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Do vets really care?
My special friend is Yogi, 17 years old.
He has had 6 vets in his lifetime and each has been different in their approach to diagnosing and treating any illness he has had. I would just like to say that in his last days I have done a lot of soul searching and net searching...latterly, hopelessly, thinking I would find a wonder cure for him. He had a lot of abcesses in his earlier years as he was a 'defender' (not a scrapper), was often sick although it usually turned out to be furballs. When he was 12 he was hit by a car and I nursed him at home, as no treatment was given by the vet as she said he had fractured his hipand not to let him jump up or down. So spent the week on a mattress/floor all day and night with him. When he was 11 I was told not to bother with leakemia vaccine for him as if he hasnt contracted it by now he never will. When he was 14 he had started being sick and having diarrohea and lost weight. Took him to the vet,(after a lot of searching in Manchester trying to find one that seemed to have time,let alone care, large practices seem to be in it for the turn over! ..some with vets that cannot speak english well enough) to whom we said money is no object!! what a cheque to write eh?... but this was my friend whom I love deeply. He did all the tests and showed us X rays that showed Yogi had thickening of the bowel walls and that he has hypothyroidism. So three times aday Yogi was to have 5mg of Neomercazol....this vetr was adamant this dosage could never be reduced (although I have read since that it could be) and never explained further or treated further the bowel wall thickening.(Having since read that this could lead to lyphoma I wonder why he didn't) All I ever hear from Vets oh! he's a good age...after all he's such and such an age....age is in my opinion only relative when they get to around 19-20. Yogi had in the last year had bouts of sickness once again and diarrohea, this last spring was pretty bad his faces being yellow and very smelly. The vet we currently have(and we live on an island so its not easy to say change your vet) didnt respond until i pushed him for blood tests and faces test. The latter he didnt want to do, so I found a specimen bottle at our doctors and gave him that...nothin forthcoming for up to ten days and then eventually I was told oh there was nothing. Blood tests all ok, only what you would expect in a 'cat of his age'...what does this b...well mean for G sake! Anyhow some probiotic mix later his tum settles a bit although it continues to give problems from time to time...then....he is losing weight and his appetite is slowing. You might think this is an older cat and so his appetite will lessen and I would normally agree but I know my cat and I know when his appetite is lessening due to 'age'...this wasn't. The same vet examine him and said ,due he says to him being an FELv cat...as I confirmed he had not been vaccinated against leukimia as the previous but one vet had said not to bother,....he has alimentary lymphosarcoma. No tests no nothing this is by feel of his abdomen alone. Nothing can be done he says. No referral to Glasgow nothing.To top it all he told us to take Yogi off his neomercazol. SO I find another vet who treats with Homeopathy, having read in magazines etc about these vets thinking they can help him even if its palliative...this one seemed pretty vague about what to do...nothing like you see on the TV or read in the mags etc...(is it my fault for believing these things...why is it all these other animals seem to be treated well ....am I just angry am I a bad judge of 'vet'..) when I asked of a nosode of lymphosarcoma she treats him with phosphorus...which doesnt seem to be about his immune system as she said but since finding out that this is more about helping his symptoms of digestion/diarrohea/vomiting...he hate sthis one I can tell you. However, she did dispense a muchroom based tablet which is being used for HIV in humans and is apparently helpful in cancer in cats. This does seem to have helped Yogi in palliative treatment. She at least was willing to refer us to Glasgow.When we finally get to Glasgow...there is such a waiting list!...after an examination we are told that Yogi should nopt have come off his neomercazol and that either form of treatment ....chemo or surgery would be difficult in Yogi's case, his kidneys have seeds on them and are small....due to previous kidney traumas. His weight loss hasbn't helped...due in part ot weight loss after being taken off the thyroid drug...she told us to put him back on his thyroid drug, which we have done and he seems ok for it. Basically nothing can be done as she said he has either adenocarcinoma or alimentary lymphosarcoma. The former would require surgery adn the latter would need chem. So here we are at home and I am desolate and devastated....all I wanted was a vet to treat Yogi properly at each and every occasion...not to consider the cost....but to consider all the possibilities each time adn follwoing examinations to treat properly...not be lackadaisical or take short cuts...some of these vets never did an initial exam...such as listening to heart/lungs, atking temperature