Asking Your Veterinarian Questions & Seeking a Second Opinion

Recently I was approached by a relative of mine who was having some health issues with her dog Molly who had gone to the Veterinarian for a small infection on an area of her skin. The infection was treated and Molly needed some minor stitches because that area had to be drained. A short time later her stitches were removed and in the same visit she received her immunizations. That night Molly began panting, pacing and shaking for quite a few hours. Along with these symptoms, she was whimpering and would yelp if someone touched her. She was also unable to go up and down the stairs. 

Molly was brought back to the Veterinarian and seemed to appear fine. The Veterinarian suggested that dementia might have settled in. Molly is what we would consider an "senior" puppy. She is a Shih Tzu that was adopted and her exact age is unknown. Molly's owners did not think it was coincidental that her dementia settled in the same night she received her immunizations. 

Finally after going back and forth to the Veterinarian, they determined that her c4 & c5 vertebrae were displaced and that was what had been causing her pain and bizarre behavior. Molly was placed on pain and anxiety medication and was finally able to sleep through the night. 

 

She is now receiving laser treatment and seems to be doing better. Molly may need to go for acupuncture if the laser treatment does not help. Hopefully, at least she is now on the road to recovery. 

I wanted to pass this story on because we should always be aware of what our Veterinarians are prescribing for our pets. And, if we are not happy with their diagnosis, then we should seek a second opinion, even if it is just a matter of involving another veterinarian from the same practice. 

I have found an informational 10-question checklist to ask your veterinarian when prescribing medication. I thought it might be helpful for everyone to read.  10 Questions to Ask Your Vet

And don’t forget to always look up any medication on the Internet that is prescribed for your pet. We now have unlimited access to all sorts of pet-related information at our fingertips on-line.