I LOVE OUR VET

[rodeosweetheart]

Just a shout out to say that I absolutely love our new vet. She is the finest doctor we have ever had with our animals, and we've had several good ones, having moved quite a bit. She is by far the best.

Our Cairn terrier was traumatized by what one vet did cutting her nails short and cauterizing them. she was never the same dog--pain and fear aggressive now, very wary. she has skin and allergy issues, and it has been a nightmare getting her help from the vet, since they are the ones who traumatized her, and I do not trust them--she looks so cute--I feared they would put her in a situation again where she might bite someone, and that would be terrible.

This new vet is working with us now on both her nails and her skin issues. We went in for the second go round of nails--she sedates her very carefully; she is still conscious, but very sedated-- I hold her, we both sit on the floor, she does the nails, a paw at a time, lets her rest between, does not rush her.

The first time we did it, the dog was snarling like Cujo--we had her muzzled, but still, the sounds coming out of her were unbelievable, even with sedation.

Still, this time the dog was very happy to see her, wagging tail, very friendly, not scared in the least. Then she sedated her again--she gave her exactly the same amount but the dog settled in half the time--she was so afraid the first time I think she was fighting the sedation. This time, cuddled down on my jacket on the floor.

The actual nails went a hundred times better. She was muzzled again--and thank you to the vet who listens to me and is as concerned as I about preventing any bites!

This time, she let out 2 token growls and it went much better. Vet did exam, all her shots, has a very sensible approach to her skin--hallelujah--I have some answers, a new shampoo, ideas about food if what we are doing doesn't work--she is not overmedicating but taking it a step at a time.

She is so patient and so kind, and neither of the dogs even notice when she vaccinates them--she is that good.

At the end, she brought her out of the sedation and the dog was still napping, and after 10 minutes, she woke her up by calling her name, and the dog started wagging her tail when she heard her voice.

I love this woman. She is the BOMB.

[catherine]

It's great to have a dentist and a vet that you trust implicitly. I'm with you, rodeo sweetheart, because I have both!

I love my vet also. He's so chill I swear he goes home and smokes dope every night. At my last regular physical with my dog, he asked where she sleeps. Recalling how defensive I used to be about the "kid in bed" rules (I broke them all the time--we had a family bed), I stuttered, "Well, she used to sleep downstairs all the time.. but lately, since I travel.. my husband.. he lets her in the bed.. I know, it's a bad habit, but we just let it go.. we're trying to change it.."

And he said, "There's no better reason to have a dog than to be able to cuddle with it at night."

Wow. I suddenly felt better about all the times I had toddlers and babies fighting for space between DH and I, never mind the dog.

So happy for your new find!!

[rodeosweetheart]

Thank you, Catherine! I never liked having dogs with me in bed but my DH did. So guess what--they ended up in bed with us. Currently, just the Cairn gets in with us.
I like your vet's attitude.
When I was in the coma, one night (I know, this sounds absolutely insane, but it did happen, or at least this was my obe--) I experienced being home in bed sleeping with my husband, with the dogs between us, cuddled up (at that time,we had two bed-hounds.) It was absolutely real--I could feel their warm little bodies and heard the Westie snoring. I remember thinking--oh, the Christmas presents are all finished, and under the bed, wrapped up--thank God I did this BEFORE the coma).

This was one night, a few nights before I was off the ventilator and was out of the coma. It was really one of the strangest experiences of my life.

And again, I was not a fan of dogs in bed, but hey, after that, they are welcome.

[awakenedsoul]

That's great. I've got a great vet, too. My shepherd/terrier was horribly abused. I took her to him when she had an infection from one of the stitches from her spaying. She was SO appreciative of his help. The next time we went, (for a self inflicted skin infection,) she started wiggling and crying, like she was happy. She remembered how he helped her before. He thinks she's funny because when she hears my voice, she starts thumping her tail really hard on the examination table. It makes him chuckle.

He asked me, "Is this the dog I see you running alongside your bike every a.m.?" He must be on his way to work...

[CathyA]

Glad you found your vet rodeosweetheart! We love our animals, and want the best for them. Your vet sounds soooooo wonderful!

