What should I do if my vet and farrier disagree about a shoeing prescription?
The best way to minimize the possibility of a disagreement is to not be the go-between in the transfer of information. It’s too easy to mis-quote the vet or the farrier. It would be best to tell your farrier to call the vet and give him/her the vet’s telephone number. Two professionals should be able to come to a consensus about the best method of treating the problem. Many times the farrier is an experienced veteran who may have seen similar problems resolved in a specific way and you may have a young vet who has been recently taught a different method. Either one of them could be right. If there is a clash of wills, you could get a second opinion from another vet to see if he or she supports your farrier’s point of view. If both vets agree on the same prescription and the farrier still refuses to follow their requests, you have a decision to make. Either trust the vet or your farrier. Your past experience with both should be your guide.
