Old cat decisions

[pinkytoe]

The old skool vet is getting VERY scarce.

That's the truth for sure. I recall when I was growing up that it was about getting a rabies shot, draining an abcess or euthanizing a pet. Now we have million dollar orthopedic surgery centers for dogs. After talking to the pharmacist, I decided to try the compounded steroid for a month. I will continue with his Fancy Feast and boiled chicken but since he's not eating the prescription stuff not sure what else I can do but perhaps look into making food for him. He loves people food - even whole wheat bread.

[Tybee]

That's the truth for sure. I recall when I was growing up that it was about getting a rabies shot, draining an abcess or euthanizing a pet. Now we have million dollar orthopedic surgery centers for dogs. After talking to the pharmacist, I decided to try the compounded steroid for a month. I will continue with his Fancy Feast and boiled chicken but since he's not eating the prescription stuff not sure what else I can do but perhaps look into making food for him. He loves people food - even whole wheat bread.

That sounds like a good plan--at 16 he should be all about eating whatever he wants. It's not like it is going to shorten his life.

[Teacher Terry]

Pinky toe, I am sorry about your kitty. If she won’t eat the special food I would give her what she wants. Locally vet prices have skyrocketed and they really push people to get a yearly dental for small dogs and they cost 1k. I have been doing them every 2 years instead. My 9 year old Maltese has a heart murmur that has gotten worse in 6 months. They wanted me to do 1k of tests and if healthy enough a dental even though it’s only been a year since the last one.

The internet has provided me the information to make a good decision. From research I only need an ultrasound for 640 to determine if Amy needs heart medication. I don’t need the heart X-ray and having them read by a dog cardiologist.That would be another 400. The ultrasound is read by a cardiologist.

Amy also has an anal gland infection that won’t go away. Besides 2 different rounds of antibiotics she also had her glands infused with medication. That’s another 400. When I asked the vet if she might need the offending gland removed she said it’s not a good idea for anesthesia with her heart problem yet they were pressuring me to get a dental and you need anesthesia for that. I had a dog in the past that needed his anal gland removed because of infection that couldn’t be cured.

It appears that vets have bought fancy equipment that they need to pay for and have begun treating animals like people and upsell expensive treatments. I have priced different vets and talked to many people that all said their vets are expensive. I have also noticed that the day my vet does surgery used to be scheduled a month in advance and any appointments took that long to get into. Sometimes now she doesn’t have any surgeries scheduled and even though she only works two days a week I can now get in quickly.

[sweetana3]

Teacher Terry, we have many of the same vet issues. I have found that vets that have long time practices in more out of the way locations around town (still with good reputations) often have older more experienced vets and less of the fancy new stuff. That is what I was looking for.

Had the same issue with dentists in the past with a new practice in a "fancy" downtown area. They had all the lastest and greatest and even had a "practice manager". But it turns out the work was not the best.

[Teacher Terry]

Sweetana, the whole situation sucks and it seems like more vets are moving this direction. We also have that problem with dentists.