Advice Re My Pug's Next Check-up

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

I've just booked my Pug in for his next six-monthly check-up. He's booked in with my preferred vet, at their Phillip Island clinic, to have a blood test, urine test, titre test, faecal worm burden count, a dental exam and a lymph node aspirate.

He's also booked in, with a different vet, at their Wonthaggi clinic to have an ultrasound (the Phillip Island clinic only do ultrasounds on a Wednesday and my preferred vet doesn't work on Wednesdays).

I was just speaking with a receptionist at the Wonthaggi clinic and she suggested that I have all the testing done at the Wonthaggi clinic in one go. I said I needed to think about this and that I would get back to her. While my preferred vet is more of a progressive thinker, and is open to titre testing, the other vet at the Wonthaggi clinic is very old-fashioned and 'pro-vaccination' and we don't seem to see eye-to-eye on a lot of things.

I'm really excited about my Pug having a titre test because the local obedience club has agreed to accept him with a titre test instead of a vaccination. And I'm really looking forward to doing obedience with him. I'm worried that it will just be a waste of time (and an unpleasant experience) trying to get the Wonthaggi vet to do a titre test for me.

I would be grateful for your help and advice... What do you think? Do you think I should get everything done (except for the ultrasound) with my preferred vet at the Phillip Island clinic as I had planned? And just have the ultrasound done at the Wonthaggi clinic? I don't really care about saving money on consultations - I've spent so much on my Pug's cancer treatment that it doesn't really matter to me anymore.

I'm sorry this is such a long post but this titre test is really important to me.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

I have just emailed my preferred vet and asked for her opinion (she will be away for a week and won't be able to get back to me straight away).

Edited September 25, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[RiverStar-Aura]

If it was me, I'd personally do whatever I feel most comfortable with. I also don't understand why, as informed dog owners, we need to argue the point of titre testing. If it's something we want done as owners, who are the vets to question our decision (unless the test isn't in the best interest of the dog of course).

I can understand the receptionist trying to save you time and effort by having all these tests performed at the same time, however, the end decision lies with you and what you feel most comfortable with. Look at it too from the dog's POV; you might feel he'd be better off with a break between the tests and ultrasound -- the tests mentioned do sound like a lot of poking and prodding all in one go.

In the end, you need to do what's most comfortable for you and your dog.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Thank you, that is great advice :)

Yes, I will go with what I feel most comfortable with - which is seeing my preferred vet and postponing the ultrasound until a later date (with a different vet altogether).