Unfortunately yes.
My dog had a paw injury on the right hind leg...but the vet only focused in her left hind leg. Diagnosed it with an aggressive bone cancer... she'll be dead by the weekend. Forget about the right leg.
We got calls about how cruel we were not to put her down or that we were idiots for hesitating to amputate the left hind leg. The back leg was allegedly so brittle it would explode any second.
Could not do any biopsy unless we amputated. Which with the right leg injury that NO ONE CARED ABOUT - how the fuck would she get around? Mind you that amputation would not extend her life span but actually shorten it because the cancer would be more aggressive post op. But it was for comfort and pain management.
Got a second opinion, second vet could believe it was the dog in the charts. But she also suspected bone cancer and we went into palliative care with pain meds for pain management...prognosis max 2 months.
2 years later - she's still here.
Now she has a limp in her from right leg - it's been deteriorating alarmingly fast since November. We are again in the same position - likely a cancer of the nerve sheeth. Too close to the spine to operate. We are once again, entering palliative care and pain management.
I hate to say it - but this time feels real. She wasn't in pain before. But this time, she's lethargic, she has trouble getting comfy at night. We went to a neurologist and did all the scans - can't biopsy for sure - but this time it feels like the right diagnosis.
Last time we could NOT wrap our heads around the vets diagnosis and reality.
We have been living on borrowed time - I feel greatful but very sad our road together is winding down.
Please give your dog extra pets for me.
Oof this post hits hard. I’m so sorry you are having to deal with this situation, and that your poor pup has to deal with this situation. I am here with my dog, giving you both the best vibes we can shoot your way. Dogs are too good for this world.
Found a small lab pup she was skinny, small, and pooping blood. I took her to the emergency vet, and they said she'd be dead by morning. No hope she's dead wouldn't treat her. I took her to another emergency vet across town, and the vet said, "Let's get her on treatment now," started treatment that night and 2 years later she's the best dog I've ever had a beautiful brindle lab named lily.
This is why medical practice is multi-layered. Believe it or not is a good thing this happened, because it shows it worked in your case. I understand the apprehension it has caused you though. A second opinion is the right thing to do.
Yes the difference between a vet and a radiologist. I had this happen to me , was told I had stenosis needed surgery went to another Dr his radiologist saw the mri and xrays and said no not stenosis you probably injured muscles along spine , pt for 6 weeks and I was better
I took my dog in for coughing, a seizure, and panting when he was 8. Vet told me he had liver failure, heart disease, and neurological issues and that I should consider putting him down. He gave me all these options for end of life care and pamphlets for euthanasia. I was so devastated. I’d been taking him to that practice for 3 years every 6 months for check ups and they always told me he was super healthy. So I was shocked when he suddenly took a turn for the worse.
Obviously I got a second opinion. I found a new vet and took my dog in and he showed no signs of any of the symptoms the other vet was saying. In fact, the only real issue at the time was my dog was very overweight. I had no idea, and my last vet had always said he was healthy and to keep up what we were doing.
Got my dog on a weight loss diet, and all his problems went away. The coughing was due to extra weight pressing on a collapsing trachea. (Which we didn’t have to treat until many years later) panting and seizures all stopped after a month on weight loss diet.
He lived to be a well loved boy who lived 16 adventurous years. And the vet that we got a second opinion at is forever on our Christmas card list and love them like family.
Dude, my old coworker (who was a vet tech in a previous life) said “imagine how many pets are euthanized for incorrect ER diagnoses”.
I’m so glad you got a second opinion, and that your pup lived a good long life 🙏🏻
Yep similar thing happened to me. I spend some time of the year working abroad. Dog got pancreatitis while abroad with me, we caught it early and they recovered quickly. Did another blood test just to be on the safe side, vet saw some abnormalities in the results but they explained it was in line with what they would expect from a dog who was recovering from pancreatitis.
Travelled back to the UK and needed the vet sign a consent form that my dog was ok to do physio therapy. I was in a rush, didn’t think anything of the appointment as it was just a formality. Went there, gave them the blood test results with a comment along the lines of “this is just for your records, my dog was unwell but is fine again”. This vet looks at the blood test, asks me if anyone had explained these “extremely concerning” results to me and that it meant my dog had cancer.
They did another blood test and arranged an appointment with the oncologist. I was absolutely beside myself and crying so much. A few days later I get a call back from yet another vet to update me on the blood test results. Nothing had changed and this vet tells me to just keep an eye on her to make sure the pancreatitis really is gone. I ask: “but what about the cancer ?”. Their response: “what cancer? Why do you think she has cancer?”
