How do you know if you can trust a vet? Is it easy to change vets?

turnitround

My dog has had a problem with her leg, she had been limping, couldnt get upstairs or even up the back doorstep. Took her to the vet who said it was a ligament problem which he told me he could tell by feeling the leg. 

He gave her some anti inflammatory medicine to take for 2 weeks in her food and said to keep her off her feet to rest as much as possible. After the 2 weeks
she seemed to be back to normal, no limping or problems but I took her back for her follow up appointment. 

At the second visit he told me that he could still feel her 'flinching' when he touched her leg (although when we touch her there is no reaction from her) and he suspected the inflammation had not gone and that she was in a fair amount of pain. He gave her 2 more weeks supply of the same medicine.

At the 3d visit,2 weeks later and he did exactly the same thing again. He then went on to say that at the next appointment if there was no improvement he would need to arrange x-rays and then perhaps she would need surgery. 

Now we have had 6 weeks medication and today he gave me 2 more weeks supply and told me that in his opinion he felt x-rays were needed with a view to surgery.

Obviously I am not a vet but as far as we can see our dog is back to her normal self and is now  running around, bounding up the stairs and back to being the general nuisance she has always been! She has no problem letting us touch or gently squeeze the leg.

I'm just concerned as I am not really convinced surgery is necessary. She doesnt seem to have any movement issues, she is behaving normally and running around and swimming like a young pup now.  When I said this to him he replied that he is experienced and we are not. 

I'm not really sure I trust his judgement and dont want to put our dog through surgery if it is not required. If it is genuinely needed the of course  I would get it done but Im just a bit wary that he may be stringing things along for the fees. Im also a bit confused by the xrays as I always thought that they showed problems with bones rather than ligaments but I may be wrong.

I said I would have a chat with my husband before I made the next appointment but I am wondering if I should see what another vet says. However, I dont know if you can register with a different vet if you are already registered with one in town. Does it work like the doctors whereby if you change vets the dogs records are passed on? I would really like a second opinion but dont want to go to another vet and say that I dont really trust the word of the first one.

I really cant understand the vet saying surgery is needed when the behaviour of our dog dosent suggest that.

marcia_

 Very easy to change vets, just ring any local and ask for a second opinion. At least you will know then if your vet is taking advantage 

MalMonroe

Hi, yes of course you can change vets. And you can also request that the vet you've been seeing sends the medical notes to any other vet. I did that when we had our lovely cat. But I really wish I'd never changed vets since the usual one we'd had for years was never all that brilliant but the new one was useless. 

However, in a case like yours, I'd feel exactly the same as you and I'd definitely want a second opinion. Or even a third, if necessary. (And if your dog didn't mind, of course).  Vet treatment is not at all cheap and most medication, in my experience, is far more expensive than human meds. 

Don't forget that you are paying for the service and it's up to you whether or not you want to continue with the same vet if you are not satisfied. X-rays aren't just for bones, though - they can be used to diagnose many problems with soft tissue injury, muscle injuries, swallowed items (dogs often do that), ligaments and as in our poor cat's case, bladder stones. But they're not cheap and as you say, your dog doesn't seem to be having any trouble now so it could be an unnecessary expense. And of course surgery isn't cheap at all and it would seem cruel to put any animal through that if it isn't warranted.

I hope your little dog continues to be in good health - she sounds lovely. (The vet sounds a bit unpleasant and pompous though.)

These are just my own thoughts, opinions and personal experiences, of course.

sheramber

A vet is not allowed to treat a dog already under treatment with another vet.

 However, you have the right to a second opinion and your vet cannot refuse .

A second opinion is from a colleague  whereas a 'referral' would be to a specialist consultant.

When I asked for a second opinion I was asked what vet I wanted to  go to. This was no problem.

If you  change vets your new vet will ask your existing g vet for the medical records.

TripleH

Our vet told us our eldest cat was overweight. She then took him out the back to take bloods.

She came in with a second opinion about 2 minutes later, that he wasn't overweight just muscular. (He is a burmese).

At 6 1/2 that is the first fight he has actually won..