I don’t know….

[Missingmyusername]

Opinions please- DDog (Labrador, age 12.5). Got seen by vet six weeks ago for an operation, again two days later for an ear issue.

Last week I took him again as they requested I make an appointment to discuss pain relief. He already has Librela. human paracetamol and Galliprant). He did not get on with Cartrophen.

I took him last week and the vet I saw said he didn’t really know what medications he could have and he would need to think about it. Fair enough.

I left and sent an email a few days later asking if the vet is getting back to me. I received an email back saying no plans to get back to me and can I make another consultation this week and he will look into it. The vet I saw is the one who carried out the operation, same vet who saw him for his ears and saw him last week and sees my dog every month for his Librela.

Basically he doesn’t know the answer, so I need two consultations. That’s £140 for the two consults. It’s not the money it’s the principle and no it’s not a vet bashing post! Both Dh and I have to book time off to take DDog as I can’t pick ddog up to get him in the car.

Is this normal? It’s never happened before. I presumed he would just look up what drugs are appropriate and I’d receive a call to collect it?

That sounds very odd!

I would have thought the same as you. I have dogs and horses and have for both sets of animals had follow up calls with vets (different clinics), where they’ve followed up from an appointment with a phone call to check in/offer advice/suggest a drug etc. I don’t think it’s unusual at all.

I would reply and politely but firmly explain you can’t come in again, you have already had to take time off for an appointment, you were expecting a follow up as that’s what the vet said as he needed to look something up. Please can he call you to discuss.

I have a labrador that's 13 . She has had an operation on her ear when she was younger . She is now on monthly librela and carprieve for arthritis. I'm just saying that a meaning nearly every lab owner on here will tell you the same, so why on earth the vet heeds a second opinion? I've no idea ? Maybe you should change vets although I realise that might be a pain.

What was the operation ?
Is it possible that there are no more pain meds he can give ?
I'm a vet nurse and we have found librela to be an amazing drug but it won't have the same effect for all ,your dog is old for a lab i'm sure you know that , is it possible that the vet is finding it difficult to tell you there may be no more that he can do?
That aside i don't think charging another consult fee is fair , i suggest you phone and ask for a vet to call you today ,have a list of the questions you need to ask ready ,at my practice we will give further meds in this way at the vets discretion.
Also after many years in my job i know that vets will pool their knowledge when discussing what to do with certain cases , you calling may prompt him to do this.

Thanks for the replies, glad I’m not alone in feeling it’s odd. Changing vets would be a huge pain, the surgery is so close.
I called up and made an appointment earlier today, only spoke to the receptionist.
I just feel they’ve seen him so much lately I can’t see why on earth they need to see him again. Perhaps I’ll call tomorrow and ask why. It’s such a nuisance to have to back again so soon- he is due his Librela in a fortnight I think, so I’ll be back for that.

@tsmainsqueeze The operation was to remove a mast cell tumour- easy they said. It was their suggestion to add more medication in not mine. I already asked if it was in my dogs best interests to have an operation, was I being cruel. Was it too much for him etc. Vet said no, simple op, no cancer.

Just an update. Saw the clinical director/ head vet today. He apologised for my having to attend the surgery again, DDog has Gabapentin and there was no charge for today’s consult, only the medication.