When I posted about the rash on Sampson’s stomach, I asked you, “How do you handle it when your vet tells you something but your gut tells you something else?”
In your responses some of you said, find a new vet.
While I am not opposed to finding a new vet (she’s the second one I’ve had with Sampson) I really do like and trust my vet.
As it turns out, my vet was right about the stomach rash not being a side-effect of the Meloxicam. She was right and I was wrong.
Since I asked your opinion, I wanted to share with you the conversation I had with my vet during Sampson’s visit on Thursday night, which only reinforces to me, exactly WHY I love my vet so much.
After she diagnosed Sampson with a bacterial skin infection on his stomach, we discussed some other issues weighing on my mind.
I can smell her, she’s just on the other side of this door. Come in Dr. Soutter, come in!
I’ll allow you to do this, but you will give me rubbies after right? And cookies, I definitely need rubbies and cookies.
Meloxicam and it’s side-effects in dogs.
My vet says Meloxicam has different side-effects in humans than it has in dogs.
It has been used for over ten years in dogs, in countries all over the world; blistering is NOT a known side-effect.
It is hard to get the correct dose of Rimadyl (another anti-inflammatory) in a dog Sampson’s size. However, he is the perfect size for dosing with Meloxicam.
Dental Cleaning
I read an article in Reader’s Digest a few months back, it was called “50 Things Your Vet Won’t Tell You.” I fully planned to write a post about it, but it just never seems to come together. One of the things cited in the article said, many vets still perform procedures they know are painful without making your pet comfortable first. Me being me, you can imagine that I freaked out.
Sampson just turned eight, he’s getting to the age where dental cleanings are recommended. I wanted to be sure when the time came, that he would not be in any pain or discomfort.
She looked at his teeth and said he has relatively little tartar, but he does have the beginnings of gingivitis. She would recommend a cleaning before it gets too out of control. She’s having surgery on her shoulder at the end of the month, and will be out of commission for a few months.
We agreed we will schedule his cleaning for spring.
I asked her about anesthesia and whether they put the dog out, proper pain medication etc. I explained about the article I’d read.
She told me she knows of vets that simply hold a dog down and clean its teeth and she does not agree with it. Her practice is on top of current recommended pain medications, she assured me he will be fully anesthetized and properly medicated for pain relief.
Vaccination
Sampson is due for his Leptospirosis at the end of the month. The vet we saw two weeks ago said it would be fine to give him the vaccine a bit early.
Once we suspected he had an infection I decided I wouldn’t give him the vaccine if his immune system is compromised.
I was fully prepared to do battle.
I told my vet, I don’t want to give him his Lepto vaccine if he’s fighting infection.
She said, I agree. Let’s have a recheck in two weeks, we can make a decision then.
I’m really in agreement with you, if you don’t mesh with your vet, if you aren’t comfortable with the answers or the service they are giving you, you should definitely find another vet.
But sometimes, sometimes they are right.
Oh and here’s a picture of Sampson’s tummy after a couple of days of using Aloe on it.
Poor little puppy.
I think it looks a little bit better. What do you think?
It deffinitely looks better! I’m very glad your vet was right.
🙂
Me too and I am very glad what we are doing is making it feel better!
I can’t even imagine holding a dog down and cleaning the teeth. For one thing they can charge more and have happier owners and dogs if they put the dog in lala land for a while. I guess that is actually three things.
As my vet pointed out with the dog asleep, she actually has two hands to work with and she doesn’t have to worry about losing a finger, never mind the trauma to the dog. 🙁
I’m glad you have a good relationship with your vet. She sounds a lot like our vet.
Is she as young as she looks in her photos? I’m thinking my vet is four or five years out of school, which I really like. She’s had experience, but she’s also still up on all the newest things.
I really have no idea how old she is…I do know one of her dogs is twelve, but that actually might not be helpful…:-) I would put her in her early 30’s.
I think a good relationship with your vet is so important. Exactly what I expected from my pediatrician.
Sounds like your vet and mine were cut from the same cloth. I love our vet — found him when our previous vet retired about 12 years ago and he was her weekend backup. Back then I still had my sweet small mini poodle. When old age caught up with her and we had to put her down, he was very supportive and sympathetic to the point of sending a sympathy card. And with the Golden Retriever breed being SO susceptible to so many canine cancers, he takes the time to give my Golden Girls thorough physical exams whenever I bring them in for even “just” an ear infection.
