[luvmylabs23139]

Is it just me or does this sound kinda strange? I took Shadow to the vet today for her annual visit and shots. We went and checked in at the desk, had our weigh in and then were sent to our exam room. Vet tech, or vet asst, comes in , still normal, checks her temp. fine, and gives her the Bordetella vaccine. OK still normal stuff. Asks me the usual questions, Any vomiting, runs, coughing fleas etc etc etc. Then she asks me if I have noticed any lameness or stiffness in her back end. Huh????? Shadow will be 5 in April. She is in working condition and has no history of such things. When the vet came in she asked me the same question. When the vet asked me I was like what is she limping???????? NO was the vet answer. I thought the whole thing was really odd for a dog who is not over weight and to me is in the prime of her life. They also asked me if she was spayed. Ummm yes, it is in her records (they performed the surgery!) Oh in addition they did Shadow's OFA's. They saw the xrays although they do not have the results, I do. She is OFA excellent. I am honestly really puzzled by some of this stuff.
As the full time dog Mom in our house I am the main vet visit person for all of the dogs whether they be a conformation dog or one of hubby's field dogs. I thought the whole thing was rather strange.

 

[okvet]

I don't see anything wrong with trying to get a good history--they might ask this for all middle aged dogs. Probably not the norm but we do see a lot of middle aged dogs that are starting to have arthritic problems. They might have just suggested some further diagnostics or were going to recommend a joint supplement for your dog to help prevent or slow down progression of arthritis. I'd probably be happy that they were doing a good physical and trying to get a good history.

 

[MaLabhuntr]

Honestly I will bet dollars to donuts that they see so many Labs with hip,elbow, and knee problems that they just assume all of them are problematic. I can honestly say in 6yrs of taking 2 seperate dogs to my vet that there has never not been a Lab in there that hasn't had or is getting evaluated for a hip or knee problem

 

[2tall]

I'm going through a similar "reality check" with my vet of choice. He told me he could do a simple xray to satisfy me that all was well with hips and elbows. Has looked at many, dog too young to get clearances, but breeder only gave 22 month guarantee. Ok, thats fine, but his office called the other day and said his xrays were in. I havent taken him there yet!!!! I dont want to drop my vet, he has been great iin the past, but how could he confuse my dog with another???? Always ask lots and lots of questions.

 

[MaLabhuntr]

My vet asked me if I was interested in sedating my 4 mos old Drahthaar to check and see how his hips looked :roll: I asked her if she was serious @ 4mos :?: She was not the tech I normally but I certainly will be getting back to her once her new practice opens. It kind of follows along the lines of Petco selling $ 1.00 a pound feed it makes for an easy target with the uninformed, heck sedative and X ray is good for business if they hook 2 clients a day :wink:

 

[Guest]

Actually, I think it's a great idea to do the interrogation like they did. Seems like they might not have looked over your chart really well to see the spay...

BUT... Most vets just speed-vaccine and the dog's out of there. Yes, they make more money off spay/neuter/xrays. BUT the general public is really uneducated about this stuff. I would have discussed with the vet and tech at each time they asked these questions.

I advise my boarding and obedience dog clients to get x-rays done on working breeds where dysplasia is prevalent, especially if they do a lot of running and activity. It's just for the well-being of the dog.

And, again, yes they will make more money off x-rays, but educating the client is important also. And it would be nice if every average retriever owner had a basic understanding of this stuff...

-K

 

[Gina]

No offense to any of the vets on this list, but I've had a few vets try to milk some extras out me me over the years. They always want to clean and flush ears that are squeaky clean (all Labs have ear problems I guess huh?) They might be trying to sell more pain meds since the NSAIDs for dogs have been such huge hits. After a neuter, my dog developed incontinence issues. They told me it was stones and said I'd have to feed the science diet urinary tract food ( think it was K/D?) for the rest of his life. I asked to see the paper work to determine what type of crystals they were and they wouldn't show it to me. I changed vets.

 

[Guest]

No offense to any of the vets on this list, but I've had a few vets try to milk some extras out me me over the years. They always want to clean and flush ears that are squeaky clean (all Labs have ear problems I guess huh?) They might be trying to sell more pain meds since the NSAIDs for dogs have been such huge hits. After a neuter, my dog developed incontinence issues. They told me it was stones and said I'd have to feed the science diet urinary tract food ( think it was K/D?) for the rest of his life. I asked to see the paper work to determine what type of crystals they were and they wouldn't show it to me. I changed vets.

I agree these vets exist. But I also think there are vets that are just pushing folks through. I wish some of them did more education. They'd probably make more money THAT way...

 

[Josh Conrad]

I make my vet earn his money. LOL. I ask him just about everything I can think of. Last time I was in there, i Qed him on CNM and EIC. He had never heard of either of them. :shock: I sent him the links.