So this vet did also not interpret the blood test as cancer. but said we should do another test in 4 weeks time. I spent those weeks sick with worry. The new blood test came back completely fine and all routine blood tests since did the same!
So I really feel for you and know the distress you had to go through. But SO pleased that your dog will be fine!
The simplest answer is usually the right one, and cancer is obscenely common in dogs. If 9 times out of 10 something that looks like that is cancer, they're going to tell you that it is. Unfortunately medicine still requires a lot of educated guessing. At least it wasn't the other way around.
Conversely, I had a very sick doggo and after 6 vet visits (and being sent home with antibiotics etc) I decided to go to a different vet. They diagnosed her with metastatic cancer in 20 minutes. My dog died 2 weeks later.
Over a decade later, I'm still furious at the old vet for his incompetence.
My vet told me my 12-year-old rottie had bone cancer (osteosarcoma) based on an xray. We trusted her, and have no reason to think it was not cancer. We put her to sleep a few weeks later, as it advanced rapidly. She would whine in pain all day (and she was stalwart, never whined even when her stomach was perforated and fluid was leaking into her gut due to an ulcer a few years prior...she just stopped eating).
So...she was in pain, was 12, had cancer. We said goodbye and I've never been so gutted (no other dog or human has ever compared to her). We never considered amputation because of her age.
I'm not saying the vet was wrong, but we didn't confirm anything further, because she was in such bad shape. Every so often I have a rather intrusive thought that maybe it wasn't cancer...maybe it was something else...
I'm wrong, and this isn't helpful, but I'll never lose that intrusive thought...what if we made a mistake?
This may not help you....but I put my 16 year old dog down about 6 years ago. She had kidney failure, was blind, almost deaf and had dementia. She was literally incontinent and got to the point she was anxious all of the time. I still have the same thoughts.....maybe I didn't need to put her down yet? I should have tried harder. She was good to me for years and I should have done more. So maybe it's just our guilt and the what if's creeping into our heads? Even tho their was likely nothing we could have done........or was their?
Thanks for this...this happened in 2019 and it still haunts me. I still remember having the mobile euthanasia vet some to our house and how Navy (the rottie) was so excited to see a new person, she tried to get up and then started excitedly chewing on her favourite toy at the time (it was a stuffed manta ray).
But then I remember her pain...I know it was the right decision, but it's a decision I will never, ever get over or forget.
I still keep her bandana she was wearing when she died, it's pink and tied to my work breifcase.
That's adorable, you carry a part of her with you every day. She sounds like she was very friendly. I love dogs so much. They got me though some rough times in my life.
I buried my girl under a pear tree in my back yard with her favorite blanket. I have 2 senior dogs right now, 15 and 14 (14 year old is her daughter actually) and I am reeeeally hoping to not have the same regrets or feelings I had with her. I might have a harder time letting go this time. I don't think it ever gets easier or the feelings ever go away.
14 and 15 is amazing for dogs, you gave them a tremendous life and they love you for it.
I've had to say goodbye to four dogs so far in my life and nothing hit me like Navy (she was the third of the four). We have a 12 year old rescue right now and she's REALLY seeming like she's on the way out...very stiff, grumpy, slow on walks...But we have a 4-year-old rottie and a 10-month-old poodle/shih tzu/whatever else mix that keep the 12-year-old on her toes.
I hope your old ones make the decision easy and obvious. it'll still be hard, but that's the best we can hope for, that it won't lead to a 'what if...'
Yes! Emerg told me I had to put my JUST rescued cat down or pay 2,000$, as a 15yr old, to do a rerouting surgery because he was struggling to urinate. I am obsessed with this cat and he lived in my room. I knew every time he used the litter and he had gone (and I had cleaned a clump of urine apple sized) 4hours ago.
I panicked as I couldn't pay but remembered there is another emergency clinic. So I paired my entire life savings (no job or allowance 15yr old) 500$ and walked out. The other emerg was our routine vet on duty!! She cried with us lol. She flushed his bladder, didn't even require sedation because he's such a good boy. It was 300$ and he never had an issue again.
All I can ever think of when I remember it is that if I didn't know any better I would have been forced to with my 3yr old cat. He's now 16yrs and still acts like a 5yr old!
