should I change vets?

[intilis]

I really dislike my local vet so have been traveling about 35 minutes to a different practice for several years. I've always been happy there before now. They have 4 docs, one I really like, 2 are ok, and one is too dismissive of issues for my taste. I always try to get an appoijtment with the one I like best, but it's not always possible.

At every visit I ask how their teeth look, and up till now i've always been told they look great, no dental needed. This year the vet I like told me Phoebe needed a cleaning. I was shocked that she lost 6 teeth! I can't help but wonder if that would have been prevented if she had a cleaning sooner (she's 3).

At Stanley's check up, the vet I DON'T like said he wasn't ready for a dental yet. He then proceeded to say, "he'll probably lose a few teeth but its not worth putting him under anesthesia at this point." I know I should have discussed that with him but I was shocked speechless. After giving it some thought, I waited a few weeks & scheduled a dental. I just said his gums were inflamed (They were) & he needed it done. He lost 3 teeth.

I'm not sure how I should react to this. Am I overreacting to the tooth loss, or were they too casual about this? I hate to start searching for a new vet, but I'm not sure I still trust them. Any advice??

[FairAngel06]

As you know, my Tiffany just got through her dental. My vet's office has two veterinarians, the owner, whom I frequently see and the one who did Tiffany's dental. The owner's been practicing since the 1960s and the other graduated from my university in the last 7 or 8 years. I saw them both and spoke with them a lot during the whole time a was trying to decide whether to do Tiffany's dental, and they both agreed that a dental was the best way to prevent other serious problems. They had been recommending a dental for about a year and half, and I put if off because of my own personal fears.

I think that since Yorkies are small, sometimes the vet takes into account when weighing the costs and benefits of a dental. Also, my vet explained that a lot of the times when it comes to pulling teeth, they often can't tell by looking at the surface. There may be minimal amount of tartar on the outside, but if the germs have found their way under the gum line, it's only a matter of time before they become loose. The only surefire way to diagnose those is through a dental xray which they cant do unless the dog is under anesthesia. Tiffany lost 8 teeth yesterday which was way more than I expected since most of her front teeth looked very white and clean. Apparently, even though the teeth looked great, the gum line had receded to the point where the roots had been exposed.

I hope this little tidbit helps. Ultimate though if you still don't feel comfortable, maybe it is time to find a new vet. No matter what the reasoning, it's important you and your baby feel at ease.

[Teresiana]

Why don't you make a short list & schedule a consultation with the ones you think you might like? That way, you get to meet someone new & see how they interact with your dogs. You can voice your concerns about your current vet & see how they react/what they have to say. Sort of like an interview. You might have to pay for an office visit, but if you find someone that you click with, it would be worth the $60. Then again, they might not even charge you. I have 4 dogs. So to me, having a good relationship with I vet that I like & trust is really important. Good luck!!

[Ellie May]

Not acceptable.
They should have been trying to prevent tooth loss.
Inflamed gums should always be taken seriously.
Dentals really should not be done without dental xray onsite.

[Samsonsfam]

HI, question about Yorkie EYES! My Sammy has the normal eye drainage... have to keep his eyes cleaned out, but in the last few days, we've noticed his eyes are getting more 'pussey' than normal. I'm not sure if it is an eye infection.

Is there a home soluction we can use to rinse his eyes and thus prevent an infection or treat the eyes if there is an infection getting started?

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Samsonsfam

HI, question about Yorkie EYES! My Sammy has the normal eye drainage... have to keep his eyes cleaned out, but in the last few days, we've noticed his eyes are getting more 'pussey' than normal. I'm not sure if it is an eye infection.

Is there a home soluction we can use to rinse his eyes and thus prevent an infection or treat the eyes if there is an infection getting started?

Eyes are nothing to mess around with. If you baby has "Pussey" eye's. he needs to see a vet and the sooner the better. If an infection is going on, if left untreated you are risking your baby possibly having his sight impaired or loosing his sight.

[Samsonsfam]

Thanks...I'll contact our vet about it.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Eyes are nothing to mess around with. If you baby has "Pussey" eye's. he needs to see a vet and the sooner the better. If an infection is going on, if left untreated you are risking your baby possibly having his sight impaired or loosing his sight.

Originally Posted by Samsonsfam

Thanks...I'll contact our vet about it.

Definitely see the vet and don't try any over-the-counter solutions which can make things worse. Yellow and green discharge should be seen immediately by the vet. Excessive tearing, squinting, redness of the white part of the eye, swelling.

If the discharge is white or clear, look for hair in the eyes. If it continues, then see the vet.

[Britster]

I find that quite a few vets seem to be somewhat nonchalant about teeth. Jackson had a dental in April of this year, and the vet never really pushed it on us, I was the one who asked. She told me it could have waited but it was really good that I was being proactive and that it was definitely worth doing. I guess a lot of people probably balk at the thought of getting a dogs teeth cleaned. I know my dad thought I was crazy ... Who gets dogs teeth cleaned?!? That's his mentality anyway, and a lot of people I know in that age range just remember that their dogs growing up always had fine teeth (so they say). Also, a lot of vets don't specialize in small breeds and know that they're often more prone to tooth decay, loss, etc. And Jackson did not even have to have any teeth pulled. He will be 5 this year.

[Samsonsfam]

The discharge is whitish... there is no redness or swelling or squinting or swelling. I called my vet.. She says it is most likely weather/allergy related. Rinse with warm water and give 1/2 dropper of children's benedryl to him a couple of times a day. She said if the drainage stops or gets better or slows down then it was what she thought.

So we gave him some..we had some when he had his last shot to prevent the discomfort he felt (he's quite a baby!!)

So I believe I have a solution..maybe this can help others too.

THANKS AGAIN!!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Eyes are nothing to mess around with. If you baby has "Pussey" eye's. he needs to see a vet and the sooner the better. If an infection is going on, if left untreated you are risking your baby possibly having his sight impaired or loosing his sight.

I had to take Jackson in for this a few months ago. It was more than normal. Very goopy. Almost reminded me of pink eye. An antibiotic drop was prescribed and cleared it up in a few days. But she told me it was very important not to use those drops if it comes up again, without coming to the vet first, as if it's an ulcer or something else, it could make him lose his sight. I agree that eyes are not something to be messed with.

[Cherie6446]

My vet has been bugging me for over a year to get Zoey's teeth cleaned. I have an appointment for Zoey and Jackson this next Wed. My biggest concern is Zoey barfs if her stomach is empty. She must eat a light dinner and eat no later than 7:15 in the am or up comes the nasty stinky bile. I am concerned that she could asperate during the procedure. I will, of course, mention this when I take them in. I just hate the idea of her being put under. Scary.
As to your quesstion about getting a new vet - I would discuss with him that I was disappointed that your little one lost so many teeth and that dental was not recommended sooner. A little scolding is a good thing. Then I would ask around about another vet.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Cherie6446

My vet has been bugging me for over a year to get Zoey's teeth cleaned. I have an appointment for Zoey and Jackson this next Wed. My biggest concern is Zoey barfs if her stomach is empty. She must eat a light dinner and eat no later than 7:15 in the am or up comes the nasty stinky bile. I am concerned that she could asperate during the procedure. I will, of course, mention this when I take them in. I just hate the idea of her being put under. Scary.
As to your quesstion about getting a new vet - I would discuss with him that I was disappointed that your little one lost so many teeth and that dental was not recommended sooner. A little scolding is a good thing. Then I would ask around about another vet.

The endotracheal tube stops aspiration.

[Cherie6446]

I've seen the video of that tube with a bulb. Does that stop fluid from the stomach entering the lungs?