Need suggestions about Vets.

[PrincessToad]

I have been taking my dog to the same vet clinic for 9 years now. There are 4 vets in the office, but my dog only liked one. So I made sure that my dog only saw this particular vet on a regular basis. She is german shepherd and rottweiler mix. I have been treating her for Lupus for almost 2 years now and it is starting to get worse, plus problems with her stomach and because of the Lupus the vet I was seeing would not give her a current rabies shot being afraid it may make her sicker (it has been 3 years) and all other vets insist that she has to have it yearly. The vet I saw was so wonderful with my dog, suggestions, lump removals and worrying with me. I found out today that he is no longer with the clinic and of course the clinic will not tell me where he went. This I understand. They don't want to lose their business as a clinic, but I now feel devastated that another vet will not take as good care of her. Is there a governing board/listing that vets have to keep their current information with? Short of calling all of the vet clinics in Albuquerque is there a way for me to find where he went?

 

[rapunzel]

Do you know the name of the emergency clinic that the vet office uses for after hours emergencies?

It is possible that they would know where he is practicing at now-you could call them and ask, explain that you wish to remain a client of his, etc.

In my state, on the State government website there is a link to check the last known address of any licensed practicioner and if they have any complaints against them. You
could try to see if your gov. site lists anything like that.
Good luck.

 

[PrincessToad]

Thanks Rapunzel. Found the licensing board for vets. and unless he is the owner of the business they would have no information on him. That's New Mexico for you.

I guess tomorrow I start in the A's of the yellow pages and work my way through. There's only 4 full pages. I found his home number but I'm afraid if I called his home to find out where he went he would think I'm crazy, then would stay far away from us. It may be silly but I guess I am silly.

 

[Socrates]

Thanks Rapunzel. Found the licensing board for vets. and unless he is the owner of the business they would have no information on him. That's New Mexico for you.

I guess tomorrow I start in the A's of the yellow pages and work my way through. There's only 4 full pages. I found his home number but I'm afraid if I called his home to find out where he went he would think I'm crazy, then would stay far away from us. It may be silly but I guess I am silly.

DO CALL HIM at home by all means. Why would he think you're silly? He should feel flattered that you trust him so much.

As for your dog, have you ever considered alternative medicine? (Homeopathic, or possibly a combination?)
Your vet sounds FABULOUS, for the reason alone that he did not want your dog go through the additional stress of being vaccinated against rabies, especially since over-vaccinating can cause numerous health problems in already weakened immune systems.

---
Wendy
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[rapunzel]

First try calling the emergency clinic that your vet office has people use when they are closed. Call them and ask if they know the name of the practice that the doctor transferred to.
Then,well, I dont know...his number IS listed, perhaps you could call there and ask if he is practicing in a different clinic now...thats kinda iffy, if you can do it without sounding like a stalker, lol.
Good Luck!

 

[PrincessToad]

As for your dog, have you ever considered alternative medicine? (Homeopathic, or possibly a combination?)

I have thought about alternative medicines, but did not know where to get started. I found a alternative vet that only uses homeopathic methods, but just to step in her office was $185.00. Do you know of any good books or websites that may offer some alternatives to steroids? I use vitamin e on her topical sores and it seems to work, but I need to find something that will help internally. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Socrates]

....I've got books. Give me some time (gotta pick up my son from High School), but when I get back, I'll give you ALL the info I can find in my books on Lupus + anything else you want to know.

===
Wendy
===

PS. My vet is a regular vet, but he is SO adaptable (sp)...and SO helpful

 

[Socrates]

The books I use:
NATURAL HEALING BIBLE FOR DOGS & CATS by Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M., 2001

THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NATURAL HEALING, Gary Null, Ph.D.,2003


Natural Treatment: Antioxidants. Vitamin C, A, E, Selenium, manganese, zink, Fish OIl (omega-3 acids)
Other treatments: Alfalfa, Yellow Dock.

NATURAL DIET

LUPUS: A disorder in which the pet forms antibodies against a number of its tissues, including blood cells, skin, and the kidneys. (a form of autoimmune disease <--as per "Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats"

 

[PrincessToad]

Thanks Wendy. I'll go pick up those books.
I have decided to swallow my pride and I am calling the vet's home number and see where he went. The more I thought about it the more I think that he may not mind, besides I am desperate.

She was my first dog and I didn't realize that dog's could get things like lupus. Now that I look back at things, she was giving me signs from the time she was 6 months old. She has never been able to hold her water and doesn't even know she's leaking. Plus other things. The biggest sign was when her nose started to look like it was melting and now of course of she has sores around her eyes, in her ears and up the bridge of her nose. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that she keeps getting tumors that grow unbelievably quick. I have to have them removed mostly because of location and the fact that they go from peanut size to grapefruit size in 3 months. I want her to have quality of life, but it is getting hard for me to tell when enough is enough because of my emotions. She is still very lively mentally, but her body is worn out. Thanks for listening to me vent. It depresses me so much and now the thought of having to find a new vet for her is almost too much.

Erin

 

[Socrates]

Erin,

You LOVE your dog, and of course you want what is best for her. I honestly don't think your vet will hold it against you if you call his house, simply because you said you've been using this same guy for many years.

I personally knew little about Lupus until I read up on it in the above books.

Some of the other books I have, and find VERY helpful are:
THE NATURE OF ANIMAL HEALING, By Martin Goldstein, DVM
DOG MESSAGE, By MaryJean Ballner
THE HEALING TOUCH, by Dr. Michael W. Fox

My 7-year old Bernese Mountain Dog is quite a "problem child". He's had SO many health problems, including numerous sebaceous cysts all over his body. Last year I decided to have a big one removed since it had opened up and wouldn't heal. Well, my boy flat-lined on the operating table after having an extreme reaction to the Anaesthesia that was given to him. (Yet the previous year he had NO reaction to the same anaesthesia.)
Luckily my vet brought him "back", and a couple of weeks after that we decided to try the procedure again, however, this time by using local anaesthetics, and gas (if needed). It all worked out, and that specific cyst was successfully removed. (But he has countless other ones)

In any case, after losing my beloved Golden Retriever to cancer 2 years ago, I started looking into "alternative" medicine, and began acquiring many books, mainly because my Berner HAD lots of problems, and I was terrified that I was going to lose him too (too soon).

I completely switched his diet to home-cooked foods, and began giving him numerous Vitamins & Minerals. Within 6 months over half of his cysts had either completely vanished, or shrunken considerably. His coat is as shiny as silk, his arthritis has become better (even though he still has good and bad days), and his allergies vanished.

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Erin, I believe your dog will "let you know" when "the time has come". My Golden did (& I was EXTREMELY emotionally attached to him, he was my #1)

I hope I was able to help you some, and you can always feel free to drop me an email or PM if you have any questions that I can look up in one of my books.

---
Wendy
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[rapunzel]

it is so sad to let one of our beloved babies go-a theory that I like to live by and pass along to clients is this:

Pick three things that your pet truly enjoys.

When they can no longer do two of them, it is time for you to consider that the quality of their life may no longer be there, and you should start making preparations, and make a decision if there is nothing more that can be done for them.
My sweet dog is going to be nine, and the thought of not having her anymore devastates me.
I definitely do notlook forward to the day I will have to let her go.