Pets Corner

[babybear39]

My 2 are finally sleeping in the window, they've been driving me nuts all day with their new toy - my stairs !

[sunflower99]

:(We are very worried about our lovely dog,we have just been told by our vet that he has liver problems and blood sugar high. Though he is eating well seems to be loosing lots of weigh ,So we are vry worried about him,The vet does not seem to be able to do much for him except advise us to keep him on a specail diet of prescription vet food and he is not allowed any treats Luckily he does like the food the vet recommends for him,But is awful he can not have any treats and we are worried that he will waste away as i was hopeing the vet mugh give him some mecicine or insulin to help him get goodness out of food he eats,It seems though he is eating well he not managing to get any goodness out of food:(

[mazbck]

Our dog was really ill and she was diagnosed with Diabetes 5 weeks ago, she is now in insulin therapy, and doing great.

 

We asked about 'special diets' and was told not to bother,that to keep her on what ever she had been getting, but stick to a strick regime of breakfast and tea at the same times, as the insulin would control the blood sugar. She does get treats as you can get fat free and sugar free dog treats. Regular exercise is also a must for a diabetic dog.

 

I would seriously think about changing vets, as HBS can be controlled, and there is no reason for your dog to have a happy healthy life again.

 

Our dog is like a puppy again after starting her insulin, she has fairly come back to her old self again, I just wish I had the same amount of energy she has.

[Undercover-Elsa]

Hi Sunflower,

Sorry to hear about your dog. How old is he?

Trouble is the liver problems will be complicating matters, making it difficult for him to digest fat, so both that and the high BS can cause weight loss in their own right.

I'd definitely get a second opinion on management, even if it's a case of seeing a different vet in the practice, expressing concern that he is still losing weight on that diet, and ask if there is any other treatment or "safe" treats he have in addition to keep his weight stable.

Prescription vet food is very pricey!

Elsa x

[sunflower99]

Hi undercover Else

Yes thats the trouble we have not got much money and had to wait till i got paid before we could take him In the old days we would have bunged vets fees on to our credit card!, but for obvious reason we can not do that now and both me and my Ohs credit rateing in shreds so no chance of getting a loan to pay vets fees now,Would you believe it a blood test the vets consultation and six tins of special liver support dog food came toi £95,Luckily my lovely mum agreed to sponser our dogs vet fees when we first got our dog so luckily she had just written us a cheque for £150 to pay in to cover the vets fees but we are quckly getting through it being charged £95 and feel awful about asking for some more already! i heard that milk thistle suplements are good for both dogs and humans who got liver problems so wondering if to try sonsome on him in conjunction with vets food?

[sunflower99]

He is about 5 years we think,I supppose that is middle age in dog years?He was taken to vet yesterday ,So i suppose the vet will tell us to see how he gets on in special diet.for a few days

[mazbck]

Wow, I would seriously consider finding another vet, ask around the neighbourhood with those that have pets to see which one they use. Our Cordie had a General anaethestic, xrays, camera down throat and blood tests, a whole day at the vets, painkillers and antibiotics and I was only £118.

 

Just now Im £20 for her insulin which last 28 days and £13 for the syringes, and she has her blood sugar levels tested every 4 weeks which I am only £6.00 for a test.

[Undercover-Elsa]

That's not very old Sunflower, he's in his prime, bless him.

[sunflower99]

Wow, I would seriously consider finding another vet, ask around the neighbourhood with those that have pets to see which one they use. Our Cordie had a General anaethestic, xrays, camera down throat and blood tests, a whole day at the vets, painkillers and antibiotics and I was only £118.

 

Just now Im £20 for her insulin which last 28 days and £13 for the syringes, and she has her blood sugar levels tested every 4 weeks which I am only £6.00 for a test.

Hi Mazbuck

Yours does sound a decent vets I i was horrified our vet just charging us all that for virtually just some basic blood tests ,As you say i would not have minded being charged that or even a bit more if the tests had included a bit more like yours did,I am seriousy wondering if it worth takeing our dog back to same vets but i do feel a bit out of depth knowing a vet i can trust and who will not rip us off,and feel awful having to ask for more money from my poor old mum sponsering his fees alreday as in our dire fiancial postion we will have to ask her again for help.I am also surprised that he not recommended any insulin or medication to help as well as it is difficult to belive a special diet will sort out all his medical problems on their own

[sunflower99]

That's not very old Sunflower, he's in his prime, bless him.

