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Original poster

Any vets around? Massive ethical issues

170 replies

NewYoiker · 27/03/2019 21:19

Our 4 month old puppy was attacked last week and today as a follow up they checked over her mouth and found a lump that wasn't there last week, it's 'of the bone', not soft tissue about the size of a pea. The vet wants X-rays but he isn't happy.

It's definitely bony but the vet suggested putting her to sleep or refer her to a hospital or Fitzpatricks for removal of her jaw bone and inserting a metal plate or just removing the jaw.

Is there any way it isn't cancer?

X rays on Friday and I'm so worried

OP posts:
CanuckBC · 27/03/2019 22:03

Where is the lump? Mine has one at the very front of her jaw right behind her front teeth. My vet has said it’s normal to have one there and too not worry.

I would find it very odd for the first response to be PTS or drastic surgery without x-rays or further investigation.

I would do further investigation first. It sounds like Fitzpatrick’s is a specialist vets. Go there and get a second opinion.

Is your pup eating and drinking normally? If so as long as he has a quality of life let him live until he no longer has it!

Original poster
NewYoiker · 27/03/2019 22:04

Eating and drinking fine, playing with toys, digging in her water bowl to get at the pattern

OP posts:
kateandme · 27/03/2019 22:04

oh you poor things.it sounds like they didn't handle it empathetically at all.
id wait.see what all the options are from there.for such a young and otherwise healthy dog I think id be more inclined to try more.
sounds like when the dentists now go "pull the teeth" rather than try and save it because its the best cost for them

IHateUncleJamie · 27/03/2019 22:04

He then said he couldn't fit her in for an x ray until Friday but could put her down today.

WTF! 😱 Unless he has x ray vision or is a clairvoyant, I’d run out of there and go to another practice.

Original poster
NewYoiker · 27/03/2019 22:04

@CanuckBC it's between her ear and cheek. So middle of the jaw

OP posts:
user1465335180 · 27/03/2019 22:05

I'd get the results of the tests and probably a second opinion, they seem to be having a very knee jerk reaction when they aren't sure what's wrong. I can understand you not wanting to have her put to sleep, she looks lovely but don't let them railroad you into anything

steff13 · 27/03/2019 22:05

I wouldn't make any decisions until you're sure what you're dealing with.

onionchucker · 27/03/2019 22:06

He then said he couldn't fit her in for an x ray until Friday but could put her down today. You can feel a lump on jaw but it's not in her mouth it's growing downwards not up at the moment. I'm going to go ahead with the X-ray with this vet as she's already booked in but DH has found somewhere for a second opinion already.

Cancel the x-ray appointment and go to the other vet. Save your money. This vet sounds absolutely awful.

I had to have my cat pts last week and I made the decision because he was having more bad days than good. It's about quality of life even if the diagnosis isn't good. There is NO WAY the vet should have even been talking about pts at this stage.

doodleygirl · 27/03/2019 22:08

Cancel appointment and get X-ray elsewhere. Report the vet. Your dig is gorgeous.

Fcukthisshit · 27/03/2019 22:13

Good luck. Hope it works out for your pup x

wombatron · 27/03/2019 22:14

Another here supporting you getting a second opinion, and waiting to see. And never ever return to your vet - find another. How awful of them. At 4.5 months I'd do the surgery. My dog has an arachnoid cyst on her spinal cord. We've opted to not go for surgery as she's almost 10 and the recovery could be 6months to a year - the surgery to remove the cyst and fix another issue (includes removing part of the spine and replacing with artificial spine parts) would be too much for her.
If this was 5 years earlier I'd be seriously considering it. Good luck! If you're anywhere near the Queen Mother hospital for animals they are also amazing and excellent, though referral only.

LeavingTeaching · 27/03/2019 22:14

Some vets are ridiculous! I posted on her about our cat last year. She wasn't quite right and was yowling a lot so, on advice from here, took her to see the vet.
The vet convinced me she was dying, needed an MRI and all sorts of other treatment. Gave her nerve tablets and other drugs. Terrified me and told me my fluffy baby was going to die! I brought her home, expecting her to pop off any minute and it turns out she just didn't like the new food I got her!
I changed it and she's absolutely fine!
Bastard!

onionchucker · 27/03/2019 22:17

Terrified me and told me my fluffy baby was going to die! I brought her home, expecting her to pop off any minute and it turns out she just didn't like the new food I got her!

