As I said...I will pray for Ava. I hope the new food helps her. :)

I was not referring to you about avoiding a vet bill. I know how much you have spent. :) It was a general statement and not personal at all.

i am hoping and praying so too that this food will be the one; it's really driving me mad :eek:

I think these groups can be okay to an extent. Personally, I have no problem with people sharing stories about similar problems and even making some recommendations.

This doesn't bother me:
"This part of the bloodwork is a little weird, so maybe you should ask your vet about doing x test. And maybe xyz drug or food would be a better option. See what your vet thinks."

This bothers me:
This part of the bloodwork is high, so it couldn't be xyz. And that drug isn't going to work. Go get xyz drug over the counter, etc.

The first one is giving suggestions. The second is practicing veterinary medicine. And the second does happen on these groups.

I don't think an internists looking at test results and trying to figure things out online is wrong as long as they direct you back to a vet that you can actually go see. That said, of all the vets I've met, I don't think any of them would ever do any of it. As one of them said, "Until I find a way to do exams over the phone or internet, you'll have to come in." lol.

Anyway, any information given by a client is probably at least slightly off anyway. Most clients don't even have the vet's notes about the exam done and/or missed things while vet was explaining. So online vet doesn't even know what was found on exam, etc.

I read and try to get information from people with experience, but the ultimate decision on what to do (even when talking about little things) is made by Ellie's vet and I together.

:thumbup::thumbup: Thank you for an excellent post! I am definitely on the same page, but did not word it as well. :)

yep sure did join GME group as i like to educate myself. Nothing wrong with learning more about what affects the maltese and yorkie breed. Learned there many times it occurs within 2 months of a dog having a vaccination like my friends maltese. Learned Dr Sisson is the expert on this as well.

Had i not joined the liver shunt group my dog would have had radioactive dye in her body from a scintigraphy she did not need. Also her thyroid would have went undetected and further dropped as vet kept saying it cannot be her thyroid why she is losing her hair on her neck. I found Dr Dodds on these groups as well who is the vaccine protocol most follow for their dogs. I would have not known about titers. I can go on and on on things that have been helpful from these groups.

You yourself are doing the same thing that goes on with these groups helping pet owners with information so how can you offer advice on one hand and then poo poo it on the other hand. Is it you think your advice is the only proper way to give people advice? Advice is Advice period there is no proper way to give it. If you think it is wrong the way people are giving advice then you should not be doing the same thing yourself.

My only challenge is my dee dee's allergies which there is no real cure for. Dex and Demi are fine and have been for years with an occassional bump in the road.

I will never understand why you put people down for trying to help their dogs with health issues and to educate themselves. It is beyond my comprehension. I do not think all people who are not in the medical profession are idiots. There are some very sharp people with sick dogs who have dealt with these illnesses 24/7 year in and year out and have learned alot from doing this as well.

I see all things on YT and on yahoogroups. I see where vets make mistakes alot too on these groups and dogs die.

I have not put anyone down. I have stated my opinions. Not going to defend myself against your accusations. No reason for that.

It is ok to disagree with me and I with you. :)

That is not putting someone down. :)

so you do not think that vets send blood work or xrays to a specialist who does not see the dog to do consultations?

Why on yt do we have in the library a list of doseages for medications?

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...g-dosages.html

that was exactly what i tried to tell you; the internist wasnt trying to diagnose or treat ava over the net; he was mearly offering suggestion and opinion. so ellie mae didn't say anything new or different than what i said.
anyway enough about this; let's go back to the original posting and get along.:D

so far ava is doing well on the prednisone back to once daily and ground turkey and oatmeal. she's pretty hungry so that's a good sign.:)

Well, that's a vet talking to another vet and that wasn't what I was talking about. This was something that could be seen on physical exam... But I don't see anything wrong with looking at bloodwork for somebody anyway.

I didn't put a list of dosages there, but I'd hope if somebody is three hours from a vet and their dog got stung, they would have help on how much Benadryl to give, etc. I would think of this as instructions in a first aid kit.

I am talking about how the information is presented. There is nothing wrong with giving all of the suggestions in the world. It's mostly in the wording (and I'm sure I've worded poorly many times). I know it isn't always fun to be so careful over wording, but anybody on the internet can read this stuff and take the advice and then whoever said to give drug xyz for abc condition has practiced vet med without a license.

Anway, I'm tired of talking about this now. lol

they can always call an ER for doseages of benedryl if they live 3 hrs away and there is more than just benedryl on that list.

I personally take all info and discuss with vet or specialist myself so I have to think most would do the same. If they are trying to just save a buck then that is on them. I do not cut corners myself when it comes to the health of my dogs or myself but i surely will educate myself for both after what i see day in and day out on groups. I will never blindly trust again.

No one on here that i know of can do mri, spinal tap, xray, etc so all we can do is say hey get to a neurologist if it looks like a neurological condition from what they are describing so how is that diagnosing a dog? If the owner goes to a neurologist then they can perform the proper tests to diagnose the dog and treat it. If they do not treat for the right condition or owner refuses to pay for the tests that is on them not us who are trying to get the owner to the right place. I guarantee you most new pet owners and even old pet owners do not know about specialists so advising them is a good thing. I know i didn't know about these until my dog got sick. Now i personally see a ims for my own health and no longer go to a general practitioner bc of it as i pay for medical and now know ims takes further schooling in medicine than a GP. Thanks to Dex i learned this and have the best doc for my own care.

also owners who have sick dogs learn to read blood work real well and sadly most vets do not really know alot about blood work as they rely on the labs to interpret it for them and why you see normal range and highs and lows so if that was not the case why would the labs put that on there?

guys please stop; every one has a different opinion about this; so we can go at it all week.
however i really don't want to hear it or read it anymore. you have all stated ur opinion and been noted.
thanks

Ok; i finally found a specialist
i made appoint for next week with internist; specialized in gastro
Oradell Animal Hospital

not cheap but i want a second opinion; consultation visit $160
diagnosis or anything else extra
that's normal right?

yes that is how much i have paid for a specialist is 160.00 for initial consult

I like that they are women too ;) I think women are much more detailed and compassionate than most men- sorry Men lol

Are you serious...:confused:

That is a normal price for a specialist, and believe me, it will be worth every penny and more.

On Thursday, I had to take Wylie to a Vet Ophthalmologist (cataract, R eye), and the initial consult was $290, not even kidding!!!!!!!!!

At the same practice, however, we've seen a Vet Derm ($130) and an Internist ($145) -- and even though the wallet says "owie", the mind is put so at ease and these specialists are just amazing!