of meds to a beginner. Would sure hate to see us lose people like Vicky over a goof like this.

ALX

 

[Bez>]

My large animal vet owns cattle himself and obviously enjoys his job as the only animals he works on is large animals and makes farm calls only. He is also an ai tech. Darned good vet and no older than 40 years old. Nice as can be. The local vets here left alot to be desired. I am so glad I found this one cuz he is a goodin. Came out preg checked 40 cows, and implanted and ai bred not on the same day of course 3 cows. Charged me 55 dollars for the whole shebang ya cant beat that with a stick.

So the guy is good because he doesn't charge much? Hmmm....maybe these guys don't retire because they can't afford to.....

Interesting comment Vickey. Far too many like that - so they go small animals - that is where the money is.

I was advised against going with our present veterinarian because he is expensive.

My experience with him basically is as follows:

One cow - mystery death - even the post was not conclusive. Cost me a couple hundred.

Annual herd health check - runs me around 500 bucks - plus drugs and drive. Money well spent.

One "cut out" calf - 300 bucks or thereabouts if memory serves me - calf lived - money well spent because the cow is still here breeding back every year.

Advice on vaccinations free - but I buy pretty much all my drugs from him.

He has taught me lots - and is free with the instruction - so I get my moneys worth out of him.

Midnight calls - extremely rare - he grouses a bit -but always shows up - he charges me visciously for those! Especially one that I jumped the gun on - he even had the nerve to smile as he said - "This is going to be expensive Bez!" 8) :lol:

I think he likes it. He did mention "retributive justice" one morning as we were drinking a coffee after the clean up.

The fact that he knows his business, is free with advice, shows up when we call and has the kindest personality going - absolutely priceless.

He apologized about raising the rates for driving when fuel went up. It allowed me to grouse at him - but the truth be known - and yes I did tell him - the rate did not matter - his knowledge and service do.

I know he does more small animals now - bigger money and less wear and tear on the body - but we are a regular - so until he dies or quits - we are a team.

Find the good ones - shut up and pay - makes you money in the end.

Bez>

 

[ROCKSPRINGS]

cowboy (ttclm) is alright, just don't show him any pictures of young children.

http://cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36470

 

[Bez>]

cowboy (ttclm) is alright, just don't show him any pictures of young children.

8)

Almost spit my coffee over the keyboard!

Bez>

 

[Vicky the vet]

Vicky, what did you think of the article?

I read it, it was sort of an obvious one to me. There are fewer large animal vets because frankly, it's manual labour much of the time, not always using your brain. You get stinky just before lunch often...yech! And farmers often gripe about the fees...Small animal has the toys and often requires mental agility (especially in emerg where I do small animal...), plus it's much less physical, pays more....hey, why do I do this again????

I think the idea of forgiving student loans of someone who goes to a rural or large animal practice for x years makes sense. They should do the same with MDs. But hey, it doesn't matter much to city dwellers....

 

[john250]

Vicky, what did you think of the article?

I read it, it was sort of an obvious one to me. There are fewer large animal vets because frankly, it's manual labour much of the time, not always using your brain. You get stinky just before lunch often...yech! And farmers often gripe about the fees...Small animal has the toys and often requires mental agility (especially in emerg where I do small animal...), plus it's much less physical, pays more....hey, why do I do this again????

I think the idea of forgiving student loans of someone who goes to a rural or large animal practice for x years makes sense. They should do the same with MDs. But hey, it doesn't matter much to city dwellers....

Certainly there need to be incentives for vets to do LA work.
And, there need to be admissions preferences for LA specialists at our state supported vet schools.
I'll likely lose my LA vet before I retire. He is one of my favorite people. He works with me because he loves cattle and he breaks even. Dogs and cats support him. He is well informed and sharp as a tack. Doesn't run up the bill.

 

[rockridgecattle]

A few years 5 maybe 6 we got a LA vet out of school. She was up on the "new stuf". She had a learning curve and has done real well.
Like bez said, free on advice, but we buy our drugs from her. comes out in emergencies, always available. She is expensive (but i think in line with others) but worth it.
One year she gave a free herd health check up for free for regular customers. Nice.
She even did an on farm emergency C-Section-twisted uterus, cow and calf lived, cow tied to a pannel, pannel tied to a hydro pole, and a large rail way tie for a fence post. cost alot.
She said thaks for the experience but never again. Get a materity pen, and we did.