Vets - should I get a second opinion?

[Greylegs]

Our staffie/collie cross has been suffering with congested sinuses and nose for 5-6 weeks now.(I've posted about this before). He's had several visits to our local vet, who seems to have done everything in his vetinary medicine arsenal to find out the cause and treat the problem, including X-rays, scoping, swabs and a range of drug treatments.

The problem persists, however and the dog is still very congested, especially at night, to the point where he seems to be fighting for breath much of the time.

During the day when he is more active things improve. The dog is eating well, not loosing weight, as active as would be expected for a slightly arthritic 12 year old, and seems to enjoy life for the most part, but night after night he's spending hours choking on a mucus build up in his airways that he can't shift.

Much as I like our vet, would it be worth getting a second opinion? And can anyone think of anything we may not have tried to resolve this problem?

(I have to admit to an ulterior motive too. The dog wakes us several times per night and I haven't had a decent nights sleep for weeks, so as well as doggy being exhausted and fed up, we are too .... help!!). Thanks again everyone.

 

[PucciNPoni]

Much as I like our vet, would it be worth getting a second opinion? And can anyone think of anything we may not have tried to resolve this problem?

(I have to admit to an ulterior motive too. The dog wakes us several times per night and I haven't had a decent nights sleep for weeks, so as well as doggy being exhausted and fed up, we are too .... help!!). Thanks again everyone.

If you are ever unsure of what your vet is saying go for a second opinion. You may get the same answer, but put your mind at ease and get it.

And as far as I am concerned, not being able to sleep is a very good reason to get your dog checked! My old border terrier used to have a loud snorty breathing when he was sleeping, which would wake me. I had him scoped and checked. They couldn't find anything but it at least made me feel better that he wasn't suffering.

 

[handbagsandhay]

Hey

My dog is the same just now and it has been put down to hayfever. I have had him at 3 different vets and they have all said the same.....I have been putting a bowl of boiling water with a small amount of vick stirred into it in th eroom at night and this helps him no end! If you are unsure get a second opinion. It really put my mind at ease!

 

[blackcob]

I have a chronic snotter who was also scoped, x-rayed, allergy tested, full works - excepting a house dust mite allergy nothing else was found. Immunotherapy didn't work for him and there's only so much you can do environmentally with HDMs so he is now on long term steroids. Not ideal, by any means, but he maintains on a tiny (near homeopathic) dose and it's the only thing that suppresses his bizarre snot reaction.

 

[Umbongo]

Instead of going to another first opinion vets, could you ask your current vet to refer you to a specialist?

 

[Mister Ted]

Certainly worth getting a second opinion.My old dog had similar symptoms and was diagnosed pneumonia even though I would have never thought it would be that as she was fairly active during the day. Dogs are stoic when things are not riight with them.

 

[missmatch]

When this happened our cat he developed chronic rhinitis which was awful. Steroids would help but it would return almost immediately once stopped.
A vet then prescribed this powder that was given to him and it was life changing. Just dried it all up. I will have a look later see if I can find any reference to the name of the stuff.
Has rhinitis been considered or ruled out? Do antihistamines help?

 

[Greylegs]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.

Sadly, we now know that he had a tumour in his sinus cavity. This caused him to begin haemorrhaging badly yesterday afternoon which in turn lead to us having to make the big decision for him. Our current vet was brilliant and he is now at peace. RIP our brave little man.

 

[twiggy2]

Sorry to hear your news Greylegs

 

[Clodagh]

I'm so very sorry, how awful.

 

[wren123]

So sorry to hear this x

 

[Mister Ted]

So sorry poor lad.

 

[PucciNPoni]

So sorry. It sounds like he was living well up to the last, so he wasn't suffering needlessly. Never an easy decision but this one almost made it for you. Hugs.

 

[View]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Moobli]

So sorry to hear this sad news

 

[Alec Swan]

I'm so sorry to read of your loss. Even though the decision was taken out of your hands, it's still a loss and I do understand.

Alec.