"What do you call a doctor who finishes last in his class?"?
Yeah. Pretty much.

This is a hot topic for me. I interviewed, and dismissed, 5 vets before I found our current vet. Those dismissed had a practice that put profit over good health care. Each one pushed useless vaccinations, useless treatments, and became defensive when I intelligently challenged the rationale for their recommendations and health care plans. Most Vets are "in bed" with pet food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, etc. These companies start in vet school with free merchandise, courses, and other inducements to get a vet into bed with them. Vets use scare tactics to try and manipulate clients into services/treatments that are overpriced and unnecessary. I fired one vet after I had to threaten a complaint with his ethics board just to get a Rx so that I could buy medication less expensively. During my long tenure as a K9 guardian, I have many "stories" like the one above. But, here is what I've learned: 1. Never allow a tech or vet to be alone with your dog; i.e. they don't go "into the back" without me present. 2. Get on-line and check anything that a vet tells you. 3. Absent an emergency, don't consent to any unusual treatment until you check it out. 4. Educate yourself on the gross over-vaccination or dogs, and the adverse health consequences. 5. Educate yourself on the pros/cons of de-sexing versus sterilization; i.e. leaving a dog's hormones intact for proper health and development. 6. Fire any vet that does not respect your health plan for your dog, or tries to impose his/her version of health care over your own.

He made it, so far anyway. No more vomiting blood, bloody gums. He seemed a little more chipper.


Argued about what tests we were having, got clotting time+hematocrit only, another Vit. K injection and Vit K pills. Total bill was $420.
The mouse poison was old, grandpa had the box, it was fortunately
a warfarin poison.

Possibly I'm just mad at myself because my Vit. K outdated in l999.

I'm very glad to hear the dog is okay so far. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery.

In light of some comments made, I'd like to say a couple things. (1) I do not believe most vets are incompetent. (2) I do not believe most people who become vets did so because they couldn't cut it as human doctors. (3) While I do think sensitivity and kindness is called for, I understand why vets ask for an up-front guarantee of payment for a large bill. They would quickly go bankrupt otherwise. It works the same way for human doctors and hospitals.

I do agree we should be strong advocates for our dogs when it comes to their health care (this goes for ourselves, as well). Do research, ask questions, find another vet if you are uncomfortable. I believe the people who populate the veterinary profession are no different than those found in any other profession. There are great ones, good ones, mediocre ones, and really poor ones. I think most of them fall somewhere in the middle and are trying their best within the bounds of their education, experience and skill.

All JMHO, and I understand others will disagree with me, and I respect everyone's right to their own feelings.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

I'm very glad to hear the dog is okay so far. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery.

In light of some comments made, I'd like to say a couple things. (1) I do not believe most vets are incompetent. (2) I do not believe most people who become vets did so because they couldn't cut it as human doctors. (3) While I do think sensitivity and kindness is called for, I understand why vets ask for an up-front guarantee of payment for a large bill. They would quickly go bankrupt otherwise. It works the same way for human doctors and hospitals.

I do agree we should be strong advocates for our dogs when it comes to their health care (this goes for ourselves, as well). Do research, ask questions, find another vet if you are uncomfortable. I believe the people who populate the veterinary profession are no different than those found in any other profession. There are great ones, good ones, mediocre ones, and really poor ones. I think most of them fall somewhere in the middle and are trying their best within the bounds of their education, experience and skill.

All JMHO, and I understand others will disagree with me, and I respect everyone's right to their own feelings.

I agree 100%. The bad ones (like with anything) get the most notice, but I've encountered way more good than bad in my many years of life-with-dogs.

most glad he feels better

I totally agree with both of you, I also think as veterinary medicine has advanced, the clinic I mentioned earlier has a half million dollar mri machine, and the push is for a higher level of care, more equipment is needed and someone has to pay for it, usually the consumer.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Do research, ask questions, find another vet if you are uncomfortable. I believe the people who populate the veterinary profession are no different than those found in any other profession. There are great ones, good ones, mediocre ones, and really poor ones. I think most of them fall somewhere in the middle and are trying their best within the bounds of their education, experience and skill.

Yes to this 100%. Sounds like this particular practice just wasn't one of the great ones, but I think it's important to remember there is a responsibility in each of us to select our community of teachers, guides, technicians and caregivers, based on our experience, beliefs and standards (this goes for pretty much anything in our lives - veterinary care included). This comes with research and time spent educating ourselves, but it's more than worth it when we can find a trusted match in a doctor, a vet, pharmacist, etc - plus, it makes it much easier to stand our ground when confronted with bad or irresponsible practices!

Betty, so glad this little dog sounds like he's out of the woods...
And I'm a little spooked by the link to the news on rodent poison ingredient changes - looks like I need to read up on this! (*back on the forum for less than 24 hours and it's already expanding my mind again!!)

~N

Cheri, my comment should have translated to 'the lowest graduate at vet school is still called a veterinarian' not that failed doctors become vets. In/competence is universal and probably a bell curve, most of us are mediocre in one sense or another.

Glad to hear the wee gaffer is feeling better! I hope he's out of the woods - and you can't have on-hand meds for everything, can you Betty? At least they had a sane voice to call to ask for help.

 Quote: Kristin Muntz

Cheri, my comment should have translated to 'the lowest graduate at vet school is still called a veterinarian' not that failed doctors become vets.

Gotcha. I apologize for my misunderstanding.

And about your other comment in this thread to the effect of don't people become vets because they love animals. I agree that should be the reason, and I hope it is the main reason for most of them! In a perfect world, people who love helping others or love whatever kind of work they do would be able to do it for free, but, alas, there are house payments, car payments, groceries, gas.....