Wish me luck.....new vet

[mysweetkaos]

I've never had a problem with our vet....let me rephrase that when Kaos was young/healthy and didn't need much I never had a problem with our vet. Fast forward to now. The more we need our vet the more dissatisfied I have become with him.

Long story short (as the actual one is very long and would bore even the most devoted of dog people) I went in today to talk with him about Kaos and left with such a dislike for him and his "tech" that I called a new vet. Kaos and I are going to her practice to meet her today and let her exam him and give some recommendations for his care. I also just ordered some Duralactin and Zeel that should be here in a couple of days. So I am hoping that Kaos and I like her. I've heard great things, I would love to find a vet that I can trust is doing right by my Kaos as we continue down this long painful road of aging.

[Emoore]

Good luck! Having a vet you like and can trust makes all the difference.

[mysweetkaos]

Thank you! I've heard she is great, I sure hope so. I would love to have a vet that doesn't look at me like I have 3 heads if I tear up when discussing painful issues with Kaos, and I would love to have a vet that might actually be open to the validity of suppliments. Plus Kaos likes women better so maybe he will be more comfortable.

[mysweetkaos]

Took Kaos for an exam with a "prospective" vet today. I was very impressed. I went under the guise of wanting a second opinion, but I knew if it went well we would be switching all of our records over. She spent over an hour talking and examining Kaos. She had more hands on Kaos in 1 hr than our former vet has in 5 yrs. As soon as I mentioned nosebleeds she recommended testing for tick disease. She said his knee arthritis is pretty bad, he is also showing signs of neurological problems (flip toe failure 2x) She also suspects spinal arthritis. All in all we did COMPLETE blood work....tick, thyroid, CBC, everything. She is starting him on Mobic and gabapentin (sp) and depending on that and how his bloodwork pans out we will add tramadol as needed. Blood results will be in on Thursday, so I will keep you all updated.
In part I have this forum to thank for striving to find a better vet (especially LisaT) whose questions made me really look at how well our vet was taking care of Kaos.

[chelle]

Good for you and I hope this new vet turns out to be what you wanted out of the other one.

I'm in a similar boat -- everything is hunky dory when all is well, but anything beyond that and it seems like they're out of their league? I feel like a jerk to say that! I am most certainly not a vet, but I have to trust my gut.

The deciding issue for me is going to be when shots are due again and I am going to ask for titers instead. If they are not open to that, or try to dissuade me, I'm leaving.

My current vet once gave a rabies vaccination to my son's dog without EVER asking when the last one was -- and it had only been about 8 months prior.

I'm still a little cranky that I got reamed over the coals over switching my youngest to Blue Buffalo. Was told it was a very overpriced food (which is likely true,) but in the same breath was told I should go with Science Diet. Same vet said they'd never heard of Innova (the food I was switching FROM). Really?

I just don't know how to go about vet "shopping" but I sense it is on the horizon....

[LisaT]

Sounds like a very thorough vet! Glad you took the steps to find the new vet, many don't

Will be looking out for the test results when they come in! Be sure to get a copy for your files at home!

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

It sounds like your new vet will take great care of Kaos.Your right when they are older it requires someone who can look at everything. sounds like you found one.

[mysweetkaos]

Thank you everyone!! It was so nice to actually feel like she was listening to me. I am a little nervous about the results of all the tests........I am off to the pharmacy this morning to pick up his new Rx's. Hopefully they will help keep the pain managed better.
Chelle...I felt guilty at first. As soon as I observed her with Kaos and how thorough she was, I realized what we'd been missing for awhile.

[doggiedad]

i think you have to like and trust your Vet.
if your new Vet doesn't work out try again.
it's nice that your taking good care of your dog.

[Smithie86]

Legally, you have the right to get copies of all the medical records on your dog. There should be no issue there.