or smelling this breath..... The worst part is I know that I will have to argue with this vet to get him to do a home visit when the time comes for Yogi to pass on. If any vets ever read this...please remember these aniamls are not 'Just cats' as one vet said to me....they hold a special place in their human friends hearts, mean a great deal to them, ...all we ask is you treat them with respect, care and pay attention to each animal being uniquely different so look at their symptoms and pay attention to detail....if need be ask whether money is an issue...you may be surprised that there are some of us out here for whom we would spend whatever it takes to make our friends feel well again and whole....or at least help them to feel good as we would our human friends and relatives. For me Yogi has been my friend, confidante, surrogate child and soul mate and I know that in the next life I will see him again....that will make up for the pain I am going through now feeling that I didnt fight enough for him or find the right vets to take proper care of him. Please if you are going to be a Vet ....you must like animals and continue to like them throughut your career as one...never for a moment forget these ar sentient beings. Apologies for those of you who think I am nuts but I care passionately about animals...who cannot speak up for themselves..so someone has to. |
#2
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In article , Linda.Hartley0H2
@btinternet.com enlightened us with... My special friend is Yogi, 17 years old. snip I am very sorry to hear of Yogi's decline. Purrs from my furkids and I to yours. So here we are at home and I am desolate and devastated....all I wanted was a vet to treat Yogi properly at each and every occasion...not to consider the cost....but to consider all the possibilities each time adn follwoing examinations to treat properly...not be lackadaisical or take short cuts...some of these vets never did an initial exam...such as listening to heart/lungs, atking temperature or smelling this breath..... Unfortunately, many vets, and many doctors, too, just don't seem to care as much as we'd expect. If you lived somewhere with more choices, it would have been easier for you to "vote with your feet". I should add my sentiments that vets should actually give a damn about animals. If any vets ever read this...please remember these aniamls are not 'Just cats' as one vet said to me Makes me wonder why this person became a vet... ....they hold a special place in their human friends hearts, mean a great deal to them, Yes, they do. I love my cats. If anyone told me it's just a cat, I'd likely give them a good smack. Well, at least I'd WANT to. Losing a beloved pet is never easy for those of us who see them as more than "just pets". I wish you and Yogi all the best and know you'll see Yogi at the Rainbow Bridge. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu thinks you'd make a nice sandwich. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
#3
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In article , Linda.Hartley0H2
@btinternet.com enlightened us with... My special friend is Yogi, 17 years old. snip I am very sorry to hear of Yogi's decline. Purrs from my furkids and I to yours. So here we are at home and I am desolate and devastated....all I wanted was a vet to treat Yogi properly at each and every occasion...not to consider the cost....but to consider all the possibilities each time adn follwoing examinations to treat properly...not be lackadaisical or take short cuts...some of these vets never did an initial exam...such as listening to heart/lungs, atking temperature or smelling this breath..... Unfortunately, many vets, and many doctors, too, just don't seem to care as much as we'd expect. If you lived somewhere with more choices, it would have been easier for you to "vote with your feet". I should add my sentiments that vets should actually give a damn about animals. If any vets ever read this...please remember these aniamls are not 'Just cats' as one vet said to me Makes me wonder why this person became a vet... ....they hold a special place in their human friends hearts, mean a great deal to them, Yes, they do. I love my cats. If anyone told me it's just a cat, I'd likely give them a good smack. Well, at least I'd WANT to. Losing a beloved pet is never easy for those of us who see them as more than "just pets". I wish you and Yogi all the best and know you'll see Yogi at the Rainbow Bridge. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu thinks you'd make a nice sandwich. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
#4
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In ,
Linda Hartley composed with style: [...] Apologies for those of you who think I am nuts but I care passionately about animals...who cannot speak up for themselves..so someone has to. You're not nuts. I'm sorry you've gone through this and a lot of us are right here with you. I think this is part of why forums like this have evolved, because vets don't know everything nor will they probably ever. Just like human doctors. We have to arm ourselves with information to help them help our friends. Sounds so unfair, I know. I think more of them need to defer to specialists faster; before money runs out, before they have exhausted all of their own knowledge. Defer to the ones who've seen more. Take care, Cheryl |