I usually bring both of my dogs in at the same time and we end up spending an hr talking and looking at the dogs. I really like the guys i see. I have asked them some Q's in the past and they have left the room and went to their offices to get a book. Brought the book back and we both looked up the Answer.

You should have asked them why they were asking the questions?

 

[dreamer2385]

It just goes to show that we must pay attention, and point things out to the vet. I don't care for the ones who don't listen to you when you think you know what is wrong. My last vet visit with my retired golden, who was 7 when something like this. She is sick, urination is frequent, and darker than usual. I think she may have a UTI, or she may be starting pyo.. No way he said.. A few days later,she does indeed have a UTI.. but I call back , the discharge is now pinker, and smelly.. She must have pyo. no says the vet , she will be fine.. a few day later, fever goes up to 105, and discharge is profuse. He is now out on farm calls. This is an emergency at this point.. I take her to another vet, who promises immediate surgery,late at night. I call next day to see how things went.. We didnt operate yet,, what are you nuts, she is dying for god's sake.. He waits till afternoon to spay her.. then insists i come down to get her right after surgery. Luckily she survived. But we then had to go to another vet who said who did the stitches, they are horrible. More meds for infection, and back for a check up to see if we needed to re open her to ck for more infection. No,we were okay then.. She is okay now. But there are two vets that will never see me again. I insisted it was pyo. but he insisted it wasnt. I know, long story, the vet topic hit me hard... what did they do, sleep through vet school?? Maria

 

[RemsBPJasper]

I'm with ACEBLDRS. My vet definitely earns his keep lol. And I'm in there enough everyone knows me and my pup by name (kind of sad). My vet had been practicing 6 yrs when I started going to him. He's thorough, he makes sure that if I have questions they get answered, etc. He is my primary vet above the other, more experienced, vets there. He wasn't aware of the late spay/neuter studies so I sent him links and he posted on the vet forum and emailed me back their discussions.

I agree that it seems like they were being thorough, but personally I like to see one vet and I like that he knows my dog's history without flipping through his way too long file. I know it's hard when the vets have a lot of patients to remember everyone exactly but I guess that's one good thing about having a sick dog is they remember you! lol, bad joke. Anyways, I'm really lucky to have the vet and the clinic I do.

Kourtney

 

[ksubigbuck]

I must be lucky. My vet is a "farm vet" and he is great...and he loves my pup!

 

[DEDEYE]

I love my vet. I have been with him since 1985. He has taken care of 3 of my old dogs, helped me through their deaths from old age and cancer. Given exams to my kids ferrets, hedgehogs, chinchilla, lizzards etc. He has never tried to "milk" me for money. I even have a handler friend who named her dog after him. Now he listens to my stories of beginner handler glory and makes sure my dog is in great medical shape. Maybe the people who feel that their vets are just in it for the money should get new vets, or walk in the shoes of one......

Or, maybe I just have the exception to the rule......

 

[Hidden Valley]

x

My FORMER vet was just the opposite.
I had a dog in heat and was breeding her. He had done several smears on her and she was getting close. So I asked him to do a prog. test on her. He stopped what he was doing, turned and said "if you want a prog. test done, find another vet". So I found another vet. He said he has perfected smears and doesn't need a test. He also says anyone who requires a bruc. test before breeding is an idiot. "Have you ever seen brucelossis" he asked.

 

[NateB]

It makes me cringe when I read these stories but we see the same type of issues from a few vets around here. Some people just make a mistake but then there are others that are just out to make money and some just idiots. Where I do take issue is where someone says something like...

"Most vets just speed-vaccine and the dog's out of there. Yes, they make more money off spay/neuter/xrays."

Please do not use the term MOST VETS. That groups people who really DO a good physical exam in with those who just push shots. By the way neuters and spays are NOT big profit makers. Neither are vaccines, the real money is made in the exam room, finding dental disease, ear disease, and a ton of other stuff that many owners do not know exists. Then educating the owner as to why it is important to treat and what to watch out for. Educated owners find the issues earlier, and get in sooner and are more willing to do the testing and procedures to prevent problems, and have a better understand to the possible risks and outcomes. Preventative medicine is where it is at.

I really get a pain when some arrogant SOB gets ticks off to a clients questioning tests/treatments. I WANT my clients involved and these people just need to find a job where they can not be in a situation where they have to explain themselves. And the guy who has perfected vaginal smears, DON"T MAKE ME LAUGH. I would have laughed in his face. What an a$$.

