Do you ever wonder about your current or past vet?

[Adorablelabs]

OK, so I had to take one of my dogs to the vet the other day.

She had some nasty little cuts on her underside that looked like they were already infected as well as what looked to be a rash, and her back legs were swollen and she was limping. I gave her a bath, cleaned her with peroxide and put some cortisone and bacteria preventative cream on her. The next morning we were at the vets.

I currently take my dogs to a nearby vet hospital, that has 5 different vets working there as well as some technicians. I thought this would be the best place for I just moved to the area a year ago and thought maybe the opinions of numerous vets would be better. I am starting to second guess my intuition.

The vet that saw my dog was totally clueless. He did not know what was wrong with my dog. He sent us away with some pain medicine and some antibiotics for the infection because she had a fever. He asked if she was submissive, I say no. He thought she may have got into a fight with one of my other dogs and if she were to be submissive it was likely that she would lay on her belly and let another dog go at her. I do not think that this is the case, because she is not submissive and they do not look like dog bites.

I researched her symptoms prior to taking her to the vet, and the only thing that I can come up with is a bad case of hotspots. Needless to say I am clueless to diseases from ticks or fleas. I do live in the boonies so it is not totally out of the question, but I would think with the colder weather now, that it is not the issues. She is also on preventative for insects.

My dog Asia's symptoms are still the same, the cuts look a little better, as well as the rash, but I am sure that is from me cleaning it 2 times a day. Her behind legs are still swollen and she is still limping. Has anyone ever experienced something similar or have any clue as to what this may be?

As I do more and more research, then take my dogs to the vets for different reasons, I am starting to think that the internet is wiser than vets. On most occasions, the vets that I have had experience with seems totally clueless and sometimes even wacky!

[imported_queenofthedogs]

i am totally unable to answer most of what you describe, BUT i can tell you that NOW is the worst time of year for ticks, at least here in the Northeast. so don't rule them out , and their attendant Lyme disease, erlichea, etc.
sad but true, most vets have to do a 'process of elimination' with many things dogs exhibit--the patient is sadly unable to offer much help! it is incumbent upon us, as owners, and the only ones 'on the spot', to try & be detectives whenever our animals experience problems.
if your vet appears to listen to what you have to say, and makes it clear how long you should wait before re-checking the dog if things don't get better, IMO they are doing what they can. that said, sometimes a second opinion can be a very good thing.

[imported_bacatherine]

You may want to ask around for opinions on the vet you go to or others in the area that may be better. Sometimes in hospitals with numerous vets one or two will be much better than the others. Most will let you request the one you want to see you just have to wait a little longer. You may want to go back just see if you can see a different vet. How long has it been since you had her at the vet? If it's been a week or more and the rash isn't gone I would take her back.
Also you may want to be careful with the peroxide it's fine to clean at first but reapeated use can cause more tissue damage. Just try to keep the area dry and clean if you can. Especially if she's on antibiotics they should take care of the infections.
I hope she heals up quickly.

[Dani]

I'm on my third vet. The first one I didn't know any better, and I didn't like how he treated my dog. The second one was great for a while, and then he started to criticize me and wanting to do rescue work. My vet I have now has 3 vets, and I love all three of them and the staff. They are awesome. If I read something online, they are very open to talking about things that I read.

About the rash...I am not much help for that. I hope your pup gets better soon.

[Bob Pr.]

I grew dissatisfied with a previous vet to whom I took Bess [BF, AKC bench line (competitive breeder), 55 lbs., 1967-81].

She kept having some bleeding around her toenails and he kept giving her shots of penicillin saying it was happening because of her digging.

One evening a child psychiatrist friend and his wife were visiting and Bess snuggled against his leg for some petting while we were sitting in the LR.* I mentioned to him the problem and he lifted her paw and smelled it and said, "She has a fungal infection." * That was correct and applications of Griseofulvin (sp?) cleared it up.

I thought, Wow!, when a child psychiatrist can get something right so quickly maybe I'm confusing our vet's great bedside manner (with Bess and me) with competence.

As a result, when shortly later the vet found some lumps (cancer) on Bess's breasts and suggested operating, I took Bess to K-State's CollVetMed Teaching Hospital about 60 miles away.* They found the cancer had metastasized to some of the lymph so they did a radical mastectomy and also a partial lymphectomy.* That happened when Bess was 7 and we had 7 more wonderful years together.* Had I let that vet operate, he wouldn't have picked up on the lymph and Bess would have been dead within a year.

Since then, I always went back to KSU's CVM TH for any vet care for Bess and I also do that with Puff.* They're not always right.* For instance one vet suggested I bring Puff in for surgical excision of skin tags around her mouth.* But I'd read (in G&C, mentioned below) that is usually cleared up spontaneously and they did.* *A great vet whom we saw there until she left 3X put Puff on antibiotics to clear up a stomach rash (staph) which kept recurring.* I asked for the dermatologist to see Puff and she Rx'ed a medicated shampoo which did the trick.* But I think their quality of service and skill is generally better than from many local vets and also KSU is usually more reasonable $$$.

I DO also use Giffin & Carlson's "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook"* It's about $25 from Amazon and saves needless worry, needless delays in getting treatment, and needless trips to the vet.

[Castaway]

I am sorry you are having doubts, that to my mind is the worst thing,the what if syndome, though Queenofthedogs is right, they do work by a method of elimination most of the time.
Here's one to make your toes curl: Spitha my little rescue had a growth which appeared very quickly on her Vulva, I was sure it was cancer and this was the end... a visit to the vet resulted in a conversation that went down the lines of..... I COULd do a bioposy and tests but I have seen this type of growth many times, I am sure it is a Sticker sarcoma, we will give her a dose of a "kind of "chemotherapy, it should shrink quickly within the week if I'm right, the bring her back in a week for another dose!! It did shrink in fact it was no longer visible externally. I was so relieved to hear it wasnt terminal and treatment seemed simple , and I was in the middle of the busiest time of a very bad summer so didnt have time to research... they nearly killed my dog!! They overdosed her with vincristine.
Trust your instincts ask questions dont do what I did! ask second opinions.
I only wish I had half the facilities and choices that are available to you over the pond.

Spiths is still with me, she seems fine but I know that two doses of therapy ( they had to stop as she had become skin and bone, is much the same as having had none... so it will return. Now who do I see !?

[Snowflake]

I think vets are like any other doctor. There are incompetent, uncaring vets out there just like there are incompetent, uncaring MDs. But I believe the majority of vets are quite competent and very caring and run an efficient, animal-centered facility. You have to feel comfortable with your vet (and MD). If for whatever reason you have lost trust in your vet, find another one. You want each visit to be a comfortable, happy experience for your dog. And that won't happen if you don't like or trust your vet.

my 2 cents!

[Di]

I just made a change with Sammi's vet- just wasn't happy with the old one, seemed they had gotten too much into selling products. Actually went to a pet clinic, it's much cheaper ( that is only a bonus) not why we changed. There are 3 dog vet's and 3 cat vet's- have only seen the cat vet once, when we had to put our 18 yr. old cat to sleep! She was wonderful and very sympathetic. The "dog" vet's are awesome, seem very knowledgeable/caring. I for one am very glad to have made the change...

[Canyon Labradors]

We had a vet in CA who was very nice and good for general stuff but not that good with other stuff. Couldn't cure ghiardia in one dog, couldn't diagnose it in another dog. Didn't know that dog's get allergies to plastic bowls and lose their pigment.