My dog just tried to eat my vet. Small vent here.

[LR1976]

Long story short, my 12 year old German Shepherd has been having problems with his hips. No pain, they're just getting very weak. I called the vet and asked for an opinion on anything we can do for him. "Oh, you have to bring him in." Fine...needs his rabies shot anyway. Well, Griffin hates the vet so we always muzzle him. Even with the muzzle on today the vet wouldn't touch him. Sure he was growly and mad but I was told to bring him in so....check him over??? I was in there for 5 minutes, vet said it's such and such, degenarative, nothing we can do. No, dogs that have this aren't in pain. So this is pretty much what I assumed and could have gone over this on the phone. Cost me $60 and he wouldn't even give him his rabies shot. Ummm.....

[kookicat]

I think I'd be looking for another vet. The one you have dosen't sound very helpful.

Hope your boy is okay. :)

[omare]

so sorry-I am at the same place with my shephard-except he gets along with the vet but same diagnoses-we were sent home with pain med and joint supplement and had a rabires shot for $150. He seems to move better when he gets his pain pill but I suspect I can find the joint supplement cheaper on line....

I wanted him also tested for lymes....but vet was not willing to do that...trying to save me money (??) but sold me $80 supplement.

I want to rule out the lymes as a complicating factor (and spend more money....)

I'll let you know if the joint supplement helps.

[LR1976]

Griffin is fine. Poor guy has hated the vet since he got really sick about 6 years ago and got poked and prodded WAY more than he appreciated. He's still a happy old man. Deaf as a post but he still thinks he's a puppy. He just has no strength in his hind end anymore. Vet said it's actually a neurological thing and messes with coordination. Basically they don't have feeling or control over their hind anymore. At least he doesn't hurt. Anyway, hopefully he'll keep plugging away for a while yet. Not looking forward to the day I have to make a decision. :cry:

[LR1976]

so sorry-I am at the same place with my shephard-except he gets along with the vet but same diagnoses-we were sent home with pain med and joint supplement and had a rabires shot for $150. He seems to move better when he gets his pain pill but I suspect I can find the joint supplement cheaper on line....

I wanted him also tested for lymes....but vet was not willing to do that...trying to save me money (??) but sold me $80 supplement.

I want to rule out the lymes as a complicating factor (and spend more money....)

I'll let you know if the joint supplement helps.

I've had really good luck with Condrasite (no idea how to spell that). It's a liquid joint supplement you put on their feed. It's cheep too!

[idtogo]

[QUOTE=kookicat;3993926]I think I'd be looking for another vet. The one you have dosen't sound very helpful.

what would have been helpful ? she got an exam, a diagnosis, likely a prognosis, didn't get sent home with expensive medications that wouldn't have helped anyway, or worse , dispensed on just a phone call. I am sure he got an adequate exam to diagnose and recommend options. It is not the vet's fault the dog was not easy to handle :(

[Alagirl]

what would have been helpful ? she got an exam, a diagnosis, likely a prognosis, didn't get sent home with expensive medications that wouldn't have helped anyway, or worse , dispensed on just a phone call. I am sure he got an adequate exam to diagnose and recommend options. It is not the vet's fault the dog was not easy to handle :(


You missed the part were the vet didn't even exam/touch nor give shots. Sounds to me like she would have been just as well off with just a phone call!

[LR1976]

You missed the part were the vet didn't even exam/touch nor give shots. Sounds to me like she would have been just as well off with just a phone call!


Yeah. No shots...did not TOUCH my dog.

[JSwan]

Wimpy vet.

[Seven-up]

Your vet sounds lucky. Last time my dog went to the vet she freaked out so bad she managed to pee on 3 people at the same time. Poor vet tech had to go change her clothes.:lol::rolleyes:

Now, maybe it's just me, and I can appreciate not wanting to get bitten, but doesn't it kind of come with the territory? Is it unreasonable to think the vet needs to cowboy up, put the muzzle on, get a vet tech to sit on the dog, and do what needs to be done? I have great respect for vets, both large and small, and I know they have a rough job sometimes. But, well, that's the job. You get scratched, bitten, kicked, stepped on, whatever.


