Appointment at vets this morning

[Hormonal Filly]

Took my cocker spaniel to the vets this morning, he’s been licking his willy more than normal. I usually request a specific vet but she was on leave this week.

Turns out my dog has a UTI, she’s prescribed antibiotics and metacam. She also said looking at his history from another vets, he missed a vaccine in 2022 so needs to restart his jabs? Very strange as I don’t usually miss things like that. I politely declined and said I’d look into it.

I checked the antibiotic dose when I got home, having several dogs I thought it was weird to see 1/4 a tablet twice a day, last year my another spaniel was getting half a tablet twice a day (and she weighs less than him) for a UTI.

Called, the vet thinks she has written a different dose to what she’s actually given me and they want me to go back to check (30 minutes each way)

I said I’d send photos of the tablets and they can let me know before I drive back, I’ll have to drive back late evening after work.

I also called the other vets that have vaccinated him for the last 4 years, they confirmed he was vaccinated in 2022 and is up to date but is due a booster this month.

The vet was incredibly young, although no hate on that, I don’t really want to complain because I’m aware of vets struggling with mental health and being so busy.. but it has put me off going back there.

Hopefully he'll feel better soon

 

[AmyMay]

Wouldn’t put me off. Mistakes happen. You checked and it’s been corrected.

I now add a good amount of water to my dog’s food to avoid UTI’s after a very nasty episode a few years ago.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I now add a good amount of water to my dog’s food to avoid UTI’s after a very nasty episode a few years ago.

He is raw fed, he did have another UTI back in 2021 and was on antibiotics for a month. Not sure if some dogs are prone, hes entire.

 

[AmyMay]

He is raw fed, he did have another UTI back in 2021 and was on antibiotics for a month. Not sure if some dogs are prone, hes entire.

I’d still be adding water.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I’d still be adding water.

Will do. Thanks for the tip AmyMay.

 

[nagblagger]

But if you hadn't checked he may have been given booster and wrong dose. I would write a letter, it doesn't have to be a letter of complaint.

 

[bonny]

I took my dog to my local vets for a worming tablet recently. They insisted he needed a health check which cost £50 before he could get a wormer which already annoyed me and then the vet gave me two tablets. I looked at them and said it’s one for under 25 kg to which the dozy vet assured me it was the right dose for a dog his size. My dog weighs 19kg !
I paid the bill but I won’t be back.

 

[meleeka]

I certainly wouldn’t be happy to drive back to the practice. Could they look up and advise the correct dose and post you any additional tablets you might need?

 

[AmyMay]

I took my dog to my local vets for a worming tablet recently. They insisted he needed a health check which cost £50 before he could get a wormer which already annoyed me and then the vet gave me two tablets. I looked at them and said it’s one for under 25 kg to which the dozy vet assured me it was the right dose for a dog his size. My dog weighs 19kg !
I paid the bill but I won’t be back.

If your dog hasn’t had a check up in six months they have to do one prior to giving worming or flea treatment.

Why accept and pay for the worming tablet if you think it was the wrong one?

 

[Clodagh]

All errors like incorrect dosing should definitely be pointed out. Unacceptable definitely. You don’t have to be rude but it’s best to tell.
I hope your dog is soon better from his UTI, OP.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I certainly wouldn’t be happy to drive back to the practice. Could they look up and advise the correct dose and post you any additional tablets you might need?

I asked to do this, rather than waste the fuel and my time. They’ve come back and said they’re the correct tablets but wrong dosage information was given.

Luckily I checked or he would be having a quarter of the dose he needs. They apologised.

I also informed them that the vet said he needed to start a new vaccination course but he actually is up to date with his vaccinations (and wrote dates down) so at least the vet knows for the future but they didn’t respond to that part.

 

[Landcruiser]

I took my dog to my local vets for a worming tablet recently. They insisted he needed a health check which cost £50 before he could get a wormer which already annoyed me and then the vet gave me two tablets. I looked at them and said it’s one for under 25 kg to which the dozy vet assured me it was the right dose for a dog his size. My dog weighs 19kg !
I paid the bill but I won’t be back.

The RCVS introduced new rules for vets recently

'Under care' - new guidance

www.rcvs.org.uk

 

[Jenko109]

My whippet got meningitis.

When he was sent home, he was sent with 25mg prednisolone tablets.

Whoever wrote up the label for the bottle wrote that he needed to take FIVE tablets per day (125mg of steroids) The paperwork I was given had the correct dosage information (one tablet only) , however the pill bottle did not.

Luckily the specialist vet spotted the mistake and called me while I was driving home to make sure I only gave him one tablet a day and not five.

If she had not have spotted it, I cannot guarantee I would not have dosed him incorrectly. Would I have noticed the discrepancy from the paperwork and the bottle? I'm not sure.

I do not know what the effect of such an extreme overdose of steroid would be, but I imagine he could well be dead right now if she had not noticed their mistake and called me. It makes me feel quite sick to think about it.

 

[misst]

I took my dog to my local vets for a worming tablet recently. They insisted he needed a health check which cost £50 before he could get a wormer
I paid the bill but I won’t be back.

This is why I love my vets. They do call people in for the check regarding the wormer - it is a legal requirement that they do this nowadays. But, they do not charge for the check. If they know it is due they tack it onto another appt but if not they call you in at no charge. People still complain though. They say they don't charge as it is not the clients fault.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Just to update this. My spaniels urine sample came back clear in Feb, but the antibiotics and metacam stopped him licking it and he seemed happier.

Fast forward to this week, he was licking more again and seemed agitated by his willy. Vets this morning (asked to see one of the MDs as she’s great with spaniels) she had a look and the end of his willy (inside the shaft) is bright red and inflamed. He’s back on antibiotics and metacam, going back in for a bladder scan, bloods and another urine test Friday.

He is entire, I really don’t want to neuter him as he’s nervous but she did say it could be hormone related. He had the same thing 2 years ago, a month of antibiotics did clear it up. Just weird how it keeps coming back.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Nap on my lap this morning (while I try to WFH)

 

[meleeka]

Ouch! I hope it’s sorted soon.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Poor little thing, I think I'm an un realised Cocker fan! I keep seeing them and thinking how beautiful they are! He's really lovely

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

hope he’s sorted soon! I can understand your reasoning for not neutering as he’s nervous but incase it helps my lab is nervous and I had the superlorin (I think) implant before full castration and it didn’t make him any more nervy. In fact it helped in some ways! He never has a UTI tho so not sure if it helps in that way