Change vets right?
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Anonymous
| I've been using my current vet for 8 years. I've never complained about their level of care but this time they really goofed up. I brought my dog in thinking she had an eye infection. They felt her tear duct was blocked and made a referral for a veterinary ophthalmologist to preform a procedure. This appointment was 40 days after the initial exam because they are specialists who are backed up and the receptionist told me the diagnosis is not a big deal and the dog can wait. At the pre-procedure consultation I was told she is blind in one eye and half blind in the other and her tear duct isn't blocked but they have stopped producing tears completely and her eyes are now very scarred causing blindness. When I was at the primary vet I asked if she should be on a steroid until the appointment which they said no. The vet ophthalmologist told me she should of been referred to them as an emergency case and it would of prevented the near blindness. She is now on 7 medications to try to save what little vision she has and I was told if she gets any worse to drop her off and they will treat her-appointment or not. The specialist seemed really upset and told me that most vets don't know much more than the basics about eyes. At this point she's doing well under the specialists care but I guess I need to change vets right? I hesitate because I have 2 other dogs and getting in with a new vet is hard right now because some are not taking new clients. |
Anonymous
| Never go by what the general vet says. Always by the vet ophthalmologist. |
Anonymous
| Also there should have been a consult before the ophthalmologist appt. Basically treat vets as you would human care. If you want an accurate diagnosis she'll out money for the specialist. |
Anonymous
| Most vets know little about eyes. I wouldn’t change primary vet over this. The primary vet probably had no idea it’d be 40 days (!) before you saw the specialist. |
Anonymous
| Even the specialist says most vets know little about eyes. So it likely wouldn’t have made a difference if you had a different vet. It’s unusual for a specialist to throw a generalist under the bus. But really this wouldn’t make me change vets. |
Anonymous
The primary vet actually warned me that it would be a few weeks before I could get into an appointment. I called 2 ophthalmologist who were both booked for weeks. |
Anonymous
| No. |
Anonymous
|
I’m sorry, but another vet wouldn’t have made a difference. My vet is a wonderful, caring person but knows nothing about specialties - he refers me to specialists but doesn’t control their schedule.
I feel so bad for your poor dog! |
Anonymous
| Your vet did not give that dog the disease....nature did. Your vet did not cause the delay in getting to the specialist. The receptionist told you it would not be a big deal....the receptionist is not a vet. Eyes are tricky..... |
Anonymous
The vet misdiagnosed and the receptionist relied on the vet's diagnosis. |