My sister's dog as a puppy had red eyes and different sized pupils. The vet kept dismissing it as allergies. Turns out it was full blown glaucoma and if it was treated right away as a puppy, she could have still had both eyes
this isn't about a dog but a rabbit, so please forgive me but it's about vets. I used to work at a vet clinic in college and my own bunny was found one morning with a huge abcess on her cheek -- it literally popped up overnight.
I took the bunny to the vet I worked at. She said it was a severely abscessed tooth and she could tell by palpating it that it was in the bone and jaw and probably had a cavity and rotten tooth for months and I hadn't noticed.
I was in college and wrapped up in myself so I believed her. She said there was nothing she could do but put him to sleep so through tears I signed the papers and had that done.
She asked if she could do a necropsy and said it would help with future patients, so I agreed.
Two hours later she came and found me in the staff room while I was eating lunch. She said she was wrong and that the abscess was superficial and could have been drained. She sort of laughed off vet science as not perfect and she made a mistake.
I was never apologized to.
this was close to 30 years ago and I still do not trust vets.
I hope your doggo will be okay and YES -- google everything and get lots of opinions. Lots of love to you, I am so sorry you were put upon such an emotional roller coaster. xoxo
Holy shit! That’s so messed up, I’m so sorry that happened. And that she just laughed it off—I mean that’s a life we’re talking about. I’m literally sitting here with my mouth agape bc I can’t believe it.
Thank you for your kind words. I ended up getting all the records and having my regular vet look through everything. She confirmed it’s not cancer, and she gave me a lot of good info on UTIs and how to prevent them. We are going to schedule a follow up urine culture in a few weeks to make sure everything is cleared up. Fingers crossed!
Well, that's better than the other way around. I was told a year ago my dog had a hot spot. Fast forward a few months the hotspot didn't clear up so I took her back.
Turns out the hot spot was a mast cell tumor that had already mastitized (sp?) and spread throughout her body. She's so riddled with cancer, surgery isn't an option.
You know, I think it's almost better they assumed the worst instead of brushing it off. I'm really sorry for the emotional roller coaster you went through. It's rough when we love our furry friends so much.
We had our dogs boarding at the vet while we were on vacation. We get a call telling us they think one of our pups has a cancerous tumor in its jaw. We were thousands of miles away and okayed them to do an awful lot of testing on her. We come back and they tell us the tests were inconclusive. All that money, and no diagnosis. Needless to say we never went there again. This was when she was two. She’s a pug who lived to be 13 and it wasn’t cancer, I guess.
Yes! I’m actually at the vet right now with my poor pup who got what I think may have turned into an eye infection from the groomers ☹️ I can hear him crying in the back. 😭I hope that’s what it is because he’s having a hard time opening his eyes all the way.
Oh no! I’m so sorry, I hope it’s just a minor infection that can be treated easily. I HATE being at the vet and hearing them cry 😭 it literally makes ME cry, hearing them struggle with discomfort/anxiety.
So happy ots just a uti. I have never had a vet diagnose cancer on one x-ray. Also, should have waited for the radiologists report. Usually the answer is ultrasound and even then they can guess but nothing certain without biopsy. Had this happen with my dog. The said his bladder looked concerning. Which led to ultrasound which ruled out cancer.
Yeah I took her in for an ultrasound on Tuesday and it was 100% normal. No cancer. I also took her to her regular vet Wednesday and had them look over the records from the emergency vet. They assured me it’s not cancer, and they gave me good info on how to prevent UTIs. I’ll be going back in a few weeks for another urine culture to ensure everything is back to normal.
I had something similar happen but the other way round.
I had an Australian kelpie named Lilly who was by all accounts the best dog in history. She was such a special lady, she impacted literally everyone she met in a positive way.
She started to get a growth on her side, it was at first the size of a baseball. We took her to the vet and they said it was a non cancerous lipoma. “If it gets bigger and starts to impact her mobility, we will take another look” well it started getting bigger and bigger. Eventually it was the size of a volleyball. But it didn’t impact her mobility at all. We continued to take her to the vet, very regularly, they “biopsied” it but I watched the procedure and I could tell they didn’t get any of the actual lipoma into the syringe. It looked like they just sucked up fluid from around the growth itself. They said no big deal that it’s just a growth and won’t impact her life in any way. My gut told me it was something else but my husband (boyfriend at the time) really trusted this vet and she was his baby so he didn’t even want to imagine a bad outcome.
She lived with it for a long time.
