VCA San Fransisco or UC Davis Small Animal Clinic *Pretty Urgent, please read*

[MissAlex]

Hi all,

I have no idea if this belongs here or not, but I am nervous and desperate so I'm just gonna post.
My little man, Levi, has had a persistent hacking cough for a month or so now and I am getting more and more worried each day about it. The cough definitely does not sound like a reverse sneeze, so I am pretty sure that it is either a collapsed trachea or Kennel Cough. We were able to get a shaky diagnosis of collapsing trachea from our regular vet, but Levi is so small that she was unable to tell for sure from his X-rays. being the worried mommy that I am, I am really looking for a 1000% surefire diagnosis of this cough and am willing to find a specialist to examine him. After doing a bit of searching, I was able to narrow down my vet choices to either VCA San Francisco or UC Davis Small Animal Clinic (we live about 20 minutes from San Francisco). They both have great websites but mixed reviews on Yelp and thus I am having a hard time picking one to take my little man to. That's where you guys come in. YorkieTalk is a vast pool of personal and viable knowledge when it comes to these charming little dogs and I was hoping that maybe some of you on here have had experiences with one or both of these institutions, or even some of a different vet that might be even better. I would really like to hear some opinions from you all on this before I make the appointment, and I'd like to make the appointment sometime either this or next week, so if you have anything that might help me before I do that, please, please, PLEASE let me know. I just want Levi to get better and receive the best care that he possibly can and I'd really appreciate some help in making sure that happens.

Thanks in advance and hope to hear from you all soon,
~ Alex and Levi

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi - I don't have experience with either place but just wanted to wish you the very very best in finding out what's wrong w/ your little guy. Please keep us update on how he progresses.

[gemy]

So I think you are looking for a great internal medicine specialist/department. That might help to narrow down your search.

I have heard good things about UC Davis, not so much the other facility. But then I am Canadian and do not have experience at either hospital.

The hacking cough, is it dry sounding, or phelmy? ie a productive cough or a dry cough?

Also it would be a good idea to video the cough to have with you when you go to your specialist.

Some medical stuff to remember - was he recently given a nasal Bordatella vaccine? Timing of other vaccines?
Has he been outdoors - especially around damp wet grounds. River beds, creeks, lakesides?

Timing of the coughing? After exertion - ie running chasing playing ball? Only at night? Just in the morning? Does the cough persist all day/night?

Has he or is he running a fever?

Normal appetite - elimination etc.

Anyhow just a few thoughts.

WElcome to YT - Just sad it was under these circumstances.

[TxVicki]

I know of UC Davis and I know they are good.I was just looking at VCA San Fran and by looking at the site and reading up on the Vet's, which all of them are specialists. I don't think you could go wrong with either one of them.

Praying you can get some answers on your baby.

[magicgenie]

VCA is a big national chain with first priority running up big vet bills. I think their vets are compensated by how much billing they generate. I'd go to UC Davis.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

VCA is a big national chain with first priority running up big vet bills. I think their vets are compensated by how much billing they generate. I'd go to UC Davis.

I also would go to Davis. I hope you can come back and update.

[Buster Brown]

I would go to UC Davis a teaching hospital that would be on the cutting edge of technology rather than a "chain" Vet hospital. Sending prayers and best wishes to you and Levi. Buster had a bad case of kennel cough that verged on pneumonia when he first came home so I know how scary it can be.

[MissAlex]

Hi all!

Just thought I'd give an update on Levi. Our regular vet decided to try one last antibiotic before sending us somewhere else and it got rid of the cough completely! They also got a professional to examine his x-ray and they were basically able to rule out the collapsed trachea as well! It must have just been kennel cough. Levi is now cough free and is doing great! Thanks for all of your replies.

[Buster Brown]

I am so relieved to hear the good news. Go Levi!

[CouversMom]

Phew, I'm glad to hear that he's doing well

[theporkieyorkie]

I went to the VCA near me and will never go back. First of all...they sell "packages" instead of charging u for what your dog individual needs. I went in to check for diabetes and they tried to sell me their "senior package" with a chest xray. Other than the fact that my dog has had 3 chest xrays this year, he did not need a chest xray to diagnose diabetes. He also was not due for the heart worm test that came in the package we got....but it came in the package and we had no choice to opt out of it.

Lastly, the prices were out of this world. They quoted me the cheapest package on the phone...which apparently doesn't cover diabetes testing. I paid less for blood work at my specialist than I did at the VCA.

The kicker was when I tried to buy hw/flea pills there. They have contracts with some of the companies to do it generically...supposedly to keep the cost down but I can buy name brand stuff cheaper. Their generic stuff is as overpriced as everything else is. They gave me what they said was the generic to Revolution. THANK GOD I googled it because what they really gave me was Trifexis. They did let me return the pills. I had to wait for 2 weeks for them to send me a Check for my money back.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by theporkieyorkie

I went to the VCA near me and will never go back. First of all...they sell "packages" instead of charging u for what your dog individual needs. I went in to check for diabetes and they tried to sell me their "senior package" with a chest xray. Other than the fact that my dog has had 3 chest xrays this year, he did not need a chest xray to diagnose diabetes. He also was not due for the heart worm test that came in the package we got....but it came in the package and we had no choice to opt out of it.

Lastly, the prices were out of this world. They quoted me the cheapest package on the phone...which apparently doesn't cover diabetes testing. I paid less for blood work at my specialist than I did at the VCA.

The kicker was when I tried to buy hw/flea pills there. They have contracts with some of the companies to do it generically...supposedly to keep the cost down but I can buy name brand stuff cheaper. Their generic stuff is as overpriced as everything else is. They gave me what they said was the generic to Revolution. THANK GOD I googled it because what they really gave me was Trifexis. They did let me return the pills. I had to wait for 2 weeks for them to send me a Check for my money back.

Revolution is a topical, not a pill. I would report them to the state veterinary board for misrepresentation. VCA has a program called "vethical" to offer generic drug substitutes, but they don't sound very "vethical" to me: Vethical Pet Medication and Products from VCA Animal Hospitals

[theporkieyorkie]

Since I asked for Revolution, I was expecting a topical too. I get home and open the envelope and surprise.... it's a pill. I thought that maybe they had given me the generic of sentinal instead of revolution or maybe since it was generic, it came in a pill instead of a topical....but NOPE...it was Trifexis.

When I returned the pill, I went to my other vet to pick up HW preventative. The receptionist there said that her dog almost died from Trifexis and she can't believe it's still on the market.

I think it's messed up that they are telling their clients that they made a deal with the different heart worm companies to get the medicine generically, so it would be cheaper. I am sure it is....cheaper for them....but not for the patient. Just like everything else, their generic heart worm medication is literally more expensive than if I go to my other veterinarian and buy the name brand stuff off the shelf, even if I buy them one dose at a time. I am sure lots of clients buy that BS too....because theoretically, generic is supposed to be cheaper...but in this case, it's really not.

[crazydoglade]

I've never dealt with vca but have spoken to uc davis several times. With a question on parvo and titers they even had the chief microbiologist call. Very friendly, knowledgeable and seemed to really care and follow up.