My vet will look at anything when I bring them in. I sprung, ‘can you express her glands’ on her and she does it without a blink. She will also clip their nails, etc.
It makes me feel good to hear vets are paying special attention and looking out for known illness with particular breeds. Sounds like you’ve got a good one!
I do hope Sampson’s rash clears up soon 🙂
Thanks Avis, I feel like it’s getting better every day.
I love our vet too – she listens and doesn’t make me feel like I am not part of my pups care.
Sam
I think that’s awesome, I like how my vet gives me the information I need, but allows me to make the decisions, of course she guides me but if I say no, she doesn’t push.
Yes, Sampson’s tummy does look somewhat better, so the Aloe must be working, thank goodness. Sounds like you have a good vet and you obviously have a great relationship with her – always a good thing for a pet owner.
Hope Sampson continues to improve.
I think the antibiotic is beginning to work and the Aloe is helping soothe the area so he’s less likely to pick or scratch at it. 🙂
Yes having a good relationship with your vet is key. 🙂
Hey Sampson, Hey Delilah, Jetty here. Hi Miss Jodi.
Your vet sounds really open minded and open-hearted. Glad you asked the questions. As you know, Mom’s stayed with Dr. Schaffer for about 25 years and drives to the end of the earth to see him. It’s important to feel comfortable asking tough questions.
Dr. S always uses anesthesia during dentals, has since Mom met him.
I have an eye Dr. (for myself of course) like that Jetty. Should I ever move, I will be making quarterly trips to wherever she is. My goal is to make friends with her, so she moves where I move. 😉
It does look better. Sounds like you got yourself a good vet.
Thanks Rosemary, I really do like her.
It does look better, yeah!!
I am lucky enough to have vets that are usually on the same page as me.
She and I usually are Misty. They’ve been so good to us at that practice. I’m glad you and your vet get along well too.
It looks a lot better. Sampson – you’ve been our minds! We hope you’re good as new soon.
Thanks Tanya, we appreciate you sending good vibes our way~
Our vet would not give a lepto vaccine to a dog with an infection. I think most vets are careful with that vaccine due to possible reactions.
It sounds like you and your vet do mesh. My comment about finding a new vet was not because she is not a good vet. My issue would have been the wait and the inability to fit you in when Sampson clearly needed treatment. That would irritate me, but I have no patience either…lol.
LOL that comment was not directed at you in specific and you were not the only one who commented about that. 🙂
If I had insisted he been seen, they would have fit him in. Once I called for Delilah and had an appt 20 mins later. When I called for Sampson’s paw he was seen within an hour. I really believe they would have fit me in had I thought it couldn’t wait.
I am very impatient with that stuff, but I really do like this practice and this vet, so for this I will wait. 😉
Yay! Glad Sampson’s rash is doing better and I’m glad you got to talk to your vet!
Thank you Jen, it is getting better, but not fast enough! Thanks for all your help!!!
I love our vet for his patience and willingness to share information and discuss alternative remedies. He’s gallivanting around Australia for 3 months at the moment and I’m just hoping Georgia won’t need to see the second-in-command while he’s away. A good enough vet but not MY Dr Dog! I hope Sampson’s scaling goes well.
Whoa, what the heck’s he doing that for?
I’m lucky because I love all the vet’s I’ve seen in our practice, I’m not however impressed with the emergency choices we have. So fingers crossed, we won’t ever need to use them!
You see, the thing is, since we dogs can’t speak (even though we can type) those vets have a hard time figuring out what is wrong with us sometimes. Although it’s great when they are right, they can’t always be – so as long as they are looking out for our best interest, and our peoples like and trust them, I think it’s better to stay with a vet that knows our health history well.
You’re right in that respect Toby, although I’m sure Donna has all your records in a binder, just like I do. 🙂 So if a different vet needs to see them for any reason (like when we’re on vacation) I have all their records with me.
P.S. – Glad Sampson is starting to feel a little better.
Thank you.
Yeah, but, too bad you didn’t get her celll phone number!