well kind people do not withhold information to help a dog and proclaim to be helping them

Here is the ORIGINAL POST, so we can get back on topic :):

See this is an example of what I mean, you seem to read something and don't understand what is being said, I never said that providing links was God like, yet this how you interpret what I said.

Also, why do you say, I have called you names, when have I done this? I too google an illness, and read several sources, you have wonderful links on many things, I'm not criticizing you for helping or giving links.

:goodpost:

I for one am very, very happy and familiar with my vets. Having 4 dogs with many vet visits. I usually go to my vet and then post or have Connie post for me. I still like to get the feedback and support from my fellow YT members. Where I see YT fits in to my needs when I have a sick dog is to hear other peoples experiences with that particular illness, the treatments they were prescribed and the outcome. That doesn't mean I am going to go back and question my vet because she treated mine differently. Unless, I was getting no results or was concerned they had missed something. Then I would go back to my vet and see what she suggested. I was very confused on the aftercare of Pixie on her LP surgery. I had talked to the surgeon, read the instructions and was having a mental block about how much walking she should be doing. A very kind and experienced member here explained a lot and answered all my questions so I had a better understanding of what to do. Just now I posted in Sick and injured that Nikki started vomiting a lot after putting a glucosamine supplement on his food. I asked for any one who had had this happen. I planned on taking him to the vet if he continued to vomit. He hasn't vomited since I posted it so I will not be giving him that again just in case. If he throws up again, in he will go. So I think there is a need to get people's feedback but most people know that generally your vet is the best source of information. I just hate to see this thread get so heated.

no you have not called me names Nancy but others have and it is cool - just was trying to help is all so if being ridiculed is part of helping people I can handle it. I am not God, Vets are not God, no one on here is God - we are all just people who care about a sick dog and owner trying to gather some info to help that dog since they cannot talk and tell us what is wrong. How we all interpret that is up to us.

Thank you AllDogsBoots for posting this.

One thing that frustrates me is when people are giving their diagnosis of a dogs problems based on the result of a lab result or single symptom. NO test is or diagnosis is done in a vacuum. A vet (or any doctor for that matter) is taking not only what that lab number is in to consideration, but looking at things that you may or may not even begin to think are important. They are looking at a much bigger picture than we could ever begin to describe here in our posts.

It's fine to come on to the internet looking for information. But when you start taking everything that's written out there as gospel, you have a problem. Telling someone that they should NEVER give their pet med 'A' because this yahoo group all had dogs that had a reaction to it is not science or good advice. Is there a comparable group out there that says we gave med 'A' and it worked out great for our pet? Probably not. That's because we tend to use the internet to vent about things that have gone wrong and to find others who have had similar experiences. It's rare to find a pro-med 'A' group out there because no one thinks to start one. Yet despite the number of bad reactions to it, the number of pets who have used it safely and with good benefits are just as likely to be far greater in number.

Do treatments have risks? Of course they do. Everything we do has risks. You could put your pup on a leash to go for a walk and the leash could break allowing the dog to run in to the street and get hit. We could spread salmonella to our families by preparing and feeding raw chicken to our pets. We could slip and fall in a piddle puddle and break our necks. Does that mean we shouldn't ever walk our dogs, feed a raw diet or even have a dog? Of course not. We balance the risks versus the benefits to our lives and our pets lives every single day and we make our choices based on what matters to us and what our risk tolerance is.

We've all got our biases (my personal one is that I don't trust pharmacists any further than I could throw them , but I won't go in to that right now). It's great to share experiences and find out what worked for someone else. A team approach is almost always better than a single input as long as each realizes they each have their part and none have all the answers. But personally, if I ever had anyone on that team who was telling me that all my other docs were too stupid to do things the right way, that would be the first person I would be walking away from.

Bottom line, whether it's your dog, your child or yourself, you need to have a doctor (or team of specialists) who's experience and judgment you feel comfortable in. It's your responsibility to find that person, even if it means switching 6 times until you do.
And if you still feel that your vet is too stupid, too influenced by the med companies or is just doing things because it's the flavor of the month, then why bother taking them at all? Better yet, why don't you get off the internet, go to veterinary school and become the kind of vet you think you need?

