With work and family things, I haven’t had much time to do any training with Lilly lately, but I wanted to share a behavior and health update from Lilly’s wellness exam this week with our “new” veterinarian.
We switched dog doctors last year after being with the same one for ages. While the adjustment period is ongoing, I still have hopes for a good partnership. I won’t say high hopes, but hopes … nonetheless.
A couple things about our visit this week gave me pause.
Canine Vaccines
Because leptospirosis is a risk around here and because Lilly has vaccine reactions, I dosed her with some benedryl about an hour before her appointment, and they injected her with a steroid in addition to her vaccine.
She seemed a bit subdued the next day, which is saying something for my active girl. We tried playing a bit in the morning, but after a few fetches, she got this look on her face like, “Man, I don’t feel so well.”
Poor sweetie.
She seems fine now, so I won’t worry too much. I wish there was a longer-acting vaccine for lepto, but there isn’t. So, even though I’m much more in the light vaccine camp (like every 3 years), this one is important with the wildlife and water around us. That means Lilly had to have a shot and potentially feel a little bad for a while each year.
General Health
I didn’t get to see all of Lilly’s exam and handling because this year they chose to take her to the treatment area so that they could draw blood and listen to her heart and such. Is there still a hint of a murmur? I don’t know.
Other than agreeing that Lilly should NOT gain any more weight. (She is at 38.2 pounds, and I think her ideal is 35-36.) All I really know is that her coat looks amazing. Her internal organs appear to be the right sizes. She is generally a healthy girl.
I didn’t see them check her eyes, her ears, her temp, etc. Maybe they did all that in the back too.
I wrote an article once for HealthyPet on what should be included in a pet’s physical exam, if you’d like to know.
Still no news on the blood work. Ginko goes for his exam on Monday, so I guess I can ask then, if no one calls.
Prescriptions
I did ask for written prescriptions with enough refills for a year for our human and online pharmacy, and they were ready all except for the doctor’s signature when that dog who was not breathing got rushed in. The emergency trumped my need for those scripts right then and there, for sure. So, I’ll pick those up when we take Ginko as well.
Fear Behaviors
So, here is the rub. I didn’t much like not getting to be with Lilly the entire visit. And, what made it worse is that when Lilly returned to me she was completely freaked and had an anxiety-induced kissing fit.
In addition to the medical handling she got, I know that there were at least four dogs in the back area. Lilly didn’t get reactive toward them, but that’s probably because she was WAY over her fear threshold.
When I heard that she did fine, was no trouble, in the back, I shared that it was likely because she was so afraid that she was just very, very still. Lilly can become very compliant (with strangers at least, when she sees no escape route) when she is afraid.
Kid you NOT, our new doctor replied: “Sometimes fear is our friend.”
That phrase continues to loop through my head and make my stomach hurt just a little.
Indeed some dogs do much better when their parents are not around in a veterinary setting (at least in terms of staff being able to handle them), but I don’t like hearing that fear might be used to an advantage.
Tell me I’m being overly sensitive.
Long time no comment! Sorry. I’m a little stressed but trying to catch up a little.
No, you are not over-reacting. I’ve never had a vet take the dog away from me to somewhere else to do routine exam stuff on them. I did have a vet tech take my dog to a station to draw blood once. I assumed it was because what they needed was there and maybe it was cleaner. I bet I could have gone with though if I asked. I would probably emphasize that I’m interested in seeing what they do rather than that I need to be there to keep my dog calm. On the other hand, if you have to worry about their treating you like a neurotic pet owner, you should maybe find someone else.
I don’t think that comment would sit well with me either. And I wouldn’t like not being in the room for the exam. We don’t do the lepto vaccine – one of our dogs had a seizure after getting it and we’re not at high risk here.
I don’t think you’re being oversensitive at all, Roxanne. I would tell you to go with your instincts here. I didn’t once and was very sorry I didn’t (long story, but it involved some unnecessary pain for my dog). I had two of mine in for wellness exams last week and I held them both during the exam with the exception of drawing blood (they’re just better at holding than me). Yet, they were both still in the room with me and I could see what was going on. We also get a detailed report at the end of the exam with everything noted, organ by organ and even on their appearance, “Wow, coat looks awesome!” and “Molly has some very unique markings!” Communication is key for my comfort level with medical professionals, be it human or canine and if they can’t communicate with me and I don’t have 100% comfort level with them then I will find someone who knows at least the basics of communication and bedside manner.
I don’t think you’re overly sensitive. I also think that looking over the vet’s shoulder (whether they might like it or not) is a good thing. Being able to support my dog would also be important to me–though my dog doesn’t need it she LOVES going to the vets, which is crazy after all she’s been through. But she feels the love and care and just adores her vet!
I don’t know why you switched vets, but I can tell you we switched many times, until we found THE ONE.
I don’t feel that disregard for your concern and wishes is something that should happen in the vet’s office. While they are the experts (or at least they should be), you are the client who is paying the bills and they are providing service to you. If they feel your wrong, they should explain why, however also should find a solution that YOU are comfortable with.
Our vet can do it, so it can be done. I don’t think that having a dog frozen with fear is really a good solution, particularly since the physiological stress of the vaccination and the drugs is more than enough.
Vets who don’t listen to concerns often don’t listen to symptoms either, and that is a red flag for me.
http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com/2009/12/taking-good-care-of-our-dogs-is-not.html
http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com/2010/01/does-your-vet-listen-to-you.html
I don’t think you’re being over sensitive. You’ve worked a ton with Lilly to help her with her fears and pushing her over her limits has got to be a jam in the stomach.
With that said, I also see where the vet’s coming from. Vet’s don’t have the time to handle dogs well. And really, their focus is on the more black and white physical realm and not behavior. (I know the two overlap, but…) When there’s a list of appointments and emergencies that walk through the door, the poking and pinching just has to get done quickly. Vets/techs also have to be good at turning off emotion (not be bothered by scared reaction) or they’d burn out quickly.
At Kona’s last exam, the vet needed to pry open her mouth. We needed three people. The vet pried, I held her, and the tech shined the flashlight. Well, Kona fought me. When the tech and I traded places, Kona froze and the mouth exam happened quickly. Fear made it easier to examine her. I hate seeing her like that, but I was glad it was over for her.
But…I like our vet because he makes small adjustments to try to help Kona. He’ll get down on the floor instead of putting her on a table. He’ll back off for a second when she has a strong reaction. He hand fed her when she had to be hospitalized for three days. I feel like he does what he can within his time constraints to make things easier for her. A previous vet I went to would not examine Kona without muzzling her because Kona was too fearful for her and she worried about being bitten. We haven’t gone back there.
Betsy and Norman had their annual exam last week. I was not impressed either. The week earlier when Betsy went in for antibiotics, after her skunk encounter, her exam was more complete than her annual exam. Now that they’ve seen all of the doctors at our clinic and the last doctor is not on my see again list.
Definitely not being over-sensitive about Lilly being taken in to the back for routine stuff. I’d let the doc’s comment go. Not a smart thing to say, but you know they are totally clueless about fearful dogs and the like.
I’m glad Lilly seems to be in good health!