 

[dreamer2385]

strange vet visit

i read this topic again with interest. I have even been to Cornell in the middle of the night. Once I was screamed at for just asking a question. They were mad, and thought i was questioning their treatment. All i was asking is what the treatment was, and how it worked.. I was not questioning it, just didnt understand at the time. i was younger then, and was so taken back ..
I have a few vets that i like. But I dont care for the vets who tell people that it isn't really necessary to clear hips/elbows/eyes/hearts if you want to breed!! I couldn't believe it. This person did get his golden bred to a "breeder" who had some top show goldens.. He couldn't sell the litter, wonder why??
I like to be able to ask questions when needed.. and not think i am telling them what to do. In my case, this almost cost me my golden gal's life.. I hope everyone truly finds a vet they can depend on. It is so important.maria

 

[SueLab]

I will have to say that my "family vet" is one of the best! I trust his diagnosis and if he does not know, he sends you to a specialist. He is conservative with vacinations and actually is a "lab guy" but not competition.

He primarily sees house pet dogs, so when he didn't know about speargrass being inhaled, I could understand it. With my dog's second incident with speargrass, he trusted that I was right, put her under and in fact, found it in her tonsils.

All I really want is to have a vet who tries to do his best, can talk to me (although many are much better with the animals than people), will genuinely listen to me, and if he does not feel qualified, will refer me to someone that he thinks is.

He has gone into the office at 2-3am to check on a dog that jumped off a 4 story parking ramp and called the owner with updates (my son).

I hope that he does not retire before I do :lol:

 

[Guest]

It makes me cringe when I read these stories but we see the same type of issues from a few vets around here. Some people just make a mistake but then there are others that are just out to make money and some just idiots. Where I do take issue is where someone says something like...

"Most vets just speed-vaccine and the dog's out of there. Yes, they make more money off spay/neuter/xrays."

Please do not use the term MOST VETS. That groups people who really DO a good physical exam in with those who just push shots. By the way neuters and spays are NOT big profit makers. Neither are vaccines, the real money is made in the exam room, finding dental disease, ear disease, and a ton of other stuff that many owners do not know exists. Then educating the owner as to why it is important to treat and what to watch out for. Educated owners find the issues earlier, and get in sooner and are more willing to do the testing and procedures to prevent problems, and have a better understand to the possible risks and outcomes. Preventative medicine is where it is at.

I really get a pain when some arrogant SOB gets ticks off to a clients questioning tests/treatments. I WANT my clients involved and these people just need to find a job where they can not be in a situation where they have to explain themselves. And the guy who has perfected vaginal smears, DON"T MAKE ME LAUGH. I would have laughed in his face. What an a$$.

I'm sorry... I'm used to talking about our area to my boarding/obedience clients. I've been a couple of clinics set up for speed and didn't like it at all. EFFICIENCY, YES. Speed, no. I took a client dog to a vet for them -- the first time I did it, last time I'm going to do it -- no introduction, nothing, just looked at the dog, took it back for a 2-minute $40 "ear cleaning", etc. etc. Many of the vets in "town" are like this. Ask field people in the area, it's hard to find a general practitioner that really understands OFA... It's kind of sad.

Sorry I generalized. It's based on feedback I get from my clients and I don't want to make the profession look bad, that's for sure.

-K

 

[NateB]

I'm sorry... I'm used to talking about our area to my boarding/obedience clients. I've been a couple of clinics set up for speed and didn't like it at all. EFFICIENCY, YES. Speed, no. I took a client dog to a vet for them -- the first time I did it, last time I'm going to do it -- no introduction, nothing, just looked at the dog, took it back for a 2-minute $40 "ear cleaning", etc. etc. Many of the vets in "town" are like this. Ask field people in the area, it's hard to find a general practitioner that really understands OFA... It's kind of sad.

Sorry I generalized. It's based on feedback I get from my clients and I don't want to make the profession look bad, that's for sure.

-K

Kristie,
I was not trying to single you out, I have seen "similar" comments elsewhere and thought it would make a good example. That is why I did not quote you. Since you and your husband are now "one of the family" you will begin to see the generalizations hit home a bit more. But it does sounds as if there is a significant need in your area, so that could be a great opportunity for Joey to set up in an area that needs some quailty. You are correct it is very sad.

Of course I have no idea what his professional goals are, just see an opportunity. Would have a ready client base with all the folks you must know. Whatever, wish him good luck for me. I have been at this for 25 years now, very hard to believe. If there is any advice I can give be sure to ask.

 

[lennie]

I like my Vet, she has learned over the years, that I am not just a "pet" owner. She knows that if I do not like the course of treatment, that I want a referral to a specialist. Esp. because she is really just a family practioner. She is a "family" vet, most of the dogs she sees are "pets", she knows little about performance injuries. Over the years, I have educated her on many issues, Cold tail, toe injuries, heart conditions. . She never takes offense if I ask questions, or show her internet articles on CNM and EIC etc. Usually she thanks me for bringing it to her attention. She joked with me last time that I am her "continuing education". But I know she has limitations, I am just glad she works with me.