Because, for some reason, Dwerten keeps harping about *me* giving out the wrong dosage on Benadryl. She says someone PMd her about it. For the life of me, I don't know why somoene did not PM *ME* so that the mistake could have been immediately corrected???? I would hate to think it was withheld just so that someone could later say how awful I am and how I gave bad advice??

Dwerten, how about you paste the link where I told someone to give the wrong dosage of Benadryl so that I can see if it can be removed and/or corrected. I certainly don't want anyone to see anything I posted that could harm their pupsters.

AGAIN, people are human and maybe I made an error. I don't know...but, I don't make a habit of giving out dosages of meds because I think it teeters on a dangerous territory...but IF I was perhaps out of my mind one day/night and did tell someone to overdose their pup, I really would like to fix that. Thank you so much. :)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Again, I am in a HUGE hurry and cannot read and respond to all posts...this one just jumped out at me.

Excellent post!

What i've learned from reading forum posts is what questions I should be asking a vet. I have always thought, "the Dr. knows best," and just kept my mouth shut. Now I know I have to be an advocate for Ruby and the best advocate is knowledgeable, which is what I've gained from these posts -- lots of knowledge. I also try to incorporate some common sense. If something doesn't sit right with me, I move on or do more research.

Ruby had a terrible reaction to her vaccines. I thought I was going to lose her and I had just gotten her. After coming here I realized it was the lepto vaccine that did it to her. I recall telling the vet I felt he wanted to do too many shots, but he said,"No, she'll be fine." Well, she wasn't fine and had to spend the night in the hospital. This was a situation where I felt the vet knew better and I just agreed.
She ended up having to spend the night in the hospital. That vet even had the nerve to tell me that the vaccines the breeder gave her could have been watered down or just plain water, that's why she didn't have a reaction with the breeder.

Everytime I think about it I get soo mad. I felt I was treated that way because I didn't have the knowledge to ask the right questions or to speak to the vet with any confidence. Sorry If I have completely fallen off topic, I just wanted to share my story and the reasons why I think forum posts/opinions are invaluable. But I agree they can't be the ONLY advice you take. For me, it's a starting point.

sure here it is - I believe this is the thread someone pm me you gave information wrong about after you beat this person up for giving out a doseage on another med

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ing-mg-ml.html

To be honest I do not know if you are wrong or not here but looks like crystal and kellie corrected your info. I personally do not rely on the internet for dosing my dogs so would not know if you were correct or not

and I know you make mistakes just like the rest of us including vets - we are human ;)

I see what happened, but she said how many mg needed to be given (which was correct). She never converted it to ml's so never gave the dose... She never said how many ml to give.

I feel I am very fortunate to have excellent vets that care for my cats and now my 2 puppies.

One of the vets has been a neighbor and friend for many years. I trust her and the other vets thru this vet location. I also have another vet that has been caring for my yorkie since she was sick with kennel cough and all her bills were paid by where I bought her. Princess is fully over kennel cough and I thank this vet for their very thorough care they have provided for Princess and Ty. Now that Princess and Ty are both well, I will continue their vet care with both vets. If one is not able to see my dogs due to scheduling, I now have another vet that I trust 100%.

I understand some people here, don't have full trust in their vet and have had some bad experiences. But, I ask these people to please NOT bash those of us, that do have great vets and trust them 100% for the care of our pets.

I also have found when one of my bunnies needed care before my vet office was open, another vet that I can trust that will take great care.

The one vet I always take my cats and puppies for care, they have been so good to me. The neighbor that is one of the vets, has even come over to our home, to provide IV treatments, check on a kitty that was very ill with failing kidneys, in 2003. She even came to our home, when it was time to put this same kitty to sleep. I wanted this kitty to be in our home, without stress on him, as we put him to sleep in my arms. Since that time, I have rescued several kitties and have given all of them a much better life, filled with love, great vet care and spoil each of them.

