I don't know really why I am posting but I feel so upset and powerless. He is 14 and a large dog (lurcher x collie) so has had a good innings as they say but he was so healthy and happy until the last few months. He had this persistent cough and the vet diagnosed a heart murmur and put him on frusadale (which is a diaretic) and something else for his arthritus. The diuretic worked and his cough stopped almost entirely but now vet says he has an irregular heartbeat and has cut down the diuretics because they might have been causing it. He is now coughing again and looking very listless. I want to take him back to the vets but it just costs so much. Spent £300 in the last 2 weeks, money we can ill afford.
I also dislike our vet - she falls into the same catergory of 'professional' that dentists and mechanics fall into ie you have to believe what they say because you know nothing of the field but deep down suspect that they are just out to fleece you for all you're worth... Do you know what I mean? While we were there last time she looked in his ears (a bit grubby but not bothering him) and decided to open a packet of ear drops without even asking me and gave him a dose. We had to pay £21 for this small bottle, the contents of which I have not used as I don't think the dog needs it. After hearing his irregular heartbeat, she said he needed an ECG (at a mere £75) - what is the point of an ECG? All it tells you is that there is arrhythmia, surely?
What should I do? Want to take him to another vet but ours is exactly opposite our house and I bump into her all the time. Afraid to take him again today in case she makes me spend even more money on unecessary treatments. Should I just up the dose of diuretic to what it was before? Help!