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11-08-2012, 06:58 AM | #1 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c
Posts: 427
| Senior vet visit advice Well, I'm sitting here feeling guilty and I just wonder what you all would do. Columbo turned 9 last month. He sees the vet yearly in April for his regular check up and shots. In May, he had surgery on one knee for LP & torn ACL. In August, he blew out the other knee and had the same surgery on the second knee. The two knee surgeries were almost $6000 together and was performed by an orthopedic surgeon. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got a card in the mail from his regular vet saying it is time for his check up. Apparently, now that he is classified as a senior dog, they want to see him every 6 months. I ignored the card and another reminder came yesterday in the mail again. I am feeling all kinds of guilt because I don't want to spend the money to take him in again so soon. I don't think he needs to be seen again by the regular vet until the spring unless he is having some sort of issue. Maybe when he is a couple years older, I will want to do the 6 month visits. He is going back to visit the surgeon next week for a regular scheduled visit (which is included in the surgery price I already paid, but they are just concerned with his knees. I feel really guilty. I suppose I should call and see how much this visit would be, but what would you all do? Go in now or wait until April? |
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11-08-2012, 07:13 AM | #2 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford, BC
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I don't do regular check ups unless I am seeing a problem. Also in chatting with my vet during a vet visit for a final puppy vacc's we discussed vac's. He said he is now recommending the 4 way vacc for puppies done 3X at one month intervals, I start mine at about 10 weeks of age. Then one more a year after the third vacc. After that 3-5 years later do a parvo only. I have finally found a great Vet that is keeping up with the info on vaccinations and the over vaccination protocol many were following via the push from drug companies trying to sell their drugs including vaccines. | |
11-08-2012, 07:17 AM | #3 |
and Khloe Mae's too! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 14,732
| I would only do the 6 month visits if there is something going on... I wouldn't feel too guilty, you did put 6k into him Just make sure to get him in if anything goes wrong, but don't feel guilty for not taking him in every 6 months.
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11-08-2012, 07:21 AM | #4 |
Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 8,799
| Well, since he is already under the ortho's care right now, I wouldn't worry about taking him in unless he has a problem, until his yearly visit. If he's in good health and doesn't have ongoing issues that require close monitoring and/or medication, yearly should be just fine. If it'll make you feel better, you can call your vet and let them know that he is still seeing the ortho for checkups and that you will be coming to his regular yearly in April
__________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna |
11-08-2012, 07:28 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| I am an odd one out here. I take all of mine every 6 months for a check up and blood work. I guess it because of all mine that have gone to the Rainbow Bridge, I just want to make sure that all is ok with them and nothing is brewing. But like I said I am the odd one here, I'm very OCD about thier health.
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11-08-2012, 07:39 AM | #6 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
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OP: It really is your choice...and you should not feel guilty about it. I have posted what I do to maybe help you in making your decision. Whatever decision you make is right.
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11-08-2012, 07:50 AM | #8 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| I would. Different problems can begin to develop as the body ages and can no longer work as effectively to correct things as young cells can and the whole system just doesn't work the same as in a young dog. Platelets can start to do funny things, a heart valve start to leak, tumors form as the cells react differently to antagonists, things can begin to calcify that involve pumping blood properly, spurs form and cause enthesopathies, livers malfunction. When you get old, you will need more frequent medical checks to be sure none of the above things are happening to your blood or organs and so does your dog. Catching a platelet count which it is borderline high is far better than finding out it is 5X what it should be and the dog in dire straits. Your dog is your best friend - be his and get his old body checked out. An 9+ year old dog is quite elderly in human terms and should have earned his right to have good medical care. And the better he feels, the better he can keep you in line and run your life, just as it should be!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
11-08-2012, 12:29 PM | #9 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c
Posts: 427
| Thanks for all the replies. I talked to the vets office and they said although they like to see the seniors every 6 months, that I didn't have to. So I asked if instead of waiting until April for his regular visit, could I take him in a month or two early and they said absolutely. That way I can avoid the extra cost now, but also not wait 6 months. I'm pretty sure he will need his teeth cleaned again in the spring also, so I can plan a bit for that expense. The costs for that starts at $400. And then I may start going every 6 months after that. So, I'm sort of compromising with myself so I don't feel so guilty through the holidays. Also, that would put his second visit of the year not as close to the holidays when I start doing them 6 mos. apart. I can see why an older dog needs to go more often, I'm just a little shell shocked this year from his medical bills. He's still a "young" older dog, though. Last edited by bobohyde; 11-08-2012 at 12:31 PM. |
11-08-2012, 04:53 PM | #10 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| I take my Yorkies yearly for labs, dentals etc.. My seniors every 6 months.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
11-08-2012, 09:56 PM | #11 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
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11-09-2012, 07:41 AM | #12 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canton, GA
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Sophie Kate only goes to the Vet yearly but she also boards there so they see her in between visits.
__________________ Cheryl,Mom to SophieKate | |
11-09-2012, 08:37 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
| It's very obvious that you love Colombo a great deal and that you take excellent care of him, so you should not feel guilty. I took my little girl to the vet often because I wanted to be able to catch something early should there be a health issue that I wasn't aware of. It gave us peace of mind, and I believe in being proactive. Ashley lived a month shy of seventeen. I also strongly believe in keeping our babies' teeth cleaned and that keeping on top of dentals is the best thing that we can do to keep them healthy. You are a great mom. Do what you feel comfortable with.
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . |
11-09-2012, 08:52 AM | #14 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| My dogs see a vet more than once a year. My new vet is suggesting that all dogs have wellness visits with basic blood work done every 6 months (young or old) and I like this level of prevention. However, I think it's ok to go every year for the young ones unless something is going on so I have not decided whether I will keep this every 6 month schedule for the 1 and 4 year olds. I might go in the middle -- say 9 mos. In your case, however, and I were you, I would be ok with waiting it out. The fact that there were surgeries done by a boarded surgeon with preanesthetic blood work and a vet constantly checking your dog would provide me with some level of comfort if I skipped the visit. Obviously if something was wrong, I'd bring the dog in. Good luck!
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11-09-2012, 12:32 PM | #15 | |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c
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