Invasive Surgery

[Fordogs]

I have been wondering about how many dogs have been operated on for serious invasive problems and how many people actually take their dog for a second opinion before going ahead with the procedure??

I am not about to knock vets but during the last couple of years I have had my eyes opened, I have had puppy buyers who are very upset ring and say that their vet has said all kinds of things could be a problem and I have to tell them if they are concerned by all means go to another vet BUT I will always try to steer them towards a vet that I know of or have heard good things about and most times they do discover that there is no problem at all or it is a puppy and it is part of it's normal development.

I also find that most dog owners always trust everything their vet tells them, without question.

SO do you trust a poor diagnosis or go for the second opinion???

Edited October 28, 2011 by Fordogs

[Dame Aussie]

Unfortunately I don't trust vets at all and would always get a second opinion if it was something major.

[FHRP]

The poll looks like it needs some tweaking, the 4th option is actually a second question?? and if you have had a differing opinion you can only select one option anyway.

I will not hesitate for a 2nd or more opinion if I am not sure something is necessary, or not comfortable with the diagnosis, even if it doesn't involve invasive surgery. I recently went through a very tough time making a surgical decision on one of my dogs and consulted with three vets from two practices and a specialist surgeon in another city before I was comfortable with my decision. I do trust my vets and have chosen them because I generally agree with their approach to treatment, but they recognise that there are often more than one way to approach a situation and on the big stuff encourage me to talk to anyone I need to to make a decision.

Edited October 28, 2011 by FHRP

[Loving my Oldies]

My first vet (now retired) called 99% of luxating patella operations "tantamount to mutilation".

If ever a vet diagnosed a dog of mine with ANYTHING wrong with his or her knees or hips, I would get probably about 4 opinions. That said, I am in the fortunate position of having vets that I would trust implicitly.

Edited October 28, 2011 by Mother Moocher

[OSoSwift]

It would depend on the surgery.

If it was a suspected blockage on a very sick dog, no I would just do it (I do trust my vets)

If it was for say a hip issue or an orthopedic issue I would get a second opinion.

[aussielover]

I would always advise people to get a second opinion if they are not entirely comfortable with the recommendations or diagnosis.

A few years ago when we had our old dog, her treating vet wanted to do a CT myelogram for a neuro workup. However, I felt this was extremely risky and possibly inappropriate so opted to get a second opinion from a neuro specialist.

I was made to feel extremely bad about this decision by the treating vet. However, the neurologist advised not to do the procedure as the information wouldn't really be useful for treatment options because we were not going to do spinal surgery on a geriatric dog with central CNS signs as well anyway.

So I can see how some people would either trust their regular vet or be pressured into doing a procedure.

[becks]

My vets are great, they will discuss about what things should be done (and why) and will also say that such a test could help with diagnosis but if the end result (treatment or deciding to manage the problem) would be the same anyway then we don't do further testing for the sake of it BUT the vet likes us to be aware of all the options.

The only invasive surgery one of mine has had was a snap decision as the dog was already out on the table to be xrayed and speyed. Xray found something in her stomach (and on thinking about it, could have been there for awhile) so it was decided to remove it while she was out. Turned out to be a piece of rubber toy that had been in the stomach for quite awhile (as the toy had been binned months earlier!)

[dancinbcs]

I have only ever had second opinions on my own dogs if my vets have sent me to specialists. I have been lucky to have exceptionally good vets at 5 different practices over the years. Some of the vets working for them have not always been so good and if I doubt anything I check with the head vets before doing anything.

The vets used by my puppy buyers are a different story altogether. Several different ones have made some very wrong diagnosis. Whenever a puppy buyer rings with a bizarre diagnosis, I send them for a second opinion to a breeder vet and I have lost count of the errors made by these vets that just treat pets. Apart from a small handful of vets that I know lots of breeders use, I don't trust vets at all.