First and foremost, I hope your puppy is okay! It is so stressful when they are hurting and can’t tell you what’s wrong.
A little insight…most private practice vets don’t have the equipment or surgical skill to diagnose and address an obstruction. The receptionist should definitely have been more clear and more concerned and I would contact the doctor later to address that situation, but a potential GI obstruction is an emergency and the Pet ER is the best place to go to address it.
Margot is right about most private practice vets being badly equipped. I'm nursing my Podengo now after an emergency splenectomy yesterday. That morning, we took him to our local vet after he had seizures the night before. My companheira called me at first to say he was having a stroke, but it didn't seem to be a neurological problem. At the vet, they did a blood work-up and announced that his liver was failing, then prescribed a bunch of medications for things unrelated to that, including gallstones and parasites.
When we got in the car, my lady took a look at the blood work and found the vet's error, exclaiming that the diagnosis was complete bullshit and directing me to head across the Spanish border to an urgent care clinic that we had heard about but never visited. Within 20 minutes of arrival, ultrasound revealed a bleeding spleen, and a quick check of his abdominal cavity with a needle showed that it was filled with blood. After another 20 minutes, he was on the operating table, just in time to save him. With the right equipment, the diagnosis was easy, but what I found particularly offensive was that the young local vet just "shotgunned" the treatment recommendations from total ignorance. If my lady weren't a human physician with 50 years or so experience and a nose for nonsense, that dog would be dead now.
That's a scary story. Even though it worked out for you, it's more evidence of the minefield where we're all forced to live. I wish we had some way to improve these situations for both the people and their fur babies.
What I don't understand is why our locals don't band together to purchase and share the basic equipment they actually need to work. We have perhaps half a dozen vets in town, and not one of them has ultrasound equipment. It's one of the reasons we usually go to a university teaching clinic for veterinary science about 100 km away, where they have everything for MRI, tomography, etc. and good staff who know to consult with colleagues before doing anything stupid.
My SIL is a former ER vet and surgeon who now has a private practice and my husband works with her. We have six dogs! Not the plan, but I’m a softie. One of our dogs swallowed a peach pit years back, and he had to have it surgically removed, another dog was exposed to weed killer and almost died, our senior dog was bitten by a snake when we lived in the Smokies and also almost died. Dog emergencies are just awful. I would definitely speak with the vet about the receptionist and if they aren’t responsive and apologetic, I would consider finding a new primary care vet. We are very lucky to have a vet in the family who has so much knowledge and skill.
…sky high, burnout and depression is the norm for us. We are hemorrhaging technicians and docs.
I spend most of my days just trying to stay afloat in a sea of sick pets, rising drug prices, irate clients, and paperwork. Then, the online abuse is obscene.
Thank you for sharing that. I didn't realize that was the case, and it represents just one more area where our society is failing us. My dog did eventually get the treatment he needed. If only we could help every one and everything that needed it. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Sending support. I was going to say, as a doctor for humans, unfortunately, a clinic that's fully booked often can't squeeze in another patient, no matter how much we want to. Hope you're okay, Altasfolly.
Walter, we're all rooting for Kuzo!
And thanks for your note back, to which I will reply later.
I would find a new vet, cancel the check-up appointment at this place, and politely explain the reason for the cancellation and new vet. An animal in pain deserves to be seen immediately. The correct action is to put a needy dog at the top of the list.
You sure did - I saw that he ended up fine :) Furbabies are family. By the way, great job getting him to ring a bell when he needs to go out! My furbs are entirely wild.
First and foremost, I hope your puppy is okay! It is so stressful when they are hurting and can’t tell you what’s wrong.
A little insight…most private practice vets don’t have the equipment or surgical skill to diagnose and address an obstruction. The receptionist should definitely have been more clear and more concerned and I would contact the doctor later to address that situation, but a potential GI obstruction is an emergency and the Pet ER is the best place to go to address it.
Fingers crossed it all worked out!