I guess the point I am trying to share.... is please..... those that have had bad experiences, don't put down those of us, that have a great vet. And unless we are a vet, we really don't have the medical training to advise either.

Thank you~thank you~thank you!!!!

You took the words right out of my mouth! It is just beyond me how the entire S & I forum has turned into a roadside vet clinic where bashing of an entire profession has become common place :rolleyes:

There is a reason that there are a bunch of CAPITOL letters after a vets name~its because he earned it through schooling and education. It's fine to question you vet but when it comes to your dogs health you better make sure that you TRUST his knowledge. Your little one is counting on you to take care of him to the best of your ability. :)

Thanks for sharing this and it was right on topic and know you are not alone as it has happened to alot of us who use to trust 100% the vet but once you know better you do better and you start trying to learn to be a better advocate to work as a team with your vet to keep your baby healthy.

yes and there is a reason there are specialist too and why they have more CAPITAL letters after their names to better treat in a crisis situation because they went to more schooling than the vet with the CAPITAL letters did so maybe if more vets with CAPITAL letters understood this when they come into a crisis situation they will get them to the one with the most CAPITAL letters after their name to save their dog instead of delaying this time and dog dies and they blame it on something else.

Oh and they are all so uniquely different. You can find somebody to fit your style. :) I know several that all have different approaches. Some like questions better than others and some like to hand out drugs more than others. You can find one that fits your philosophy. :)

just like some feel I should not provide links to help people with information C I think giving doseages is wrong. Now do I think vets give wrong doseages or their staff - yep see my link about medications-vent as ladymom and I have had that happen to us too. I always double and triple check doseages for my dogs as I know mistakes happen as I have seen it happen alot.

I for one like reading the posts that people ask about something being wrong with their dogs and possibly someone else has been through it. It really helps when you take your dog in and the vet cannot figure out what is wrong and maybe because of someone else's experience you suggest testing for something and you either find out that's what it is or you end up ruling that out. I know my vet listens to me when I bring up things I have learned on here. When I mentioned where the tail was supposed to be docked he actually said I was the first person that had asked it to be done at a specific length. Everyone else would just come in and say they needed the tails and dews done. So they did it by a chart they have. I also have to say if it hadn't been for dwerten posting about Pancreatitis I wouldn't have learned what I needed to know to pass on to Maggies new owners.

yep why i have two vets and specialists as each fits the purpose of what is going on at the time of the situation. If i feel it is serious off to internal medicine I go as she has more Capital letters after her name and she saved my dog that almost died in a vet's hands that has a name with less capital letters after her name.

But some people cannot afford specialists like dentists, dermatologists, internal medicine specialists, and orthopedics so those of us that can afford this like to pass on that information that we paid big money for to help the less fortunate but I see that is a bad thing here and not sure why?

totally agree! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Great post :thumbup:

Honestly, you can't tell me that vets are much different than doctors.. I have a friend who went in for a biopsy yesterday.. had NO idea what was going to happen, they didn't even freeze the area, now she's in major pain and they found something so she's freaking out about that and the upcoming surgery - which she again, got no info on and is going in blindly. I told her to research and read whatever she can find, and ask questions, and if the doctor acts like he's too busy to answer them - give him a piece of your mind!!! And I'd say the same to anyone in the same situation with their dogs.

We also need to remember that what's true about one dog, is not necessarily going to be true for another. What works for one, may not work for another. On the food issue - I feel Oliver Science Diet for sensitive stomach - is it the BEST food... nope... but it's the best for HIM. He had so many issues before the switch which have gone away. I would love to find a better quality food that would work for him, but I refuse to put him through that if they don't. Found one that works, sticking to it, case closed. Mya will not be fed Science Diet and will get a higher quality food if she has no issues on it.