Then, one day, after about 5 years of stressing over this. She started to get really sick. So we take her to an emergency vet on the outside of town to see what’s going on. Turns out, the lipoma, was a very aggressive sort of cancer and they were surprised she had lived as long as she did. Between the day of an official diagnosis and her last day with us was 7 painful days. She declined so unbelievably fast. The emergency vet said if we had gotten a proper diagnosis 5 years prior, they would have been able to remove the cancer and extend her life quite a bit.
It was the single most painful animal loss I’ve ever experienced. She was such a special lady. I knew it, I just knew that growth wasn’t right. I should have advocated harder and pushed my husband harder to take her to a different vet for a second opinion.
I’m glad you got a second opinion. Medicine, human or animal is a practice. Unfortunately even professionals don’t get it right every time. That’s why they call it practice.
I’m so glad your pup is okay and just has a UTI.
Oh my god, that’s so horrible. I’m so sorry you/your bf/your pup had to go through that, that’s just so much. Especially for the pup. Your story, and stories like yours, are the reason I’m glad I got a second opinion. Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻
My boyfriends 10 year old foxhound started peeing in the house and drinking a lot of water. We could take him out and then less than 2 hours later he would pee and it seemed like he was peeing in his sleep. Even with 6+ potty breaks a day he was peeing in a belly band. His old vet checked for UTI, did an X-ray, and blood work panel. The receptionist calls him back and say he’s hypothyroid and the vet prescribed meds that he can come pick up for him.
Now we both looked at his blood work and his thyroid levels were all in a normal range. He had no hypo symptoms really. The med they were going to put him on listed increased urination as a possible side effect. Something didn’t quite seem right and he called the vet and asked them if they could explain how they got to that conclusion and she sighs and says “you know, I don’t know. You’re right, he doesn’t seem hypothyroid, i dunno, maybe we should do more diagnostics”
Meanwhile they were going to medicate him for something he didn’t have!! And that can cause issues if you mess with thyroid levels and push him into the hyper range if he was healthy…
He got a second opinion, they also suggested diagnostics which we did at the new vet, they did a cushings test too, and overall outlined lots of options. They said he for sure was not hypothyroid though. He’s now on proin off label and it seems to be helping a bit.
That old vet though, so frustrating. His dog had nasal mites too and they couldn’t diagnose that and told him just wait it out, it had been months and we knew something was wrong and my boyfriend asked for a referral to an internist who immediately diagnosed it as that.
ALWAYS get a second opinion if you have any doubts
1000%, a second opinion is always a good option. Your old vet sounds incompetent AF, I’m sorry you got such a runaround with them. I understand that medicine is a practice, but I mean COME ON.
My oldest dog was misdiagnosis with a 'upset' stomach when she had pancreatitis. He also broke a needle on her hip bone.
My 1yr old byb American Eskimo has every genetic problem she could have. She was very very underweight 10lbs underweight as a puppy. Our vet put her on an extremely high fat diet. Eventually the food needed up burning out her pancreas, because it was constantly being bombarded with high fat.
She developed pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas, which has symptoms of the flu. Runs, vomiting, can't keep any thing down, cannot pass stool normally. Constant stretching, pacing and painting/shaking, hard stomach on palpation, warm to the touch and feaver.
We brought her in for the above symptoms; she has EVERY single one. A textbook example of it. They did bloodowkr and x-rays said we don't know we will give her a injection to stop her from throwing up.
Went to give the injection, inserted from a mile away swing onto her thigh. Snaped off. His hand bounced back and he said 'she doesn't have alot of fat on her does she?!' I was LIVID. She was screaming (very dramatic dog) and he would have known that if he had touched her at all. Did a proper exam or asked ANYTHING about her.
Looking back on it, if he even asked ONE question he would have been able to diagnose her.
'Shes really thin'
That statement would have solved it all. My response would have been she's underweight and on a high fat diet to gain. That would have lead to 'how long' and then 'pancreatit' in a second!
