Stumped the vet - any ideas?

Annamarie · 08-07-2008, 12:37 PM

their website says it tests for 3 tick illnesses and heartworm?

http://www.idexx.com/animalhealth/testkits/4dx/

and I'm pretty upset that she ordered the wrong test too (only the lyme).

Elana55 · 08-07-2008, 02:02 PM

This is all very very frustrating to READ. I cannot IMAGINE having to deal with it. Having good vets who do large animal and small animal practice and who have 4-5 vets on stafff, and who provide emergency services.. and who I have had for 25 years.. I guess I am so spoiled.

Full panel IS more accurate per Shalva, and Doxy can be liver toxic, but geeze loueeze it sounds like your dog is sick enough to be hospitalized and put on an IV!!!! At this rate whatever is wrong could get him... and I would be hairless having pulled it ALL out.

I may not be the greatest dog trainer, and I may, in fact, not be the greatest dog person, but having had various species of animals over a long time, I just cannot STAND a sick animal. By that I mean it drives me up the wall to not have a diagnosis and course of action QUICKLY to alleviate suffering and not compromise the animal's health in such a way that shortens their life!

My heart is with you and your dog.

Annamarie · 08-07-2008, 02:21 PM

yes it is VERY frustrating. If you have a good vet, hang onto them for dear life! Years ago when I had horses I had one old mare with multiple problems that I kept having the vets out to try and diagnose. They kept telling me she was fine for YEARS. I spent thousands of dollars and she kept having the same problems and getting sicker until finally she was unrideable and so skinny... I had been told all kinds of things. I was told that she was perfectly healthy, I was told that she had cancer, I was told that she had arthritis and should be put down, and one vet told me that I just needed to feed her (I tore him a new one when he made that comment....). It turned out that not only did she have a relatively newly discovered metabolic disorder (which I can kind of understand them missing, although she was definitely not "perfectly healthy" as they insisted) but she also had an impacted tooth which should have been brutally obvious. It was probably the 5th vet I had out that looked in her mouth and found it immediately. Just goes to show, vets are only human and it pays to be a persistant owner.

I'm just so frustrated... and I'm angry at myself for listening to the vets and waiting so long.

BullieCrazy · 08-08-2008, 05:59 PM

Annamarie, I hope your dog is doing better! Lord! I too would not have any hair left, waiting for a diagnosis. My prayers are with you and your dog. Hope to hear some good news from you soon!

Annamarie · 08-08-2008, 06:02 PM

I started a new thread since this was getting a bit long... "update on min pin mystery illness"