![HHVC was a pioneer in starting an emergency cooperative. It has been an amazing experience and has brought in more equin...](https://img3.voofla.com/001/803/1154407720018036.jpg)
01/25/2025
HHVC was a pioneer in starting an emergency cooperative. It has been an amazing experience and has brought in more equine veterinarians to our area! We are doing things differently and it’s helping ease the strain! Thank you to all the horse owners for being a part of the solution.
Skillman Veterinary Services
KCK Equine
Hillview Equine
Midwest Equine
Though we wish our horse doctors could be there for our equine friends in any emergency, the reality is that our horses' primary veterinarian cannot be available 24/7 and still juggle the needs of their own personal lives, health and happiness.
The most significant pain point for many veterinarians is caring for their clients during regular business hours and then also being on call for emergencies after hours. For single-doctor or small practices, this traditionally has been the case most nights of the week.
However, private veterinary practices and veterinary schools have more recently focused on developing new models for emergency care which ease the strain on individual practitioners. This includes the growth of emergency cooperatives where two or more practices in a geographic area work together to share after-hours care, as well as more emergency-only practices and the use of tele-triage services to address client concerns after normal business hours.
As equine veterinarians reevaluate what after-hours care looks like for their practices, the support of their clients is critical to creating a balance that works for both parties. If your horse doctor talks with you about changes in how after-hours care is delivered, we hope you’ll welcome the adjustments. This evolution of emergency care must take place in order for equine veterinarians to avoid burnout and continue to be at their best to treat all of your equine friends.