second opinion at the vets...

[clipclop1]

My mum took our Black Lab to the vets today as he has become extremely sensitive to touch lately. we had already ruled out fleas and his skin looked quite healthy and not red and angry, so we bathed him in baby shampoo as its so kind to their skin and hair and no change. the vet has said its not fleas... but has prescribed flea treatment... and said it could possibly be an allergy but has prescribed steroids instead of Piriton...
The last time we took our other dog to her, she said the same thing about his feet, an allergic reaction which was later poo pooed by her colleague who actually said 'I dont know why she said that as its clearly not'... so that info plus what she has said today puts me in doubt of her diagnosis... the visit cost nearly £70 so was wondering.. does anyone know if you can request a second opinion at no extra cost... I don't want to seem cheap but don't obviously really want to pay twice if it can be avoided....

[wildwood]

It may help the dog experts here if you state how old your fellow is.

It can be very hard to diagnose an animal as they can not explain what/how the pain feels. Was the charge for the consultation or did that include the medicine? With those sort of charges you'd think there would be some sort of comeback if it is wrong, but I believe you pay for that Vet's opinion; right or wrong, same as a doctor.

[woofgang]

Our dog has atopic excema which is an allergic reaction and he has steroids for it, so the treatment may be right. At our vet you can ask to see a specific person. If you don't trust one of the vets then i would certainly ask to see someone else but unless you are prepared to complain about the service you have received, I am guessing you will pay again. What did you get for your 70 quid? A simple consultation here in hampshire at the local vet surgery costs 30 quid plus any extras like prescriptions, a blood test or other screening. If you only got the consultation and some prednidale which is the usual steroid then that's expensive unless you live in London?

[clipclop1]

O very interesting answer Woofgang, I take it this is your profession! Charlie is nearly 11 and has never had anything like this before... for the £70 we got flea treatment and steroids... I just assumed that you would need anti inflamitary drugs for an allergy and wondered why she prescribed flea stuff when she said that he definately doens't have fleas....
Yeah I think from now on il be asking for a specific vet... I think we're just going to wait and see how these drugs work out and if not, then go further... but its just the waiting for him... he's not in any pain with in, on the contrary he seems to be in ecstasy when u scratch those hard to reach places but its not normal the way he is going on with it... plus as he's older he's finding it hard to scratch areas that he should be able to reach so he's obviously uncomfortable and must be getting frustrated the poor thing!

[RATTER15]

So many skin condition are now being attributed to kibble feeding (Not by the vets of course, they would never want to put you off buying their vastly over priced food) as was our Shih-tzu that suffered like this for 9 years, this immediately cleared up when we put our dogs on raw meat and bones! so much rubbish and preservatives,colouring and then sprayed with animal fat to make it palatable.

Kibble will one day be a food of the past hopefully.

[bednobs]

steroids are anti-inflammatory

[barb1314]

Hi clipclop,I was also going to say it may possible be a diet related problem.My friend has a spaniel who is allergic to chicken-based dog foods but is fine with fresh.She is now,after very itchy skin and terrible colitis,on a whiting and tapioca food and is a picture of health.Fish-based foods often help.My lab has salmon body oil every day which is good for skin,coat and joints.Her coat is fantastic and she hardly moults at all. Just some more things for you to consider.I hope you get to the root of the problem.I'd ask for a second opinion if you really aren't happy. Vet's fees are extortionate but unfortunately something us pet owners have to put up with. That said my vet is fantastic and I'd never take Lottie anywhere else!

[bednobs]

i also mean tot say, if you are getting a second opinion, you may as well wait to see if the first opinion makes a difference first

[barb1314]

Whoops sorry 'possibly'

[woofgang]

not my profession clipclop but we have had dogs for about 25 years and been with the same surgery for most of those. Seen the young turks turn into staid partners and I trust them more than I trust my previous PG surgery. They are always happy to teach and explain and I have never once felt ripped off or hard done by.

[jules77]

If the vet is sure he doesnt have flease, why give him flea treatment? It could be something like walking dandruff, and a bath in seleen shampoo or malaseb would help. Personally I would have asked for a skin scraping.

[jules77]

flease?!! LOL. I meant fleas.

[yelenots]

Hi Our Westie has dreadful allergies and at the beginning we tried all different types of food and even just tried chicken and rice for weeks - with no effect! Eventually we saw a specialist and she was given a allergy test and she's allergic to house mite. feathers and three types of grasses! She is now on a desentizing vaccine which we have to inject twice a month! Once a year, usually Sept she starts itching and chewing and we give her piriton. This year it she has been really bad with it and has had to have anitbiotic and steriods. For the first time we have also been give a cortisone spray and its brilliant and only £15! At the beginning we tried malaseb shampoo but it didnt work. We actually change vet surgeries as I didnt care for the vet and felt he was just trying to get money out of us.....I would personally try a small surgery that someone can recommend then they can get to know your dog and you can then ask to see him everytime - hope hes better soon.

[chrissa1]

Thankyou for all your answers everyone!
He seems to be a tad less sensitive actually so maybe these steroids ARE working... In the future I think we will be asking to see a specific vet as the practise is so good but that particular vet is not... I agree, why give flea treatment when she said he didnt have them!? app that treatment was the most expensive out of the steroids and actual consultation! So i think it should go down as a lesson learned... to maybe ask a few more questions bout certain treatments and not go by exactly everything they say.... but its hard when obviously im no vet so you would want to trust what they say and not query it.... am hoping this is just a blip and not a new on-going thing now bless him! :)

[chrissa1]

O BTW this is actually 'Clipclop', im on the mother's profile!! haha!

[woofgang]

clipclop, have you always had dogs? I do trust our vets absolutely, as I have said but its always worth asking questions and learning as you go.

[lankeela]

You can always just say what are the options? Some vets will just go for one treatment if you don't query it. Mine will tell me the options and I then ask what he would do if it were his dog!

[woofgang]

yes lankeela, mine always seem to say "oh you could do this or this" except when its quite clear what is wrong. I might have a view or a suggestion and yes I ask what they would do if it was theirs as well. btw and as an aside, human shampoo, even the gentle ones can be not soothing for dogs as their skin is not the same as human skin....be careful with dog shampoos too, the only time we used a flea shampoo on a dog (reputable brand) the dog was sensitive to it.