Stupid Vet! Rant! - Page 4 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

diva pup · 02-12-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura

I think the 'standard' is 4 to 7 pounds, so they have to be smaller than 4 pounds even to be considered 'small'.

Actually I believe the standard is not more than 7 lbs.
When I am asked about size of mine I just say she is small for a yorkie and he is big for a yorkie. Easy enough

Laura · 02-12-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diva pup

Actually I believe the standard is not more than 7 lbs.
When I am asked about size of mine I just say she is small for a yorkie and he is big for a yorkie. Easy enough

Thanks! That is correct. I guess my biggest question is that I have 6, and I usually say, well they are under 50 pounds all-together! Less than one big dog!

BabyFidgette · 02-12-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura

Thanks! That is correct. I guess my biggest question is that I have 6, and I usually say, well they are under 50 pounds all-together! Less than one big dog!

Have you ever tried carrying them all at once?

diva pup · 02-12-2006, 09:19 PM

6?????
LOL! Well good luck!!!

Laura · 02-12-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Have you ever tried carrying them all at once?

I can't anymore! I can carry 4, but they all fit in my lap

BabyFidgette · 02-12-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura

I can't anymore! I can carry 4, but they all fit in my lap

How cute! I love it. You have 6, I have 1. I'm jealous. Not of the vet bills, but of the company!

Laura · 02-12-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

How cute! I love it. You have 6, I have 1. I'm jealous. Not of the vet bills, but of the company!

That's the kicker! Heartworm pills, flea stuff, treats, and vet bills! Not to mention general toys and beds and stuff! They have a bundle, not that they use them. Give them a good sock anyday!

tndefender · 02-12-2006, 09:41 PM

I guess I just can't resist walking into this minefield, but i just don't really get the fascination or worst the attraction to unusually small dogs. At one time these dogs were called "runts," and that term was used perjoratively, for good reason. Now they are marketed as designer dogs and sold for outrageous sums with little or no regard for the health of the dog in particular or the breed in general. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand that one of the main reasons this breed is so popular is because of its dimunitive size. I just wish there was more of an emphasis by some on temperament, disposition and overall health.

I will now step off my soapbox for the evening...

Laura · 02-12-2006, 09:55 PM

Welcome tndefender! I couldn't agree with you more! I think that health and temperament is the MOST IMPORTANT thing when you are talking about small, cute dogs. I had a badly bred Llasa once which I had to put down because he was blind, deaf, and unpredictably mean. He belonged to my 4 year old son. It was absolutely horrible. My dogs are the most loving things you ever saw. They love everyone, are not skiddish or scared. They are fabulous, which is one reason I wanted to breed them, which is why I now have six (and will not do it again)
I actually think my 10 pound boys are the most huggable of them all, they can be held just like a baby. The littler ones sit on my chest a lot. But they are easier to bathe!

Jenn218 · 02-13-2006, 10:50 AM

Thought I would share this article I read in a magazine (Yorkshire Terriers - Popular Dogs Series (vol. 16) by the publishers of Dog Fancy Magazine).

These are not my words and I am neither for or against anything written....just thought I would pass it on.

The Origin of the So-Called Teacup

Quote:

So you think you want a teacup Yorkie? Think again, says a Yorkie breeder since 1948. There is no such thing as a "teacup yorkie," she says. People have always been interested in the tiniest of small dogs, but they should never cost more money. They are generally the runts of the litter. They need more care, but they aren't rare.

Unusually small dogs can come out of any litter at any time. In 19th-Century England, people would sometimes pay a high price for super-small terriers, just as they do today. You see this with any breed. The word "teacup" started with the so-called teacup Poodle, which doesn't exist either.

Then and now, people want something that is a novelty, that they can carry in a small purse or a sleeve, says vice president of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (YTCA). But then as now, these tiny dogs can have serious health problems. They are easily dehydrated, easily injured, and can be extremely difficult to treat. When an emergency happens to a dog this small, seconds count.

They're simply more delicate...everything is smaller and that makes treatments much more difficult.

Unscrupulous breeders try to breed the smallest toy dogs on purpose, and the YTCA warns potential Yorkie owners against purchasing these tiny dogs just as a novelty. Most breeders recommend that Yorkies weigh between 3 and 7 pounds for health reasons.

Off-color Yorkies also fall outside the breed standard. If a Yorkie is plum-colored or white or all-tan or parti-colored, it is an incorrect Yorkie, not some rare special Yorkie worth more money.

SnowWa · 02-13-2006, 12:10 PM

Sorry - but I still think it's crazy to get upset when people call our little dogs a "teacup" meaning they are very small. I think we've run out of things to worry about.

Especially criticizing a vet for this..... My vet called a big dog in his office a "moose" the other day. (He was huge!) Give me a break!!!!!

Carol Jean

Laura · 02-13-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowWa

Especially criticizing a vet for this..... My vet called a big dog in his office a "moose" the other day. (He was huge!) Give me a break!!!!!

Carol Jean

OMG! Are you saying he didn't know the difference in a dog and a MOOSE? Unforgivable!

whispersmom2 · 02-13-2006, 12:18 PM

IMO it is my responsibility to educate my vet that the term is strictly a marketing one and in actuality there is NO STANDARD for any style Yorkie rather than the "not to exceed 7 pounds." My vet on the other hand has a responsibility to educate me about the medical care of my animal..

Kathryn_V · 02-13-2006, 01:43 PM

Well, I have today off and I had to take my African Grey, Darwin, in for a check up on his elbows. He has no feet and has trouble with the skin wearing thin on his elbows, as they were not meant to bear weight. He is such an amazing bird... anyway....

I mentioned my experiance with this other vet and he apoligized and asked me to bring pixie in to see him. He said that I should alert the press and set up an interview with Oprah. That I was the first and only person on earth with a "Teacup" Yorkie. He was sooooo funny, we laughed and he made excuses for her. He said that she never goes to the continuing education classes or seminars. He almost never sees her at any of the functions. He said that she must have a busy home life.

Then we got into the exam with Pixie... he covered so much more with her than this other gal did! He poked, proded, and listened to every inch of her. He turned out the lights to use the scope so he could really focus on her nostrils and throat. He did all kins of stuff. He also said that she was on the wrong treatment.

Pixie was not on any kind of expectorant, only a cough suppressant and antibiotic. He said that if we suppress the cough with all of that build up she will drown in her own fluids. so out with the suppresant and in with the expertorant. He also checked the dose on the antibiotic. She was taking a dose meant for a dog at 15 pounds.

For a vet who thought my dog was a "Teacup" she was doseing her like a "Toy"

I am so glad the red flag went up and I took her in to my guy.

Some of you might have thought me silly to have questioned a little slip of the tongue and mislabling of my dog, but comming from a professional who is supposed to be able to recall all of the detailed information at the drop of a hat in an emergency situation..... I was alarmed.

I know that my vet will never over dose my dog in an emergency when its a split second call.

This one overdosed my dog when she had all the time in the word to look up the weight chart and prep the meds.

I fear for her clients.

Am I spoiled to have such an amazing vet? I hope not... We all should have such amazing vets! Are my standards too high? Absolutly not! Would you expect your docter to be well educated and provide proper treatment for you or your child? Why should you expect anything less from your vet?

Princess Zoe · 02-13-2006, 01:55 PM

My son has a rare disability and whenever I take him in to see a "specialist", they always say things that are incorrect. It really bothered me at first, because I thought they should know more than me about my sons disease. I slowly came to terms with the fact that doctors can't know everything about everything, so it doesn't bother me as much anymore.... although I do correct them!

I'm sure your Vet didn't mean to be offensive, she just doesn't sit around studying correct yorkie terms all day like you and I do.

I understand the frustration, but I also know that she did it out of innocent ignorance, and that it doesn't necessarily make her a bad Vet.

02-12-2006, 09:41 PM	#53
tndefender Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Germantown, Tennessee Posts: 57	I guess I just can't resist walking into this minefield, but i just don't really get the fascination or worst the attraction to unusually small dogs. At one time these dogs were called "runts," and that term was used perjoratively, for good reason. Now they are marketed as designer dogs and sold for outrageous sums with little or no regard for the health of the dog in particular or the breed in general. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand that one of the main reasons this breed is so popular is because of its dimunitive size. I just wish there was more of an emphasis by some on temperament, disposition and overall health. I will now step off my soapbox for the evening... __________________ Real Men Yorkies!

02-12-2006, 09:55 PM	#54
Laura Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wylie TX Posts: 1,577	Welcome tndefender! I couldn't agree with you more! I think that health and temperament is the MOST IMPORTANT thing when you are talking about small, cute dogs. I had a badly bred Llasa once which I had to put down because he was blind, deaf, and unpredictably mean. He belonged to my 4 year old son. It was absolutely horrible. My dogs are the most loving things you ever saw. They love everyone, are not skiddish or scared. They are fabulous, which is one reason I wanted to breed them, which is why I now have six (and will not do it again) I actually think my 10 pound boys are the most huggable of them all, they can be held just like a baby. The littler ones sit on my chest a lot. But they are easier to bathe! __________________ Laura--loving mom of Robyn, Dexter, Sandy, Mattie, Sammy, Jake & Mollie http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...00&ppuser=1851

02-13-2006, 12:10 PM	#56
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	Sorry - but I still think it's crazy to get upset when people call our little dogs a "teacup" meaning they are very small. I think we've run out of things to worry about. Especially criticizing a vet for this..... My vet called a big dog in his office a "moose" the other day. (He was huge!) Give me a break!!!!! Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

02-13-2006, 01:43 PM	#59
Kathryn_V Out to Spoil the World! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Palm Springs, California Posts: 2,709	Well, I have today off and I had to take my African Grey, Darwin, in for a check up on his elbows. He has no feet and has trouble with the skin wearing thin on his elbows, as they were not meant to bear weight. He is such an amazing bird... anyway.... I mentioned my experiance with this other vet and he apoligized and asked me to bring pixie in to see him. He said that I should alert the press and set up an interview with Oprah. That I was the first and only person on earth with a "Teacup" Yorkie. He was sooooo funny, we laughed and he made excuses for her. He said that she never goes to the continuing education classes or seminars. He almost never sees her at any of the functions. He said that she must have a busy home life. Then we got into the exam with Pixie... he covered so much more with her than this other gal did! He poked, proded, and listened to every inch of her. He turned out the lights to use the scope so he could really focus on her nostrils and throat. He did all kins of stuff. He also said that she was on the wrong treatment. Pixie was not on any kind of expectorant, only a cough suppressant and antibiotic. He said that if we suppress the cough with all of that build up she will drown in her own fluids. so out with the suppresant and in with the expertorant. He also checked the dose on the antibiotic. She was taking a dose meant for a dog at 15 pounds. For a vet who thought my dog was a "Teacup" she was doseing her like a "Toy" I am so glad the red flag went up and I took her in to my guy. Some of you might have thought me silly to have questioned a little slip of the tongue and mislabling of my dog, but comming from a professional who is supposed to be able to recall all of the detailed information at the drop of a hat in an emergency situation..... I was alarmed. I know that my vet will never over dose my dog in an emergency when its a split second call. This one overdosed my dog when she had all the time in the word to look up the weight chart and prep the meds. I fear for her clients. Am I spoiled to have such an amazing vet? I hope not... We all should have such amazing vets! Are my standards too high? Absolutly not! Would you expect your docter to be well educated and provide proper treatment for you or your child? Why should you expect anything less from your vet? __________________ Kathryn, Pixie and Chynna

02-13-2006, 01:55 PM	#60
Princess Zoe YT Addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 251	My son has a rare disability and whenever I take him in to see a "specialist", they always say things that are incorrect. It really bothered me at first, because I thought they should know more than me about my sons disease. I slowly came to terms with the fact that doctors can't know everything about everything, so it doesn't bother me as much anymore.... although I do correct them! I'm sure your Vet didn't mean to be offensive, she just doesn't sit around studying correct yorkie terms all day like you and I do. I understand the frustration, but I also know that she did it out of innocent ignorance, and that it doesn't necessarily make her a bad Vet. __________________ Zoe and Pixie's Mommy Last edited by Princess Zoe; 02-13-2006 at 01:58 PM.

02-12-2006, 09:19 PM	#49
diva pup BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,139	6????? LOL! Well good luck!!!

02-13-2006, 12:18 PM	#58
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	IMO it is my responsibility to educate my vet that the term is strictly a marketing one and in actuality there is NO STANDARD for any style Yorkie rather than the "not to exceed 7 pounds." My vet on the other hand has a responsibility to educate me about the medical care of my animal..