No vet on Guernsey
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:44 pm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw0z4y4wnj5o
So what is the "States Veterinary Officer's" job (and responsibilites, and what are his qualifications? - and the ethics/oath that go with that?) It seems to me that, if he hasn't ensured cover, then this is where he should have rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in.Cow died due to lack of on-island vet
The lack of an on-island vet dealing with livestock emergencies has led to the preventable death of a cow.
A specialist vet left the island in December and their replacement only visits once a month.
Farmer Josh Dorey said he had to put one of his heifers down last month after her calf was too big to deliver.
He said ideally a Caesarean section should have been performed but there was no emergency vet available.
"To put the animal down was the only decision at the point because I haven't got any other option for the welfare of the animal at the end of the day," he said...
David Chamberlain, States Veterinary Officer for Guernsey, said there were currently no plans for another on-island specialist to be in place.
But he said a UK company was working with farmers to provide an emergency out-of-hours call service.