Epilepsy - Changing vets and referral to specialist vet

[thereinmadnesslies]

My dog is 4. He’s had 4 seizures in the last 18 months, and after the second seizure the vet started investigations for a variety of things which have all come back clear. The final investigation step is a MRI scan. The vet thinks it’s idiopathic epilepsy and the MRI scan will most likely not show anything; they are fairly non committal whether the MRI is necessary.

Throughout this process the vets have been fairly disinterested. I acknowledge that covid and telephone conversations make it much harder for vets to operate but I have lost all confidence in the vets practice so I want to move to another practice for all DDog’s ongoing care. I also think that I would like any further investigations to be done by a specialist vet.

I’m really struggling to get my head around what order to do things. Do I ask the current vet to refer to a specialist and then ask the specialist to report back to a new highstreet vet practice, or do I move to a new highstreet vet practice and ask them to make the referral even though they have no experience of my dog?

Also, if anyone has recommendations of a vet specialist for epilepsy I would appreciate them - we are in easy reach of north London and Cambridge, fairly close to Dick Whites referrals. Thanks 🙏

Have you not already been referred to Dick Whites or similar?

Our puppy has IE and we were referred immediately to the Royal Veterinary College and they were excellent with him and us. Full MRI and CT scans, blood tests and lumbar puncture, everything to try and find the cause (he was super young to have seizures).

@SantaHat no we haven’t been referred yet. I asked about referral and they said that they would not normally refer for epilepsy. It’s a largish ‘hospital’ practice with CT and MRI in house.

Thanks @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat. Did you transfer all your dog’s care to the Royal veterinary college; or did they carry out the investigations and report back to your original vet practice?

They diagnosed and started him off on the medication and then handed it all over to our own vets. They then supported them whilst we treated and got his levels right.

Tweaked that should be

Not had an issue with your particular problem but changed vets a while ago because of a treatment issue.

I'd be inclined to change vets and then ask for a referral because it will be the new vet that the specialists will be dealing with.

Your new vet might not have been treating your dog but, obviously they will examine your dog and they will have all the notes from your old vet and therefore have access to your dog's full medical history.

Change vet first , if that’s your plan, will make life much simpler.
On first consultation just explain and ask for a referral.
Make sure you phone current practice and tell them where you are going and give them permission to send your dogs notes to new practice. Saves time.

I've done it the other way round a few times in finding the specialist I want to go to myself and then they request pets history/referral from my vet.
Sometimes it was because I felt they were best option in that specialism and I didn't mind travelling. Also costs can vary greatly between specialists so is pointless if my insurance is all sucked up by an overly costly MRI and consult fee that leaves nothing for treatment, when it's more affordable elsewhere with similar experienced team.

My friends dog wasn't insured so didn't have full MRI investigation for epilepsy and vet just started on Epiphen medication to treat the seizures which thankfully has worked out well for them.

Hi , vet nurse here - transfer to new vet , ask old vet to email history to new vet , request this yourself due to data protection rules.
New vet (and their colleagues - usually vets in a practice will pool their knowledge when needed ) after reading previous history , presentation / examination of dog , will then decide how they will proceed with treatment or referral to specialist .
Most referral cases begin with a vet directly contacting the referral centre 1st .
It is possible that a vet at the new practice may have experience / interest in the field that is needed for your dog and may see things with a different eye to the previous ones.

Thanks all, I appreciate your suggestions.

I’ve registered with the new vets and asked the old vet to send the records over. Once the records are sent across I will make an appointment with the new vets and try to move forward.