#5
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In ,
Linda Hartley composed with style: [...] Apologies for those of you who think I am nuts but I care passionately about animals...who cannot speak up for themselves..so someone has to. You're not nuts. I'm sorry you've gone through this and a lot of us are right here with you. I think this is part of why forums like this have evolved, because vets don't know everything nor will they probably ever. Just like human doctors. We have to arm ourselves with information to help them help our friends. Sounds so unfair, I know. I think more of them need to defer to specialists faster; before money runs out, before they have exhausted all of their own knowledge. Defer to the ones who've seen more. Take care, Cheryl |
#6
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Linda Hartley wrote:
My special friend is Yogi, 17 years old. He has had 6 vets in his lifetime and each has been different in their approach to diagnosing and treating any illness he has had. I would just like to say that in his last days I have done a lot of soul searching and net searching...latterly, hopelessly, thinking I would find a wonder cure for him. He had a lot of abcesses in his earlier years as he was a 'defender' (not a scrapper), was often sick although it usually turned out to be furballs. When he was 12 he was hit by a car and I nursed him at home, as no treatment was given by the vet as she said he had fractured his hipand not to let him jump up or down. So spent the week on a mattress/floor all day and night with him. When he was 11 I was told not to bother with leakemia vaccine for him as if he hasnt contracted it by now he never will. When he was 14 he had started being sick and having diarrohea and lost weight. Took him to the vet,(after a lot of searching in Manchester trying to find one that seemed to have time,let alone care, large practices seem to be in it for the turn over! ..some with vets that cannot speak english well enough) to whom we said money is no object!! what a cheque to write eh?... but this was my friend whom I love deeply. He did all the tests and showed us X rays that showed Yogi had thickening of the bowel walls and that he has hypothyroidism. So three times aday Yogi was to have 5mg of Neomercazol....this vetr was adamant this dosage could never be reduced (although I have read since that it could be) and never explained further or treated further the bowel wall thickening.(Having since read that this could lead to lyphoma I wonder why he didn't) All I ever hear from Vets oh! he's a good age...after all he's such and such an age....age is in my opinion only relative when they get to around 19-20. Yogi had in the last year had bouts of sickness once again and diarrohea, this last spring was pretty bad his faces being yellow and very smelly. The vet we currently have(and we live on an island so its not easy to say change your vet) didnt respond until i pushed him for blood tests and faces test. The latter he didnt want to do, so I found a specimen bottle at our doctors and gave him that...nothin forthcoming for up to ten days and then eventually I was told oh there was nothing. Blood tests all ok, only what you would expect in a 'cat of his age'...what does this b...well mean for G sake! Anyhow some probiotic mix later his tum settles a bit although it continues to give problems from time to time...then....he is losing weight and his appetite is slowing. You might think this is an older cat and so his appetite will lessen and I would normally agree but I know my cat and I know when his appetite is lessening due to 'age'...this wasn't. The same vet examine him and said ,due he says to him being an FELv cat...as I confirmed he had not been vaccinated against leukimia as the previous but one vet had said not to bother,....he has alimentary lymphosarcoma. No tests no nothing this is by feel of his abdomen alone. Nothing can be done he says. No referral to Glasgow nothing.To top it all he told us to take Yogi off his neomercazol. SO I find another vet who treats with Homeopathy, having read in magazines etc about these vets thinking they can help him even if its palliative...this one seemed pretty vague about what to do...nothing like you see on the TV or read in the mags etc...