Everyone is entitled to their opinion but there is alot of valuable information on the internet and some very experienced pet owners with diseases they deal with every day and as we see daily on here as well we see where vets make mistakes, groomers make mistakes, etc and dogs die so it is very important that pet owners feel comfortable coming to groups such as this to learn from others who have experience and knowledge as well about health issues. I am of the belief NO ONE knows everything about everything not even vets so doing your homework is very important and many times people do not know what are valid sites such as pet place, pet education.com etc so us who do directing them to such things is helpful just like the posts i did of videos of dogs with health issues like kennel cough, reverse sneeze, and collapsed trachea are helpful to owners that are used here all the time. Owners come here for advice and that is what they are going to get from other pet owners not vets and i think they are aware of that as no one has DVM on their signature here that i am aware of. I have said it a 100 times there is a reason we have a sick and injured section here and it is to share our experiences and what we would do if it were our dog BUT it is up to each individual owner to make that decision for their dog based on all the information they gather and that they discuss with their vet and their specialist but owners have a right to learn on these sites as well as others to make more informed decisions for their pets and not feel helpless and uneducated

check out the thread that i posted the VETS MAKE MISTAKES THAT COST PET OWNERS AND PETS - there is a reason they call it PRACTICING medicine

I would rather a vet "practice medicine" than a lay person. I do think the Sick and Injured Forum is great. I just don't like to see people being told not to listen to a vet...no matter WHAT a person thinks of vets. Or WHAT has happened to them. Surely you cannot disagree that a vet has a lot more knowledge than any of us without DVM after our names? Sure they make mistakes...BUT NOT ALL OF THEM EVERY TIME!!!!!

I have a lot of experience with many different conditions and I simply do not diagnose people's pups.

I offer links and suggest they speak with their vet.

It is simply my opinion.

I am NOT saying that people don't have good information. I just think sometimes it goes too far.

here is the link

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...pay-price.html

while it is great that some people on here have wonderful vets not everyone does and the time they figure it out is when the dog is really sick not the best time to figure out how good your vet is as most can do routine stuff but when it comes to more serious stuff that is when a specialist is in order which most people are not aware are out there who are new pet owners - we have seen it on here many times where some people do not have the best vets

i agree none of us are vets but if i know something I cannot sit back and let an owner go through something and not say something if I think it sounds off just cannot do it and it is just my opinion and what i would do with my dog and it is up to them to do what they feel is right for their dog. I look at each situation as if it were my dog and what i would do if it was mine based on what i know from educating myself for the past 6 years on this stuff. I would expect the same from anyone helping me what would you do if this was your dog and give symptoms - i gather that info from here call vet and then i do what i feel is best for my dog based on the gathering of all the info - this group as well as others are a source of gathering info but each of us ultimately will make the decision that is best for our dog. The vets can give us information and their take on a situation but again it is up to the owner of the dog to make the final decision and why education is very important.

I think it is wonderful that YT is here to help people. I also think that people on YT are more likely to make mistakes in diagnosing than vets who have SEEN the dog.

I simply am saying that we should give people the information and suggest they read and learn and then discuss with their vet.

This is all just my opinion. People do what they want to do. I gave MY advice to the OP and I hope she follows it. She can take links from here....which have not yet been posted and google, and then discuss with her vet and hopefully her pup will be just fine! :)

ok so just for fun the vet sees this dog looks at his eyes, takes his temperature, feels around a little, checks his heart - ok he saw the dog so based on seeing a liver shunt/mvd dog do you really think he is going to diagnose on seeing the dog or reading the blood work, xray, ultrasound, scintigraphy and listening to the owner describe the symptoms at home and what is going on which the owners post here explaining everything that is going on minute by minute sometimes when a dog is sick. Do you think a vet is going to spend that much time like we see owners posting here every single detail when seeing a dog in 15 minutes in an exam and moving on to next patient and the owner forgetting most of what they wanted to tell the vet -

I think there are two schools of thought going on - the old school and the new school. Some people want to come to the internet and gather information - post pics, post videos, and gather info to take to vet and do what is best and be informed when discussing with vet. Some trust their vets 100% never question. Some have good vets some do not. Everyone is different but all have a place in helping each other here.

I have personally had alot of help from vets on line and by email. Dr Dodds helps me a ton just by email - she reviews blood work, urine, fecals, etc - she does not need to see dd to see if she has a uti she can tell by the test. She did not know my dog had mvd from looking at her she knew it from reading her bats. She did not know my dog had hypothyroid until she did a full thyroid panel and i emailed her a pic of no hair on neck. I do not think either way is right or wrong it is what the owner is comfortable with and i would never discount what dr dodds does to help me as she emails me from all over the world helping me with my 3 sometimes much faster than the vet i take them in to see.

Many times it is a narrowing down process and that is what we do here is help the owner narrow down things and give our advice and what they do is up to them to decide with their vet or specialist. And all we can do is recommend based on what the owner tells us and how detailed the owner is on the post just like the vet can only tell based on how detailed the owner is from what dog is doing at home. The owner is very instrumental in the care of the dog and why i believe they should be educated and vets quite frankly usually are too busy not taking the time to go over every little detail with an owner which i think they should but reality is they do not many times.

No old school, new school at all.

Old school was the library. New school is the internet where there is a LOT of good and bad information. I use it all of the time to look up things and I often question my vet. While I have the utmost respect for her, I still question her and am always doing my own research. I do not, however, try to avoid taking my pups to see her by calling, emailing and faxing. I take them in physically so that she can see as I believe it is better than pictures.

It is good to research and discuss with your vet and THEN make a well informed decision. I totally agree.

I will not be having people diagnose my dogs without seeing them and seeing all of their labs and xrays and talking to me about what I see.

It comes down to a good vet using subjective and objective information.

Some people don't want to spend money on vets and sadly that often leads to their pups having more severe illnesses than many.

everyone has to do what is comfortable to them and sometimes 2-3 sets of eyes can help with a sick dog. Some of these yahoo groups these people are amazing when dealing with an illness and are very informative. I think people dealing with an illness on a daily basis know alot about it especially as women as we are so detailed and want to know everything about everything so most people who have a sick dog are going to analyze it to death when they care alot about their dogs.

After spending the kind of money I have spent on mine I just cannot fathom someone not wanting to do things for the money when an animal is ill. I would never do that with mine as I will do what ever to get them the best care i can find. But I will only do what i feel is necessary after I educate myself on the illness and not be pressured into something I am not comfortable with unless i 100% feel it will better the health of my dog. I will always look at the pros and cons of the entire situation and make my decision. And I will seek out others information, advice, and expertise so I can make a very informed decision.

I constantly hear how the internet is such a bad thing when I could not disagree more it is a very valuable tool if you know how to use it properly which if you see several links all read the same then you read something else that is outerspace then obviously you throw out the outerspace information.

i just give people more credit that they are coming here for information to make better choices for the health of their dog not to save a buck. If it is just to save a buck then shame on them for not getting the best care for their dog but I do think coming here can save them some money in doing things better than those of us who did not come here first to make sure we were feeding our dogs proper treats, not buying from puppymills or backyard breeders, etc. as those things will save them money with health issues.

I think it is great to come on here and get a lot of information that you can google and research.

Then, take it back to your Vet, so that the two of you can work hand in hand for the health and well being of your dog.

You will be educated, you will have intelligent questions to ask, you will have an idea about what you can expect and you can collaborate in your little one's care.

What you learn here does NOT replace your Vet; use it to work WITH your Vet.

That's my two cents!

any news on this little one