Loving my Oldies

If the vet was a normal vet at a clinic, you'd be right in being "mind blown" at my comment. I have edited my opening post to give an explanation as to how this behaviourist operates. She is mostly on the road or out at consults, rarely in the office.

That's all it was about, @Diva, not listing the vet's faults or reprimanding them. If she had wanted the dog to be on a higher dose, why, when I rang to check the dosage did she not explain that, instead of just confirming 1/4 tablet, which, of course, defeats the purpose of the higher dose. I just wanted to get to the bottom of what turned out to be a bit of a fiasco. She does not need to drop the scripts off (and they aren't free ). They can be emailed, but for some reason she drops them off. Maybe she lives close by - I don't know.

At the Sunshine Coast . I feel hot just looking at him. So gorgeous

I'll to make this coherent LOL. I have been fostering a little dog with severe trauma for just over a year. She has made huge improvements, but is still very scared and still runs when I approach her. She was prescribed various medications one being Fluoxetine and also came with Alprazalom from the RSPCA. This latter was discontinued in favour of the Fluoxetine. When the Fluoxetine was finished, I contacted the rescuer and behaviourist for a new script, but before that was issued, I went through my "box of tricks" and found the Alprazalom and gave her that. I contacted the behaviourist vet who said that was fine and to continue to give her the Alprazalom for a few weeks to see whether that seemed to have a more beneficial effect than the Fluoxetine. After a few weeks and further consultation with the vet, we continued with the Alprazalom. When I needed a new script for the Alprazalom, I contacted the vet and she dropped this off in my letterbox. I took the script to the chemist only to find that it was a restricted drug and he would have to get it in. I tried a couple of more places and managed to source it, but would have to wait a couple of days. I collected the meds and when I opened them, I saw they were a different colour from the ones I'd being giving. I checked the original container which came from the RSPCA and discovered that they were 0.5mg 1/2 tablet once daily whereas the new meds were 1.0mg yet still 1/2 tablet a day. I looked at the script and saw that they vet had actually crossed out 0.5mg and written 1.0mg dose, but did not adjust the dosage. Again, I contacted the vet and was advised to give 1/4 tablet daily. I was concerned at this because the tablets are already very small and was worried about daily dosage being plus or minus what was necessary. Note that only once in all this contact with the vet did I actually get to speak with her; all messages went back and forth with her assistant. At one stage, I said to the assistant that I thought the vet could have popped in for a few minutes when she left the script in my letterbox. I was told, no, she is too busy. I finally decided to write an email to the vet copying in her assistant and the rescuer. This is my email: Dear [XYZ] I am very disturbed that [DOG] was prescribed the wrong dosage of Alprazalom. Of course, I admit that should have picked up on the fact that you had crossed out 0.5mg and replaced with 1.0mg and queried it, but one tends to trust that our professionals have been correct in their prescriptions, but in future I will be looking at every detail on prescriptions. The biggest worry is that you failed to adjust the daily dosage from ½ a tablet to ¼ tablet. It was only when I opened the package and noticed that the tablets were a different colour from those I had been using, that I investigated and saw the mistakes on the prescription. It is a powerful medication and I cannot help but feel very concerned at what would have been the affect on [DOG] had she been receiving double the dose. I am also now concerned at having to cut an already very small tablet in quarters, in as much as it is extremely difficult to be exact and I worry that the doses are going to be plus or minus that prescribed. This medication is very hard to source and I had to visit in person and ring around chemists until I was able to find it, and then I had to wait a couple of days before it was ready to collect. As you know, after I had looked at the script and the previous bottle from the RSPCA, I immediately tried to contact you, but had to pass messages back and forth with Sheila – who, I have to say, was extremely efficient and accurate in passing on my messages. Even so, I would have preferred to have been able to talk to you directly. Regards Cynthia I have read this through several times and cannot see anything controversial or aggressive in it. However, the response from the vet has left me gobsmacked and in a real quandary. This is the vet's response - no greeting or salutation: [DOG] is on a very low dose. I did make a mistake and put a more standard does. I’m sorry you feel that way but I’m very happy to forward [DOG] medical notes on to another vet. Regards [XYZ] I think this response is really very poor and extremely unprofessional, but wonder whether it is worth pursuing. The rescuer of the little dog thinks this vet is amazing, but from my one meeting when she came to assess [DOG], the emailed "assessment" of [DOG] was obviously a cut-and-paste job from a pro forma response and the fact that she is rarely available to talk directly with me, I don't think the same. Thoughts please. Don't be too rough with me though LOL. Edited to add: I was confused and puzzled by some of the responses, but then realised I haven't explained the vet's set up at all. She is not a vet that you take your pet to for a consult; rather, she is a behaviourist and she visits you and your dog at home. After the initial consultation all contact is via the phone which is answered by a (human) answering service and then her assistant returns the call. I don’t know how much time she spends in the office, but she has been out on the road or at consults whenever I have phoned which is why she has dropped the scripts in and which is why I was surprised she didn’t drop in to see for herself the progress of one of her patients.

