Update On Tara [and Partial Rant...]

[Guest wdlndgreasil]

Back in August, I posted about our dog Tara being diagnosed with pleural effussion [fluid building up in her chest cavity] for what is seemingly no reason. Turns out it was diagnosed as chylothorax.

 

Long story short, the specialist was 80-90% sure the cause was due to lung cancer - though nothing is showing on the xrays. Only way to know for sure would be to do a thoracotomy [opening up her chest], etc. We opted not to because she's 10yrs old and what if it was so bad, it would be to cruel to wake her up, etc. We decided to go and just have the fluid managed by draining it every so often in the regular vet's office. Ok, now for the rant...

 

August: specialist drained her chest = 2 litres; regular vet drained her chest 10 days later = 2litres. Vet said, hey, looks like it may be managed. Make 1hr vet only appts when you come in & gave a price. No discounts however no matter how frequently you're in. Ok whatever - corporate vet.

 

September: all ok at beginning on month. Started coughing towards end. Know fluid will have to be drained soon.

 

October: have 3 litres drained last week. Different vet than the other one as the regular one wasn't in. Not only does he over-sedate Tara, to the point that we almost went back in the middle of the night since she was still *beyond groggy* after 2 hours, he also charged and office visit plus numerous other charges so instead of paying $145, we paid $220 - and it took 1.5hours of time - and Tara appeared miserable after.

 

Still coughing several days later. Ok. Odd. So we go back last night. THIS IS WHERE I ALMOST LOST IT. Regular vet; set the 1hr appointment; go get dinner while Tara's being drained & come back. Leave and tell the vet:

 

Me: Just want to let you know we weren't happy as feel Tara was over-sedated last week when Dr. X did this, etc. [Didn't even get into the extra charges]

 

Vet: Well, I was suprised to see you on the appointment calendar. I didn't think she'd still be around now.

 

Me: [no response...just thinking, did she just say that???]

 

Come back from dinner and this is how the conversation goes:

 

Me: How's she doing?

 

Vet: Well, we had to drain 3.5 litres this time. This is seriously going beyond the amound I quoted you. I was supposed to leave at 8pm and it's now 830pm so Dr. Y is going to finish. I don't know how long you can keep doing this but the price will certainly have to go up, as she will now have to be a drop off like a surgical case as I can't be spending an hour on this. She's requiring 2 techs now in addiition to a vet to drain her chest...

 

[Then she goes on to tell us how Tara's doing]

 

Me: Can I see you do the procedure?

 

Vet: No. We don't allow people back there. Plus we don't want her to move around.

 

[Ok, I get that. I don't want her moving around with a jumbo needle in her chest either - but I would like to see how you do it]

 

They finish with Tara - we pay the last of the original $145 quote as it will be increasing from now on. We leave and Tara's much happier, not sedated, and tail wagging.

 

In the car, I tell BF that under ABSOLUTELY NO CIRCUMSTANCES am I letting him take Tara back there. This was BF's vet with Tara long before I came along - so initially I had no say - but !@#$%^&* ?!?!?!? I told him that from now on, I will take Tara to my vet which is about a 45min drive away, who would let me sit and watch the procedure and not be a freakin' ass about it if he had to stay later because of whatever issue. Seriously.

 

Ok, I get the cost being more than the estimate, but DO NOT tell me that boo hoo you had to stay late to drain my dog's chest. YOU are the one that quoted me an hour of time. How am I supposed to know she's filled up with 2x more fluid than the first time???? And how DARE you say something as off-handed as "I'm suprised she's still around." RUDE!

 

This is stressful enough - knowing that she may not make it through the holidays. All BF wants is an answer as to how much longer she may have - which they can't/won't give [though I understand that w/out opening her up, there's no real way to tell]. And you have the gall to imply that we have inconvenienced YOU by staying later???

 

I HATE corporate vets. Ugh. I hate having to deal with huge coke-bottle amounts of fluid being drained from my dog too - and not knowing how to make her better. This vet clinic is now on my "never in a million years will I take my dog to you - I rather see her be treated by ancient bedouins with leeches" list.

 

On a good note though - Tara is doing much better today without all that crap pressing down on her lungs...

Edited October 17, 2009 by wdlndgreasil

[Guest trevdog]

That stinks! Having dealt with it myself, I can imagine how upset I would be if they were complaining about the amount of time it took. It's scary enough dealing with the procedure itself. I'd be going back to the other vet too.

 

Glad to hear it helps her though.

[Batmom]

Wish I had words of wisdom. I don't, except that that vet needs a good smack up 'side the head.

 

Hugs to you, and prayers for your sweetest pupper.

[Guest lynne893]

wow. what jerks. i am so sorry you're going through all of this, and especially dealing with rude, seemingly uncompassionate vets.

 

good luck and hugs to you and your hound!

[Guest IrskasMom]

 

 

to you and Tara

[Guest mickie37]

You have a lot more patience than I do. Are they the only Vets in your area?

