I always insist on MetaCam when a vet tries to give me Rimadyl. Never had a vet argue it with me, i they ask me my reason I just tell them "she's used it before with success so I don't want to try different meds when I know what works".

As far as I'm aware, MetaCam has the least symptoms of all of that class of drug and is easy to administer with a nice taste to boot. At least, thats what I assume based on my lil drug addicts reactions to me bringing out the syringe.

Have to just mention a couple things.

Any good veterinarian will NOT in ANY circumstance let you into the x-ray room while they are filming. To let you get the dog accustomed to the room, maybe, but NOT while they are shooting films. It requires protective gear and a radiation badge that you don't have and they can't give you. I am pretty sure this is actually illegal -- it sure as hell is dangerous.

I can also understand why a busy veterinarian would not want to take x-rays on a dog that is not sedated. Get everything set up, and the dog starts fussing. The vet has now wasted films and time, and now has to take dog out, sedate, wait for sedative to kick in, get everything set up again, then take films. I DO have a problem with a vet who wants to knock them out totally with an anesthesia when a light sedative is often more than enough. Trigger happy much?

And I question the living daylights out of my veterinarians and other health workers, and I will sure as hell continue to after what just happened to my dog getting a tooth pulled.

After reading "The Food Pets Die For", with the entire CHAPTER on how Hills, Iams, Purina, etc. sends ITS EMPLOYEES to teach nutrition courses at vet school, I am VERY skeptical of veterinarians offering me nutritional recommendations. Just look at the crap they sell in their waiting rooms. I trust the folks that work at my local independent pet food store and the advice of my agility instructor WAY more than my vet's advice when it comes to food. That's because I /know/ the knowledge that those people have. They've dealt with food allergies in their own dogs, they've tried numerous kinds of kibbles and canned foods, and in the case of the pet store folks, they are being paid to know the ins and outs of the brands of food and the supplements. I don't know who trained my vet in nutrition. I probably don't WANT to know...

It just reminds me of when I saw a Science Diet truck with "Nothing is better for your pet!" printed in big bold letters on the side of it. I think we discussed that once on these forums. Sure is better!

I can understand vet's reservation's about feeding raw. Let's face it guys: THE PUBLIC IS STUPID. We are not 'the norm', and by "we", I'm talking those of us who have the brains to post here, those of us who train our dogs in SOMETHING regularly and give our dogs a job, those of us who at least -try- to understand theories of dog training and nutrition. Compare us to the idiots with their flexis and haltis on their 200-lb designer Pit Bulls that are charging down the street screaming "Spike, no no, heel!". These are the people who take PetsMart training classes. They are a whole 'nother species from us.

We know raw is not hard to do but you DO have to put some thought and research into how you are going to do it. That is WAY more effort than most people want to put into their dog's existance. If people put any effort at all into what they fed their dogs, they would be reading articles online, or would pick up a copy of a decent book (again, I'll promote The Food Pets Die For, just as an example) and they would learn the crap that is in the Kibbles N Bits they are shoveling into their dog's muzzle.

You have to bear in mind that veterinarians see a lot more of the halti flexi Spike group than us. They aren't used to catering to us.

Come on now. The general, dog-liking but not dog-training public can't even remember to bring a poop bag out on a walk with aforementioned Spike. The vets realize this and also doubt that people can manage customizing a raw food diet for their dogs.

The key to a good vet, for me at least, is that when they realize you know what you are talking about, they treat you like you know what you are talking about. This was the straw that broke the camel's back for me at my last vet. I told them I wanted a PAIN MED for my dog, not an anti-inflammatory, which is what they gave me (rimadyl), since my dog was in, you know, PAIN.

In closing, the OP's vet sounds like a true arse, and I absolutely would go elsewhere.

 Quote: katherine ostiguy

Have to just mention a couple things.

Any good veterinarian will NOT in ANY circumstance let you into the x-ray room while they are filming. To let you get the dog accustomed to the room, maybe, but NOT while they are shooting films. It requires protective gear and a radiation badge that you don't have and they can't give you. I am pretty sure this is actually illegal -- it sure as hell is dangerous.

