abdominal shaking
Re: abdominal shaking
Could you make an appointment with #2 without telling #1, so they don't "get their stories straight" before you all get there? I know you say they're all cookie-cuttered, but maybe you could get lucky??
Re: abdominal shaking
Sorry, but they are not "green". They get all the details off you when you ring for an appointment - then they telephone your vet to get the history faxed through to them. I had a corgi with kidney failure. By the time I got him to the second opinion my usual vet had briefed him on what to expect. Another consultation fee wasted. brian.f
Re: abdominal shaking
Hi Brian,
I know what you mean about them swopping notes and deciding what they think before they have seen an animal. I have had this happen with Spice recently. The so-called 'spine' specialist in Cork was delighted to see her (for about 3 weeks, secondhand, through another member of practice on the phone, and then in secondhand person at the cost of kidney scans, consultations etc, all supposed to be leading us towards surgery - specialist was ill).
The specialist, although on sick leave, had had a chance to look at her x-rays and thought she was operable. But he was determined to talk to my own vet and the story changed completely when I finally got to see him. My own vet was initially very optimistic, but he had given up on her and just reported all the negativity about her 'quality of life' etc. He had only seen her when she was in the practice, on a hunger strike and with a kidney infection, never at home, chirpy and moving at top-speed (pissing on all the furniture, but at least 50 percent of the time, pretty #### happy).Result was that I was told something I knew already and charged 95 euro for the privilege.
When I took my mega-colon cat (Sasha, brown Burmese) to Cambridge vet school (about 10 years ago, admittedly), I simply rang up the school, made an appointment and took him in cold. I had a wonderful young guy from New Zealand who clearly had not been (as you so rightly say) to the same vet school. He told me exactly how the whole thing could be managed for 3-4years before we finally had to have an operation. And told me how much the op would cost.
Unlike the NHS, I think you can go COLD to a vet school like CAmbridge. Make the appointment, ask for your x-rays, records etc. from your own vet (YOU PAID FOR THEM), saying you want another opinion and try just to get a fresh eye on the thing. At Cambridge they NEVER asked to speak to my own vet. In this situation (God help us!) you are a CONSUMER. Refuse to see a vet whose opinion has already been tainted by your negative vet. Not saying that you can then go on to triumph and cure your friend. Just that you CAN get a clearer picture.
Sorry if this is a bit over-passionate, but I do think you've come so far and been so good to him, just give him a little bit more and see what happens.
Today, I ordered a mobility cart for my cat and I have learned to express her urine. If someone had told me how happy this would make me three months ago, I would have told them to fxxx off. Laughed in their face. But the truth is, I kept going with her and have found ways for both she and I to be happy, although they are not ideal.
I'm only trying to encourage. You've been so good to him. Try Cambridge - or ring a Corgi breeder who adores them and ask for advice, they will understand how strongly you feel. You do have some power. More, probably, than you have with your own health because, in this situation, you really are a consumer.
For someone who doesn't know very much, I've certainly waffled on long enough. Apologies.
Do take good care,
and all the best from Cathy and extended Burmese family.
I know what you mean about them swopping notes and deciding what they think before they have seen an animal. I have had this happen with Spice recently. The so-called 'spine' specialist in Cork was delighted to see her (for about 3 weeks, secondhand, through another member of practice on the phone, and then in secondhand person at the cost of kidney scans, consultations etc, all supposed to be leading us towards surgery - specialist was ill).
The specialist, although on sick leave, had had a chance to look at her x-rays and thought she was operable. But he was determined to talk to my own vet and the story changed completely when I finally got to see him. My own vet was initially very optimistic, but he had given up on her and just reported all the negativity about her 'quality of life' etc. He had only seen her when she was in the practice, on a hunger strike and with a kidney infection, never at home, chirpy and moving at top-speed (pissing on all the furniture, but at least 50 percent of the time, pretty #### happy).Result was that I was told something I knew already and charged 95 euro for the privilege.
When I took my mega-colon cat (Sasha, brown Burmese) to Cambridge vet school (about 10 years ago, admittedly), I simply rang up the school, made an appointment and took him in cold. I had a wonderful young guy from New Zealand who clearly had not been (as you so rightly say) to the same vet school. He told me exactly how the whole thing could be managed for 3-4years before we finally had to have an operation. And told me how much the op would cost.
Unlike the NHS, I think you can go COLD to a vet school like CAmbridge. Make the appointment, ask for your x-rays, records etc. from your own vet (YOU PAID FOR THEM), saying you want another opinion and try just to get a fresh eye on the thing. At Cambridge they NEVER asked to speak to my own vet. In this situation (God help us!) you are a CONSUMER. Refuse to see a vet whose opinion has already been tainted by your negative vet. Not saying that you can then go on to triumph and cure your friend. Just that you CAN get a clearer picture.
Sorry if this is a bit over-passionate, but I do think you've come so far and been so good to him, just give him a little bit more and see what happens.
Today, I ordered a mobility cart for my cat and I have learned to express her urine. If someone had told me how happy this would make me three months ago, I would have told them to fxxx off. Laughed in their face. But the truth is, I kept going with her and have found ways for both she and I to be happy, although they are not ideal.
I'm only trying to encourage. You've been so good to him. Try Cambridge - or ring a Corgi breeder who adores them and ask for advice, they will understand how strongly you feel. You do have some power. More, probably, than you have with your own health because, in this situation, you really are a consumer.
For someone who doesn't know very much, I've certainly waffled on long enough. Apologies.
Do take good care,
and all the best from Cathy and extended Burmese family.
Re: abdominal shaking
Thanks Cathy for you remarks and sense of humour. I ordered a mobility cart for Taffy from Eddies Wheels some time ago, but I found a number of restrictions. Firstly he is a dog that likes to muzzle in long grass and he couldn't do that in a cart, secondly, another of his fads is to roll over on his back kicking his legs in the air. I don't know how much damage the latter did, but you couldn't stop him and a cart put an end to it. Carts are OK over level hard ground, but they are harder work that a harness. It will be interesting to see how a cat applies himself. I can tell you this - I have had some raw comments from people who have seen me carrying his back end around.
Brian
Brian
Re: abdominal shaking
I know what you mean Brian! Most people who have seen us carry the back end of one of our dogs around were friends or loved ones... but sometimes even then they would pop off with a snarky remark. Me being me I was quick with the comeack that I would far rather help my dogs with thier back end than being a human back end (naturally I used stronger language that is not appropriate here) like they were at that moment in time. Sad thing was these were our loved ones... and you know someday they will possibly need help doing personal things. I hope at that time I have the maturity and grace not to remind them of their insensitive comments about us helping our dogs when they were in need.brian.f wrote:I can tell you this - I have had some raw comments from people who have seen me carrying his back end around.
GRRRR!
Anna B
proud dog hair collector
proud dog hair collector