Having doubts about our vets

loveisdivine

(Apologies, this ended up really long!)

Hi all,

Just looking for some opinions on whether we are over reacting about some issues we have with out current vets.

Basically it all started with our rabbit having a weepy eye, we took him into our vets and he said that his tear duct was blocked either due to infection or the duct itself becoming damaged. What followed was about 3-4 long weeks of oral antibiotics, at different strengths, none of which worked. At the first visit the vet had said that he may require a CT scan which would have cost around €1500(:eek:), he also said that he would probably be on penicillin injections for the rest of his life, which seemed a bit odd to me, we hadn't started any treatment at that point and he was already talking about daily injections for the rest of his life!?

After 3 weeks of no results with the oral antibiotics and talk of €1500 CT's from that vet, we decided to take him to Bairbre O'Malleys in Bray. Frankly, she was wonderful! Within 24 hours they had him x rayed and saw that yes the tear duct was totally blocked (it was so blocked they could actually see it on an xray). They also told us his front teeth were a little overgrown/uneven and one of his ears was really full of wax (neither of which the other vet had picked up on) she prescribed 2 weeks of penicillin injections.

That worked better than anyone could have expected, his eye was completely recovered and the fur had all grown back around the eye and he was back to his usual self. Bairbre was more than happy to stop the injections, but did say it could well come back in the future and to look out for signs of his eye bulging/weeping again.

Fast forward 3 weeks and he gets a grass seed in his ear. My partner took him to our original vets as its much closer than Bairbre, who looked in his ear, confirmed there was a grass seed but then took him into a different room for over 10 minutes to remove it (they always take him to a different room to do these kinda things ?) When he came back he said that he had also found some pus in the bottom of the ear and he suspected it was coming from the original infection and that it was draining into the ear now instead of out his eye. He prescribed ear drops and then said that he will probably have to go onto injections again.

Something just doesn't feel right. Before the grass seed he was 100% normal and happy, never showed any discomfort or scratching at his ear or anything. His eye was the best its ever been. Then he gets a grass seed and were back onto possible injections again.

I can't afford to go to Bairbre till the end of the month. I also can't afford to go back to our local vets yet either. Over the last 2 months this whole thing has cost us just over €700. Everytime we have been to our local vets, its been €60, even just removing the grass seed and prescribing ear drops was another €60.

Sorry this has turned out to be such a long post. My main concerns are that the local vet seems to always jump to the worst possible scenario, seems eager to get him on the injections and takes him out of the room to do things like remove the grass seed or clean his eye. Bairbre showed us everything, the xrays, pointed out his teeth being a little long and did things like cleaning his ear in front of us.

Am I right to be a litle concerned that the local vet might be rushing into things? Or should I just accept that the vet knows best and go along with it.

VonVix

Now, I don't know the circumstances and how they differ to mine (besides a rabbit and a dog being obviously different lol), but my dog had a blocked tear duct as well and he didn't need antibiotics for it, just to be sedated and have his tear duct flushed out.

Did the vet put a dye in his eye? Do you know why he came up with the idea of an infection (was it apparent)?

Anyway, I think if your gut is telling you something, go with it. If you feel you and your pet were better treated elsewhere, chances are you most likely were!

Zapperzy

Typing on the phone so iv to keep this short. About the taking him out of the room that's pretty standard. Pets, dogs in particular, act up around their owners. Owners tend to fuss over them and they pick up on this and use it to their advantage. Iv seen dogs completely freak out and start howling at the sight of a needle because their owner cuddles them and talks about the nasty vet and the big needle and implants there own fears onto the dog. Yet remove the dog out of sight from its owner and it's a different dog and much easier for everyone to deal with!

VonVix

Zapperzy wrote: »

Typing on the phone so iv to keep this short. About the taking him out of the room that's pretty standard. Pets, dogs in particular, act up around their owners. Owners tend to fuss over them and they pick up on this and use it to their advantage. Iv seen dogs completely freak out and start howling at the sight of a needle because their owner cuddles them and talks about the nasty vet and the big needle and implants there own fears onto the dog. Yet remove the dog out of sight from its owner and it's a different dog and much easier for everyone to deal with!

Can't imagine a rabbit kicking off like that though!

tk123

Zapperzy wrote: »

Typing on the phone so iv to keep this short. About the taking him out of the room that's pretty standard. Pets, dogs in particular, act up around their owners. Owners tend to fuss over them and they pick up on this and use it to their advantage. Iv seen dogs completely freak out and start howling at the sight of a needle because their owner cuddles them and talks about the nasty vet and the big needle and implants there own fears onto the dog. Yet remove the dog out of sight from its owner and it's a different dog and much easier for everyone to deal with!

My vet is the opposite and moves anything or anyone she needs into the room with Bailey so he can stay with me lol!

