Reece's Vet Visit

[aly]

We are $290 in the hole from that visit, but for once I feel confident that his problems will be solved. I decided to take him to Shiloh's vet (I was going to take him there when I got him but this guy convinced me that they were money hungry there and it was a bad place. He suggested a place to me which went to and it was alright but I think the vets there are incompetent). I love Shiloh's vet even though I have to pay an arm and a leg every time. The other place wasn't cheap at all either. In fact, it might have been worse.

Anyway, she gave me some medication for his allergies. We're trying this first and if it doesn't work then we'll do some food tests. Plus I have new medication for his yeast infections in his ears. I told my old vet so often that the stuff he was giving me wasn't cutting it, but he never would switch me :mad: I also told the old vet that Reece had a yeast infection on his nose. He told me that wasn't it and if I got his ears better, his nose would get better too. Well NO! Today Dr. Oliver told me that it WAS a yeast infection on his nose!!!!! He has a little fold on the side of his nose and he gets this crusty stuff there. He is constantly rubbing it and itching it too. And he doesn't grow hair right there. Poor baby :( She also drained his anal glands and said it was normal that I had to get them drained so often. She said she'll teach me how to do it next week when I go back with Lolly.

So all in all, we are happy and WE LOVE DR. KATE OLIVER :)

[Logan]

I'm so glad you found the right vet, Aly. It makes such a difference to trust the one you see. Mine makes me feel better the minute I walk in the door, and it doesn't hurt that he hugs me and tells my dogs what beautiful girls they are, and pets and loves on both cats too. Whatta man!!!! :D

Oh, I hope you will have success with Reese's new medication and that he will be "yeast" free. I don't envy your needing to learn to do the anal glands yourself, but if it will make him more comfortable, it will be worth it. I'll bet he feels better already.

Hugs to all three of them. :)

Logan

[Pam]

Aly Wow $290! :eek: I don't think I could spend that much if I took all three furkids with me at the same time, but if you feel more confident with this vet that's what is important. Bella had a yeast infection in her left ear recently. The vet put her on Panalog ointment and it was gone in no time. He did caution me that it may come back later on. I know that is the case too because my other standard poodle, Whitney, also occasionally got yeast infections in her ears and was on Panalog on and off quite a bit. Whitney had so much hair in her ears and of course, being a poodle, we were constantly pulling it out but the vet said a poodle's ears are often like swamps (moist and dark and with the hair anything goes in there! :eek: ) Anyway, Bella says to tell Reece she understands completely and hope he feels well real soon! :)

[Logan]

Aly, I forgot to say :o that my vet didn't charge me a dime today!!! I guess it was because there was very little he could do for Honey while his x ray machine wasn't working, but he spent at least 45 minutes with us, talking about Honey issues. I could write a book. But it sounds like Reece got a thorough checkup. I know it was worth it for your peace of mind.

[aly]

Wow, I don't think I could find a decent vet anywhere near here that wouldn't charge anything for a 45 minute visit. I did have to get Reece 6 different medications for his assorted issues and I also got Shiloh some of her prescription food that she's on now. So I guess it all adds up. I'm going to have to finally bite the bullet and make Reece an appointment for his teeth cleaning :( :( :( :( :( I REALLY am scared about it, although I know it is routine. Ugh ugh. His teeth are real bad because he was fed wet food only before I adopted him.

[Logan]

Well, Aly, you must realize that I have paid literally thousands of dollars to this man over the last six years since I moved to Greenville. He is my "rock", and I probably have paid for his house in full, plus a new car for him! LOL!! It all started with Kaycee the Cocker Spaniel, plus Mimi had a really ugly episode shortly after we came here. I was just lucky to find the right guy to visit.

I remember a couple of years ago, right after Kaycee had to leave me, he got a new billing system and a reminder came about somebody's shots.....it showed my total paid to him over my entire history (keep in mind that he cut me breaks all the time). My "total" after four years of seeing him was over $4500. I'm a good customer.....he knows it, and he loves my "kids". That's all that matters to me. And he never fails to ask me about Helen...he earns lots of brownie points!! :)

[sammi]

Aly, I can sure relate to what your going through with ears and yeast infections!!! My dog before Buddy had chronic allergies and the ears were always bad esp. with yeast (I wonder if giving them yogart with live cultures would be helpful to keep it from getting so bad? - that yeast is bad and it takes over all the "good bugs" and kills them out. We spent way over a thousand dollars treating her allergies with diets medication etc.! She finally out grew it on her own and then she got cancer.

Don't see your posting as much - hope all is going well with you and your kids.

[Sudilar]

I'm very familiar with good vets/bad vets. I love Killian and Shiloh's lady vet. She spends a lot of time with Killian. When it comes to decisions about Killi's treatment, we discuss all the possibilities and then come to a mutual decision.

Don't even want to think about how much I've spent at my vets. Last year I didn't go on vacation because of all of Killi's vet bills. I could have gone to DisneyWorld!!

[Dixieland Dancer]

Aly, I'm glad you finally found a vet who is willing to work with you. It is worth the cost just to know you can have some peace of mind.

It cost me $244.00 when I had Dixie spayed. I know I could of had it done somewhere else cheaper but I wanted the comfort of knowing the vet really cares about my girl!

Have you ever considered getting pet insurance to help offset the costs of the vets?

