I have a girl boxer dog. She has lots of big lumps in her mouth that she needs to have removed. We were told to bring her into the Vets/hospital at 8am this morning (Monday). She would be out under anaesthetic and have an operation. We brought her in for 8, went to work etc and planned to collect her later in the day. At 4pm, we phoned to see how everything went and were told that she hasn't had the operation yet. They said that because it's just a problem in her mouth, she's not high priority. They said that they plan to operate tomorrow afternoon now, but can't promise. We're furious. She's in there just stuck in a knell. She's a boxer so she of course is very lively. She's not like normal boxers though...she has an absolutely huge personality. She's 9 years old and had never, ever been away from us. She'll be so scared. We were tempted to go and get he tonight. Really unsure what to do.

Omg! I would be livid

Personally I would have be marching down there at 4pm to take her home until they could guarantee when her opp would be carried out, and they better not be charging you for her overnight stay as this is due to there incompetence not yours,

I fully understand they may have had an emergency which would naturally be a priority but they could have had the decency to phone you to come and collect her, unless they plan to operate first thing in the morning.

I'm so sorry your so worried ( I'm a wreck when Cass has to be in there alone) but at least she is in a place she will be looked after, but it agree she would have been better off at home with her family, I would be having very strong words with the practice manager

I'd be fuming too, poor thing will be hungry too

I'd have had her picked up, brought home and taken back in today. I can't see how that is a difficult decision in all honesty.

They wouldn't have had mine over night nor would I have given them a second chance. Presume they fed her at some point ??

Can't promise when they'll do it? NOT acceptable, in my opinion. You are a paying customer and they are treating you and the dog very shabbily. I hope you have an alternative vet nearby.

I would be beyond angry. Go and get your girl and find another vet.

Absolutely!

You are the client, you are paying, this is not the service I would tolerate.

Hope your dog gets over her ordeal quickly x

Poor dog, I bet you had to starve him too from the night before. I also would have picked him up and maybe even taken to another Vet. I bet they will charge for the overnight stay.

I'd have gone and collected her and never gone back to that vet.

Hope the poor dog is now ok.

Any update on this?

Definitely change vets and make an official complaint. Disgraceful behaviour.

Bit of an update. We were obviously furious on the Monday when the operation hadn't been done and with her being there all day. Eventually they said she would be done first thing in the morning. The following morning we called and they said she hadn't been done! We said that we were coming to get her at lunch time. We then get a phone call at lunchtime to say that she's about to go onto the operating table. It was 4pm and we hadn't heard anything, so we called again and they said she was currently having the operation done. This makes no sense as when we called at lunchtime she was about to go in...4 hours later and she's still undergoing the oepration?!! It's for something in her mouth. Just doesn't make sense to me. We called again a while later and they said they had finsihed and everything went well. She was recovering from anaestehtic. They recommended that we collect her tomorrow (Wednesday). My dad is currently on his way to get her. We are really, really annoyed by this.

She's a boxer, so she's obviously a dog that's lively and full of energy. She's never been away from us though and would have been so, so scared. She means the world to us. What was very difficult as well is that we were obviously furious, but felt we had to be careful as these people were looking after our dog. Also, there was no communication between them and us. They eventually phoned us but I think that was only because they could sense we were annoyed. Also, trying to get through to them is an absolute nightmare. On Monday night the phone would just ring and ring for hours before it was eventually picked up. Can't wait to get her back now. Won't be having anything to do with that vets in future.

You described it as a hospital. Emergencies will always take precedence over planned / elective surgery.

I have to agree. If they get an animal in who has collapsed or been hit by a car, they have to treat them first. It's just how it is. If you were that concerned, why didn't you take the dog home for the night and bring him back for first thing in the morning? But definitely check that you were not charged for the unnecessary overnight stay.

Edit - I don't mean to come across as unsympathetic, I know how nerve wracking vet appointments can be and it's often hard ti know what to do for the best when you're in the moment. I hope he's okay now.

I have only ever used a hospital once and yes they do have to prioritise but when ours went in they realised by midday they would not be getting to her so fed her and rang us to come and get her, she went back 3 days later for the op. No way would they have kept her over night if not necessary because they knew she would be happier at home.

So my opinion stays the same.

Yes but generally they will return the animals home and reschedule the surgery, not keep them for nearly 3 days!

Well the OP called at 4pm on the day. They could have gone to get her.

Yes but we don't know what conversation was do we, they may not have given them a choice or the hospital may be miles from their home.

This happens in hospitals all the time, so it doesn't either shock or worry me it happens to animals to.

If you want better service pay extra for it. Simple.

If an emergency comes in that needs seeing first no amount of money will get your animals seen before it, quite rightly so IMO.