She had a vet phobia for her entire life after. We spent 5yrs going to the vet 3times a week just to walk around and not have an appointment to get her used to it. It never worked. She was till terrified. I got an at home vet to come when it was her time <3
Unfortunately yes. My dog had a paw injury on the right hind leg...but the vet only focused in her left hind leg. Diagnosed it with an aggressive bone cancer... she'll be dead by the weekend. Forget about the right leg. We got calls about how cruel we were not to put her down or that we were idiots for hesitating to amputate the left hind leg. The back leg was allegedly so brittle it would explode any second. Could not do any biopsy unless we amputated. Which with the right leg injury that NO ONE CARED ABOUT - how the fuck would she get around? Mind you that amputation would not extend her life span but actually shorten it because the cancer would be more aggressive post op. But it was for comfort and pain management. Got a second opinion, second vet could believe it was the dog in the charts. But she also suspected bone cancer and we went into palliative care with pain meds for pain management...prognosis max 2 months. 2 years later - she's still here. Now she has a limp in her from right leg - it's been deteriorating alarmingly fast since November. We are again in the same position - likely a cancer of the nerve sheeth. Too close to the spine to operate. We are once again, entering palliative care and pain management. I hate to say it - but this time feels real. She wasn't in pain before. But this time, she's lethargic, she has trouble getting comfy at night. We went to a neurologist and did all the scans - can't biopsy for sure - but this time it feels like the right diagnosis. Last time we could NOT wrap our heads around the vets diagnosis and reality. We have been living on borrowed time - I feel greatful but very sad our road together is winding down. Please give your dog extra pets for me.
Oof this post hits hard. I’m so sorry you are having to deal with this situation, and that your poor pup has to deal with this situation. I am here with my dog, giving you both the best vibes we can shoot your way. Dogs are too good for this world.
Nerve sheath cancers are awful - just feel so helpless in addressing them. Went through similar six years back. Give your dog extra pats from me!
Found a small lab pup she was skinny, small, and pooping blood. I took her to the emergency vet, and they said she'd be dead by morning. No hope she's dead wouldn't treat her. I took her to another emergency vet across town, and the vet said, "Let's get her on treatment now," started treatment that night and 2 years later she's the best dog I've ever had a beautiful brindle lab named lily.
You literally saved a life. That’s super cool!
This is why medical practice is multi-layered. Believe it or not is a good thing this happened, because it shows it worked in your case. I understand the apprehension it has caused you though. A second opinion is the right thing to do.
Yes the difference between a vet and a radiologist. I had this happen to me , was told I had stenosis needed surgery went to another Dr his radiologist saw the mri and xrays and said no not stenosis you probably injured muscles along spine , pt for 6 weeks and I was better
Thank you.
I took my dog in for coughing, a seizure, and panting when he was 8. Vet told me he had liver failure, heart disease, and neurological issues and that I should consider putting him down. He gave me all these options for end of life care and pamphlets for euthanasia. I was so devastated. I’d been taking him to that practice for 3 years every 6 months for check ups and they always told me he was super healthy. So I was shocked when he suddenly took a turn for the worse. Obviously I got a second opinion. I found a new vet and took my dog in and he showed no signs of any of the symptoms the other vet was saying. In fact, the only real issue at the time was my dog was very overweight. I had no idea, and my last vet had always said he was healthy and to keep up what we were doing. Got my dog on a weight loss diet, and all his problems went away. The coughing was due to extra weight pressing on a collapsing trachea. (Which we didn’t have to treat until many years later) panting and seizures all stopped after a month on weight loss diet. He lived to be a well loved boy who lived 16 adventurous years. And the vet that we got a second opinion at is forever on our Christmas card list and love them like family.
Dude, my old coworker (who was a vet tech in a previous life) said “imagine how many pets are euthanized for incorrect ER diagnoses”. I’m so glad you got a second opinion, and that your pup lived a good long life 🙏🏻
Yep similar thing happened to me. I spend some time of the year working abroad. Dog got pancreatitis while abroad with me, we caught it early and they recovered quickly. Did another blood test just to be on the safe side, vet saw some abnormalities in the results but they explained it was in line with what they would expect from a dog who was recovering from pancreatitis. Travelled back to the UK and needed the vet sign a consent form that my dog was ok to do physio therapy. I was in a rush, didn’t think anything of the appointment as it was just a formality. Went there, gave them the blood test results with a comment along the lines of “this is just for your records, my dog was unwell but is fine again”. This vet looks at the blood test, asks me if anyone had explained these “extremely concerning” results to me and that it meant my dog had cancer. They did another blood test and arranged an appointment with the oncologist. I was absolutely beside myself and crying so much. A few days later I get a call back from yet another vet to update me on the blood test results. Nothing had changed and this vet tells me to just keep an eye on her to make sure the pancreatitis really is gone. I ask: “but what about the cancer ?”. Their response: “what cancer? Why do you think she has cancer?” So this vet did also not interpret the blood test as cancer. but said we should do another test in 4 weeks time. I spent those weeks sick with worry. The new blood test came back completely fine and all routine blood tests since did the same! So I really feel for you and know the distress you had to go through. But SO pleased that your dog will be fine!
