Overnight at the Animal Hospital.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Recently a friend of mine( a nurse) had to leave her little dog at the vet overnight because he had surgery. She called to check on him and was told that he didn't have an IV or anything but that she couldn't take him home because they needed to keep him for observation. When she went to pick him up the next day, she found out that not only did he have an IV running but that they had sedated him overnight with Hydromorph which is a morphine product. The kicker to all of this is that the overnight observation was an empty vet clinic, no one stays with the animals overnight. So a tiny dog with an IV infusing and sedated was left alone. When asked about this the reply was that they had cameras. Is this common practice, or just bad policy. This is the same vet clinic that I take Quincy to. After hearing this, there is no way I would leave my baby alone overnight unattended. This same friend has an aunt whose dog died at the same vet after being spayed. She was slow to wake up after the anaesthetic so they wanted to keep her overnight. The poor puppy died during the night with no one there to help her. This feels so totally wrong that I just can't get it out of my head, being an LPN myself it just goes against everything that is ingrained in us about good patient care. These are our babies and we certainly want what's best for them.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I would switch. I know my vet has their techs stay overnight to watch a dog that is recovering from surgery or sickness. One of my friends who uses my vet had a great (as great as a bad experience can be) experience - her dog ate some of her medicine and our vet kept her all weekend. They called in the morning with updates. Stayed with her to make sure she passed everything, etc....

Those are two bad reports that would make me think twice. You need to go with your gut!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One more thing...a few of my friends use vets that do not stay overnight - in those instances, they transfer the dog to the 24/7 clinic so they are watched all night long. One friend had a puppy with parvo and had her at her vet office daily, then to the emergency clinic at night. I don't think it is "common" to leave dogs that need attention alone overnight.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I wonder about this. I have called 3 vets in my area, and all 3 said they do NOT have someone with the dogs through the night. Apparently they only come in if a certain dog needs treatment, or if it's over a weekend someone will come in once or twice. I have never had to leave Darwin overnight at a vet's office overnight, but it makes me uncomfortable that if he was sick, nobody would be there to check on him.

But what is up with them not telling her the truth about the I.V.? Or the other dog dying? I don't know... that seems fishy.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Donna, I am glad you raised this question. It has been many years since it has been necessary for us to leave an animal in a clinic overnight for any reason. But I have never really given this much thought. I just called 2 of the local vets that we use or have used in the past and neither of them have someone stay overnight with the recovering animals. One said the vets "leave late and come in early" which I translate to mean the animals are pretty much on their own all night. The other said that if it is a "routine" surgery they are left alone. If it is a more life threatening situation a tech will come in and check on them during the night but no one stays there the entire night.

It seems to me that the animal would be better off going home! At least if a crisis arose they could be rushed to the 24 hour emergency clinic. What good would cameras do? Do they set their alarms to wake up and look at the camera feed? Doubt it. What if they did see a problem on the camera? By the time they got there...

I'm going to make a couple more calls... thanks again for raising this question!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I wouldn't leave my babies there. I feel so lucky that R&B;s regular vet office is also a 24 hour emergency clinic with staff, plus they have their files there so there are not sooo many questions and forms. When I had to rush Bandit in cuz I thought he was choking at 4 am there was a vet and at least 1 vet tech there. When I thought I was going to have to leave him the next night they showed me the charges and one of them was for overnight nurse care, so they definately have staff, but I still didn't like the idea of leaving him, thank doodles I didn't have too! I think this is a great topic to raise because until you have had one of these emergencies you may not think to plan or ask, especially if you are a new DM like me! I just learn as I go and I would HATE to learn the hardway. I am looking into pet insurance though after our emergency:)

[shelly]

Oh my goodness! That is just TERRIBLE! Can they do that?! Can they be reported to someone? These are professionals with whom we place our trust in with our family members! If they as VETERINARIANS don't understand that, perhaps they are in the wrong profession!

[Donna K & Quincy]

These were my thoughts too. I have a very sinking feeling that this is the norm rather than the exception. I just know that my doodle won't be left alone, either they keep someone with him or he goes home with me, being a nurse I'm well used to nightshift and would have no problem staying up with my baby.

[Ali & Sonny D.]

Ro, no one at our vet stays with them overnight either. Not at the office.

[shelly]

I know..they said "hospital" so I automatically thought ER vet but at the ER they are open when the vets close and they close when the vet opens - how do I know this, you ask? LOL well... let's just say we've had our share of middle of the night calls to check on little miss somebody, as you know.... I'm just happy we have these ER vets close by to us.... Missed you last night! Hope you had a great holiday!

[Ali & Sonny D.]

oh, I know about you and and having to bring Miss Tori to the ER.!!! LOL I just wish the vet had someone if needed. I HATED leaving Sonny after he was fixed knowing no one was there. Made me very uncomfortable.
Heard there was a good turn out last night. We were having dinner with my parents for the holiday. Am ordering some things online.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do believe this the norm. When Rex, the standard poodle had a bone biopsy, my old vet sent him home soon thereafter. Despite the fact that I thought I'd never get him off the snow covered lawn and into the house, I'm glad he came home. He eventually moved into the house. I think he did it for me because I begged him. He was too heavy for me to lift. That night and the next one, I slept on the couch and comforted him during the night because there was no way he was going to be able to get upstairs. I knew the vet had no one overnight. I use a different vet now but I don't think they have anyone either. This might be a very good reason to go to the "real" animal hospital nearby if need be. They are open all the time and I hope, check on the animals at night. Even if when they are well my dogs are not used to be alone all night.

[Martha & Cooper]

Unfortunately, I think this is the norm for most small town Vets. We had this experience with our last dog, Smokie who passed last year. Our Vet was honest with us though and gave us the option to transfer him to a 24/7 clinic when he had to stay and I appreciated that. She said she would come back in at 11 pm to check on the animals in the clinic and medicate them, but then they would be left until 6 am. Pretty sad and I think all Vets should be upfront with their clients about this and give them the option to transfer them. It's hard to take your pet to a new place in the middle of a crisis for treatment and that is what you are doing when you transfer them to a clinic, but sometimes you just have to follow your instincts. Also, the cost is usually more at the Emergency Clinics which are usually the 24 hour places in most towns. I called around when I got Cooper and asked about the policy for hospital stays and if there was a tech on duty at night and I couldn't find even one Vet in a 25 mile radius from us that did this other than the Emergency Clinic I was referred to before, so I have stayed with the same one I have trusted for years and will deal with the situation if it ever comes up.

[shelly]

WOW! I guess I lead a 'sheltered' life here (as opposed to other states)....You ladies have truly made me stop and count my blessings!