What an interesting question Steve has asked...It caused me to reflect on a few things. How many times have I gone to Jack in the Box to get something to eat and gotten home and the order is wrong. I wondered how many times I have gone to a restaurant and found a hair in my food. I wondered how many people have found "foreign objects" inside their body cavities after surgery (I actually saw this on t.v.), I wondered how many times the guys have had to come "fix" our pool pump. Or why they are supposed to come out to redeck the pool because the concrete cracked or why my home builder and I still have an intimate relationship,two years after we built it (they just bought me paint to repaint my daughters room because they had to tear down the walls to insulate them because it hadn't been done when it was built and the list continues to go on. My a/c is going to be balanced on my birthday, oh fun for me :mad. Once again I thought, why would we question anyone who (supposedly) had more knowledge than me. Don't I see news reports of doctors and their drug addictions almost nightly or how about the fact that they survive on so little sleep it is unlawful for them to even be performing on a functioning level? HMMM??? We live in a world of very little work ethic and even less business ethics. I question everyone, everything, all the time. It's not a nice existence but it is reality. One of the reasons I love this board so much! Opinions may differ on occasion but knowledge is power! Note to self: Ask Steve where he got his rose colored glasses, I want a pair!

Edited by RobbinMann (09/14/2007 04:43 PM)
Edit reason: missed a thought

Also, it is SO worth the trouble to find a vet you do trust. "Like," I don't really care that much about. It's nice if I like her, but that's not my top concern. My top concern is that the vet treats me as an intelligent person in partnership with him/her, and explains all my questions.

*Of course* the vet has had a ton of schooling that I have not had, and therefore knows a ton that I don't. But even among vets there is a wide range of differing opinions and POVs, so how can I expect that the vet's health-care "philosophy" coincides with my own without asking questions?


I've said this before, but I believe it's worth repeating: Interview the vet before you ever have an emergency situation. Even if it's a phone interview -- even if you are charged.

I wanted to know that we had the same views on pain management, that no vaccinations would ever be administered "automatically," that the vet, even if not a fan of fresh raw food, would not denigrate my choice or use scare tactics in hopes of effecting a switch, etc.

Robinn, I LOVE your last post. Ain't it the truth!
Connie, I agree. I can't imagine going to a doctor, whether it be for myself or my animals, without my list of questions.

These days, doctors expect and want patients to be more pro-active in their care. Thankfully, the old days of Dr God are dead & gone.

As it turns out, over the years both my regular human physician, my dogs regular veterinarian and oncologist have all become close, personal friends. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have happened if they resented the fact that I am pro-active in the all important arena of health.

I thought I'd add, My puppy had a bought of Pano earlier. They did NOT sedate her, but that is up to the vet I guess, but he did grab and squeeze the bone trying to illicit a response, which he got, she yelped. He suspected Pano, took the xray and sure enough, it was pano.

I would rather pay for the x-rays than have my vet create a negative visit for the dog. Especially a pup.

Wait...you mean they can SEE Pano on xrays????!!!

I thought Pano was a ghost ailment. I didn't know it could be seen on an xray. Well dag gum! Now I'm exited about it. Thing is, the vet has already told me he suspects elbow dysplasia. This of course would kill me but I would at least get another pup out of it. Thing is, how am I going to add a fourth dog into the pack when Mr. Attitude is aleady getting too big for his britches? I already have a female that rules the roost. Another female would probably create havoc! Ohhhhh, I don't even want to think about it. It's going to be Pano, it's going to be pano, it's going to be pano. Come on everybody a little positive energy here!

 Quote: RobbinMann

Wait...you mean they can SEE Pano on xrays????!!!

Not always. And I believe that the more experienced in orthopedics the x-ray reader is, the more chance of a solid diagnosis.

Pano is an inflammation of the bone. The cortex (outer shell) looks less distinct, and the interior of the bone seems to increase in density. The lesions are not always clear on X-rays (which is where the experience comes in).

This is my understanding of the x-ray part of a diagnosis of pano.

Connie is right, pano is not always evident on an xray.

We never take pups to the vet if we suspect pano, it's self limiting and why put the dog through xrays they don't need and spend money for the vet to tell us something we know how to deal with?

http://gsdhelpline.com/pano.htm

Cindy, I took this from the link you sent me and I'm wondering how many if any of your dogs or any on the forum that are fed raw diets have this issue apply...I do feed raw and my breeder also fed raw.

From personal experience as well as speaking with scores of breeders, I am almost totally convinced that those dogs with breed and/or family susceptibility for pano, who are fed very "rich" (high protein, especially) diets are the ones most likely to come up limping with the disorder. One after another, people have told me that by going to a lower-protein but still highly-digestible food, and not feeding very liberally, they have stopped the course of pano in their kennels.

My Fiance works at a Vet, and the Vets are very nice, but are honestly brainwashed to think Raw is wrong, and kibble is God.

It's just like doctors in Canada are feed incorrect info during medical school to make them think they can fix everything with a drug.

My Fiance just went on a paid vacation because the Vet's office she works at sells so much perscription dog food. Free shopping trips twice a years, you name it, they get it.

Just tell him where to go, just like I did to my personal doctor who couldn't figure out I was lactose in-tolerant for 6 years. I have yet to meet a doctor or vet who cares more about the animals than needles they give, or the food they sell.

Forgive me if this seems harsh, but I have given up on medicine, I much preffer prevention.

Good luck finding good Vet,