A question on vets

[Terri and Harley]

So here is the situation, when I first got Harley he went to vet #1 whom I used with my Schnoodle who has passed. My other dog had diabetes for the last 3 years of his life and while I received some good instructions on administering insulin 2X a day, I wasn't given instruction on protocols for food, snacks, exercise etc with a diabetic dog.

Any info/knowledge I got was by finding a site like this specific to diabetic schnauzer breeds. Those people, like everyone here, were very smart and generous in sharing their journeys and information. Because of them, those last three years, my dog had a great quality of life. We lost him to cancer.

In thinking back, I realized that it was my being pro-active and not the vet's guidance that really saved my dog and I wondered if Harley should go there.

I did bring him initially. We were struggling with recurrent Giardia and, of course, they put him on Metronidazole. It didn't help and luckily I found this site and learned about Panacur and the protocol to clean, clean, clean.

I switched to a different vet based on several good word-of-mouth reports. This time, when Harley became reinfected, I was proactive, got the Panacur, did the protocol and flatly rejected the Metronidazole they tried pushing on me. So, honestly, I have not been bowled over with this vet's competence either.

Another recurrence, they trotted out the Metronidazole =again.= Ugh! I turned it down. Again.

Last week, I needed refills for Harley's Heartgard and Nexgard. I asked for scripts since the Sam's club can fill them cheaper than what my vet offers. They only gave me a script for a three month supply stating that in 3 months, Harley is due for blood work. I had to sign a release saying that I would not hold them responsible for inferior drugs from a pharmacy.

When I brought this script to Sam's they can't fill it because they do not break open packages like the vet. They only sell in 6 month supplies. When my pharmacist called, they refused to rewrite it for the larger quantity.

This has nothing to do with Harley's weight, IMO. He is over a year old and 65 lbs. I don't see him suddenly gaining 30 lbs in 3 months. Heartgard's weight reference is 51-100 lbs getting the same dose.

So why is my vet doing this? Is there a case where you would NOT want your animal on these preventatives in order to do bloodwork? And if so, wouldn't you =tell= the dogmom?

Why would any vet, risk a dog owner =not= getting this filled because of pricing?

I obviously bring my dog to you. I have you do the fecals at the first sign of any soft stool. I pay my bills. So what exactly is the thinking here?

I'm ready to search for vet #3.

Opinions?

Terri (and Harley) 

[Wendy and Myla]

What a great discussion - I love what I learn here!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Ok, I am learning things here. I have been getting Frontline Plus from Petsmart. It looks exactly the same as the ones I get from the vet, but are we saying it is not the same? Crap...I just bought 6 months worth.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi Laurie, I really trust the vets who are treating Paz, and whose concerns are truly for his welfare, as well as that of all the animals they treat.   Given their concerns, I feel more comfortable purchasing all Pazzie's meds from them versus anywhere else.  Perhaps I'm being overly cautious, but I just don't want to take any chances.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Charlotte. I always got their stuff from the vet and then we moved. I don't want to take any chances, so back to the vet we go :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Merial says they do not sell it to pet supply stores.