[Bluebells]

I haven’t been around in a while, and I’m back with a couple of questions, one general and one specific.

A brief history, since most of you won’t remember us: I have an adopted/rescue Yorkie named Jax. He came from a backyard breeder who was breeding two Yorkies who both carried the gene for corneal dystrophy, but since only a few of the resulting pups had the condition, she kept breeding them. Anyway, Jax is both vision and hearing impaired. Otherwise, even though he was in rough shape when I brought him home, he’s been pretty healthy other than a tendency to Bilious Vomiting Syndrome if he goes too long without eating. And, despite weighing only 28 ounces at three months old, he now weighs a reasonably sturdy almost seven pounds, which I count as a definite plus. Jax will be four in September.

Another pertinent fact is that I live in a rural area. There are two vets in the closest town, both of whom I’ve used, both as a foster for a local rescue and as a pet owner, and neither of whom I trust. Nuff said about them.

The vet office I used when I got Jax is in the next town over. The rescue frequently used this vet office in lieu of the closer ones. It had two practicing vets, and the office had a good reputation. (There is one other vet in that town who … has mixed reviews, shall I say.) I was always confident in this other office until one of the vets (the one Jax always saw) left at the end of last year.

In January, Jax had his annual well check, and he saw the other vet in the office. They took Jax into the back for his bloodwork and exam, and when the vet then came into the room, she had this very solemn, bad news expression … then proceeded to tell me, in a very slow, sorrowful voice that Jax had “severe dental disease” and she was would work up an estimate for dental surgery. Then she immediately said that he also had a very high reading on his bloodwork indicating possible liver disease so I’d need to come back in three days for a repeat of the bloodwork before we could schedule surgery. Of course, that really threw me, so I didn’t question the “severe dental disease” diagnosis.

Three days later, I went back for the repeat of the bloodwork, which the vet tech came in to tell me was perfectly normal … and was I ready to schedule the dental? Well, I’d had time to think, so I (as tactfully as possible) told her I had a question. I said I’d been a foster for many years, so I knew small dogs often have dental issues, so I was expecting the suggestion of a preventative dental sometime soon … but I also know Jax, who is extremely protective of his face (eyes, nose, mouth) and I can only occasionally get a glimpse into his mouth. So exactly what (and how) did they see in there that indicated “severe dental disease”? She didn’t know and went to find out.

When she finally came back, she was flustered. She said there was nothing in his chart about severe dental disease so she’d asked the vet, who admitted that, no, she hadn’t actually been able to look into Jax’s mouth so the recommendation was just based on his age and breed. She then asked whether he was eating okay, and I said yes, and she said we could just “put off” the dental surgery for now. So I left relieved that his bloodwork was normal (I asked for a copy to be sure) but kind of mistrustful, feeling that the vet hadn’t been honest with me … but not having much alternative without an extremely long drive.

Flash forward to this weekend. Jax didn’t eat his dinner Friday night or his breakfast Saturday morning. However, he was acting alert and playful (including playing tug with his rope and playing with his squeaky balls.) He was drinking water, his poop was normal, and he never vomited … and then he ate boiled chicken when I offered him that … so I was concerned but not excessively. This same pattern continued all weekend. Then Monday morning he wouldn’t eat the boiled chicken.

I had a doctor’s appointment early Monday morning but I called the vet’s office as soon as I got home (about 10am) to see if they thought I should take him in to be checked. The young woman I spoke to said I had two options: to make the next available appointment in two weeks or to call at 8am and ask for an urgent same day visit. It seemed to me that in two weeks, this issue would be resolved … or it would have turned urgent, so I declined the appointment. Three hours later, Jax started pooping bright red blood.

I called the vet immediately and got a recording that they were closed for lunch, but I was really worried, so I loaded Jax in the car and was in the parking lot when they reopened. I took him in, explained that I didn’t have an appointment, and asked that he be seen as an emergency because of the blood. I honestly thought they were going to refuse, but I was quietly persistent, and they agreed.

They did a full blood panel, which was all completely normal, so they said it was probably an inflammation of the lower digestive tract. They sent us home with a medicine to sooth his digestive tract and antibiotics as a preventative against a secondary infection, and said to follow up in a few days if he’s not better.

That was yesterday. He’s a little droopy today, but he hasn’t pooped any more blood and is eating his chicken and drinking water.

So … gosh, I’m sorry this has been so long, but if anyone has waded all the way through it … here are my two questions:
(1) I’m still feeling mistrustful of the vet, but I don’t have an immediate alternative. But maybe I’m being unfair. I imagine, in a difficult economy, just out of a pandemic, vets may be having trouble convincing clients of the need for procedures like preventive dentals. Would you find a different vet if yours had fudged the truth the way this one did? And does everyone these days have to wait two weeks for an appointment when there’s a health concern that’s not an emergency? I guess I’m too used to rescues getting somewhat special treatment because so many of their cases count as emergencies.

(2) Any thoughts or recommendations on Jax’s current illness? The bloodwork being normal is a relief, but the vet was pretty vague yesterday on possible causes or next steps if he doesn’t get better. And (maybe this is just a jaded view because of what happened in January but) I didn’t really feel she was much concerned or even wanted to talk to me. I got the impression (right or wrong) that she was feeling “put upon” having an extra consultation squeezed into her schedule.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.