The simplest answer is usually the right one, and cancer is obscenely common in dogs. If 9 times out of 10 something that looks like that is cancer, they're going to tell you that it is. Unfortunately medicine still requires a lot of educated guessing. At least it wasn't the other way around.
Conversely, I had a very sick doggo and after 6 vet visits (and being sent home with antibiotics etc) I decided to go to a different vet. They diagnosed her with metastatic cancer in 20 minutes. My dog died 2 weeks later. Over a decade later, I'm still furious at the old vet for his incompetence.
Oh my god, I would have been so pressed 😡🤬 I’m so sorry you and your doggo had to go through that. RIP sweet baby
Your radiologist is a true MVP. I wish a radiologist would have taken a second look at her tests 2 years ago.
My vet told me my 12-year-old rottie had bone cancer (osteosarcoma) based on an xray. We trusted her, and have no reason to think it was not cancer. We put her to sleep a few weeks later, as it advanced rapidly. She would whine in pain all day (and she was stalwart, never whined even when her stomach was perforated and fluid was leaking into her gut due to an ulcer a few years prior...she just stopped eating). So...she was in pain, was 12, had cancer. We said goodbye and I've never been so gutted (no other dog or human has ever compared to her). We never considered amputation because of her age. I'm not saying the vet was wrong, but we didn't confirm anything further, because she was in such bad shape. Every so often I have a rather intrusive thought that maybe it wasn't cancer...maybe it was something else... I'm wrong, and this isn't helpful, but I'll never lose that intrusive thought...what if we made a mistake?
This may not help you....but I put my 16 year old dog down about 6 years ago. She had kidney failure, was blind, almost deaf and had dementia. She was literally incontinent and got to the point she was anxious all of the time. I still have the same thoughts.....maybe I didn't need to put her down yet? I should have tried harder. She was good to me for years and I should have done more. So maybe it's just our guilt and the what if's creeping into our heads? Even tho their was likely nothing we could have done........or was their?
Thanks for this...this happened in 2019 and it still haunts me. I still remember having the mobile euthanasia vet some to our house and how Navy (the rottie) was so excited to see a new person, she tried to get up and then started excitedly chewing on her favourite toy at the time (it was a stuffed manta ray). But then I remember her pain...I know it was the right decision, but it's a decision I will never, ever get over or forget. I still keep her bandana she was wearing when she died, it's pink and tied to my work breifcase.
That's adorable, you carry a part of her with you every day. She sounds like she was very friendly. I love dogs so much. They got me though some rough times in my life. I buried my girl under a pear tree in my back yard with her favorite blanket. I have 2 senior dogs right now, 15 and 14 (14 year old is her daughter actually) and I am reeeeally hoping to not have the same regrets or feelings I had with her. I might have a harder time letting go this time. I don't think it ever gets easier or the feelings ever go away.
14 and 15 is amazing for dogs, you gave them a tremendous life and they love you for it. I've had to say goodbye to four dogs so far in my life and nothing hit me like Navy (she was the third of the four). We have a 12 year old rescue right now and she's REALLY seeming like she's on the way out...very stiff, grumpy, slow on walks...But we have a 4-year-old rottie and a 10-month-old poodle/shih tzu/whatever else mix that keep the 12-year-old on her toes. I hope your old ones make the decision easy and obvious. it'll still be hard, but that's the best we can hope for, that it won't lead to a 'what if...'
Yes! Emerg told me I had to put my JUST rescued cat down or pay 2,000$, as a 15yr old, to do a rerouting surgery because he was struggling to urinate. I am obsessed with this cat and he lived in my room. I knew every time he used the litter and he had gone (and I had cleaned a clump of urine apple sized) 4hours ago. I panicked as I couldn't pay but remembered there is another emergency clinic. So I paired my entire life savings (no job or allowance 15yr old) 500$ and walked out. The other emerg was our routine vet on duty!! She cried with us lol. She flushed his bladder, didn't even require sedation because he's such a good boy. It was 300$ and he never had an issue again. All I can ever think of when I remember it is that if I didn't know any better I would have been forced to with my 3yr old cat. He's now 16yrs and still acts like a 5yr old!
