What's SOP in the UK? - can U stay with Ur pet, or does the staff take them "in the back"?

[leashedForLife]

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vet-hospitals & vet-clinics n the U-S that are members of the AAHA, Am Animal-Hospital Assoc, are required to remove the pet from the owner's presence, which frankly makes me uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, many veterinary practices see AAHA accreditation as a stamp of approval, & join - forcing the clients of those practices to surrender their pets for unobserved Dx, tests, rads, Tx, & manipulation.

I've been in the room when vet-techs mishandled my dog, accidentally or ignorantly, & i don't like having my animal out of sight entirely for an extended period of time, with multiple ppl doing various things to them. It's not that i think my vet, their techs, groomers, assistants, etc, are planning to hurt or scare my dog - if i thought that, I wouldn't go to that practice.
But stuff happens, & i want to observe the handling, any manipulation, etc, so that if something does occur that causes pain, or that will make my dog resistant or scared in the future, I WANT TO SEE IT & know what caused the issue.

What's standard in the UK? - do owners stay with their pets [obv aside from surgery, etc], or are the owners evicted & the pet's on their own?

thanks for any info,
- terry

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[Mad Murphy]

My vet in NL has always allowed me to stay, in fact most of the time I am the extra pair of hands, holding the dog, aiding with exams etc. Ive been to the xray with them and to the echo. I dont know why any vet would want you to be away from your animal after all you are the one who speaks for them.

 

[JudyN]

I've stayed with Jasper for injections, a stitch being put in, a nail being cauterised, and when he was sedated because he had a stick stuck in his mouth. One time - I think when he had his premed before being neutered - they tried to lead him off to do it but he wouldn't leave me so I came too.

On one occasion he ripped a hole in his shoulder and the vet decided to stitch it under sedation. She suggested I left but I asked to stay and she was happy with that - maybe some owners would have been anxious and the dog would have picked up on it, but hopefully she could see that I wasn't going to get worked up but if I left, Jasper certainly would!

After a bit of trimming, she realised that she really needed him under full anaesthetic and then I did have to leave - I believe it would have been illegal for me to stay because of the drugs used.

As far as I know this is standard for vets in the UK - if I had a vet who wanted to separate J and me when I could see that it was very much not in J's best interests, I'd change vets.

 

[Nanny71]

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vet-hospitals & vet-clinics n the U-S that are members of the AAHA, Am Animal-Hospital Assoc, are required to remove the pet from the owner's presence, which frankly makes me uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, many veterinary practices see AAHA accreditation as a stamp of approval, & join - forcing the clients of those practices to surrender their pets for unobserved Dx, tests, rads, Tx, & manipulation.

I've been in the room when vet-techs mishandled my dog, accidentally or ignorantly, & i don't like having my animal out of sight entirely for an extended period of time, with multiple ppl doing various things to them. It's not that i think my vet, their techs, groomers, assistants, etc, are planning to hurt or scare my dog - if i thought that, I wouldn't go to that practice.
But stuff happens, & i want to observe the handling, any manipulation, etc, so that if something does occur that causes pain, or that will make my dog resistant or scared in the future, I WANT TO SEE IT & know what caused the issue.

What's standard in the UK? - do owners stay with their pets [obv aside from surgery, etc], or are the owners evicted & the pet's on their own?

thanks for any info,
- terry

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My vet lets me stay. He used to let me stay with my horse too

 

[leashedForLife]

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I've always helped to restrain or position my animals, of whatever species, particularly as i can often cue them [sit-stay, roll over, etc] for helpful access. My parrots, rabbits, horses, cats, & exotics other than reptiles all responded to positional cues, which reduced the animal's stress, & certainly made the vet's job easier.
My reptiles were also easily handled by me, & wouldn't necessarily be so co-operative with a stranger.

as so many U-S vet practices join AAHA, it becomes harder & harder to find vet-care that doesn't require U to surrender the dog for any exam & all handling. They just vanish into a separate area, & U wait... & wait... until they're returned to U.
Having seen vet-techs & other staff screw up [even if unintentionally], I really dislike this requirement.
For me, it's a make-or-break factor - but it's quite conceivable that if I want vet-care for any animal, within a 2-hour radius of home, I may be forced to accept AAHA policy. It's blackmail, IMO.

- terry

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[Teddy560]

I've stayed with Teddy during vaccinations and examinations but he'll be going in on his own for surgey.

 

[merlina]

I stay for most things because he's calmer. But my vet's a friend and I would trust him to do anything to mine. (Like Nanny 71 I stayed with my horse when I had him- the equine vet wouldn't let me leave because my horse was a nightmare with men. They probably had his mugshot up in the vet students' common room under 'Dangerous to Approach'.)

 

[Nanny71]

I stay for most things because he's calmer. But my vet's a friend and I would trust him to do anything to mine. (Like Nanny 71 I stayed with my horse when I had him- the equine vet wouldn't let me leave because my horse was a nightmare with men. They probably had his mugshot up in the vet students' common room under 'Dangerous to Approach'.)

A new vet said my horse was a difficult to handle, a more senior vet said she would be OK if I stayed with her. He was completely correct, she had caught her side on a gate bolt and needed sutures. The new vet was terrified every time he had to come out to her. Strangely he is now Dudleys vet obviously finds a 9kg dog easier to handle than a 16.2 hand horse.