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Originally Posted by Ellie May

One is not better than the other. They serve different purposes. With a vet school or specialty hospital each vet is highly specialized in one area. They also have more diagnostic equipment to use.

For instance, does your general vet have an endoscopy unit to take a look in there? And just as importantly are they proficient in it?

Cody should absolutely see an internist at this point. Vet schools do have the disadvantage of students hanging around, but remember the ones ultimately overseeing your pup's care are their teachers. Your pup won't be in danger in this setting. If you are still uncomfortable you can go to a large referral hospital. Nearly the same minus the students...

What has your vet tried for this?

I would like to start off by thanking you for this info. To answer your last question


What has your vet tried for this? I adopted Cody on Nov. 12th when I took him home and out of the car I walked him before entering my house, he pooped, I saw it was colitis, I did not return immediately because I did not want to be told -ohh he’s stressed out over leaving his family, being in a strange car with a strange person, had a 2 hour car ride, came to a strange place with strange ppl, smells, animals barking, whining, crying, put in a crate for 2 nights and 2 days, was groomed by a strange groomer, then went in the car with you, yet another stranger. So after he pooped I took him in my house and out to the back yard, I think that was the first time he ever ran FREE. He came from the city, now he will live a country boys life, we stayed outside and I played with him for about an hour. When he came in the house he took over my sofa then my bed, he followed me all over, I would pick him up hug and kiss, praise him, we bonded immediately. The next morning I called the vet told her of the colitis was told to bring him in ASAP. When I saw the vet I told her of the poop from the night before and told her the reason I did not bring him right back, I wanted to get him settled in. When she went to touch him he jumped away from her and into my arms, the tech said OMG look at how fast he bonded with her, so the vet knew there was NO STRESS. Now remember this is in Nov. I don’t know what she gave me, I remember it was 3 meds and she gave him an injection, again don’t remember. (I have had dogs that got colitis with meds it went away with in a week or 2) so no reason for me to have to remember and since I was not paying for this I had no bill to even go back to look to see what they did. She said a follow up in 6 weeks. The rescue gal was texting me that the prev. owner was concerned wanted an up date on the dog, would I contact the prev. owner which I did, I told the prev, owner when she surrendered the dog he had Colitis, she told me they were hit bad by hurricane Sandy, the dog was put in to a shelter for 16 days, when she picked him up he had diarrhea, she took him to a vet for treatment. 6 weeks later some slight improvement, stool was soft but had some form, shape to it not a puddle of poop, mucus & blood still in it. On the follow up I told the vet what the prev. owner told me, my vet gave me 2 vials of med, follow up in 6 weeks. Again no paper work because I am not paying for this, when vials are finished I throw them away. 6 weeks no improvement, on follow up I was given 2 vials of diff. powder to be sprinkled on his food, first 3 days he ate it (I had to mix it into the food) day 4 he would not eat, and stool was a puddle of poop with still mucus & blood, I called the vet, go in the next day, she gave me one vial of med and a sublament, that I have name of. it’s an oriental sublament I guess this is the brand name “”Jing-Tang” stomach happy, helps the digestive system. (no my vet is NOT oriental lol) he is to get 3 capsules 2 times 12 hours apart. Follow up in 2 week. The stool stays the same, has form to it, still soft, is sticky and still has blood in it. At the 2 week follow up vet now gives me vet prescription Hill canned dog food Z/D and Z/D dry dog food, now have to feed him 3 times a day, still on the stomach happy, follow up this thurs. stool has a bit more firmness to it, but still sticky and still blood…….Had I found YT before I adopted Cody I would have known to record what meds, he was given, had I known 4 months later he would still have colitis I would have recorded what meds he had. I am sorry that I had to go through this lengthily explanation for such a simple question “What has your vet tried for this?”..... Your question....."does your general vet have an endoscopy unit to take a look in there? And just as importantly are they proficient in it” I don’t know, I never had a dog that need this, If she doesn’t and he needit that procedure she would recommend one to me.. As I responded to another “ I plan on sticking with my vet until she looks me in the eye and tells me “there is nothing more she can do” and Cody still has Colitis. If that time were to come (and I pray I will NEVER hear those words from her) I would seek a specialist or if need be seek a vet school. Thank you for this very informative information.