Oh the darling girl. She is so happy. Well done, police

Why are people so violent? Poor people and poor little Phoenix. Hopefully all will heal and not be too traumatised.

Gosh, my heart did a huge lurch and my eyes filled with tears. All these beautiful dogs of yours, @Kirislin - we have followed them over all these years, rejoicing in the births, gutted at the losses, watching with immeasurable pleasure as they grew up and lived wonderful lives with you and others. Goodbye, dearest Widget. You were so beautiful and will remain ever so in many many hearts. My heartfelt condolences, K.

And I can attest to that having been a volunteer at a pound in another lifetime.

The world's population is approx 7 billion, so probably at least 6.5 billion would fit into that category

Just wonderful news, @ricey. Well done Keisha

It is horrible for you, but I agree with @twodoggies2001assessment of the situation. The breeder seems to be prepared to go above and beyond for this puppy so I think he will be okay. You need to think about the probably next 15 years of your life.

That is so sad, @koalathebear. Deepest sympathies. Hoover sounds like the perfect dog and the album is so so precious. A wonderful catalogue to have and to bring back the memories.

Strawby is my little traumatised foster dog. No way would I ever be able to (or contemplate) pushing a pill down her throat, she still waits until I have left the room before she comes in to eat her meals . She regularly leaves part or all of a meal so I can't mix them in the food. I just have to accept that the pills are either eaten or not I do have some medications compounded, @Papillon Kisses and one is really expensive (Tacrolimus) so I would be interested in the name of your chemist so I can compare, thank you. Strawby has a Gabapentin, which is in a gelatinous capsule, daily and that is the one that is usually left on the floor!!

Well rhetoric question only as I see it almost daily LOL. Strawby has a few medications daily which are wrapped in roast chicken skin - mostly the only way, but sometimes I use liver paste, but she very quickly refuses that. That is half a tablet sitting on top of her breakfast. She did eat the other one, so I have that to be grateful for

Wonderful news. Well cone, Keisha

Love it

How utterly devastating and traumatic, @Rebanne. My deepest and sincere condolances.

I wouldn't know where to start. My first dogs as an adult were two Maltese, male and female from different breeders, both of whom died young: one at three and a half of congestive heart failure and the other of cancer at eight and a half. I eventually became involved in rescue and so have had so many dogs I have lost count (not really - I remember them all), but all have been small/toy breeds. The biggest, if you can use that word, were German Spitzes. I simply couldn't tell you my favourites, but I still go a little weak at the knees over Pomeranians and Toy Poodles. I have only ever had one Dachshund as a foster dog, pitch black and just gorgeous. The German Spitzes had glorious temperaments.

Stunng, Griz. And many many best wishes for your new venture

Caramel was his name . If you could find one like Caramel, he would be a match for any dog. He was one of the best dogs I have ever met. He and his mate (a little Maltese cross) came from a pound.

My first thought was German Spitz. I have rescued/fostered a couple so I will see if I can find photo. Caramel - German Spitz. Bit blurry (to say the least) but it shows you his full body. He was the most glorious dog in personality and looks imaginable. Danny (little red man below) is a Finnish Spitz Cross.

That is so right, but good to see something most of us do instinctively put into words by another. Helps to reinforce and encourage. As for those who think another dog is not a good idea, as a person who has not intentionally ever had one dog, I have to disagree. That said, of course it depends on many things, but mostly that the owner knows her dog and knows how to select another. And it certainly appears that the poster does. As many DOLers know, I have lost count of the number of dogs I have fostered and adopted over the years and, although the poster's situation is vastly different from mine, but in her situation, I think she is on the right track. People talk about how hard it will be. Well, that can be said about getting up in the morning, but we have to do it. LOL.

Lexa is a very lucky dog as they should all be, of course. I am very interested in the laser pen tool. Have never heard of it and would be fascinated to see of video of it in action. Continue telling us Lexa's and your stories, please.

Aside from the veterinary side of things, he spent many years battling the developers around him and the council, of course, was interested only in the developers. He had his trees poisoned, he had his and his staff's cars deliberately parked in, his electricity was cut several times - it was endless. He was told by one executive that "someone should bomb your place." Although I hated losing him as my vet, I was frightened for him and was relieved when he retired. On the veterinary side of things, one story that I can impart that will make people angry, but not sickened ........ I visited him at the clinic one day and was wandering around looking at the animals in their runs and there was a beautiful Dalmatian there. The dog was very sick and despite being told on several occasions not to, his stupid owner would sneak him a big feed of peanuts. Naturally the dog always threw up after her visits. I have forgotten the details now, obviously over a couple of decades ago, but I think they had to make her leave her handbag in the office. And there was the never ending stream of clients who would complain about the cost of appointments and that was 20 years ago. Anyway, the human race seems to be getting worse and worse and the few people trying to make a difference are being ground down.

My brother used to have his own Veterinary Hospital. He has been retired for nearly 20 years. Some of his stories still give me the horrors and he was a big confident man, not a 5ft nothing young woman. His wife called the police on a few occasions. And who could forget that stupid thoughtless woman recently bemoaning the fact she had to sell a few designer handbags.