Not All Vets Are Wrong I'm seeing so many threads lately from members who have questions and are seeking advice regarding medical & basic health issues regarding their dogs, which I think is fantastic. The amount of information I have personally learned since I've been a forum member is astonishing, although I take everything learned with a grain of salt. I'm seeing members dishing out advice that flat out goes against what the dog's veterinarian recommends. Literally, I see people say "no your vet is wrong" or "your vet is not doing the right tests", etc. The vet may say to try a certain food, while someone else may say "no, chicken is no good". Without actually seeing the dog's symptoms is it possible to really give a clear diagnosis online? I think that advice is priceless, but I also think that the folks asking questions may be getting confused by so many contradictions. I see so many new people come home from the vet, post their information and after seeing the replies they now say "gosh I'm so confused and don't know what to do". Shouldn't the vet's advice generally be followed? While I think sharing information and stories is a huge asset to this forum, i'm not so sure that clinically diagnosing is. I've never had a major issue with a veterinarian in a negative way and perhaps I'm lucky. I really have a great relationship with my vet and do trust them. Maybe I would feel differently if I've had a horrific experience. Thanks for letting me post. |
I do agree with you. I don't think people should come to an online forum looking for a diagnosis, but rather just look for opinions and tips if their dog has also been through the same thing, etc. Too many people will take what they read on the internet as a fact when it's not *always* the case. A sick or injured dog should always be taken to a vet first. With that said, I will highly disagree with vets on food. I often see so many pet owners get talked into buying Science Diet or Pedigree because it's what the vet said is the best. IMO, it's simply not the case and I will never suggest to feed the foods that most vets do and I do believe they are wrong on that issue. I've been lucky to never have a vet push their food on me, but it happens all the time. Vets get very little schooling on pet nutrition and honestly don't always know what's best, they are just selling what they've learned. SD also endorses and sponsors vet schools, I believe, so of course they are going to sell it. Also, quite a few vets are not very knowledgeable when it comes to breeds specifics, which is where forums like this come in handy. Here I found out that a harness is best for small dogs and toy breeds for example. My vet never even informed me of such things as CT and other issues that could come along with it when I brought my 9 week old 5lb pup into the office for that first appt. My vet never informed me about reactions in the Lepto vaccine w/ small dogs (and Jackson did have a pretty bad reaction, and I later found out it's common in small dogs). So while I do think you should always get a vet's opinion before anything else, and should not come to a forum seeking medical advice without first going to vets, vets aren't God and they simply don't have all the knowledge every pet owner needs. |
Good post. Yes, it's okay to help people online. Yes, it's okay to give suggestions and say it may be this or it may not be that. It's okay to say perhaps a different food is needed, etc. It's (IMO) not okay to say the vet is totally wrong and you should do XYZ. If you think the vet is totally wrong, then things should not be changed based on what you read online. The information on line should be taken to the vet or another vet and they will help you sort thorugh it. With all the great information I've found online, there are so many inaccuracies. It's scary to think that people take the information without even talking tho their vet about it. |
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I am generally a veterinarian advocate, and have great confidence and trust in my vet. I also think with information readily available on the internet vets expect their clients to come in with more knowledge than ever before. Don't beat around the bush if you have done some research. Be open with them, tell them what you've read, and ask questions about it. |
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Offering suggestions and experiences can be helpful. But some on here go too far and terrify pet owners with horrific "possibilities" long before test results are in or a diagnosis is made by a trained, educated doctor. I know members who've been brought to tears because of this - and their pups have turned out to have only mild/minor illnesses. I try to follow along on some of the S&I threads to offer prayers and support. But after a while I begin to feel like I'm being bashed over the head by those who post after post after post after post. It's overwhelming to me, so I can't imagine how the OP's of these threads must be feeling. Gentle, concise, factual information would be so much more helpful in these cases. Thanks for letting me share some of my opinions. |
I am about to run out my door and don't have time to make a lengthy post; but I want to say that this is an excellent thread! :) Some of the advice given is just scary. The other thing that many people do not realize is that all of the information flying around is overwhelming. It takes time and a very schooled vet to examine, test and diagnose. It is not as simple as reading a few symptoms and knowing the results of one test. Just my quick two cents. :) |
I have had terrible experiences with vets two different vets told me that gatsby had a food allergy to the home-cooked food i was feeding him when in fact it was a fungus or living on his skin if i had not come on yorkietalk it would have gotton worse and i think he ears would have gotten so bad the would have started to crack and flake off. I had one vet tell me that he was hypoglycemic when in fact he was anemic the vet refused to do a cell count because she said it was unnessecary this misdiagnoses nearly killed him and still to this day he has trouble with anemia because as a puppy it got so bad. even now when i have a great vet who i love and trust there can be break downs in communication i recently started adding kibble to Gatsbys diet to help him keep his iron up and through speaking with a yorkie talk member and my vet we wear able to find the problem with his food and fix it before he got sick. yes i agree you maybe should not tell someone thear vet is wrong but please do not hesitate to respectfully give your opinion |
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Vet's are not God and when it comes to digestive issues many make alot of mistakes - see the bloody enema thread, missing the stones when doing a surgery thread, the holly thread where they ran endoscopy, mri, spinal tap, bronscopy, and NEVER DID AND XRAY and the dog had a lead weight in its body for 30 days and died of lead poisoning Many of us have had dogs with health issues and know what tests are run for certain things and have alot of experience with this breed and also educate ourselves on animal health. People are human they make mistakes and sometimes it takes a team of people seeing what is going on to give pointers and ideas of what may be going on because they have been through it. Many vets do not even have dogs so are they with them 24/7 to know things or is it a 15 minute exam and some blood work How can you prescribe meds when you do not know if there is an infection or parasites? Go check out the thread on hyperparathyroid/ple/lymphangiectasia - vet said it was hyperparathyroid and IT WAS NOT - I questioned it day one and guess what it was NOT hyperparathyroid it was PLE/LYMPHANGIECTASIA - this dog could have died as PLE is deadly if not treated check out polina thread where vet said brain tumor - wrong again it was gme and her dog is on right meds doing well and she was going to put her dog to sleep Everyone can make the call with info given here on what to do with your dog we all have that choice My motto is don't ask if you do not want info as I personally gather all info here and consult with vet and specialist all posibilities myself - but i will NEVER trust one person for my own health or my dogs health ever again as i have seen WAY too many mistakes |
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I think YT is a great tool to use in working with your Vet. Yes, I have printed off some information and taken it to my Vet and I think this is great. I am probably not going to take the word of an anonymous poster over my trained and trusted vet. But, I was able to ask some clear and concise questions because of information obtained here. Yes, sometimes it is information overload and too many horrific possibilities presented - I've learned to take it all with a grain of salt . . but take away what I can; learn what I can; don't panic over what I read. On the other hand, I've learned things here that I wouldn't even think about asking my Vet - like the use of harnesses; treats like cheerios and apple . . Vegetarian kibble; lowfat cottage cheese. I've learned countless things on YT and for that I am grateful. Sift through the information that you are given; keep a clear head; be informed; trust your instinct and hopefully your Vet! This is what I've learned to do. |
I think the food issue is a bit different. I see no problem making food recommendations for healthy dogs. It's when people decide to stop rx diets or start mixing things in that I get really uncomfortable. |
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