Sorry but that's hilarious! Mine did something like that a few years ago - pretended he was dying, went to vet and it looked like he was on his last legs. She opened her fridge and he leapt up and jumped in (obviously thought he was going to get fresh meat which he used to when I opened the fridge at home!). So.. nothing wrong with him... it turned out he hated my ex! Got rid of the ex and cat was fine.

rosinavera · 27/03/2019 22:19

Oh definitely see another vet OP! Are you insured and if so could you take her to Fitzpatrick's? She is adorable and I so hope it's nothing too serious. xx

SchadenfreudePersonified · 27/03/2019 22:19

it turned out he hated my ex! Got rid of the ex and cat was fine.

Well done on making the right decision.

You can get another bloke easily enough, but you can never replace your dog.

diddl · 27/03/2019 22:20

Good lord Op, sounds absolutely dreadful.

I hope it's not cancer & whilst it was probably OK to prepare you for it as a possibility-pts there & then without knowing for sure?????

Cherrysoup · 27/03/2019 22:21

Omg, is your vet quite mental? Swap vets, get another opinion and see a specialist if a second vet agrees with the diagnosis. We went to an oncology vet, no way would I rely on the usual vet. They’re like GPS, brilliant for the run of the mill stuff, but not specialists unless they’ve done extra training.

Petitprince · 27/03/2019 22:26

We had something similar. Referral vet (not Fitzpatricks) operated, removed lump, it was cancer but it hasn't spread. It took a while to heal but never came back. Good luck OP.

BatFace1 · 27/03/2019 22:26

This sounds so weird. What an odd conclusion to leap to without any tests

Dullardmullard · 27/03/2019 22:27

Right folks you do know that Noel isn’t god

and yes your vet just wants to put to sleep which is most strange.

Go for second opinion and bin of the first vet.

Is puppy insured as that’ll help with costs plus if bought from a breeder can you inform them and see if this something that can actually happen in the breed. Mine was clicky hips years ago.

Junkmail · 27/03/2019 22:30

Wait. Did your vet really suggest putting your dog down because of a lump that’s not impeding her eating and hasn’t yet been investigated?? You need a new vet. And one with access to an X-ray machine because making you wait is ridiculous. My dog had a terrible problem with his hip at six months old. He was xrayed the same afternoon I took him in and booked in for surgery the same week, he recovered extremely well. I think they really do bounce back at that age. Please look into this problem before you make any decisions you can’t take back. It may be something quickly corrected with surgery but you won’t know until you have xrays. I’m just aghast at your vet’s snap advice without knowing any facts.

Thisisthelaststraw · 27/03/2019 22:31

Aw she’s a cutie Smile

Another for second opinion. We had to put our dog to sleep last week due to bone cancer but we had X-rays and the vet even showed them to us and she was 5yo. Young but not a puppy.

Hope it all works out for your girl.

Original poster
NewYoiker · 27/03/2019 22:42

@Dullardmullard to say I was shocked he gave me the option of putting her to sleep or sending us to the other end of the country for insane surgery is an understatement. I don't think he's a miracle worker at all. Sometimes I feel it would be kinder just to remove the limb.

What I want is a vet who will help us make a choice between types of surgery as between DH and I we cannot put her to sleep.

Can anyone recommend a vet that's in Greater Manchester or Cheshire or Derbyshire? Our current vet used to be a fab little farm vet that also did dogs on the side but it's been bought out by MiPet and now it seems it's all about money.

They told us we had to pay for our other dogs treatment as he's not on Petplan then today they said that despite being on Petplan we have to pay the whole amount

OP posts:
onionchucker · 27/03/2019 22:43

Oh and btw, I find it bizarre that he did not x-ray the dog there and then. Does he not have an x-ray machine in the practice?

Original poster
NewYoiker · 27/03/2019 22:46

The reason he gave for not x raging today or tomorrow is it's a tiny practice and they said they were fully booked with surgery today and to
Perks so they could admit her but couldn't guarantee it would be done today. The wait is awful

OP posts:
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