(is it my fault for believing these things...why is it all these other animals seem to be treated well ...am I just angry am I a bad judge of 'vet'..) when I asked of a nosode of lymphosarcoma she treats him with phosphorus...which doesnt seem to be about his immune system as she said but since finding out that this is more about helping his symptoms of digestion/diarrohea/vomiting...he hate sthis one I can tell you. However, she did dispense a muchroom based tablet which is being used for HIV in humans and is apparently helpful in cancer in cats. This does seem to have helped Yogi in palliative treatment. She at least was willing to refer us to Glasgow.When we finally get to Glasgow...there is such a waiting list!...after an examination we are told that Yogi should nopt have come off his neomercazol and that either form of treatment ...chemo or surgery would be difficult in Yogi's case, his kidneys have seeds on them and are small....due to previous kidney traumas. His weight loss hasbn't helped...due in part ot weight loss after being taken off the thyroid drug...she told us to put him back on his thyroid drug, which we have done and he seems ok for it. Basically nothing can be done as she said he has either adenocarcinoma or alimentary lymphosarcoma. The former would require surgery adn the latter would need chem. So here we are at home and I am desolate and devastated....all I wanted was a vet to treat Yogi properly at each and every occasion...not to consider the cost....but to consider all the possibilities each time adn follwoing examinations to treat properly...not be lackadaisical or take short cuts...some of these vets never did an initial exam...such as listening to heart/lungs, atking temperature or smelling this breath..... The worst part is I know that I will have to argue with this vet to get him to do a home visit when the time comes for Yogi to pass on. If any vets ever read this...please remember these aniamls are not 'Just cats' as one vet said to me....they hold a special place in their human friends hearts, mean a great deal to them, ...all we ask is you treat them with respect, care and pay attention to each animal being uniquely different so look at their symptoms and pay attention to detail....if need be ask whether money is an issue...you may be surprised that there are some of us out here for whom we would spend whatever it takes to make our friends feel well again and whole....or at least help them to feel good as we would our human friends and relatives. For me Yogi has been my friend, confidante, surrogate child and soul mate and I know that in the next life I will see him again....that will make up for the pain I am going through now feeling that I didnt fight enough for him or find the right vets to take proper care of him. Please if you are going to be a Vet ....you must like animals and continue to like them throughut your career as one...never for a moment forget these ar sentient beings. Apologies for those of you who think I am nuts but I care passionately about animals...who cannot speak up for themselves..so someone has to. Honestly, I wonder sometimes if *some* vets didn't really want to be human doctors instead... but since they could not achieve that settled on being a vet since *some* of them seem to have the attitude "...its only an animal...". I went to one vet who seemed more sales oriented than anything else... tryna convince me of the merits of declawing. Sorry about the grief you are going through. |
#7
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Linda Hartley wrote:
My special friend is Yogi, 17 years old. He has had 6 vets in his lifetime and each has been different in their approach to diagnosing and treating any illness he has had. I would just like to say that in his last days I have done a lot of soul searching and net searching...latterly, hopelessly, thinking I would find a wonder cure for him. He had a lot of abcesses in his earlier years as he was a 'defender' (not a scrapper), was often sick although it usually turned out to be furballs. When he was 12 he was hit by a car and I nursed him at home, as no treatment was given by the vet as she said he had fractured his hipand not to let him jump up or down. So spent the week on a mattress/floor all day and night with him. When he was 11 I was told not to bother with leakemia vaccine for him as if he hasnt contracted it by now he never will. When he was 14 he had started being sick and having diarrohea and lost weight. Took him to the vet,(after a lot of searching in Manchester trying to find one that seemed to have time,let alone care, large practices seem to be in it for the turn over! ..some with vets that cannot speak english well enough) to whom we said money is no object!! what a cheque to write eh?... but this was my friend whom I love deeply. He did all the tests and showed us X rays that showed Yogi had thickening of the bowel walls and that he has hypothyroidism. So three times aday Yogi was to have 5mg of Neomercazol....this vetr was adamant this dosage could never be reduced (although I have read since that it could be) and never explained further or treated further the bowel wall thickening.(Having since read that this could lead to lyphoma I wonder why he didn't) All I ever hear from Vets oh! he's a good age...after all he's such and such an age....age is in my opinion only relative when they get to around 19-20. Yogi had in the last year had bouts of sickness once again and diarrohea, this last spring was pretty bad his faces being yellow and very smelly. The vet we currently have(and we live on an island so its not easy to say change your vet) didnt respond until i pushed him for blood tests and faces test. The latter he didnt want to do, so I found a specimen bottle at our doctors and gave him that...nothin forthcoming for up to ten days and then eventually I was told oh there was nothing. Blood tests all ok, only what you would expect in a 'cat of his age'...what does this b...well mean for G sake! Anyhow some