Please Help

Re: Please Help

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:29:37 GMT

We always warn them of the charge they soon listen to that when there are £££'s involved!

Re: Please Help

Sal the 1st — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:52:54 GMT

system I found the best was as previously mentioned all cases with sutures sent home with buster collar in place - clients that kicked off and refused them, they signed a disclaimer basically saying that they had refused a buster collar against veterinary advice and that the cost of any remedial surgery to replace missing sutures or treatment needed for infected wounds as a result licking or chewing would be borne by the client.

We checked most animals at 5 and 10 days post op and it was noted in the checkup entry if the animal was wearing a buster collar or not when they were seen.

We did have one know it all client whose dog needed resuturing 3 times in 3 days (the last time we stapled) because he decided he wasnt using a buster collar (refused it the first time and the second time returned it) The dog was actually fine with a buster collar -we ended up hospitalising it for the full 10 days until the staples came out (at the owners insistance). I do know that the insurance company refused to pay out on this case.

Re: Please Help

Mac Feather — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:43:02 GMT

[quote user="*Steph *"]collar only costs £4 (size depending) and should they need a re-stitch then thats likely to cost them about £100 odd plus antibiotics[/quote]

I found mentioning costs of repairing wounds would help compliance with eliz collars but you still get the few heros that wont bother with the advice or the collar just to add some joy to the proceedings.

Also have an example of the cost of a repair vs eliz collar usage written into your discharge instructions for owners so they cant turn around and say 'oh but I wasnt told..............'

Re: Please Help

Steph Phillips — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:18:54 GMT

[quote user="Claire York RVN MBVNA"]

Very frustrating, I understand entirely. We had a client recently ringing me every 10minutes to say every time she took the cats b/collar off it licked the wound and chewed at it...what should she do?

erm leave the collar on perhaps?!

[/quote]

Lol.. exactly!!

We routinly put b.collars on ALL patients after ops that required stitches.. some clients question it as it's not in the price of the op, we add it on.. most clients are more than happy to shell out £4 odd on a collar.. for the ones that question it and make a fuss I point out the the collar only costs £4 (size depending) and should they need a re-stitch then thats likely to cost them about £100 odd plus antibiotics - and the client is responsible for ensuring the dogs keeps the collar on - or they have to cough up for the price of a restitich

They soon snatch the collar off me

Re: Please Help

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:21:57 GMT

Also posting photos of the injuries caused by leaving the collar off in reception or consult may also hit home.

Re: Please Help

Claire Cameron — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:39:43 GMT

[quote user="icklesal"]

Just noticed this on this site.......

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2010/03/19/75204.aspx

You can only try, if clients are not willing to listen to your advice then at least you can be happy that your doing your part. Its jsut a shame for the poor animals that need further treatment because their owners didnt listen or take your advice.

[/quote]

We use these or Soft-E collars http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2010/02/26/71861.aspx

Perhaps including the cost of b-collar in op price may encourage people to keep them.

Again reiterating complications of not wearing one and perhaps an estimate of re-suture or worse case scenario?

erm leave the collar on perhaps?!

Re: Please Help

Sally Seddon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:55:48 GMT

Just noticed this on this site.......

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2010/03/19/75204.aspx

Re: Please Help

Stephanie Barnard-Horne RVN CertFN MBVNA — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:02:26 GMT

Any luck with anti lick strips?

I have been hearing about a product from Nurture Pets.

I read about it in this January's issue of TP Times in the News Section.

Visit www.nurturedpets.co.uk or call 02476 302 222. They offer free samples.

Using a collar/ anti lick combo you might be able to minimize further damage to the wounds. Im a newbie so check with the vet but it seemed to work with my pets.

xxxx

Steph

Re: Please Help

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:26:14 GMT

How much do you charge for the treatment of the damage that they cause? When are your post op checks? What sort of information or 'scare tactics' do you use? Do you offer alternative stitching techniques and could you possibly incorporate them into your fees to reduce the chance?