Veterinarian Rant & Questions

[Faboosh]

Forgive me for being frustrated, I'm royally confused about this.

Billi has gone to 3 different Vets now & all 3 have been crap. They either don't know anything about her breed, aren't concerned for her health & well-being or are trying to rip me off because they think being a concerned puppy-parent automatically means I'll throw $$$ at any Doctor who asks.

The most recent doctor was for her spay. I don't trust doctor number 2 with her because her and her staff make me feel like an obsessive jackhole because I've called twice about Billi vomiting (strangely enough, I found the answer to her problem right here on YT! ) So since she's now over 6 months and getting her spayed is a priority for me, I'm trying to find a qualified and reputable Vet who can do that for us. I went to this new Vet I was referred to by a friend.

The guy could barely speak English, which is fine in general, but I don't want language barriers to be an issue should something come up emergency-wise. What offended me was that he kept contracting himself in an obvious attempt to rip me off. He tells me that Billi at 6 1/2 months only weighs 2 lbs 11 oz, so she's itty-bitty! I asked him about her teeth because I only want to put her under once for her spay and dentals. He tells me she only has 2 adult teeth so far can't tell me anything about when/if the rest of her teeth WILL come in, but keeps trying to get me to schedule her spay ASAP because "anesthesia is much safer now. You can put her under many times, no problem." What the?

When I brought up an issue with Billi's anal glands and asked about switching her diet, he says "Well if that doesn't work, you can always have them removed" Like it's no big deal to put a less than 3 pound puppy under multiple times and remove things on a whim!

When I checked his "estimate" for her spay, the low end was $350 including $60 for a microchip. The high end was $570 including removal of 3 teeth max at $40 each. When I brought up that a lot of yorkies need more than 3 teeth removed, he asked me where I heard that from and made me feel like I was crazy. So if she needs 6 teeth pulled is that a total of $240 on top of her spay? He couldn't answer me.

So I'm frustrated. I left his office with more questions than answers and really worried about finding her a good Vet now. If I can't trust my own friends recommendations (and yelp reviews!), then how do I find a good Doctor??

And when will her adult teeth come in?

[Britster]

Oh man!! I am sorry, that really sucks. I don't often trust review sites because a lot of times it is people that either think the cheapest vet is 'the best' or the more expensive vet is 'the best!' lol... and ppl that just want basic care but don't care much otherwise. With you being in CA, I would think you would have a lot of options. Maybe google and find a bunch and go drive by and walk in and ask some questions and see how you feel??

[sandy simpson]

A good vet will answer your questions politely or the tech will ask the vet and call you back. Remember these vets do not really study nutrition so I wonder about their recommendations for food. You make the decisions for your dog. I study the foods and if I do not want a certain flea med I say no thank you. I studied all the flea products and wound up using Revolution. My dogs did great on it. Triflexis they would have vomited. You study, you decide, you pray to find the right vet who really loves animals.

[Faboosh]

Originally Posted by Britster

With you being in CA, I would think you would have a lot of options. Maybe google and find a bunch and go drive by and walk in and ask some questions and see how you feel??

There's almost too many options! Especially since I'm willing to drive a ways for a good Dr. I love your idea about driving by and walking in. Hopefully they'll let me meet the Vet if I do that?

Originally Posted by sandy simpson

You study, you decide, you pray to find the right vet who really loves animals.

Gosh, there's so much to study! Thank goodness for Yorkie Talk, this site has been there for me more than any of these Vets and then some. Guess I got some more reading to do!


Anyone know about the adult teeth tho? Where are they?

[Maximo]

Remove the anal glands?! Run as fast as you can from this vet. That should only be done if medically necessary.

The cost quoted for the spay is very reasonable, but the price of removing baby teeth is outrageous. Should be no more than $10 a tooth, unless there is an unusual situation.

Max did not have all of his adult teeth at 6 months when he was neutered. He had to have 5 baby teeth removed.

You could try looking for an AAHA vet in your area. They are not always the best (the one in our area is not), but that is where I would still start looking for the right vet to take care of your little girl.

AAHA Healthy Pet | Pet Hospital Search

[Maximo]

More on teeth -- usually you find the baby teeth when they come out, but sometimes the dog swallows them. Since Billi is so small, you may have missed them.

I can identify baby teeth by the sharpness. They are like needles. Dogs who retain baby teeth while their adult teeth grow in will have a clearly visible double row of teeth.

[Faboosh]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Remove the anal glands?! Run as fast as you can from this vet. That should only be done if medically necessary.

The cost quoted for the spay is very reasonable, but the price of removing baby teeth is outrageous. Should be no more than $10 a tooth, unless there is an unusual situation.