[Stenograsaurus]

Aly, how often do you have to have Reece's anal glands done? My mom's poor dog has to have it done at least once a month. They showed mom how to do it but she can't. Mom can had Lady to the vet, have her glands done and come home. The very next day Lady will start scooting again. I feel so bad for her. Her butt is always raw. I'm surprised it hasn't bled yet. They are thinking of doing the anal gland surgery. Lady is in such misery all the time.

[Cincy'sMom]

Sadie had horrible problems with yeast in both her ears from August til we finally after trips to the vet almost every three weeks, numerous, creams/drops , oral antibiotics, and cleanings we got it cleared up in December. Hers got so bad they had to put her under and clean them, and found that one ear drum was ruptured. She has been back for check ups twice since then and everything is great.
I too have wondered about giving her yogurt to try and prevent future problems esp. since warmer weather is coming and she loves to swim in her pool!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Hi Aly and Reece Man! I'm so glad to hear you have found a vet that you can talk to and gives you confidence in knowing that your babies will be cared for properly. It makes all the difference in the world! I think I've mentioned this before. But, I forewent the convenience of going to a vet whose office was 3 doors down (lots of emergencies and trips at this house!) for one who is 25 minutes away, just because I felt I couldn't talk to him! How important that patient/family/doctor relationship is! There really is something to that concept of "bedside manner!" It's not all in the knowledge, but in the abilitiy to communicate as well! And how well I can realte to the expense! But having pet health insurance has been a blessing! Love to Reece, Lolly and Shiloh from Sandra, Cody, Star and Co.!!

[aly]

sammi - I have been so consumed with work that I haven't had as much of a chance to keep up with Pet Talk lately. When I get home, I usually crash right to bed. Hopefully the mad rush at work is over and I'll try not to keep going up there on all my days off!

I did try giving Reece yogurt before for a few months on his food. It didn't really seem to help much. Hopefully this new medicine will help him more than the old stuff.

Candy - WOW! That is a lot of money for being spayed! But I agree, it is totally worth it for our peace of mind!!

I just made Reece's appointment for his teeth cleaning. Its on March 6th :( I started crying when I made the appointment because I'm already nervous! I know its routine and he'll be fine but I don't want my baby to be there without me :(

[lizbud]

Aly,

I think I've brought this up somewhere before,
but Buddy's vet routinely suggests the anal gland
removal in all dogs he spays or neuters. Since they
are already asleep. He explained that the anal gland
is much like the appendix in humans. A vestive gland
that's no longer really used by the dog. It is also a
prime site for infection in most dogs. They never miss
it & recovery time is minimal. Would you consider that
for Reese if your vet does the surgery ?
Buddy had it done years ago when he was neutered
and now I'm glad I took the vet's advice. Liz.

[aly]

My vet doesn't recommend it. I heard that the recovery takes a few weeks and they lose control of their bowels for a little while after the surgery.

I get Reece's anal glands expressed probably about once a month. At one time I considered the surgery but was swayed away from it by my old vet. Now my current vet also thinks that it is unnecessary. She said with some dogs its normal to have to get them drained that often.

I guess now that I have conflicting opinions, I'll do more research on the procedure. I feel so bad for Reece because the hair all around his butt is stained red from him licking so much.

[RachelJ]

Originally posted by Logan
My "total" after four years of seeing him was over $4500.

Logan, I think you have topped our expenditures. Even with Hannah's hospitaliztion my current dogs haven't cost me that much, but my previous dogs were a Vet dream. It seemed every time we went, it was a couple hundred dollars and that was just for the routine stuff. Our previous vet was big on the teeth cleaning and we had that done numberous times. Aly, if it is any consolation, we never had a problem, even when they were older. The vet we go to now doesn't *push* the teeth cleaning, like the other one did. I'm inclined to ask about it the next time we go in because Hannah turned 6 and Tucker's is not too far behind. They each have some tartar build up and I don't want it to get too bad.

[lizbud]

Aly,
Maybe it's one of those "some vets do,some don't"
kind of thing. Buddy had absolutely No problems
with it afterward. It took him 2-3 days to recoop after
his surgery, but he was 8 months old at the time.
Bud's vet also expressed Bud's glands on 2 occasions
when he was in for shots ( younger) the vet offered to show
me how to do it myself (I declined) . But the stuff produced
by the gland must come out or the site can become
infected & make the dog very uncomfortable.
The vet said the orginal reason for the anal gland
was for 'marking' or 'spraying' like cats & other animals
do, to mark their territory. Now dogs just mark with
their urine.

[Logan]

Rachel, the sad thing :( is that $4500 was two years ago! :eek:
They took that off of their notices quickly......probably a good idea. I have twice as many pets, with twice as many problems, so I'd rather just "not know" my total. He promises if he ever adds a wing onto the hospital, it will be named after me and all my furry kids. :)

And by the way, neither of my dogs, or Butter has had their teeth cleaned, ever!!!! Only Mimi, and that was done last year, for the first time in her life! And remember, he many times doesn't charge me a cent (like he neutered Butter for free because I was saving him), and he gave me a Huge bottle of medicine for Lilly that ran $3/dose.....I got 100 doses. So, it could be much worse!!

[RachelJ]

Logan, the vet bills used to bother my husband so much that he would give them a signed blank check and have them fill in the amount and then give the papers to me when he got home so I could add the amount to the check register. He just didn't want to know. :cool: