Time for a new vet???

[Luvs]

Keil has had diarrhea for the past few days. I noticed some blood in his stool so I took him to the vet yesterday morning after work. Since I felt it was important for me to get him in before the weekend I wasn't super concerned about which particular vet I saw at the clinic we go to. I won't make that mistake again

Keil visited with the receptionists while we waited for the vet. He enjoys his visits to the vets office because he always gets alot of attention and treats. The vet was finally ready so we took him into the examination room. I noticed when I walked in there was a muzzle sitting on the chair. He asked me to muzzle him as soon as we got into the room. Before he would even go near him. I was kind of taken aback by this, but ok. I put the muzzle on him, since obviously the vet was not comfortable without it. I do NOT have a problem with my dog wearing a muzzle at the vets office. What I DO have a problem with is what came out of the vets mouth next. He told me that there is a "watch" in Keil's file because he is aggressive.

Ok, now I was furious! Keil has NEVER done anything at the vets office for him to say this. I asked him WHY this was in there. He stated that the LAST time my daughter and I were there and Keil was on the table (which is someplace he had never been before) it took BOTH my daughter and I to hold him down. First of all my daughter was on one side of him and the vet on the other. I was standing at his head petting him. I was NOT holding him down in anyway. Keil layed there the entire time the vet checked his neck. The vet shaved some hair around the sore on his neck and did some scraping so he could run some tests. Keil had absolutely no problem with anything the vet did. Keil didn't even mind when my daughter and I picked him up and lifted him onto the table. This was the first time we had ever needed to pick him up for anything and he didn't care what we were doing. When we put him down on the floor he tried to go say hi to the vet who just turned and walked out of the room. I should have known then , but I just figured he was busy and had to go see another patient.


At our apt yesterday the vet wasn't even going to do an xray, even AFTER he felt a hard mass in Keil's abdomen. I had to tell him that I wanted him to do an xray. I walked Keil back to the xray dept. When we walked in the techs looked at Keil and said, "Oh he must be an aggressive boy" "Uh, NO" I told them. I let them know that he has NEVER behaved in an aggressive manner towards anyone or anything. The tech then told me that it must just be because he is a Rottweiler They helped me lift Keil onto the table and he layed there the entire time. He never tried to get up and let them do whatever they wanted without so much as even a flinch. When we were done I took his muzzle off and he happily walked over to the tech for some treats and attention. We then went out in the waiting room to pay my bill while Keil visited with some other people who were waiting to pick up their dogs. When the vet came out to talk to me about the xray, Keil tried to go up and say hi, and the vet just moved away from him

I am not one of those owners who thinks their dog is perfect and could NEVER do any wrong. I watch my dogs very closely when we are out ANYWHERE, not just at the vets. I can honestly say that Keil has NEVER done anything to warrant them saying he is aggressive. This is a dog that has never even so much as growled at a person or another dog walking down the street. The only time I have ever heard a growl come out of this dog is if he is playing with his sister.

Now had this been in Akasha's file, I honestly would not have been that surprised. She has never growled or snapped, but she is definately not happy when they mess with her. I make it a point to take her there for social visits to try and make her as comfortable as possible when she does need to be seen. Akasha and Brylee were with us yesterday and after Keil's exam I took the girls in to get weighed and for treats.

I really do not have a problem putting a muzzle on any of my dogs. The vet needs to be able to examine my dog and if muzzling is what it takes for them to feel comfortable enough do their job, then I will use one. What I do have a problem with is labeling a dog as aggressive when that dog has not "earned" that title!!

This was pretty much the last straw for me with this particular vet. Last time we took Brylee there for a yeast infection he misdiagnosed her. He expressed her anal glands and didn't even check to see if she had a yeast infection or not. Even after my daughter told him she thought it was a yeast infection. We ended up taking Brylee back to the vet the next day since she was even worse. Luckily we ended up seeing the other vet who saw immediately that it was definately a yeast infection. In fact he couldn't believe that the other vet had missed it He told my daughter that if the other vet had even looked there is no way he would have missed it.

Am I wrong about all this or am just I over reacting?? Would you be mad if it was your dog?

[Burnsway]

I find that weather one is over reacting or under reacting or just plain confused is usually best to move on when such emotions start taking over. When one is uncomfortable with a vet it is time to move on. You have got to have an open communication with your vet and there are way to many good vets out there to feel you must stay with the one you have.

You do not have to burn bridges in a mad way. Just walk in and say you would like copies of all your dogs records for your own files. You don't have to tell them your upset or moving on to another vet. This way you left the doors open in case you ever need to use them again.

You never want to make a bad upset scene because that vet may be a back up one day for the new vet you pick and also vet tech's move from one office to another very frequently and you may have to face them again. Also many times vets do extra shifts at the ER and you may run into him/her there. So best to keep it a nice quiet transaction.........

And do not go to the new vet complaining about the old vet........

Trust me on that.........

[SABELLESMOM]

Yes, if the file says "aggressive" not "watch," I would ask it be removed as he had done nothing to earn it. If it says watch...well, that I would take as a caution to the staff and nothing more.

You could also request NOT to see a particular vet, I believe. Just state as simply as possible he seems uncomfortable with big dogs.

However, you must have had an inkling at some point that he (vet) was ill at ease. So why not reel Keil in a bit? You said Kiel tried to go up and say hi. Keil doesn't decide who he says hi to, you do. Ask him to sit and show the vet how "in control" your dog can be.

[HerculesMomma]

Yea, if Kiel was my dog I would be ticked! I still dont have a thick enough skin for people to assume the worst about my dog. I can't believe they put that in his file!

IMO, I don't think your overreacting. Like you had said, if it might be considered true than it wouldn't be an issue. But for all of them to assume the worst right off the bat, and throw in some obvious breed discrimination, it would be sitting well with me either!

[flyballmom]

Yeah, Carol, I'd move on. If Keil has done nothing to deserve that "label" then that vet has a problem. Melissa's right, though, don't burn that bridge...you might run into that vet someday. There's a sub that works for my vet every Wednesday who WILL NOT see Rottweilers. Apparently one just about ripped his face off in the past...I asked MY vet if a Lab had bitten him, would he refuse to treat Labs? He just rolled his eyes... BUT...there are 3 vets in town that I really really like. This same sub works a day for each of them. I just make sure I schedule appts. when my regular vet's there, and if something urgent comes up when Dr. No-Rottweilers is there I'll use the ER. Ya never know where you might run into the guy...

[Judi W]

I take it this is a clinic with multiple vets. You can specify which vet you want your apt with if this is a clinic. Ask the vet you like who owns the clinic. You might want to talk to whoever owns it or at least the vet you like and let them know that you and your dog were made to feel unwelcome and that you do not feel some of the medical care was correctly handled. Vets and techs should be able to read dogs' behavior.

My vet never asks the dogs to be put on the table. He (at the age of 72) gets down of the floor with them. He also practices excellent and sophisticated medicine which I believe is primary.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by SABELLESMOM

However, you must have had an inkling at some point that he (vet) was ill at ease. So why not reel Keil in a bit? You said Kiel tried to go up and say hi. Keil doesn't decide who he says hi to, you do. Ask him to sit and show the vet how "in control" your dog can be.

Keil was standing at my side while the receptionist was petting him. The vet walked up next to me and Keil turned towards him. Maybe I should have pulled Keil away from him, but I don't want him to think the vet is a "bad" person (even tho I don't like him ) especially since he had just given Keil an anal probe

Originally Posted by Judi W

My vet never asks the dogs to be put on the table. He (at the age of 72) gets down of the floor with them. He also practices excellent and sophisticated medicine which I believe is primary.

I have to admit that at our last visit I was really surprised when he asked us to put Keil on the table. Even when he was a puppy they always messed with him on the floor.

I definately will NOT be seeing that particular vet again.

[Squeaky2004]

Originally Posted by Judi W

My vet never asks the dogs to be put on the table. He (at the age of 72) gets down of the floor with them.

My regular vet has also never asked for us to put Squeak on the table. The last couple of times she has seen another vet in that office and we have had to lift her onto the table.

This other vet that we have seen the last couple of times is VERY nervous when she comes in. That makes Squeak very unsettled. Our regular vet she has never growled at, always stayed nice and still, and when she has seen her, she wags that lil nub. With this other vet she did growl, but it sounded more like a I am scared because I know you are scared growl. I asked the vet to relax, and the dog will relax. I did talk to the girls out front about this after the appointment, and they said she has never dealt with the larger dogs. I just said very politely to them that the next time we come in I would like to have someone who is not nervous or afraid to be in there with her.

I would find a new vet also Luvs, still I would not say anything because like it has been mentioned before here, you never know when you are going to meet up with this person again and you may need there help so I would not make enemies. I can understand how mad you are, I would be too, but hopefully you can find another vet quickly and easily. Good luck.