[Glo]

Not at all crazy about my vet. He has absolutely no bedside manner. But, he gets the job done and he's very inexpensive. I've had vets that I loved, who also did the job and charged an arm and a leg. I'll stick with my current guy.

[JaneV2.0]

Rodeosweetheart and awakened soul, I'm glad you found such caring vets. As with doctors, there are healers and hacks, and the vast in-between. It's disheartening to have to search for a like-minded professional.

[Gardenarian]

Rodeosweetheart - I'm glad you found a vet you can trust!
It's so hard not to know what our dogs are feeling.

I've found most vets to be very nice people, but they differ a lot in their approach and of course in their price. I love our current vet, who we started with in November - I know how you are feeling. He had to stop taking new patients shortly after we started as word got around about what terrific doctor he is (and affordable...as these things go.)

[rodeosweetheart]

Rodeosweetheart - I'm glad you found a vet you can trust!
It's so hard not to know what our dogs are feeling.

I've found most vets to be very nice people, but they differ a lot in their approach and of course in their price. I love our current vet, who we started with in November - I know how you are feeling. He had to stop taking new patients shortly after we started as word got around about what terrific doctor he is (and affordable...as these things go.)

Jane, you are right, this lady is a healer. She does all this rescue work for free, too, and Gardenarian, she is so much more affordable than our old vet in SC, who seemed to be getting more and more expensive by the minute.

[iris lilies]

I loved reading this, thanks for sharing. Cairns are so cute, but I know better than to get a terrier, they are too busy for our household.

Today our dog Teddy Bear is on medications from 3 different vets for various issues, so we've been visiting vets a lot.

[JaneV2.0]

I loved reading this, thanks for sharing. Cairns are so cute, but I know better than to get a terrier, they are too busy for our household.

Today our dog Teddy Bear is on medications from 3 different vets for various issues, so we've been visiting vets a lot.

I hope you've hit on the right combination, Iris Lily.

[iris lilies]

I hope you've hit on the right combination, Iris Lily.

He was very stable for a while but his drug, which controls his skin problem beautifully, causes his gums to swell. So he was moved to the brand newest new itch medicine but it's not working and also they can't get a supply in of the new drug, the manufacturer can't keep up with the demand. So I ran to his regular vet to get a little Prednisone while we figure out the next step. Meanwhile he is wearing a cone because he had eye surgery on Tuesday. Skin Doctor, Bulldog Doctor, Regular Doctor, he is keeping them in business.

The Bulldog guy is great and does work on rescue dogs at such an inexpensive price, I am embarrassed.

[JaneV2.0]

Is there any chance he has some kind of sensitivity or allergy? (And the Cone of Shame! Poor thing!)

[sweetana3]

We love our new vet. They are knowledgeable about new things and are helping keep one of our cats alive and happy. Our previous vet just dropped the ball big time. We have used him happily for over 25 years and he just got overworked and his office did not help us with the same cat. They sent us to a specialty vet who wanted $3000 for diagnostic tests basically.

I called this 3rd vet and told him right at the beginning that he was the last chance and needed to do his research. Have Mouse on a new medication and so far fine. Then he stopped eating with other symptoms and found he had some teeth issues. Got that fixed and so far so good. But the medication was the key and he did a good job with his research. (well except for the red raspberry flavored first RX.) I got a compounded chicken flavor after that from a specialty pharmacy.

[rodeosweetheart]

IL, what was the eye surgery for for the little guy? Does he have something like Sjogrens (sp?) in people--just wondered, like Jane said--is he allergic? Do bulldogs have eye problems?
Our last Westie and our Cairn have had skin issues bigtime--I thought the Cairns would be better than the Westies but lots of problems there, too. Is he on special food, too?
Sweetana, so glad the new vet is working out better for the cat. Our old vet used to be better--he just got very commercial after a lifestuyle change --suddenly his prices doubled and he was wanting to see the animals twice as often as anyone else-- still a very, very knowledgeable guy, and if you see him, he is great with the animals, but he had one assistant who really did a number on our dog.

Its seems like bedside manner gets more and more important to me the older I get. I jsut wish I could find a people doctor like the vet!