Thank you, he's okay now, but it was an eye-opener to me to see how hard it is to get emergency care for a dog. They were so unhelpful.
Margot is right about most private practice vets being badly equipped. I'm nursing my Podengo now after an emergency splenectomy yesterday. That morning, we took him to our local vet after he had seizures the night before. My companheira called me at first to say he was having a stroke, but it didn't seem to be a neurological problem. At the vet, they did a blood work-up and announced that his liver was failing, then prescribed a bunch of medications for things unrelated to that, including gallstones and parasites.
When we got in the car, my lady took a look at the blood work and found the vet's error, exclaiming that the diagnosis was complete bullshit and directing me to head across the Spanish border to an urgent care clinic that we had heard about but never visited. Within 20 minutes of arrival, ultrasound revealed a bleeding spleen, and a quick check of his abdominal cavity with a needle showed that it was filled with blood. After another 20 minutes, he was on the operating table, just in time to save him. With the right equipment, the diagnosis was easy, but what I found particularly offensive was that the young local vet just "shotgunned" the treatment recommendations from total ignorance. If my lady weren't a human physician with 50 years or so experience and a nose for nonsense, that dog would be dead now.
That's a scary story. Even though it worked out for you, it's more evidence of the minefield where we're all forced to live. I wish we had some way to improve these situations for both the people and their fur babies.
What I don't understand is why our locals don't band together to purchase and share the basic equipment they actually need to work. We have perhaps half a dozen vets in town, and not one of them has ultrasound equipment. It's one of the reasons we usually go to a university teaching clinic for veterinary science about 100 km away, where they have everything for MRI, tomography, etc. and good staff who know to consult with colleagues before doing anything stupid.
Oh! So happy to hear he’s okay!
My SIL is a former ER vet and surgeon who now has a private practice and my husband works with her. We have six dogs! Not the plan, but I’m a softie. One of our dogs swallowed a peach pit years back, and he had to have it surgically removed, another dog was exposed to weed killer and almost died, our senior dog was bitten by a snake when we lived in the Smokies and also almost died. Dog emergencies are just awful. I would definitely speak with the vet about the receptionist and if they aren’t responsive and apologetic, I would consider finding a new primary care vet. We are very lucky to have a vet in the family who has so much knowledge and skill.
I am sorry you had this problem, but we (the vet community) are drowning. Just drowning. Our suicide rate is s
…sky high, burnout and depression is the norm for us. We are hemorrhaging technicians and docs.
I spend most of my days just trying to stay afloat in a sea of sick pets, rising drug prices, irate clients, and paperwork. Then, the online abuse is obscene.
Thank you for sharing that. I didn't realize that was the case, and it represents just one more area where our society is failing us. My dog did eventually get the treatment he needed. If only we could help every one and everything that needed it. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Sending support. I was going to say, as a doctor for humans, unfortunately, a clinic that's fully booked often can't squeeze in another patient, no matter how much we want to. Hope you're okay, Altasfolly.
Walter, we're all rooting for Kuzo!
And thanks for your note back, to which I will reply later.
Poor little boy! Let us know how he’s doing.
Yes, he's fine, this story was from a year ago, I made it a cliffhanger I see :)
I’m so happy to hear that! Yes, you did!
I would find a new vet, cancel the check-up appointment at this place, and politely explain the reason for the cancellation and new vet. An animal in pain deserves to be seen immediately. The correct action is to put a needy dog at the top of the list.
They would have had a screaming maniac on their hands if they did not help my sick puppy.
That was disgustingly treatment
Poor baby. I know that fear and anxiety when something is wrong with your pup. The vet office's response doesn't surprise me. They often suck.
It surprised me. I didn't realize I left this one as a cliffhanger. He came through it just fine :)
You sure did - I saw that he ended up fine :) Furbabies are family. By the way, great job getting him to ring a bell when he needs to go out! My furbs are entirely wild.
I'd find a new vet, hope dog is ok, keep us posted!
Yes, he's doing well. I have to go and add a note to the end of the story I see :)