Anyway, I don't mean to seem unsympathetic, because they do what I can't/won't/don't want to...it just seems odd, like hearing a proctologist complain he's got a shitty job...

I wonder if your vet will write a doctor's excuse for your dog, so when you get caught without a rabies tag, you can just say, "But wait, I have a note!" :winkgrin:

[Horsegal984]

I highly disagree with the vet not updating the rabies, esp in an animal more likely than most to bite. However I do believe that the reccomendation to bring him in was a good one, as based on the description it could be any number of things, since hip dysplasia and degerative myelopathy. Severe DM can be diagnosed with a breif exam, but the key word there is exam! Placing the feet to check propreaception and checking for deep pain receptors are basics of a good neuro exam, but they involve touching the dog! Apparentely your vet was too nervous. Some vets(just like all people) do better with larger agressive dogs. If there are multiple vets in the clinic, I wouldn't necessarily change clinics, but I would ask which vet is best with those types of dogs.

As far as your dog goes, see if any of this info is helpful to you
http://www.cybercanine.com/myelopathy.htm
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesd/a/degenmylopathy.htm
http://www.vetinfo.com/ddegnmyo.html

It's a fustrating disease, with unfortunately no real 'treatment' but lots of supplements to help keep them as comfortable as possible for as long as it's fair to keep them here with us. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, as they are devloping a simple test to determine carriers and affected dogs. Hopefully in the not so distant future we'll be able to start eliminating the disease from the populations.

Katherine
Vet Tech

[Twiliath]

Try contacting Dr. Clemmons at: http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm
He's been very successful with his herbal supplements.
There is also a genetic test for DM.
Acupuncture can help.
Try this site to find a rehab vet: http://www.veterinaryrehabreferral.com/

Best of luck to you.

[dalpal]

Find a new vet...there are vets out there who are wonderful with dogs who become fear aggressive in the office.

I have ONE vet that I will take my fear aggressive dog to....he is a happy go lucky fellow, but becomes very afraid in the vet's office.

Although he is still afraid, my vet just gets on the floor and takes her time with him and he allows her to examine him. We do muzzle and he does growl, but she just moves slow and talks to him the entire time.

My friend took her fear aggressive dog to the same vet for the same reason.

I have an adult student who had a cream retriever (the light colored goldens..don't know if I've got that right or not)....that poor puppy had to have surgery in her elbow at 9 months of age. I told her about adequan (the surgeon had not).....she put her dog on adequan and said it has made a world of difference. I would get your dog started on the adequan injections. After you get the inital dosage done....you only have to do it once a month.

[dalpal]

OH just saw your second post.....does he have Wobbler's sydrome? Where the nerves stop talking to each other, therefore, they lose the feeling in the hind limbs? I had a dog diagnosed with wobblers....swim therapy, massage, acupunture, adequan....all did wonders for him.

[Ghazzu]

Try contacting Dr. Clemmons at: http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm
He's been very successful with his herbal supplements.
There is also a genetic test for DM.
Acupuncture can help.
Try this site to find a rehab vet: http://www.veterinaryrehabreferral.com/

Best of luck to you.

I was gpoing to suggest checking Dr. Clemmons site, but I wouldn't go so far as to call the outcomes "very successful".
Palliative, mainly.

[avezan]

Griffin is fine. Poor guy has hated the vet since he got really sick about 6 years ago and got poked and prodded WAY more than he appreciated. He's still a happy old man. Deaf as a post but he still thinks he's a puppy. He just has no strength in his hind end anymore. Vet said it's actually a neurological thing and messes with coordination. Basically they don't have feeling or control over their hind anymore. At least he doesn't hurt. Anyway, hopefully he'll keep plugging away for a while yet. Not looking forward to the day I have to make a decision. :cry:

My 16 year old dog was "diagnosed" similarly with spinal cord compression which they said was common in older dogs. Her back end was weak, but she could still get around just fine. No pain from this. She was also deaf. :) I did lose her a few weeks ago, but she lived a nice long comfortable life. I hope your old man continues on with his comfortable, happy, puppy-like life for a while! :) I agree, it might be time for a new vet.