Symptoms can be vague, hard to explain, and complex. Never, EVER take what someone told you online to be fact! While the advice is invaluable and well appreciated - it's our jobs to research and consult with doctors who are trained, just like we do with ourselves. Far too much online diagnosis going on for both animals and humans. If you don't like your vet for whatever reason - get a new one. Simple as that. I love the support we get here, but we need to remember to take every piece of advise with a grain of salt. Your vet won't diagnose your dog without actually seeing it - there's a reason for that. So why would someone who can't see your dog and has no training be able to do any better.

perhaps you missed this thread about holly - did not look like vet or specialists cut any costs on this testing - yet missed a simple test of an XRAY that might have saved the dog'f life --- would you let them run all those tests on your dog? Oh I am sure it was about 7k worth of testing in California and guess what - the dog died - now had an xray been done and obstruction removed - would this dog have died? I think some of us on here would have asked did they do an xray before doing and endoscopy that may have saved this dog's life

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/mem...245-holly.html

My Holly died today from lead poisoning. She was 6 months old. She has been in and out of the vet for over a month. At first they thought she had liver shunts, then encephalitis from toxoplamosis or neospora, then she got pneumonia and THEN on a chest x-ray the vet finally saw a metallic object, a lead craft weight. She endured a spinal tap, a brochoscopy and endoscopy. She had had lead poisoning all this time. Today her breathing became so irregular the vet called us in. We had been visiting twice a day. She was having seizures. We just didnt know what to do. Then she had another seizure while we were holding her and she stopped breathing. The vet gave her an injection and then she was gone. Oh how I loved her. Oh how I will miss her. So sad....So sad.

Bet she wished we scared her into an XRAY

But I am sure some will come on here and say the pet owner must be mistaken lolllllllllllllllllllllllll

can you imagine dying of lead poisoning ?

Huh? There is no mistake in that post that I can see. And if you don't know if I was right or wrong, why are you carrying on about it? And, honestly what is it with all the little secrets? PMs when something is wrong?? sheesh we are all adults here...just spit it out so it can be fixed if you think it is wrong. :rolleyes:

As for me beating someone up....please DO share THAT as well. Thank you :)

Still at this one as well. Sheesh. This has been discussed and explained ad nauseum., but you still think the vet was at fault.

Xrays are not routine or diagnostic when not indicated. Do tell what symptoms she had in the beginning that indicated an xray should be done? You really do work overtime trying to slam the veterinary profession.

My concern is that naive people will see this stuff and be afraid to go to a vet. It is one thing to help people learn how to educate themselves and communicate with their vets and yet another to constantly bad mouth every single vet.

lol yep this one says it all to me

First thing when my dog was throwing up for pancreatitis was an xray then blood work. XRAY is the first thing done to rule out any blockages so why was it not done? Even lay people know this. Why was an endoscopy and bronchoscopy done before an xray? Why was a spinal tap and mri done prior to xray?

I know I know the pet owner misunderstood the thousands of dollars she paid for when she trusted these vets. This dog died a horrible death and we can all learn from it. Ask questions

I did spit it out - I posted it and I think giving out doseages on here is wrong but I do not go in and beat you up everytime you do it as that is your choice to do that

I wanted to add my two cents here as well. I hope my question about the Benadryl dosing verification wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back. :(

If it's one thing that I have learned while in medical school, is that you have to be 100% comfortable with a diagnosis that your own medical doctor, or your baby's veterinarian gives you. Last year I asked a question about my baby because she had crystals in her urine. I took a sample of her urine into the vet and that came back negative for crystals, bacteria, etc. He figured it was probably struvite crystals because it's the more common type of crystal. I still wasn't 100% satisfied with the diagnosis and did my own research all of the internet and on YT. I ended up taking him a sample of some of the crystals that were left of the newspaper after the urine dried up. The diagnosis turned out to be the complete opposite. It was urate crystals. So we switched her treatment and she has been better. But if I hadn't questioned it, she would have been treated for the wrong thing and maybe could have gotten worse.