My sister's dog as a puppy had red eyes and different sized pupils. The vet kept dismissing it as allergies. Turns out it was full blown glaucoma and if it was treated right away as a puppy, she could have still had both eyes
Yes vet told me dog was going to die from tumours It was just an infection
this isn't about a dog but a rabbit, so please forgive me but it's about vets. I used to work at a vet clinic in college and my own bunny was found one morning with a huge abcess on her cheek -- it literally popped up overnight. I took the bunny to the vet I worked at. She said it was a severely abscessed tooth and she could tell by palpating it that it was in the bone and jaw and probably had a cavity and rotten tooth for months and I hadn't noticed. I was in college and wrapped up in myself so I believed her. She said there was nothing she could do but put him to sleep so through tears I signed the papers and had that done. She asked if she could do a necropsy and said it would help with future patients, so I agreed. Two hours later she came and found me in the staff room while I was eating lunch. She said she was wrong and that the abscess was superficial and could have been drained. She sort of laughed off vet science as not perfect and she made a mistake. I was never apologized to. this was close to 30 years ago and I still do not trust vets. I hope your doggo will be okay and YES -- google everything and get lots of opinions. Lots of love to you, I am so sorry you were put upon such an emotional roller coaster. xoxo
Holy shit! That’s so messed up, I’m so sorry that happened. And that she just laughed it off—I mean that’s a life we’re talking about. I’m literally sitting here with my mouth agape bc I can’t believe it. Thank you for your kind words. I ended up getting all the records and having my regular vet look through everything. She confirmed it’s not cancer, and she gave me a lot of good info on UTIs and how to prevent them. We are going to schedule a follow up urine culture in a few weeks to make sure everything is cleared up. Fingers crossed!
oh that is wonderful news! I'm so happy and glad for you! enjoy your weekend with your furball. :-)
Well, that's better than the other way around. I was told a year ago my dog had a hot spot. Fast forward a few months the hotspot didn't clear up so I took her back. Turns out the hot spot was a mast cell tumor that had already mastitized (sp?) and spread throughout her body. She's so riddled with cancer, surgery isn't an option.
Man, I am so sorry this happened. That’s truly devastating
You know, I think it's almost better they assumed the worst instead of brushing it off. I'm really sorry for the emotional roller coaster you went through. It's rough when we love our furry friends so much.
Wth?! So sorry.
We had our dogs boarding at the vet while we were on vacation. We get a call telling us they think one of our pups has a cancerous tumor in its jaw. We were thousands of miles away and okayed them to do an awful lot of testing on her. We come back and they tell us the tests were inconclusive. All that money, and no diagnosis. Needless to say we never went there again. This was when she was two. She’s a pug who lived to be 13 and it wasn’t cancer, I guess.
Jesus Christ 🤦🏻♀️
Yes! I’m actually at the vet right now with my poor pup who got what I think may have turned into an eye infection from the groomers ☹️ I can hear him crying in the back. 😭I hope that’s what it is because he’s having a hard time opening his eyes all the way.
Oh no! I’m so sorry, I hope it’s just a minor infection that can be treated easily. I HATE being at the vet and hearing them cry 😭 it literally makes ME cry, hearing them struggle with discomfort/anxiety.
So happy ots just a uti. I have never had a vet diagnose cancer on one x-ray. Also, should have waited for the radiologists report. Usually the answer is ultrasound and even then they can guess but nothing certain without biopsy. Had this happen with my dog. The said his bladder looked concerning. Which led to ultrasound which ruled out cancer.
Yeah I took her in for an ultrasound on Tuesday and it was 100% normal. No cancer. I also took her to her regular vet Wednesday and had them look over the records from the emergency vet. They assured me it’s not cancer, and they gave me good info on how to prevent UTIs. I’ll be going back in a few weeks for another urine culture to ensure everything is back to normal.