[debbiej]

Carol, I think I'd find another vet too. The attitude is one thing, but misdiagnosing a small dog, who didn't even make him nervous? I had shar peis, who in my opinion can be very intimidating with new people. I learned when some vets aren't comfortable with a dog, they aren't very thorough with the exam. I have had bad experiences, almost lost a dog, because a vet we were seeing for a tough problem was stumped, afraid of the dog and quite frankly, didn't want to follow through. Like you say, a muzzle for their own peace of mind is perfectly ok. But sounds like this vet is jumping to conclusions and not giving good medical care or diagnosis based on his own breed specific issues. I also would be hurt and angry that my dog had been labled unjustly! And for sure Kiel will know that he is afraid of him.

My vet also always gets on the floor with the dog. when I took Hilda in for her limp, she could hardly get up from laying on the slippery tile floor. the vet said, "oh poor baby, lets take her in my office, she will feel better if we examine her on the carpet." It makes a huge difference when the vet is perceptive and compassionate. And they should be, even if they don't personally like a breed or individual.

[Rott'nKids]

There a 3 vets at our clinic, and we make a point to schedule appointments with only one particular vet. Iria growls (not snaps or lunges, just a close-mouthed quiet growl) at one in particular on sight, even if he stays across the room from her. Only once did she see him for a visit and he was NOT gentle expressing her anal glands, and he really jabbed (no, I mean STABBED) her with the needle giving her a shot; my husband saw it and had to hold her back from that one! She loves the one we take her to, and he says she is just a joy to have in the office. The right vet really does make a difference.

[Karlan]

I don' think you are over reacting at all. I would be appalled for a number of reasons:

1. The misdiagnosis of something obvious

2. The lack of professionalism

3. Having to insist on an x-ray when a lump was found ?!!

4. Labeling the dog agressive when it has never behaved as such

Like you said, I don't blame the vet for muzzling the dog, but that should be communicated as HIS fear, not as a result of the dog's behavior.

[k9mam]

This is the procedure at my old job: Dog goes on the table, regardless of size. The owner is asked to step away from their dog during the examination. A tech/assistant proceeds to lift and position dog on the table. He restrains the animal using the head lock method for the entire consult. Owners are not allowed to touch their dog in anyway, or be near their head until the Dr. is done and the dog has all paws on the ground. Aggressive dogs are muzzled and a second tech assists with restraining.

Imagine how traumatizing this must be for both dog and owner. The exam room was very small so owners would often have to stand in the hallway and watch their pet be forcibly immobilized and unable to offer support.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by k9mam

This is the procedure at my old job: Dog goes on the table, regardless of size. The owner is asked to step away from their dog during the examination. A tech/assistant proceeds to lift and position dog on the table. He restrains the animal using the head lock method for the entire consult. Owners are not allowed to touch their dog in anyway, or be near their head until the Dr. is done and the dog has all paws on the ground. Aggressive dogs are muzzled and a second tech assists with restraining.

I would have put my foot down at #1 and worked that issue out right then and there, which would have determined the future of our relationship with that office and whether we needed to discuss the rest of it. The only time my dog (9-1/2 yrs) was ever put on a table was when she was 7-1/2 weeks old, at her first puppy checkup. No vet has insisted that she must be on the table, in fact it has never even been mentioned.

I don't have a problem with a muzzle, whether my dog needs it or not (she doesn't, but has been muzzled a couple times as a precaution for procedures by vets that did not know her well). Muzzling is a very benign act, no big deal at all. If it helps the vet and the vet's staff focus on treatment instead of being distracted by legitimate concerns for their personal safety, I'm fine with it. There's no trauma to the dog, no trauma to the staff.

[Brooke&Ryan]

How frustrating, Carol!!!

I would either move on to a new vet OR like Judi said, make sure it is noted in your file that you do NOT want that other vet. Although that is hard sometimes when you have to rush in for something & have to take the appointment that you can get....

Sorry you had to go through all of that. We actually have a vet that I cannot stand at the vet that we go to. Luckily there are two other vets there that I just love. This woman is also very hesitant around Julius which makes him a bit unsure of her. Like Keil he has never done anything to her...but who knows.

I know how frustrating it can be...

Brooke

[PBedsole]

If a "newbie" can put her two cents in, I would have to ask would you continue to see an MD who you did not have confidence or trust in? If the answer is no then I would not take my dog to a vet who made me uncomfortable. You dog will sense your tension and that could make for a bad situation. There should be an open line of communication between you and your vet, if it's not I would move on. You and your dogs will be much happier. Good luck