Your Dog, Your Choice

[Donna K & Quincy]

I know we've had discussions before about vet care and leaving your dogs unsupervised overnight at a vet hospital. Some of you may have already seen this on FB but it is an excellent article. It isn't medical advice as such but gives great advice and insight on how to advocate for your dog. It is definitely worth reading.

 http://www.collared-scholar.com/dog-health-and-safety/your-dog-your... 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Good post Donna. I hope every DK member takes the time to read it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree with all the concepts in this article and try to practice what it preaches.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Thanks for posting. It goes to show you that you should trust your er vet as you would your primary vet. Every minute counts with bloat and you want peace of mind knowing that your pet is in good hands with a trusted vet.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Lots of great points in this article.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Do you guys agree that the poor vets outweigh the good ones? Next I'm searching 'how to choose a fantastic vet.' Thanks for posting this.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have no way of knowing. When Rex, my son's dog was with me I took him to a vet who seemed unnecessarily rough with his ears and I never went back. Then we started with a new vet we stuck with till he died. The doodles have only been to two vets, because the first vet died. I think they have been fine but I still add my opinions and would disagree if I thought it indicated.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

If you mean a "poor" vet is only looking at the bottom line and what works for him/her in any given situation, then yes, I agree there just may be more poor vets than good.  And I have been in the situation where many extra tests and procedures and roughness were pushed on me and my dog and we never went back.  Like our own doctors, its very important to feel comfortable with them and trust that they value your opinion and listen to you. 

I have been asked twice to leave a dog overnight and refused. I could not see what being in a cage all alone, (they never are caged), being orally medicated and being "observed", (when actually no one was there all night) was going to accomplish when I was willing to lay down right next to them all night and comfort and medicate them as needed. 

I agree with the article and hope many will read it and be more of an educated advocate for your doodles.

I honestly think if I left Murphy alone in a strange place, in a cage, he would die of an anxiety attack! Joking, but he is a little dramatic. lol

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

I  have mentioned this before - vets that work for another vet usually get paid based on a percentage of the fees they generate not on an hourly rate.  Therefore it is in THEIR best interest to make sure that every test that they can think of is done and every possible procedure is performed.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks for posting Donna.  There are a lot of good points to think about.  

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Thank you for sharing- definitely worth a read

[BG and Gavin]

I am lucky that my primary vet also does emergency care. As well his practice is on his own property, so he lives next door.  I only utilized an overnight stay after the neuter.  I would take him home if I was doing it now. Their thinking is that the general commotion in the household (kids) have the dog up and moving and excited when some solid rest is needed.  They also did not know me back then but since then the vet has taught me things to do at home (like take the dogs temp when we were going through febric episodes with Gavin). They have also had me assist the tech in the back when blood tests were necessary.  But having the owner there as a calming influence may not work in all cases though.

[Jennifer and Jack]

This is a great article.  In my opinion it is a fine line.  When I was a human nurse who  worked in the ER, we had to give the worst case scenarios  or we could be sued if something happen.  

With Jack, he is not freaked out in the least about being at a vets office. Molly has a panic attack when she walks in the door.

With Molly I think we would try to get her home where she could relax and feel safer if there wasn't an immediate risk of something going wrong that could end her life.  With Jack, I have spent many of nights in the private room of the Vet ER holding him and only allowing them to take him for whatever test or procedures he needed done and then I insist he is brought back to me once awake or stable.

Even for getting his teeth cleaned, as he is emerging from anesthesia, I am holding him in my arms usually in warm blankets and warm IV fluid bags wrapped on him..

I feel like my primary vet feeds into my anxiety of missing something with Jack or my guilt that I have to leave him more than I want to and is always telling me the worst case scenarios which were not even proportionate to what he was going through.   I switched vets within the practice and I love who I have now.