OP if you're not happy then go with your gut - I've done it twice and was right both times.

borderlinemeath

Vets in general always outline the worst case scenario. I don't think they necessarily do it to scaremonger, but to indemnify themselves if it does happen. But I think there's a certain manner that's needed so the vet comes across as compassionate and caring rather than having dollar signs in their eyes. Sometimes when they talk about the costs of treatments it can sound very blasé, particularly when you don't have the money!

I know I've spent 45 minutes talking through eventualities with my vet as she's very thorough, explaining blood results, xrays, possible causes, worst case scenarios, and it never seems to be borne out of a want to make money, but for the well being and health of your pet. But I get that not all vets are like this!

loveisdivine

Thanks for the speedy replies!

The local vets did try and flush his eye each time he went in with them and they couldn't get anything through, which is where the diagnosis came from. The reason we ended up going to Bairbre is because I'd heard such good things about her and I was starting to panic cos his eye was bulging out! With her everything just seemed more in control, she knew exactly what was going on and how to treat it effectively, she seemed to better understand our rabbit and his existing disabilities. It was Bairbre that then did the xray and she used dye as well to see what was going on.

I guess because of the great experience we had with her, we are now questioning the smaller things that bother us about the local vets, whereas before we wouldn't have given them much thought.

Well the local vet wanted us to go back in tomorrow but I've not made an appointment yet. I honestly just can't afford it. Obviously if he starts to become unwell then he will just have to go but at the minute he's fine. I've even had my nose right on his ear and I can't smell any nasty puss or anything.

I'd really like to avoid injections if at all possible, as it was stressful for both him and us. After the first 3the injection site started to get tender and it was very difficult to administer them.

Whispered

There is no way I expect my vet to take my dog out of the room for treatment. Unless there was a good reason for it and the vet explained why. I've never heard of it happening before.

Op if you're not happy, I'd suggest you change. Even if you're wrong (and I'm not saying you are) if you're second guessing your vet you won't fully trust any diagnosis they make.

Does anybody know, when changing your vet do they transfer files to your new vet? I'm considering changing myself since my local practise was taken over.

Silverfish

I've found that it's best to bring rabbits to a specialist 'exotics' vet, the normal vets are ok for basic stuff but if anything goes wrong they tend to not really know what to do. My first warning sign from my rabbits first vet was when he said he doesn't spay female rabbits, there's no need! If something is ringing alarm bells, it's best to go with your instincts.

I now drive across the county to Bairbre, she's the best vet for rabbits and rodents .

aonb

Im with Whispered on this - if YOU are not happy with your vet, you are paying the bills - move to a new vet. If you like Bairbre (?) why not move to her practice. When one loves ones pet, and doesnt have confidence in a vet, its a bit of a no brainer really. Remember that post lately with the lady with the horrible (to her) vet in Kilkenny - she moved to Dublin, found a new vet, and her dog is doing great under a new regime.

loveisdivine

What do we need to do to officially change vets? Do I have to let the local one know? When he went to Bairbre they faxed all his notes over. Perhaps ill have to ask them to do it again.

I know its silly but I feel kinda bad telling them were switching. Like I'm insulting them or something.

Silverfish

I said nothing, just stopped going to one and started going to the other, new vet phoned old vet and got all the files sent over. I think it was an amicable break up!

Whispered

I'd be honest, maybe put it in a nice way that you would rather bring your rabbit to a small animal specialist.

I'll be telling them the truth if I change (I still haven't made up my mind. )

aonb

Whispered wrote: »

I'd be honest, maybe put it in a nice way that you would rather bring your rabbit to a small animal specialist.

I'll be telling them the truth if I change (I still haven't made up my mind. )

Im like you - my local vet practice (v. small with 2 excellent vets) was taken over by MUCH larger practice based in next town. I used to go to this larger practice years ago, but wasnt impressed with them (either were my dogs!).

I know Vet practices are a business, but seem to be getting bigger/less personal/less customer/animal orientated. Ive heard a couple of horror stories about local vets this week - total lack of interest in their patients - which is really the pits, given that pet owners/lovers are totally at the vets 'mercy' and its so terrifying when a pet is unwell.

The problem is to find a replacement given that there are fewer small practices where the animal care is foremost (rather than the business plan)

Whispered

That's it, it sounds like you could be talking about the exact place I use haha. The vet who used to treat my boys is still there part time and one of the vet nurses is what is keeping me there for now.

I wasn't at all impressed the last time I was there, I felt like the vet just wasn't listening to me. We had an incident with Harley that was out of character. I brought him up for a check up, the vet poked and prodded him to see if he could get him to react to a certain area but when I asked about bloods he said it wasn't necessary because it was behavioural. He didn't speak about diet, exercise or anything else that might effect behaviour.

After a few days of him being out of sorts and being reactive I spoke to a behaviourist who took loads of details and suggested he sounded like he was missing or short on something dietary. I supplemented his diet as suggested and within two weeks he was back to 100%. I wonder has the vet run the tests would it have shown up. I don't know enough about what those tests look for.