Max did not have all of his adult teeth at 6 months when he was neutered. He had to have 5 baby teeth removed.

You could try looking for an AAHA vet in your area. They are not always the best (the one in our area is not), but that is where I would still start looking for the right vet to take care of your little girl.

AAHA Healthy Pet | Pet Hospital Search

I felt like the quote was reasonable at first- $60 for the chip seemed steep. $40 per tooth was outrageous. When I saw $70 for laser stitches or whatever they called it on the "high end" estimate, I started getting mad. They were just throwing in things that hadn't been discussed and when I asked about it, instead of explaining what things were they said "oh we can remove that". Why add anything that isn't being discussed? I'm here for x, x & x. If you want to add others, talk to me about it.

Thank you for the suggestion about AAHA. I've never heard of it before, but I'll def. start my research now!

Originally Posted by Maximo

More on teeth -- usually you find the baby teeth when they come out, but sometimes the dog swallows them. Since Billi is so small, you may have missed them.

I can identify baby teeth by the sharpness. They are like needles. Dogs who retain baby teeth while their adult teeth grow in will have a clearly visible double row of teeth.

Apparently all she has are baby teeth. Some of her baby molars have fallen out, but with the exception of her 2 adult canines, there's either no teeth or baby teeth and he couldn't give me a timeframe for when the adults would arrive. I told him I'd like to wait for them before I do her spay and that's when he told me it's no big deal to put her under repeatedly.

Sort of as a test I asked him about her anal glands, to see what he'd say. When he suggested removing them, I got mad, paid the $40 visit fee and walked out.

[Ellie May]

Some of what he said I'd be ok with and some not so much.

As Brit said, rebiew sites are very often wrong. And I love my friends buf unless they happen to be vets or techs they give the worst advice on good vets.

Good offices will let you s schedule a tour. Then take pup in for meeting appt. Weed out bad vets by asking some surgical protocol questions and such over the phone.

[mimimomo]

You know what's funny, I've been going to my vet ever since my pups were puppies & they have the best reasonable prices (not anymore, they raised their prices) & the most positive reviews...I decided to switch bc they seemed out of date, kinda old fashioned/ not up to recent treatments, equipment etc. & some of their staff are rude (or maybe they just don't like me). Last time I had Turbo's ear hair pulled there & the vet techs left his ear all bloody inside & didn't even wash his anal excretions...yes, he actually sprayed them, good boy loll! That was our last & final visit.

So I went to another vet which happens to be closer to me, since I moved. Anyway, they're more expensive & have bad reviews (more so bc of the higher price), but I love it! The vet is so much more attentive & thorough, doesn't rush me or make me feel like I'm asking too many questions (I ask a ton of questions, I actually take a list w/me!) & their staff is awesome. They're also very up to date, advanced in their equipment & treatments, like laser therapy (which I've never heard of). So I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't go by reviews alone, some reviews can be from personal bad experience(s) that you might not get to experience @ all. GL.

[ShowGirlLola]

Lola is 6 months and she has a lot of adult teeth, most of the front ones are in but I'm not sure about the back.
The adult teeth aren't serrated and they touch, the baby teeth had gaps. It took a few days to a week for the adult teeth to pop up.
I've found about 4 of her baby teeth. She plays with them and swallows them usually lol. That's how I found the ones I did, I thought she had something bad.

I'm waiting until all the baby teeth are out or can be pulled to get her spayed.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Faboosh

Forgive me for being frustrated, I'm royally confused about this.

Billi has gone to 3 different Vets now & all 3 have been crap. They either don't know anything about her breed, aren't concerned for her health & well-being or are trying to rip me off because they think being a concerned puppy-parent automatically means I'll throw $$$ at any Doctor who asks.

The most recent doctor was for her spay. I don't trust doctor number 2 with her because her and her staff make me feel like an obsessive jackhole because I've called twice about Billi vomiting (strangely enough, I found the answer to her problem right here on YT! ) So since she's now over 6 months and getting her spayed is a priority for me, I'm trying to find a qualified and reputable Vet who can do that for us. I went to this new Vet I was referred to by a friend.

The guy could barely speak English, which is fine in general, but I don't want language barriers to be an issue should something come up emergency-wise. What offended me was that he kept contracting himself in an obvious attempt to rip me off. He tells me that Billi at 6 1/2 months only weighs 2 lbs 11 oz, so she's itty-bitty! I asked him about her teeth because I only want to put her under once for her spay and dentals. He tells me she only has 2 adult teeth so far can't tell me anything about when/if the rest of her teeth WILL come in, but keeps trying to get me to schedule her spay ASAP because "anesthesia is much safer now. You can put her under many times, no problem." What the?