I can also understand why a busy veterinarian would not want to take x-rays on a dog that is not sedated. Get everything set up, and the dog starts fussing. The vet has now wasted films and time, and now has to take dog out, sedate, wait for sedative to kick in, get everything set up again, then take films. I DO have a problem with a vet who wants to knock them out totally with an anesthesia when a light sedative is often more than enough. Trigger happy much?

Hmmmmm, I help with x-rays on my dogs and my vet (who is GOOD) has plenty of protection equipment for me to wear while doing so.
Of course, I am also a EMT and help at the hospital when on duty, so maybe that is why.

And, if a vet is so busy that they have to sedate for things (like X-rays) then I would say that they need to book less patients and provide the proper care to their clients.

One thing I dislike worse than waiting for a MD for myself or my family when I have a SCHEDULED appointment, is waiting on a vet
when I have a scheduled appointment.

I guess I am lucky to live in a small rural area and have found a vet that is not only good at what he does, supports my feeding of raw and allows me to stay with my dogs if I want to for procedures, but he also takes the time to provide proper care and also to discuss what is going on.
If I get the "deer in the headlight" look, out come the med books and his careful explanation of what he sees, thinks and what he can do or what needs to be done.

Never do I feel hurried, rushed or stupid.

When the Vet took Xray Photos to find out the problem with Pup Freds Near side front leg i was in the Xray room whist it was done, I was kitted out in all the gear, It felt as heavy as a Diving Suit but it was an interesting experince

You are right. You are lucky!

Katherine, I think you make very valid points, (as usual). I especially like what you said about vets dealing with the general public more than real dog people who actually DO something with thier dogs. This is why it's a good idea to go to a vet who specializes in doing OFA xrays. They usually have no problem with the owner assisting (in fact it makes their job easier), are very fast, and can get the xrays with no anesthesia.

I am planning on bringing my new puppy home next weekend and have dealt with one vet for 9 years. Luckily for me, I haven't had to deal with anything more than shots and dewormings with my animals.

It will be interesting to see what his views are on various issues as time goes by. I truly like him as a person and so far he has been wonderful to my animals that have been brought in.

My last dog was 5 years old when I first went to this particular vet and she already had a phobia about stepping foot into any vet clinic. Since visits to these type of places were only for shots, she knew what was going to happen and became very hostile to any employee touching her. We had to muzzle her for every visit. With this new puppy, I plan on taking her there for an intro to the vet and being loved on by everybody. I want visits to be positive and help her to realize the staff is not there to hurt. My only problem is that I don't want the new pup to catch anything from walking into the waiting room.

I have gone in to talk to this vet about Parvo and expressed my concerns about vaccinosis. His response is that I have to do what I think is right for the dog. It blew me away because I expected him to push the annual boosters. He said the rabies shots administered are actually good for 3 years but by state law he had to give them annually. My God, I don't see how he can live with himself doing that or why he doesn't do something to change it. He said titers are done if I want them.

Until I got on the internet and joined various forums, I believed vets knew everything. Most people assume vets know everything or they wouldn't be in practice. What else are they going to do if they don't accept what the vet says? Let the pet continue as is? I say that because I was one of them. People are too busy living their lives to research dog illnesses. People should be just as proactive about their pets as well as their own bodies. We are talking about a life here. I think a good vet will be more receptive to whatever a customer's views are as long as it is discussed with respect and a good attitude. At least that is what I am counting on with mine because I will ask questions.

Now before I take an animal to a vet, I will ask for advice or suggestions on a forum when I see something out of the ordinary. At least this way, I will have some info to work with and can ask intelligent questions when I get to the vet clinic. Sometimes stuff is over my head. The vets are only human and don't remember everything they were taught in school. I know I sure don't. But if we are informed and exhaust all resources, we have nobody to blame but ourselves for the decisions made.

When I go to the vet's office again, I am going to inspect the foods sold there and question why they don't sell the better foods if they are so concerned about health. Heck, I'm going to stop by PetSmart and ask the same exact question to the manager.