Most of you will recall how much I love and rave about my vet. Usually I can't say enough about him because he's just the best. Well over the summer we've had a few chats about Eb's dusty skin and my needing something I can give her daycare and training places who ask for up to date vaccinations when there is no way I am into yearly vaccinations (until such time as someone can convince me otherwise). Poor ol' Eb hasn't been able to go to her daycare since about May because of this and we totally missed the fall schedule for agility or other training.
Last time I saw him he said he hadn't been happy with the titer tests he had seen lately (didn't like the way the lab reported) and he also wasn't comfortable with some info I gave him about a thyroid expert/lab in Ca so I left it at that because to me we had been discussing this months longer than I had planned on. Meanwhile he gave me some thyroid meds (the dusty skin) which I gave Eb for a month and then decided no more until she had proper thyroid tests even though he said they wouldn't harm her and we could wait and see if she improved or not (his usual way of doing things and normally I have no problem with it but this one was bugging me for some reason).
Meanwhile I went for a consult at a holistic vet who did the titers (sent to Mich) and last week to another country vet who was doing a bunch of dogs' thyroid tests to send to the lab in Ca. So now I have my proof Eb doesn't need shots and a note to go with it. I also got the thyroid results and a full blood panel.
So to my dilemma.... the blood panel shows there may be a mild infection somewhere so I think I should take her in and see about that. It also says to give her thyroid meds, mild dose, exactly the identical same thing right down to the dose as he had told me to do. The problem is I can't figure out if I should do a sufficient amount of groveling or not.
He'll need to see those blood tests to see about the infection part so he's going to know I went elsewhere. He'll also see the thyroid test, from the place he wasn't comfortable with since it's on the same sheet of paper...and their recommendations re: meds..
So, how would you approach this? I can't decide if I should just be matter of fact (I asked you to do this, you didn't want to, so I went elsewhere) or suck up a bit just to make sure he doesn't feel I don't trust him (look what I spent $$$ on that tells me you were right anyway). What do you think? Any other ideas?
I don't think he'd really be put out, but I'd rather ensure I stay on his good side.
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His reaction did surprise me. Of all the things I thought he might do, snippy wasn't one of them as it really has never been his style (that I've seen anyway). At least he seems on board now. I'm not quite sure why he reacted as he did given he had mentioned going to the other vet and it was him I asked first to do the tests I had done.
Well that is not your problem...it's his. I really do not get how professionals feel that they are the only one with all the answers. These days many of us work in teams and look at solutions from different angles. I cannot imagine thinking that I am the only one with the right answer.
Update...well he actually got snippy with me. I've been going to him for over 12 years and have never seen him even close to snippy before. I'm not sure what was up his butt today but by the time I left he was finally willing to at least look at the tests and decided they should keep a record of them so he could try the labs I used. It's a good thing I didn't go yesterday because if he'd been in the mood he was today when I was feeling cranky it might have turned out quite differently. Today I was feeling mellow so I had all the patience I needed to sell him on the idea.
as a dog owner for many years we do the best we can. Our last dog, golden retreiver died of cancer and I did the tests up to a point where my research, that I did on my own, showed there were no more tests worth doing.
My vet wanted me to keep going but she would have lived a difficult life. I mean we make decisions at pet owners that are not easy, not always intelligent sounding but that is the way it is.
Our golden lab is the king of the castle around here but we pick and choose what shots he is getting and as much as I trust my vet I still ask around for other opinions. I mean I have to do that for myself as well.
You sound as though you really care for you animal and that is all that counts.
Oh he's lived with me and second opinions before (my last dog...I spent money I didn't need to spend if I had only listened to him but when it comes to cancer etc. you have to check all possibilities out IMO). He just sort of shook his head at the wasted money but it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before.
Last month he actually wanted to send us to another vet who apparently is a specialist in skin issues but I had to nix it. the odd part is he knows the vet I took my dog to before him really lost me when he baldfaced lied to me to sell some meds and here that's the exact vet he wants to send us to, so I had to make the link for him and tell him it's not happening with that vet at all. Anyone else is fine, but not that one.
Meanwhile, I just called to make an appt. and got the receptionist a little confused as she was trying to remember when they did blood tests on Eb because she couldn't remember any results coming back... I guess we'll see tomorrow when I go.
I think I've decided to adopt the attitude that I just couldn't wait any longer (which I couldn't) after trying all summer to get him to do the tests. I wish he would have done them (it would have been cheaper for one) but he didn't so this is the result. I did give him first option, took him all the info on the lab, etc. and he was comfortable so I don't think he can complain when it comes down to it. who knows, maybe he will like the way these results look and feel better about using the labs (US) I used which may help some other people. today I'm actually a bit miffed at the extra money I had to spend because he wouldn't do these tests so it's probably a good thing I turned down an appt. for this afternoon.
I agree - tell him you went for a second opinion. God forbid, but nobody would question you if you went for a second opinion with respect to your own health. Nobody should question you with respect to your pet.
and I guess it comes down to his character. If he is secure in the decisions that he makes, and we all know they aren't easy when it comes to animals, then he will be okay with knowing that you went elsewhere. After all it is your pet and you have the right to look for other opinions. The fact that you are going back to him demonstrates that you trust him.
I would just tell him what steps you took and move on. He looks good anyway since he was originally right and you look like a caring pet owner who consider all the possibilities. As you should by the way.
I would be streightforward with him....tell him that you got a second opinion. No big deal (unless he makes one out of it) and move on....
I am sure he knows how much you adore your dog and want the best for him. People get second opinions from medical doctors all the time, why shouldn't dog owners?