[awakenedsoul]

I had a difficult experience with my vet one time. (I've been going to him since 1996.) I had an emergency with my lab/golden retriever. He had a cyst that burst, and the maggots were eating his flesh. I wanted to put him down, because he was dying. The vet was really upset, because he was in the middle of a surgery. He got angry with me, but was very gentle and loving with my dog. I realized that I messed up his schedule, so I still returned. I realized it's hard for him, dealing with people all day. (I got burned out as a yoga teacher.) Some vets have trouble getting paid from customers, too. This guy's just really good. He gets emotional, but I accept it. It's definitely his life's work.

[iris lily]

Is there any chance he has some kind of sensitivity or allergy? (And the Cone of Shame! Poor thing!)

Of course.

He's allergic to the World at large and his immune system after dealing with this for his 4 years of life is shot. And if anyone suggests "aloveroe" or some other hippie-dippie "natural" remedy I'll come through this freakin' computer and strangle you.

This dog suffers from extreme skin conditions and it takes extreme Western medicine in all of its poisonous forms to control his skin eruptions. Whatever we do, it likely lessons his life span by doing some sort of systemic damage. And that is ok because I will not allow him to suffer with the skin in active eruption. This photo doesn't show his feet where he had 3 or4 painful cysts, or his swollen ears.

Once he got onto the miracle drug he was dancing and prancing around like a pup. Too bad that is causing gum swelling. But we may go back to it, regardless.

[iris lily]

IL, what was the eye surgery for for the little guy?



He had entropian surgery, fairly common for bulldogs. Their inner eyelid turns into their eye and scratches their cornea. So the vet takes some tucks in each eye to get rid of excess skin.

[JaneV2.0]

Of course.

He's allergic to the World at large and his immune system after dealing with this for his 4 years of life is shot. And if anyone suggests "aloveroe" or some other hippie-dippie "natural" remedy I'll come through this freakin' computer and strangle you.
....

My lips are sealed. Mumble mumble (redacted). I'm in favor of whatever works to make him a healthier Teddy Bear. Good luck.

[debi]

At the end of March/April - dog into the vets for 5 days with pancreatitis. The dog is now currently on insulin (vet called in prescription and told me that instead of paying $99 for a vial, the presc he's calling in will cost about $29). The insulin is actually $25 with a 30 day supply of syringes for $12. The vial will last me a month. I do have to check her urine glucose and if we can keep it down, the dosage can change or it may be eliminated. The pancreatitis is often found in middle-aged to older dogs, more commonly in females and females that are spayed. My dog is 8 and a spayed female. She still isn't quite right but is doing better. She is on a bland diet as well.

This vet has 2 other vets in his office as well. I like him and one of the female vets as these two are so patient and good with the pets and have fantastic manners with the pet owners as well. The other seems more rushed. I have referred so many people to that veterinary hospital. The charges are lower than a lot. The veterinary hospital gives local animal shelters - pet food and basically does no charge medical work-ups on the shelter animals. The veterinary that owns the place is known as the "animal whisperer" as he seems to be able to calm the animals down. I would not take my dog anywhere else or any future pets as well.

[chrissieq]

Have to give a shout out to our vet practice - we had a kitty, age 16, who has definitely been showing her age. Yesterday, DH found pee on the living room floor. About an hour later, I was working in the garage and heard a pitiful sound from the cat and she peed as she walked. Called the vet, they gave me an appt 1-1/2 hours out, went outside to find her drooling, called back and they could see us in 45 minutes on an emergency basis. DH put her in the carrier and we drove the .5 miles to the the vet. She had died in those few minutes. The vet staff came to the car to listen to her heart, carried her inside to an empty room so we could be with her. I cried, the vet tech cried, we had a last few snuggles.

They have taken care of all our pets - including our kitty who is now alone - feeding him with eye droppers after he and his litter mates were found crying in the bed of a pick up. When I went to bring him home, they refused any $$ saying "you've always brought your pets here and we know that we will see him soon".

We have been talking about getting a dog and that pet will be under their care also. Love Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Mpls, MN!!!

[rodeosweetheart]

I love hearing about these great vets!