Yet Another Vet Topic!

[Sayreovi]

Long story short my current vet wanted to do an extremely unecessary surgery on my baby girl (10 weeks) and basically gave me a heart attack in the process. The specialist (found him by searching DOL) I took her too this morning said there were was nothing wrong with her at all but bring her back in a month too be 100% sure if I wanted. Too much of a worry wart not too , I also went to a different clinic and got another vets opinion and they said there is nothing wrong, wanted to go to the specialist before I got my hopes up.

Why on earth would a vet recommend doing surgery on a puppy that isn't even displaying symptons? Surely there would be more money too be made with keeping too my original plan of competing/showing and maybe breeding her if that was the reasoning behind it? I've been using this vet clinic for years and had no issue with them, so why now?

Bloody vets, I have been so upset and worried these past 2 weeks about her, I think it's time I found a new vet! Anyone recommend a vet in South East Melbourne, I live in Cardinia Shire but will travel to a good vet.

[MolassesLass]

And then you have the opposite!

My vets xray machine is broken, so we have to go to another practice for that atm. My vet wrote up notes on why the xrays were needed but the vet at the other practice wasn't happy with that. So I showed her my boys limp by gaiting him outside and she proclaimed there was no limp (it was clearly visible!!!). She then started giving me a lecture on unnecessary GA's and how she'd taken an oath to "do no harm". I insisted they were done, pointed out how young and healthy he is - and she begrudging agreed. Well, didn't she have a back-peddle when the xray showed he'd clearly injured his knee - told me all about how when he was sedated they could see the limp.

Worked out fine in this case but if I were a more submissive person....the poor dog, left with a painful injury.

[dancinbcs]

Long story short my current vet wanted to do an extremely unecessary surgery on my baby girl (10 weeks) and basically gave me a heart attack in the process. The specialist (found him by searching DOL) I took her too this morning said there were was nothing wrong with her at all but bring her back in a month too be 100% sure if I wanted. Too much of a worry wart not too :rolleyes:, I also went to a different clinic and got another vets opinion and they said there is nothing wrong, wanted to go to the specialist before I got my hopes up.

Why on earth would a vet recommend doing surgery on a puppy that isn't even displaying symptons? Surely there would be more money too be made with keeping too my original plan of competing/showing and maybe breeding her if that was the reasoning behind it? I've been using this vet clinic for years and had no issue with them, so why now?

Bloody vets, I have been so upset and worried these past 2 weeks about her, I think it's time I found a new vet! Anyone recommend a vet in South East Melbourne, I live in Cardinia Shire but will travel to a good vet.

What on earth did they want to do surgery for?

[Staff'n'Toller]

See Bob Cavey or Ray Ferguson (or associates) at Monash. They are worth travelling to.

[Sayreovi]

What on earth did they want to do surgery for?

JPS, apparantly she will have severe HD by the time she is 12 months......I took her to see Dr. Wing Tip Wong in Werribee and he said she is completely fine, he wasn't the specialist the vet referred me too though. I wanted a completely unbias opinion and people on here have said good stuff about him. She had to have a GA for an unrelated thing, so they took Xrays at the same time and they look great and normal, my vet did say the same so not sure why they still tried to get me to do the surgery.

See Bob Cavey or Ray Ferguson (or associates) at Monash. They are worth travelling to.

Thanks SnT, that's where we did the AI too get said pup!

Edited October 6, 2010 by tollersowned

[pixie_meg]

What on earth did they want to do surgery for?

JPS, apparantly she will have severe HD by the time she is 12 months......I took her to see Dr. Wing Tip Wong in Werribee and he said she is completely fine, he wasn't the specialist the vet referred me too though. I wanted a completely unbias opinion and people on here have said good stuff about him.

Yep i heard that at 12 weeks with my boy. biggest load of money hungry bull shit ever and scared the absolute $h1t out of me. i cried all afternoon.

the vet just didn't understand a sighthound and 12 months later my boy is perfectly healthy. I got a second and third opinion when he was 12 weeks which were that there was no problem.

i empathise.

[Jed]

Interesting. I have had to counsel a couple of owners of 10 - 12 month old cavaliers I bred after vets told them their perfectly healthy pups needed LP surgery.

Happens far too often. TWICE with 2 different vets for one dog.

Glad it's all sorted for you, TO. :rolleyes:

[~Shepherd~]

Same thing with Doctors and Specialists. My daughters Specialist wanted to cut out her arse and move it at 3 months of age. Went to another and it turned out she was lactose intolerant.

Always get a 2nd opinion with surgery and do your research on the condition so you arrive loaded with questions.

[Sayreovi]

Yep i heard that at 12 weeks with my boy. biggest load of money hungry bull shit ever and scared the absolute $h1t out of me. i cried all afternoon.

the vet just didn't understand a sighthound and 12 months later my boy is perfectly healthy. I got a second and third opinion when he was 12 weeks which were that there was no problem.

i empathise.

I cried as well :D, you can bet your bottom dollar if she gets a good hip score in 12 months I will be going back to give a piece of my mind.

How dare vets pull this s**t on unsuspecting clients, I wonder how many poor puppies have been through unnecessary surgery just for profit :rolleyes::

[Staranais]

Why on earth would a vet recommend doing surgery on a puppy that isn't even displaying symptons? Surely there would be more money too be made with keeping too my original plan of competing/showing and maybe breeding her if that was the reasoning behind it? I've been using this vet clinic for years and had no issue with them, so why now?

Have you told the original vet what the specialist said? If they don't get feedback, they won't change, and will recommend the same thing to the next puppy buyer (possibly in good faith that they're doing the right thing).