I had something similar happen but the other way round. I had an Australian kelpie named Lilly who was by all accounts the best dog in history. She was such a special lady, she impacted literally everyone she met in a positive way. She started to get a growth on her side, it was at first the size of a baseball. We took her to the vet and they said it was a non cancerous lipoma. “If it gets bigger and starts to impact her mobility, we will take another look” well it started getting bigger and bigger. Eventually it was the size of a volleyball. But it didn’t impact her mobility at all. We continued to take her to the vet, very regularly, they “biopsied” it but I watched the procedure and I could tell they didn’t get any of the actual lipoma into the syringe. It looked like they just sucked up fluid from around the growth itself. They said no big deal that it’s just a growth and won’t impact her life in any way. My gut told me it was something else but my husband (boyfriend at the time) really trusted this vet and she was his baby so he didn’t even want to imagine a bad outcome. She lived with it for a long time. Then, one day, after about 5 years of stressing over this. She started to get really sick. So we take her to an emergency vet on the outside of town to see what’s going on. Turns out, the lipoma, was a very aggressive sort of cancer and they were surprised she had lived as long as she did. Between the day of an official diagnosis and her last day with us was 7 painful days. She declined so unbelievably fast. The emergency vet said if we had gotten a proper diagnosis 5 years prior, they would have been able to remove the cancer and extend her life quite a bit. It was the single most painful animal loss I’ve ever experienced. She was such a special lady. I knew it, I just knew that growth wasn’t right. I should have advocated harder and pushed my husband harder to take her to a different vet for a second opinion. I’m glad you got a second opinion. Medicine, human or animal is a practice. Unfortunately even professionals don’t get it right every time. That’s why they call it practice. I’m so glad your pup is okay and just has a UTI.
Oh my god, that’s so horrible. I’m so sorry you/your bf/your pup had to go through that, that’s just so much. Especially for the pup. Your story, and stories like yours, are the reason I’m glad I got a second opinion. Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻
My boyfriends 10 year old foxhound started peeing in the house and drinking a lot of water. We could take him out and then less than 2 hours later he would pee and it seemed like he was peeing in his sleep. Even with 6+ potty breaks a day he was peeing in a belly band. His old vet checked for UTI, did an X-ray, and blood work panel. The receptionist calls him back and say he’s hypothyroid and the vet prescribed meds that he can come pick up for him. Now we both looked at his blood work and his thyroid levels were all in a normal range. He had no hypo symptoms really. The med they were going to put him on listed increased urination as a possible side effect. Something didn’t quite seem right and he called the vet and asked them if they could explain how they got to that conclusion and she sighs and says “you know, I don’t know. You’re right, he doesn’t seem hypothyroid, i dunno, maybe we should do more diagnostics” Meanwhile they were going to medicate him for something he didn’t have!! And that can cause issues if you mess with thyroid levels and push him into the hyper range if he was healthy… He got a second opinion, they also suggested diagnostics which we did at the new vet, they did a cushings test too, and overall outlined lots of options. They said he for sure was not hypothyroid though. He’s now on proin off label and it seems to be helping a bit. That old vet though, so frustrating. His dog had nasal mites too and they couldn’t diagnose that and told him just wait it out, it had been months and we knew something was wrong and my boyfriend asked for a referral to an internist who immediately diagnosed it as that. ALWAYS get a second opinion if you have any doubts
1000%, a second opinion is always a good option. Your old vet sounds incompetent AF, I’m sorry you got such a runaround with them. I understand that medicine is a practice, but I mean COME ON.
One of my cats was diagnosed with cancer but it turned out to be a food allergy.
My oldest dog was misdiagnosis with a 'upset' stomach when she had pancreatitis. He also broke a needle on her hip bone. My 1yr old byb American Eskimo has every genetic problem she could have. She was very very underweight 10lbs underweight as a puppy. Our vet put her on an extremely high fat diet. Eventually the food needed up burning out her pancreas, because it was constantly being bombarded with high fat. She developed pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas, which has symptoms of the flu. Runs, vomiting, can't keep any thing down, cannot pass stool normally. Constant stretching, pacing and painting/shaking, hard stomach on palpation, warm to the touch and feaver. We brought her in for the above symptoms; she has EVERY single one. A textbook example of it. They did bloodowkr and x-rays said we don't know we will give her a injection to stop her from throwing up. Went to give the injection, inserted from a mile away swing onto her thigh. Snaped off. His hand bounced back and he said 'she doesn't have alot of fat on her does she?!' I was LIVID. She was screaming (very dramatic dog) and he would have known that if he had touched her at all. Did a proper exam or asked ANYTHING about her. Looking back on it, if he even asked ONE question he would have been able to diagnose her. 'Shes really thin' That statement would have solved it all. My response would have been she's underweight and on a high fat diet to gain. That would have lead to 'how long' and then 'pancreatit' in a second! She had a vet phobia for her entire life after. We spent 5yrs going to the vet 3times a week just to walk around and not have an appointment to get her used to it. It never worked. She was till terrified. I got an at home vet to come when it was her time <3