Hi Undercover Elsa

Yes he is not that old really to get these awful medical problems:(Also though i love our baby and will miss him the effect if anyithing happen to hm on my OH will be devastaitng As that dog is my husbands whole life especially as he is unable to work and spend long lonely day feeling very poorly and not feeling up to much he depends on him for companionship and comfort and worships him ,He will be broken hearted if he looses his little friend :(I think if it was a choice between our dog or me ! He would choose our dog,

[mazbck]

Next time your out a walk with the pooch and meet other walkers from your area, just ask them which vet they use.

 

Im very surprised that you havent been asked to collect a urine sample either to back up the blood sugar sample. that is the usual for diabetes. It also causes the pooches to drink lots and pee lots as well.

 

Diet will not sort out any Blood sugar problems alone, you need medication along with it.

 

The food you get from the vet is very expensive and the vet is probably on a commission to sell as much as possible.

 

There is a post in the Pets & Vets tthread that someone has posted about presciption charges and it being a business which is very true.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/pets-vets/227326-prescription-charges.html

 

Hope you pooch starts to feel better soon.

[sunflower99]

Next time your out a walk with the pooch and meet other walkers from your area, just ask them which vet they use.

 

Im very surprised that you havent been asked to collect a urine sample either to back up the blood sugar sample. that is the usual for diabetes. It also causes the pooches to drink lots and pee lots as well.

 

Diet will not sort out any Blood sugar problems alone, you need medication along with it.

 

The food you get from the vet is very expensive and the vet is probably on a commission to sell as much as possible.

 

There is a post in the Pets & Vets tthread that someone has posted about presciption charges and it being a business which is very true.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/pets-vets/227326-prescription-charges.html

 

Hope you pooch starts to feel better soon.

Hi Mazbck

Thanks for advice and link to thread,Will look at itt.Yes it will be awful if all my vet is doing is getting commission for the dog food he sells. Though i am thinking asbout looking online for cheaper deals so vet will not be selling that food to us much longer if we can find it cheaper elsewhere.I am also thinking about getting him some milk thistle supplements i saw on a uk pet site specilly formulated for dogs as milk thistle supposed to be very good both for dog and human liver problems,His blood suger problems i suppose are complicated by his liver,

[hightail]

Your vet isn't on commission for the food he sells - he's a retailer making profit. You must check and see if the food he has sold you actually requires a precription, very few do. What's more, very few vets are expert nutritionalists. They work on what they're told by the manufacturers.

 

While you are finding out what's wrong it makes sense to do exactly as your vet says. I wouldn't give any supplements for the moment as this could skew the results of any tests. Once you have an accurate diagnosis you can arm yourself with the knowledge to do the best by your dog - this may well be a different approach than buying expensive processed food from your vet

[mazbck]

Sorry, thats what I meant( I have not long taken my tablets ).

[sunflower99]

Your vet isn't on commission for the food he sells - he's a retailer making profit. You must check and see if the food he has sold you actually requires a precription, very few do. What's more, very few vets are expert nutritionalists. They work on what they're told by the manufacturers.

 

While you are finding out what's wrong it makes sense to do exactly as your vet says. I wouldn't give any supplements for the moment as this could skew the results of any tests. Once you have an accurate diagnosis you can arm yourself with the knowledge to do the best by your dog - this may well be a different approach than buying expensive processed food from your vet

Thanks for your input! as i say i suppose it best to stick to vets diet for a while and see if he improves

[hightail]

Has the vet told you what's wrong? He should have a reason for selling you the expensive food.

[Undercover-Elsa]

In the same way as if you have your eyes examined and get a prescription from the optician, you can buy glasses at ANY shop, once the vet has examined an animal and given a prescription, he must, if you request it, give you a written prescription. You can then get it made up where you wish, eg online pet medication suppliers. You don't have to get the medications from your vet (where they are often more expensive). However they may charge for issuing or reissuing paper prescriptions, so it's a case of weighing up the benefits.