Also, did the specialist say the original vet was actually wrong or incompetent in their diagnosis & recommendations (rather than just saying they would recommend a different treatment option?) If the specialist thinks the original diagnosis was wrong, you can write to the vet council & complain about the original vet almost costing you a lot of $.

[JulesP]

That was all a bit scary for you TO. Glad pup is ok. I am assuming original vet had a feel of pup and decided from there she had HD? Glad the xray shows otherwise.

My vet is very casual, maybe a bit too casual. When I had Amber xrayed for a potential stomach blockage they didn't even do a GA, she just lay on the table for them. I was quite surprised but I guess it was good that they tried that first and didn't just do a GA.

[Sayreovi]

Have you told the original vet what the specialist said? If they don't get feedback, they won't change, and will recommend the same thing to the next puppy buyer (possibly in good faith that they're doing the right thing).

Also, did the specialist say the original vet was actually wrong or incompetent in their diagnosis & recommendations (rather than just saying they would recommend a different treatment option?) If the specialist thinks the original diagnosis was wrong, you can write to the vet council & complain about the original vet almost costing you a lot of $.

Not yet, specialist will contact them to let them know what his conclusion was regarding her.

Original vet hasn't really cost me anything, the xrays probably would have got done to ease my mind anyway, and the specialist probably would have recommended I do it as well.

Give me a day or so too process what he said, it's a blur at the moment all I really took in is that she is fine :rolleyes:

[Guest Tess32]

Is not always vets either. I got told my dog had totally awful hips and would barely walk by 2 or something by a "chiro" that visits dog shows around melbourne. Well Noah is 2 and while he does have a gait that is not exactly wonderful, he's FINE. Hip xrays also showed nothing wrong.

[Sayreovi]

That was all a bit scary for you TO. Glad pup is ok. I am assuming original vet had a feel of pup and decided from there she had HD? Glad the xray shows otherwise.

My vet is very casual, maybe a bit too casual. When I had Amber xrayed for a potential stomach blockage they didn't even do a GA, she just lay on the table for them. I was quite surprised but I guess it was good that they tried that first and didn't just do a GA.

Pretty much, Jovi wasn't really happy having her back legs pulled and prodded by a stranger and let the vet know about it, but I did the same extension of her hind legs at home and she just layed there calmly. That was basically it until the xrays.

[aussielover]

What on earth did they want to do surgery for?

JPS, apparantly she will have severe HD by the time she is 12 months......I took her to see Dr. Wing Tip Wong in Werribee and he said she is completely fine, he wasn't the specialist the vet referred me too though. I wanted a completely unbias opinion and people on here have said good stuff about him. She had to have a GA for an unrelated thing, so they took Xrays at the same time and they look great and normal, my vet did say the same so not sure why they still tried to get me to do the surgery.

See Bob Cavey or Ray Ferguson (or associates) at Monash. They are worth travelling to.

Thanks SnT, that's where we did the AI too get said pup!

I think a lot vets are pushing to do JPS these days. I don't think they are necessarily trying to get money out of you but they have been indoctrinated about the potential benefits. Personally I don't ever think it is going to become commonplace, no one in their right minnd is going to want to do orthopedic surgery on a pup not showing any clinical signs. Aren't the xrays meant to be read by a qualified radiologist though? Or sent away to the USA?

A vet told me it was a shame my puppy was too old for it. I don't see it as a shame especially because there is absolutely no evidence there is a problem in the first place.

[Sayreovi]

Aren't the xrays meant to be read by a qualified radiologist though? Or sent away to the USA?

Only if they are going to be scored I think, she is only 10 weeks old so that's not going to happen.

[claireybell]

We see Jan (male not female) at Beach Street Vet Clinic and I cant praise him highly enough. They are in Frankston. He is just fantastic.

Last year my cocker had kennel cough and even though there wasn't alot he could do he really put my mind at ease. he's helped me with getting weight off my fat/evil beagle and also helped with my cockers diet when she was having anal gland issue's.

We are moving the the Dandenong's next year but i will still be travelling back to Frankston to see Jan as I trust him so very much

[aussielover]

How would your average vet know whether the xrays indicated a future problem (unless they were shockingly bad- in which case you should be seeing some clinical signs)?

That is why i thought it would be necessary for a specialist to do it.

I would certainly insist on getting a specialst to read them, as even things like positioning during radiographs can affect the score.

I think its sad that some people may be scared into doing the surgery.

I'm all for prevention, but i think orthopedic surgery is going to far.

Edited October 6, 2010 by aussielover

[Sayreovi]

How would your average vet know whether the xrays indicated a future problem (unless they were shockingly bad- in which case you should be seeing some clinical signs)?

That is why i thought it would be necessary for a specialist to do it.

I would certainly insist on getting a specialst to read them, as even things like positioning during radiographs can affect the score.

I think its sad that some people may be scared into doing the surgery.

I'm all for prevention, but i think orthopedic surgery is going to far.

Ahh I get you now, her xrays were fine no evidence at all of anything, both vet and specialist said this, they basically wanted to continue with the surgery regardless because she reacted to them manipulating her hips.

The specialist did see them, I took them from the vet with me to see him, the positioning was fine apparantly to check for what he was looking for.

I agree though, they basically wanted me too book her in for surgery that day!

Thanks for the recommendation CB, going to go to Monash for her 12 week injection so fingers crossed I've found a vet (again)

Edited October 6, 2010 by tollersowned

[ish]

I think a lot vets are pushing to do JPS these days.

This has been discussed a bit on GSD forums - apparently there have been a few breeders who have had puppy buyers call them in tears when the vet has seen them for vaccinations and told them they need to have JPS done. If the pup is a bit loose in its hocks or just because its a GSD, the vet says they're going to get HD and quick, do the op while they can.