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Originally Posted by SharonSnowbird  I have no idea what meds they should be on, so when I am told they have to be on a certain medication, that is what I do. I have to trust the Vet, they are the experts. |
Sharon, unfortunately one thing I've learned over the years is never to blindly trust the vet, especially when it's a 'new to you' vet. They are generally busy, in a hurry, possibly just following the protocols of the practice, and maybe spend 10 minutes with my pet.
I love my vet, and trust her with my pet's lives now, but it took time to build up that trust. And even now, I try to do my own research first, go in with a written list of questions, and then get her advice and opinions.
Over the years I have ran into some real crackpot vets, so I am naturally wary. Here's an example. I have a yorkie that was diagnosed with irritable bowel this past summer. I'd been working with the regular vet to get a diagnosis but it's a process. One Sunday morning the poor little guy woke up and vomited with some blood in it. It really freaked me out, so off to the ER I went. I took him to ARECA over in Mesa. They're a huge place, lots of specialists on staff, etc. My reason for going was to get a cPL test because I was concerned about pancreatitis and wanted an answer sooner rather than later. I figured if they sent the sample out that day, I'd have the results for my vet on Monday morning and we could get him treated right away. I let them sucker me into about $500 worth of various tests just to get the cPL, paid the bill and left with a dog that was as sick as when I got there. The next day, no cPL results. My regular vet gets them the next morning, so I was irritated. Tuesday, still no results. I had my vet run the cPL and Wednesday morning she had the results. By then it was a matter of principal and I kept calling and calling ARECA looking for the results. On Saturday - a full week later - they told me they found the sample in their refrigerator and it had never been sent out at all. To their credit, they did refund me the full cost of the visit, but sheesh - I am still irritated about it. I should have been able to trust them. My Ranger didn't have pancreatitis, but if did have it, he could have been dead in that week waiting for results.
Moral of the story: Never blindly trust the vet.
Diana