I have a good relationship with her vet in Mexico. My baby has 3 different vets that she has seen. 1 in Mexico and 2 in the States. With the one in Mexico, I am able to bring him different theories that I have and share them with him. He'll tell me why may be one thing, or another, etc. He always takes the time to make sure I have my questions answered 100%. And I like that. With her vet in the States, I always feel like I'm being rushed out of the office. Her vet in Mexico knows her name and knows what a worry wort I am when it comes to her health. The other day I took her in because I thought she needed her anal glands expressed again and he didn't charge me for the office visit. When I had that done for her in the States I came out with a $45 vet bill for that service.

But even though I'm completely happy with her vet, I will always question everything that is said. And even my own doctor. When I was diagnosed with a medical condition 2 years ago, I did my own research, spoke to other doctors to verify the information. If I were in the U.S. right now, I would have called her U.S. vet to verify the information that was given for the Benadryl. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to do that just to check. It just popped in my mind to do that. :)

This forum has taught me a lot. Itzel is my first small doggie that I've had. I didn't know a lot about potty training, what food to feed, etc. I learned how to potty train her to go on command from this forum, I learned what foods are the best, and I've even verified with her vet on the food. She needs to have lower protein food and I bring her food from the States into Mexico, so I took him the bag so that he could see it and let me know if it was okay. The information I have gained on this forum from fellow members has been invaluable. And I appreciate all the advice that I have ever received. But I think that you need to verify every piece of information you receive. I guess that might sound a little paranoid, and I hope it doesn't. :)

I wanted to add my two cents here as well. I hope my question about the Benadryl dosing verification wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back. :(

If it's one thing that I have learned while in medical school, is that you have to be 100% comfortable with a diagnosis that your own medical doctor, or your baby's veterinarian gives you. Last year I asked a question about my baby because she had crystals in her urine. I took a sample of her urine into the vet and that came back negative for crystals, bacteria, etc. He figured it was probably struvite crystals because it's the more common type of crystal. I still wasn't 100% satisfied with the diagnosis and did my own research all of the internet and on YT. I ended up taking him a sample of some of the crystals that were left of the newspaper after the urine dried up. The diagnosis turned out to be the complete opposite. It was urate crystals. So we switched her treatment and she has been better. But if I hadn't questioned it, she would have been treated for the wrong thing and maybe could have gotten worse.

I have a good relationship with her vet in Mexico. My baby has 3 different vets that she has seen. 1 in Mexico and 2 in the States. With the one in Mexico, I am able to bring him different theories that I have and share them with him. He'll tell me why may be one thing, or another, etc. He always takes the time to make sure I have my questions answered 100%. And I like that. With her vet in the States, I always feel like I'm being rushed out of the office. Her vet in Mexico knows her name and knows what a worry wort I am when it comes to her health. The other day I took her in because I thought she needed her anal glands expressed again and he didn't charge me for the office visit. When I had that done for her in the States I came out with a $45 vet bill for that service.

But even though I'm completely happy with her vet, I will always question everything that is said. And even my own doctor. When I was diagnosed with a medical condition 2 years ago, I did my own research, spoke to other doctors to verify the information. If I were in the U.S. right now, I would have called her U.S. vet to verify the information that was given for the Benadryl. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to do that just to check. It just popped in my mind to do that. :)

This forum has taught me a lot. Itzel is my first small doggie that I've had. I didn't know a lot about potty training, what food to feed, etc. I learned how to potty train her to go on command from this forum, I learned what foods are the best, and I've even verified with her vet on the food. She needs to have lower protein food and I bring her food from the States into Mexico, so I took him the bag so that he could see it and let me know if it was okay. The information I have gained on this forum from fellow members has been invaluable. And I appreciate all the advice that I have ever received. But I think that you need to verify every piece of information you receive. I guess that might sound a little paranoid, and I hope it doesn't. :) Sorry if I rambled on. :)

Oops, to the Moderator, I clicked to post my thread through the Quick Reply part and it said it didn't post it and it looks like it posted it twice. If you can delete it, please?