who DOES this?!?!?! (need to vent)

I post on a very large, well-known horse-related bulletin board and have for many years.

Today, I asked a question about one of my horses -- because I am pretty sure he is very soon to be diagnosed with Cushings disease, which is manageable, but still not what I exactly had planned for my beautiful horse. This horse is my BABY - he was a rescue and he's come so far in the 6 years I've had him. He's been there for me through everything and I'd do whatever it takes to keep him well... At any rate, I was OBVIOUSLY bummed about what was going on and ONLY posted to list the symptoms to see if anyone could give further advice about other things it could be or any additional questions to ask my vet, who is coming out next week.

Long story short, as I was listing the symptoms, I mentioned I switched vet practices since the last time the horse was tested and I'm now much happier with my new vet practice. (My old vet had some big mistakes with me...)

A girl I've chatted with years ago (never met in person) sent me a private message (like a FM ) asking me who the bad vet was and who the new vets were I liked so much. She's also from LI and we, quite frankly, have a lot of very bad equine vets here and a shortage of good ones. I just briefly told her what happened with my last vet and who my new vets were. (It's a practice of 4 vets, two of whom have seen and treated my horses in the past 2 years.)

What does she write me back to say? 'Oh I know Dr. Vet1. I barn sit for him. I hate him as a vet, but love him as a person. He's too quick to put horses down, but not as bad as the vet you used to use. And I know Dr. Vet2, too. Be careful because she's had a lot of problems with misdiagnoses before --' and blah blah blah.

Who does that when I'm in the middle of trying to use these (very competent vets) to diagnose my horses? I did NOT ask her opinion on these vets. If you want to know the truth about them, Vet1 corrected the diagnosis on my Arabian horse's hind end injury (that old vet misdiagnosed and ENDED his career) in about 5 minutes -- and with his course of treatment, the horse has never been sounder. Vet2 SAVED MY OTHER HORSE'S LIFE.

Then she brags about her vet. It's fine to let me know about another good vet, but you didn't have to tear my vets apart for me to listen to what you have to say about your vet. (And not for nothing, I know her vet and don't at all care for her -- something I would never tell her unless she asked me for an opinion of her vet, and then I'd do it tactfully!)

Why couldn't she just tell me who her vet is and say nice things about her vet without ripping apart my vets? Honestly, what purpose does that serve when I'm upset about my horse?

I'm sorry. I'm just really upset about the whole issue of not knowing what's wrong with my horse. The vets aren't coming until next week, when he'll be tested and everything... but until then, I've already told you I love these vets -- can you just let that be enough? I didn't share this information with her so she could tear my choices apart.

Thanks for letting me vent about something that probably makes no sense to non-horse people... just hoping some of the other pet owners on the site can understand. I obviously can't vent over on the horse board.

I'm just not writing her back... Ugh.

(Sorry, pity party over...)

im so sorry to hear about your horse, that has got to be very tough for you and i understand you were just looking to vent and to have ppl show some empathy.

reading the story as an outsider (of course i know i dont know the whole story), it sounds like maybe she was just trying to let you know what to watch out for, tell you about what she knew about your vets from her experience, etc. maybe she thought that would be helpful info with the situation youre in. it would probably just make me want to make sure i got more than one vet opinion if possible. like i said, maybe i dont understand but id think the more input on it, the better. do you think she really had some ill intent for telling you what she did?? i hope not. if so, thats harsh since youre scared about your horse's health. best wishes with your horses.

First, I'm so sorry about your horse but glad to hear that this disease is managable.

Second, what kind of an idiot says that to someone who is obviously stressing out about a very serious situation?! Jerk

I'll keep you and your horse in my thoughts. I hope the Vet is able to come up with a good treatment plan for him/her (?)