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Hi Alyssa,
I think trusting the vet (and his staff!) that treats your dog is the number one thing not just with this disease. If that trust is not there, you are stressed, your dog does not feel safe and it goes down hill from there. Be open with your new vet, tell her you live in paranoia land, I know most of them do understand where we come from. The two vets I still deal with know our history and understand why I am the way I am and do things a bit differently than your average patient mom walking in the door.
I can’t imagine how stressed you were with all these things going wrong. Try and just put that all behind you and look forward. Give that new vet all the info you can, it will save you some money. I would go to the old vet and very politely ask for Sassy’s file or at least copies of it. These files belong to you, they can not refuse.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Brigitte
Alyssa, this just feels right to me and I don’t think you’ll regret it at all. I agree, ask for a copy of the records or at the very least the test results if you don’t have them already. Maybe after checking out the new vet, if you’re happy, send a note thanking the current vet sincerely as you know she has saved Sassy’s life, but explain that her ongoing treatment plan just did not sit right with you and you felt you needed to deal with someone who will listen to your concerns.
The new vet’s reduction protocol sounds a lot better. See we’re not all Google nuts and making it up as we go.
I changed my local vet (not Bingo’s specialist – whom I love – have I mentioned that once or twice???) because it’s a fairly busy practice with a bundle of different vets and often locums. Every time I went down with something, usually to do with joint problems, I’d be seeing a different vet. I’d have to explain all over again that yes, I’ve over the top, yes, I’m totally paranoid, always have to check, is that okay with prednisone or cyclosporine, he’s still on it. It drove me nuts. In the end in September last year, I decided to bite the bullet and find a new vet. Where I go now, there are only 2 vets. Now having said that, having to deal with the second vet just once upset me terribly, and I will not deal with her. I explained that to the other vet (who owns the practice) and she agreed that I would deal with only her. If it’s her day off and it’s something serious, the staff will call her in for me as she doesn’t live far. This has worked out so much better. She is lovely and Bingo (who hates going anywhere, does like her – perhaps something to do with the fact that he gets more treats there than at home).
Good luck tomorrow – yes this just feels right!!!
Love Vally & Bingo
xxx
This vet practice is also only 2 vets. It’s smaller, which might be better for us. I’m really, really hopeful.
It’s right that it almost feels like an obligation to stay after they saved her. It is a hard decision. But, I have to do what I feel is best for her. Staying on such a high dose of pred forever feels so wrong to me!
I have a lot of Sassys records already. Not everything, but I have everything from the first few days and her last visit (blood results included). Papers listing the procedures done, meds and dosages administered (I had to write on these corrections – as I said the notes were wrong). Going to bring it all with me. I have pretty much everything I think, besides a few in-between test, and the in depth results of her UTI a few weeks ago.
Oh my gosh guys, I’m so happy.
This new lady? She’s not only following the reduction protocol everyone is used to, she’s heard of dr. dodds! She loves dr. dodds and knew all about her research. She didn’t chastise me for “googling”
She wants sassy off the meds – she said even she’d never heard of what my current vet wants to do. We’re going to continue with 25% reductions.
She told me never to vaccinate again – this is something I already knew, but my current vet never brought up. She seemed so much more knowledgeable about potential things that set this off, and just overall I am so happy.
I feel like a 100lb weight has been lifted off of me. Because I’ve known for a while now my current vet wanted to keep her on drugs the rest of her life – to be honest I thought I’d have a few more months to convince her otherwise, but she suddenly dropped that 50% reduction on me already deciding on maintenance and it was a shock.
Hey Alyssa, you have done the right thing. What a huge sigh of relief you must have let out – so did I – BRILLIANT! If you doubt your vet, it is a horrible position to be in. If you trust your vet, it is such a happy position to be in. You fought hard for your girl.
Love Sheena xxxxx
PS Yipppeeeee!
Question for you wall. Sassy isnt scheduled to the vet for another 2 weeks, so I want to know if this is something I should take her in early for. Sassy has always had really saggy skin around her neck, and the past few days its looks more puffy. Like there is fluid being held there now. Has anyone had this side effect? Its not tight or hard. Really squishy. Feeling her nodes, they aren’t hard. Not bothering her at all. She is on pred and azathioprine, famotidine and milk thistle, doxy for a uti. I know these cause water retention. Just wanting to know IF its been experienced in the NECK AREA commonly?
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
