I think my dog is sick.... Can anyone help me?!

[luvmyYorkieJack]

Dwerten you are such a wonderful help! I was also on the University of Tennessee article you linked on someone else's thread about bile acid tests. It made the test results much clearer for me and you are right. I am going to get a second opnion once I get him on a low protein diet. Thanks for all of your help.... for everyone's help and kind words! I will post his next results when I get them.

[luvmyYorkieJack]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Another way to look for a vet....talk to everyone you know who has dogs...talk to your groomer as well.
AND....check on the AAHA website...you really should be going to one who is AAHA accredited. Here is their website:
American Animal Hospital Association

I agree with Dwerten...I honestly did not understand that barium test. He may be very nice....you want very knowledgable. I mean no disrespect to him, but I believe you realize it anyway...you said you want a second opinion and that, to me, is a great idea!

I know of another KNOWLEDGEABLE vet. And I really think she is. She helped correct Jack's misdiagnosis of LP. But I groom my dogs myself. Groomers are spendy and I know I can cut their fur and style it the way I like. Sometimes they came home and I wondered what happened. After a few "bad hair days," I decided to do it myself. But thanks for the ideas!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Another way to look for a vet....talk to everyone you know who has dogs...talk to your groomer as well.
AND....check on the AAHA website...you really should be going to one who is AAHA accredited. Here is their website:
American Animal Hospital Association

I agree with Dwerten...I honestly did not understand that barium test. He may be very nice....you want very knowledgable. I mean no disrespect to him, but I believe you realize it anyway...you said you want a second opinion and that, to me, is a great idea!

how do you use this site do you have to sign up to find a member?

ask pet stores around you as well as they here all the stories i am sure

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by luvmyYorkieJack

I know of another KNOWLEDGEABLE vet. And I really think she is. She helped correct Jack's misdiagnosis of LP. But I groom my dogs myself. Groomers are spendy and I know I can cut their fur and style it the way I like. Sometimes they came home and I wondered what happened. After a few "bad hair days," I decided to do it myself. But thanks for the ideas!

I prefer women anyway as i think they USUALLY are more detailed than men and more compassionate so i would hang tight do the low protein then have test redone in 30 days and if no symptoms you may want to wait for 6 mos as those numbers are not real bad at all

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dwerten

how do you use this site do you have to sign up to find a member?

ask pet stores around you as well as they here all the stories i am sure

No, you do not need to sign up! There is a link at the top of the page for pet owners.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dwerten

I prefer women anyway as i think they USUALLY are more detailed than men and more compassionate so i would hang tight do the low protein then have test redone in 30 days and if no symptoms you may want to wait for 6 mos as those numbers are not real bad at all

Ditto....I attribute it to women being better at "listening". That is the key to being a good medical person...for humans or pets. I had a nursing instructor when we were in pediatrics who said that you always listen to a parent. If they say something is wrong with a child, there is usually something wrong. They know their child better than anyone. Same holds true with our pets!

[dwerten]

i just tried it and there were only a few on there in my area but hospitals here is one as well

VetRatingz.com - Veterinarian Reviews and Ratings - Find a Veterinarian

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i just tried it and there were only a few on there in my area but hospitals here is one as well

VetRatingz.com - Veterinarian Reviews and Ratings - Find a Veterinarian

Well, bottom line is that if they are AAHA accredited, they have met certain standards. I will NOT go to a vet who is not accredited.

The link you are providing would be my second place to look...they are just giving ratings based on people's reports.

So...find one that meets the higher standards which is the same as looking for a specialist who is board certified...THEN look at client rankings

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i just tried it and there were only a few on there in my area but hospitals here is one as well

VetRatingz.com - Veterinarian Reviews and Ratings - Find a Veterinarian

Given what you have told me about the vets in your area, that does not surprise me.

I am not saying that all accredited are always the best....but they do have to meet certain standards. When I moved to TX, that is what my vet in NJ told me to do...look for AAHA accredited. I have an excellent vet!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Given what you have told me about the vets in your area, that does not surprise me.

I am not saying that all accredited are always the best....but they do have to meet certain standards. When I moved to TX, that is what my vet in NJ told me to do...look for AAHA accredited. I have an excellent vet!

lollll actually the one that jacked dd up on the metacam was on there lolllll too funny

that is a good site though have not gone on that one yet so saving it

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Well, bottom line is that if they are AAHA accredited, they have met certain standards. I will NOT go to a vet who is not accredited.

The link you are providing would be my second place to look...they are just giving ratings based on people's reports.

So...find one that meets the higher standards which is the same as looking for a specialist who is board certified...THEN look at client rankings

ok cool good idea do they have to join this or do they get nominated for it?

[kjc]

Am I understanding this correctly? The barium test was given to Jack 1-2 days prior to the BAT being done? If the answer is yes...I think with Jack's slow digestion or not, the barium skewed the BAT results. In the other very informative thread, excitement can skew the results, so I think barium would throw a number too!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by kjc

Am I understanding this correctly? The barium test was given to Jack 1-2 days prior to the BAT being done? If the answer is yes...I think with Jack's slow digestion or not, the barium skewed the BAT results. In the other very informative thread, excitement can skew the results, so I think barium would throw a number too!

Ohhhhh....interesting. Yes, I am quite sure that test could. Poor Jack was shaking the night he had that barium test.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by kjc

Am I understanding this correctly? The barium test was given to Jack 1-2 days prior to the BAT being done? If the answer is yes...I think with Jack's slow digestion or not, the barium skewed the BAT results. In the other very informative thread, excitement can skew the results, so I think barium would throw a number too!

i agree that is a definite possibility good thinking

[luvmyYorkieJack]

Would the barium test really throw the results? I even saw the xrays.... it was out of his system within 4 hours. How could it throw the results?