[thatmoody]

I have a fear aggressive dog, and it took several tries to find a vet who was comfortable examining him, even muzzled. He's huge (150 lbs) which really doesn't help. He finally got really sick, and when I was taking him in every week for bloodwork and such, he FINALLY got accustomed to the vet's office and now is fine going in - they don't even muzzle him anymore.

But for a few years there, it was very nerve wracking, and they always scheduled his appointments when a certain vet tech was there. She was NOT afraid of him, and he loved her.

I do agree, though, to find another vet, as a thorough exam might have revealed other issues that COULD be treated. And shots are essential, particularly for a country dog.

[omare]

my guy is weak behind and the vet was able to rotate /move his hind leg/hip with no real discomfort ....but still said it was his hips--he is weak pushing up behind when getting up--I thought he almost looked neurological myself --his hind leg muscles almost look a little wasted too(?) that is why I was wondering about Lymes...

This thread has been helpful as I am wondering if my guy is really properly diagnosed with bad hips -or maybe it is a combination of things?
(Edited to add-I read the material on the links--I think my guy has DM - not bad hips.....)

[merrygoround]

[QUOTE=kookicat;3993926]I think I'd be looking for another vet. The one you have dosen't sound very helpful.

what would have been helpful ? she got an exam, a diagnosis, likely a prognosis, didn't get sent home with expensive medications that wouldn't have helped anyway, or worse , dispensed on just a phone call. I am sure he got an adequate exam to diagnose and recommend options. It is not the vet's fault the dog was not easy to handle :(

No rabies shot? I think the vet needs the "chicken of the month" award. The dog was muzzled.

I would assume this vet doesn't do mixed practice. :lol:

[LR1976]

I highly disagree with the vet not updating the rabies, esp in an animal more likely than most to bite. However I do believe that the reccomendation to bring him in was a good one, as based on the description it could be any number of things, since hip dysplasia and degerative myelopathy. Severe DM can be diagnosed with a breif exam, but the key word there is exam! Placing the feet to check propreaception and checking for deep pain receptors are basics of a good neuro exam, but they involve touching the dog! Apparentely your vet was too nervous. Some vets(just like all people) do better with larger agressive dogs. If there are multiple vets in the clinic, I wouldn't necessarily change clinics, but I would ask which vet is best with those types of dogs.

As far as your dog goes, see if any of this info is helpful to you
http://www.cybercanine.com/myelopathy.htm
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesd/a/degenmylopathy.htm
http://www.vetinfo.com/ddegnmyo.html

It's a fustrating disease, with unfortunately no real 'treatment' but lots of supplements to
help keep them as comfortable as possible for as long as it's fair to keep them here with us. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, as they are devloping a simple test to determine carriers and affected dogs. Hopefully in the not so distant future we'll be able to start eliminating the disease from the populations.

Katherine
Vet Tech

Thanks for the reading material. This is exactly whats going on with Griff. Poor guy. He's so happy and just not ready to fall apart yet. He's 12 so it's ok and he's had a good life but still....you know??

[meaty ogre]

Nothing to add really, just sympathizing.

I went through 2 equine vets who were afraid of my docile horses. One was reluctant to examine my 38 yo mini due to her spunk, and the other looked like she was playing darts trying to inject my sedated TBs hocks (he was standing stock still, maybe swaying slightly but no signs of impending kick). I finally did find a "more confident" vet and thank goodness as shortly afterwards I began fostering a rescue who had serious trust issues and required very confident (BRAVE) handlers. I go out of my way to stay on his good side (tip, pay immediately...no billing, etc.) because I know my options are the other two ladies whose lack of confidence inspires a lack of confidence in me. I'm sure it's because they've been kicked, bit or something and I do understand it can be scary handling strange animals day in and day out, but we're talking a muzzled old dog, an ancient mini and a heavily sedated horse!? Oh well...easy to armchair quarterback I guess. I bet my kids' pediatrician has been bit and kicked repeatedly too but he seems to keep it stuffed down and remain professional. Though I will admit most toddlers are less dangerous than dogs and horses. Most. :)