[4greyhounds]

[Guest IHeartDogs]

I'm so sorry you have to deal with horrible vets. I agree going back to your old vet... imo, a great vet is worth the drive. Many prayers for you & Tara.

[Guest BooandCalisMom]

Glad she is feeling a little better and hugs to you - hang in there - and I am sorry your vet is being a jerk -

[tbhounds]

My question would be to the vet---why is she building fluid in the first place?? Did they send the fluid out to the lab for fluid analysis? Does she have cancer lurking about or heart disease. Sorry you both having to go through this--she is so still young.

[Guest speedoketo]

Considering how angry you were at something taking a little longer than expected I wouldn't be able to give you a time frame for how long she had left either in the event my estimate was wrong. You are paying the vet for his time. More fluid = more time = more money. I'm sorry about you going through this and I'm sure it's traumatic for everyone involved.

 

http://www.michvet.com/library/surgery_chylothorax.asp this is a good resource

Also mentions how it makes anesthesia more difficult which may explain some of your problems.

 

I hope everything works out for the best. Sorry about the vet's lousy bedside manner, lots of them are clumsy when it comes to giving a less than favorable prognosis and he needs to learn to be more sensitive in the future. Good luck with your old vet.

[Guest Energy11]

I know what you mean about corporate vets. I don't even like multi-vet practices! My former vet/employer was a one-vet practice (*his Dad, who started the practice, did do surgeries two days a week), but is now retired. My vet here is a one woman practice with just a tech and an office manager. MUCH better care and a lot more compassion with the one-vet practices.

 

Good Luck with the new vet and Tara's condition.

 

 

[Guest madredhare]

Makes me thankful for the wonderful team of vets at the practice where I take my greys! Sorry you are going throug this.

[Guest dobiegrey]

Considering how angry you were at something taking a little longer than expected I wouldn't be able to give you a time frame for how long she had left either in the event my estimate was wrong. You are paying the vet for his time. More fluid = more time = more money. I'm sorry about you going through this and I'm sure it's traumatic for everyone involved.

 

http://www.michvet.com/library/surgery_chylothorax.asp this is a good resource

Also mentions how it makes anesthesia more difficult which may explain some of your problems.

 

I hope everything works out for the best. Sorry about the vet's lousy bedside manner, lots of them are clumsy when it comes to giving a less than favorable prognosis and he needs to learn to be more sensitive in the future. Good luck with your old vet.

 

Wdlndgreasil's anger was not based on being longer than expected and that it would cost more in the future it was the manner in which it was so unprofessionally handled, IF I am reading correctly! The Vet was angry that he/she had to stay longer! This could have been handled with dignity and compassion, But unfortunately like all lines of work Vets get into the "time is money" mechanic's mentality and forget they are dealing with someone's LOVED ONE!! I don't care if she is covered in fur Tara is their LOVED ONE and not a way to make some money, so we need to "cut it short or charge more to make the bucks"!!!

 

wdlndgreasil I am so sorry you are going through this, I wish you and Tara and your hubby all the best, hang in there, we are all praying for a great outcome! But I think a change of vet is in order. God Bless. If I misunderstood what you were saying I am sorry. I also didn't mean to speak for you but sometimes when you are in the middle of something like this you need folks to step up and speak!

Edited October 18, 2009 by dobiegrey

[patricia]

Sending my prayers for your sweet baby girl. Our Angel Cody Angelo had the same problems...we opted for thorascopy and they took many biopsies. He was in ICU for several days after. The fluid removed from his tiny little chest always looked like cherry koolaid. Kiss sweet Tara for me.

[Greytlady94]

Just

[Guest MZH]

Would giving a diuretic help?

 

We had a cat with a similar problem. The (corporate-owned) ER totally mishandled her and they punctured a lung or something while they were tapping her. I was there to visit her, saw her gasping for breath in a cage while totally unattended and said to them to do something to help her. They tapped her yet again but punctured something. Blood poured out her mouth. I had them euthanize her on the spot. It was an awful 3 days at that place and they refused to even give a diuretic. Also, my vet wasn't told she was there and they told me she knew; she didn't! She said she would have given a diuretic and kept her on oxygen until the problem was diagnosed. She was there for that last tap and we both cried when we saw the blood coming out her mouth. Such needless suffering. Definitely go with the vet you know and trust. We paid $2,000 for the ER to kill our cat. I totally understand how angry you are!

 

 

[grey14me]

[Guest wdlndgreasil]

Thank you all for your support.

 

It's just frustrating. You pay so much money to a vet and they have the nerve to tell you - or imply - that your baby is taking up too much of their time.

 

I've unilaterally decided to take Tara to my regular vet where I take my girl. I don't care if it cost 5x more but I know all the techs by name too and I know Tara should get the care she deserves.

 

Odd that all of us are here with various problems about our dogs [and vets] and look what's going on in general with health care in this country. I guess even animals aren't immune from corporate vets/doctors.