Try to make this as short but close to actual as I can. Went to new vet as we just moved. Vet tech says what shots do
I want I tell her we do minimal vacs. She says they do to but puppy needs to build immune system up needing shots at 6,8,weeks and more but at this point I am loosing interest in this office. Than she ask about nuetering and says he has only one testical. There was more with her but will go forward. Vet comes in tells me the same about shots but agrees with me that both testicles are dropped but says if not by this age they won't. He is 4 months. He does some looking at Zeke goes to rear end and plays with his hips. Puppy does not like it. He says his hips are sore and he feels some looseness. I don't feel any think my boy did not like what he was doing to him. At 4 months old should his skeletal system be solid? Than he gets out some log type of treat and goes to offer to my puppy, I tell him no he wants to know why than wants me to give I tell him no as we give nothing processed, he say why not your dog is not some kind of vor as I am realy loosing interest in this place. I just wanted to get my Rabies vac. so I can register in the city. By the way we feed raw and when we told the tech she seemed like she did not like it and asked if prepackaged I said no just from the store and she said no more. any way what opinions do you all have? Also said if I am going to go to the lake I have to do Lepto vac. Now I am concerned with vacines and his hips. Will be looking for another vet to try.

They sound pretty close-minded to me and I would have left without doing anything with them.

I actually made an appointment with three different vets for a consultation and asked them all kinds of questions. With the answers they each gave me, I decided on the one I use now.

It cost me an office visit but was well worth it to find a vet that was supportive of how I raise and keep my dogs.

 Quote: carol boche

They sound pretty close-minded to me and I would have left without doing anything with them.

I actually made an appointment with three different vets for a consultation and asked them all kinds of questions. With the answers they each gave me, I decided on the one I use now.

It cost me an office visit but was well worth it to find a vet that was supportive of how I raise and keep my dogs.

Yes, this is exactly what I did.

I ended up, when my last vet retired, with the present one, who tolerates but is not thrilled with raw (but does admit that she "can't argue with success"); it works OK, since she agrees with my other views --- on vaccinations, my presence at most procedures, and so on.

I offered to pay the going rate for a visit when I interviewed vets before the last one; no one took me up on it, but I did think it was fair.

It's a long relationship, and it's an important one, even if the dog never has any health or injury problems. The peace of mind is invaluable, IMO, when you know you trust your vet.

I whole heartedly agree with Connie & Carol & would run not walk away from that vet. They don't deserve your business.

I agree as well - start looking for another vet. Any vet that disagrees with what you do but isn't open minded about hearing your reasoning isn't worth talking to, IMO. I have found that MOST vets, at least around where I live, are just plain afraid of feeding RAW and won't support it (ARGGGH!!), let alone suggest it. So I make my decisions based on other issues and experiences (like their views on vaccinations and medicating, or their "animal bedside manner" - this is a BIG one for me.). I've been told, and believe that "a good vet is worth their weight in gold", so the extra time and effort it takes to find a good one is well worth it.

*Just a note on puppy skeletons - YES, there is more "wiggle" room in a young dog's joints than in an adult. Specific joints harden up at different months of age - the long bones in the legs take the longest. We were notified by our first vet that Oscar had torn his CCL when he was about 10 months old. Drove all the way to Boston to have a specialist tell us that his joints had movement in them because he was still growing. I don't know much about HD or at what age it can be diagnosed, but I would think that at a mere 4 months old, unless he had horrible breeding, your pup's anatomy is still plenty flexible and loose... definitely get a second opinion before you start to worry too much.

~Natalya

Mike,
I have a vet that has staff that can be very annoying and manipulative IMO when it comes to talking us into things. One vet tech told us we "might as well get our cat the rabies vaccination because it will cost you more for an office visit"-It was either one or the other and I chose the office visit. Sorry, he was there for an eye infection-NOT SHOTS.

My cat's feet never touch the outside of the house and her response was "that if he bit someone you might be in some trouble".

I have only kept going there because the vet that runs the place has an open mind and helped me through some difficult times with one of my dogs. SHE isn't pushy and as long as I don't have to deal with that particular person, I still go there.

It doesn't sound like the vet is very good at that place so I would look elsewhere. There was a thread started about finding good vets and I copied it for you.

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=10&Number=138770&Searchpage=2&Main=12395&Words=vets&topic=0&Search=true#Post138770

I hope you find someone on that list close to home, otherwise I'm sure you'll get responses from someone if they live in your area.
Lisa

 Quote:

I have a vet that has staff that can be very annoying and manipulative IMO when it comes to talking us into things. One vet tech told us we "might as well get our cat the rabies vaccination because it will cost you more for an office visit"-It was either one or the other and I chose the office visit. Sorry, he was there for an eye infection-NOT SHOTS.

I hear you there! I just had an argument with a vet that I don't prefer at the clinic I go to this week. She was trying to convince me OVER THE PHONE(!) that my 9 mo old puppy is full grown, that diet has no effect on growth rate (??!!) and that she should be spayed now. Umm... I was asking if a retained puppy tooth could be extracted with a reversible sedative and not general anesthesia.

I had to call all my vets over this issue and finally got one to work with me. But now the teeth are starting to loosen - they might come out before the appointment!

I was ignorant for many years about not asking questions and letting them talk me into things. Neutering was one thing with a dog I had many years ago. I would have waited MUCH longer if I had known how it affects growth.

After going to a few different vets because of moving, I know that they are ALL different-even if they work out of the same office. So, I try to stick with the one I like, or just deal with whomever else.

The funny thing was once that vet tech was through badgering me, the vet came in and didn't bring up shots -AT ALL. I guess the vet-tech did the dirty work.

Lisa





Edited by Lisa Simms (05/04/2007 07:45 PM)
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