Giving Advice ???

[yorkieusa]

For some people who live in rural areas or very small towns, changing vets is out of the question. There aren't any for them to change to. I also feel it is a good thing and shows intelligence to question the decisions of your vet and get as much information as possible. Some of us on here have dealt with small doggies all of our lives and that is much longer than some of these vets have been in business. I'm glad we live in a society where there is the freeflow of information and I consider myself as fully capable to discern what is best for my doggie. It is my decision in the end; not my vet's.

[SnowWa]

Yes - some of us have dealt with small doggies longer than our vets have been in business. But most of our vets have had dogs (and other animals) all their lives too and have probably raised a few litters too.

I am positive that I can take very good care of my dog -- when he's well.
It's when he's sick that we go to the vet. And, then I know for sure I am not as "fully capable" of taking care of him as she is.

I came home from work one day and my other dog had thrown up blood from one end of the house to the other -- on the floor, on the carpet, and on the furniture. I cleaned about 9 pools of blood the size of a dinner plate that were a blood/water mixture. Of course, this scared me to death. I called my vet immediately (their office was closed and the answering service put me through). She hurried to her office and meet us.

My dog had thrombocytopena - her body was destroying the platelets in her blood. Platelets are what cause our flood to clot. Her lab work showed "zero" platelets and her blood was just leaking out all over in her body....especially into her stomach.

The end result was that the vet saved her life. She was totally anemic, extremely dehydrated, and bleeding to death. The vet gave her a transfusion, IV fluids, and a ton of other medications. In all honestly, the vet really didn't expect her to live through the night, but she did. Then she came home (I took a week off work) and with the proper medicines (which had to be changed several times) and a ton of follow-up lab work ---she totally recovered.

This is the same little dog that the vet and I had to put to sleep a few months ago. for a totally different problem. And, she and I both cried when we did it.

This is also the same vet who told me she learns something new everytime she treats a new dog.

Anyway - I wouldn't hesitate so say that she knows a great deal more than I do about treating sick animals. And, as she said -- she's still learning.

She met my Yorkie for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He sure stole her heart. I hope he only has to see him for checkups and shots and never anything serious.

And - I have worked in medicine for some 40 plus years and was a hospital supervisor for 12 years. My husband was a doctor, and I work in Cardiology today. So - I am not a "push over" and do know the difference between good and bad care. I can't help but feel that those of you who don't trust or respect your vets just don't have one like I have.




Carol Jean