When I brought up an issue with Billi's anal glands and asked about switching her diet, he says "Well if that doesn't work, you can always have them removed" Like it's no big deal to put a less than 3 pound puppy under multiple times and remove things on a whim!

When I checked his "estimate" for her spay, the low end was $350 including $60 for a microchip. The high end was $570 including removal of 3 teeth max at $40 each. When I brought up that a lot of yorkies need more than 3 teeth removed, he asked me where I heard that from and made me feel like I was crazy. So if she needs 6 teeth pulled is that a total of $240 on top of her spay? He couldn't answer me.

So I'm frustrated. I left his office with more questions than answers and really worried about finding her a good Vet now. If I can't trust my own friends recommendations (and yelp reviews!), then how do I find a good Doctor??

And when will her adult teeth come in?

The adult teeth should have come in already. I had Bella spayed at 7 months, and not only did she have all of her adult teeth in, the vet only had to remove two baby canines. Maybe Billi's teeth are coming in slowly because of her small size? Either that, or your vet doesn't know what he's talking about and it's time to find a new vet. With a Yorkie that small, you might be able to wait longer until you get her spayed--maybe until 8 months--or you could wait until after her first heat providing you can keep her away from male dogs during that time. But definitely find another vet!

[LoALAnna]

Originally Posted by Faboosh

So I'm frustrated. I left his office with more questions than answers and really worried about finding her a good Vet now. If I can't trust my own friends recommendations (and yelp reviews!), then how do I find a good Doctor??

I would recommend Angie's List! It is very reliable and gives you a chance to review your experience, too.

[Verbena]

I would definitely find another vet. Galen had 17 puppy teeth out and I did not get charged any more then if he had 4 teeth out what they thought in the estimate. A lot of people do not like my vet because he is a little higher priced but he tells me like it is. He knows what kind of person I am and he doesn't sugar coat anything for me. Rosencrantz had a cold. I brought him in. And few days later Guildenstern was brought in with the same thing. He did not charge me for the visit. So I may pay a little more but he does give breaks. I would go online and check where there is some vets. I would also ask some people when I shop at the pet store. Good luck

[Faboosh]

Originally Posted by Verbena

I would definitely find another vet. Galen had 17 puppy teeth out and I did not get charged any more then if he had 4 teeth out what they thought in the estimate. A lot of people do not like my vet because he is a little higher priced but he tells me like it is. He knows what kind of person I am and he doesn't sugar coat anything for me. Rosencrantz had a cold. I brought him in. And few days later Guildenstern was brought in with the same thing. He did not charge me for the visit. So I may pay a little more but he does give breaks. I would go online and check where there is some vets. I would also ask some people when I shop at the pet store. Good luck

See and I'd be willing to go to a more pricey vet (two of these 3 were), so long as they're reasonable and I'm getting my monies worth. The 2nd vet I had to leave cuz any concern I had meant I'm leaving with a $50+ prescription . If Dr. #3 could have justified some of the charges he was making, fine, I can live with it... but when I mentioned some yorkies need more than 3 teeth removed, he looked at me like I was crazy and said "who told you that? 3 is the worst case!" Oh really!!

Originally Posted by LoALAnna

I would recommend Angie's List! It is very reliable and gives you a chance to review your experience, too.

I had not thought of Angie's List, thank you for bringing that to mind! I'll give that a look

Originally Posted by pstinard

The adult teeth should have come in already. I had Bella spayed at 7 months, and not only did she have all of her adult teeth in, the vet only had to remove two baby canines. Maybe Billi's teeth are coming in slowly because of her small size? Either that, or your vet doesn't know what he's talking about and it's time to find a new vet. With a Yorkie that small, you might be able to wait longer until you get her spayed--maybe until 8 months--or you could wait until after her first heat providing you can keep her away from male dogs during that time. But definitely find another vet!

I've checked her mouth a few times & thought for sure she's been teething, since she loves to chew, loves ice & bully sticks, etc. But I've noticed she has a huge gap between her molars and front teeth. I figured the rest of her teeth were adults by now and those middle teeth were on their way... Either this doc is totally off, or she really has no big girl teeth yet. He wouldn't tell me when to expect them, but I'm hoping her tiny size is delaying it. Which would delay a spay, which annoys me more cuz he was pushing for it ASAP so much!

[lovespandp]

Oh ok you are way up north, I was trying to figure out where Roseville was- I never heard of it.
You have to trust your gut. Do you have any family members or friends that can suggest a Vet for you?