[hightail]

Before all that CHECK that what the vet is recommending is actually a prescription only item. For example Frontline, Drontal, most supposed special diet foods are not. They are OTC (over the counter) items. In my vet you'd never know one from t'other as they just punch it into the computer in the consulting room and the products are waiting for you to collect at the front desk. They rely on the fact that most owners won't ask, won't think to question anything and will do as they're told because the vet says so. Don't blame your vet for this - they have to pay huge rates etc. and keep a business going. You wouldn't expect to walk into any other shop and be informed that a competitor was selling what you wanted cheaper. It's up to you to be vigilant as a consumer.

[Undercover-Elsa]

Spot On, hightail (pun intended )

Elsa x

[sunflower99]

Has the vet told you what's wrong? He should have a reason for selling you the expensive food.

He just told me he has mainly got bad liver problems

[Jan4a]

For the special diet, google it and see what comes up. Vets prescribed special food from Hills for me which was prescription only - however the Royal Canin equivalent can be bought at Pet-Supermarket or Zooplus and is cheaper.

[hightail]

He just told me he has mainly got bad liver problems

 

Not good enough. As far as I'm aware there is no medical condition known as 'bad liver problems'. Phone and ask for a further explanation and if the vet feels the liver problems are indicative of an underlying condition. You've paid for those tests and you are entitled to a proper explanation of the results.

[sunflower99]

For the special diet, google it and see what comes up. Vets prescribed special food from Hills for me which was prescription only - however the Royal Canin equivalent can be bought at Pet-Supermarket or Zooplus and is cheaper.

Hi Jan4a

It is Royal Canin our vet is selling us.I have to admit i am not sure what we were charged for the six tins as the price was included in with his other vet fees, i should have asked but we were both reeling from shock that our por boy had bad liver problem and i was a bit dazed with shock and on auto pilot when i settled up,Still we will soon find out when i have to but some more,The receptioist was nice enough did give us a couple of free trial sachets of dried Royal Canin food for him to try ,We were so worrried that we could not give him any treats any more as the poor boy will not know why he is being denied his little treats he has during day,and wonder what he done wrong:(Thats the trouble as you can not explain to your pet why he is being denied his favourite treats like you can to a child,The receptionist said though that if we gave him the cans for his proper meals we could savethe dry food to give him as a treat so instead of a biscuit we give him a few pellets of dried food to him instead so at lest the poor boy feeels he is getting something,That was a good idea of receptionist and it does work as thank goodness he does love the food in both forms tinned and dry,

[sunflower99]

Not good enough. As far as I'm aware there is no medical condition known as 'bad liver problems'. Phone and ask for a further explanation and if the vet feels the liver problems are indicative of an underlying condition. You've paid for those tests and you are entitled to a proper explanation of the results.

Hi hightail

Yes it was all very vague:(,I was told to telephone for results and that was all he told us basicallyHe did not even want to speak to us when we called round surgery to pick up food and settle bill,My Oh was saying exactly the same as you that he should at least have the courtsey to speak to us properly about it and give us more of an explanation what was wrong:(Thinking about going to another vet but worried about springing another vet fee so soon on my poor old mum and stepdad who are paying his vets fees,as i am on a low income and my OH on incapcity benefit so we are in a bad fiancial way.Before we got our boy though though i badly wanted to get a little companion for my OH to help him cope with his long lonely days and depression of not being able to lead a normal life and work but i said i was worrieed that i could not cope with any vet bills should our pet get ill .My lovely parents were also worried about my OH and it was them that suggested i must get a dog to help my OH and that they would pay all his vet fees and must not let that worry stop me from getting ourselves a pet,So on that understanding we went to a pet rescue home and got ourselves a friend! but i still feel guilty about keep asking them for large sums of money for this vet who does not seem to be givng us a good service,

[Undercover-Elsa]

Hi Sunflower,

Poor lad. The vet sounds like the old school type. If he'd been a surgeon he'd have had a flurry of starched frilly nurses fluttering round him!

What symptoms was your lad having that took you to the vet?

Just the weight loss? Or was he vomiting/ extra thirsty/loose or pale, greasy motions? In pain? Any yellow in his eyes? Panting a lot?

I agree with the above, you need a definitive proper diagnosis for your money. Ask the question- what liver disease does he actually have? Is he actually diabetic? He's very young to be having these problems all of a sudden.

By the way, if you're on Housing or Council tax benefit you could get free treatment at your nearest PDSA. Check out The Blue Cross too.

Hugs

Elsa x