probiotic mix later his tum settles a bit although it continues to give problems from time to time...then....he is losing weight and his appetite is slowing. You might think this is an older cat and so his appetite will lessen and I would normally agree but I know my cat and I know when his appetite is lessening due to 'age'...this wasn't. The same vet examine him and said ,due he says to him being an FELv cat...as I confirmed he had not been vaccinated against leukimia as the previous but one vet had said not to bother,....he has alimentary lymphosarcoma. No tests no nothing this is by feel of his abdomen alone. Nothing can be done he says. No referral to Glasgow nothing.To top it all he told us to take Yogi off his neomercazol. SO I find another vet who treats with Homeopathy, having read in magazines etc about these vets thinking they can help him even if its palliative...this one seemed pretty vague about what to do...nothing like you see on the TV or read in the mags etc...(is it my fault for believing these things...why is it all these other animals seem to be treated well ...am I just angry am I a bad judge of 'vet'..) when I asked of a nosode of lymphosarcoma she treats him with phosphorus...which doesnt seem to be about his immune system as she said but since finding out that this is more about helping his symptoms of digestion/diarrohea/vomiting...he hate sthis one I can tell you. However, she did dispense a muchroom based tablet which is being used for HIV in humans and is apparently helpful in cancer in cats. This does seem to have helped Yogi in palliative treatment. She at least was willing to refer us to Glasgow.When we finally get to Glasgow...there is such a waiting list!...after an examination we are told that Yogi should nopt have come off his neomercazol and that either form of treatment ...chemo or surgery would be difficult in Yogi's case, his kidneys have seeds on them and are small....due to previous kidney traumas. His weight loss hasbn't helped...due in part ot weight loss after being taken off the thyroid drug...she told us to put him back on his thyroid drug, which we have done and he seems ok for it. Basically nothing can be done as she said he has either adenocarcinoma or alimentary lymphosarcoma. The former would require surgery adn the latter would need chem. So here we are at home and I am desolate and devastated....all I wanted was a vet to treat Yogi properly at each and every occasion...not to consider the cost....but to consider all the possibilities each time adn follwoing examinations to treat properly...not be lackadaisical or take short cuts...some of these vets never did an initial exam...such as listening to heart/lungs, atking temperature or smelling this breath..... The worst part is I know that I will have to argue with this vet to get him to do a home visit when the time comes for Yogi to pass on. If any vets ever read this...please remember these aniamls are not 'Just cats' as one vet said to me....they hold a special place in their human friends hearts, mean a great deal to them, ...all we ask is you treat them with respect, care and pay attention to each animal being uniquely different so look at their symptoms and pay attention to detail....if need be ask whether money is an issue...you may be surprised that there are some of us out here for whom we would spend whatever it takes to make our friends feel well again and whole....or at least help them to feel good as we would our human friends and relatives. For me Yogi has been my friend, confidante, surrogate child and soul mate and I know that in the next life I will see him again....that will make up for the pain I am going through now feeling that I didnt fight enough for him or find the right vets to take proper care of him. Please if you are going to be a Vet ....you must like animals and continue to like them throughut your career as one...never for a moment forget these ar sentient beings. Apologies for those of you who think I am nuts but I care passionately about animals...who cannot speak up for themselves..so someone has to. Honestly, I wonder sometimes if *some* vets didn't really want to be human doctors instead... but since they could not achieve that settled on being a vet since *some* of them seem to have the attitude "...its only an animal...". I went to one vet who seemed more sales oriented than anything else... tryna convince me of the merits of declawing. Sorry about the grief you are going through. |
#8
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I just wanted to say, I think Yogi has done amazingly well considering the
problems he has had. Unfortunately, it sounds like you live in an area where there are vets that probably treat mainly large farm animals and dogs. It's sounds very rural. I want you to know some vets do care very much. I know my vet does and I know how fortunate I am. Recently, too, there was a thread on alt.med.veterinary where a vet has been very heart broken over a very old sick dog that really truly was in pain and nothing was left to help and the owners could not face letting him go. He died in a very agonizing way at the vets and you can tell this vet is really torn up about it. I think Yogi knows you love him, I think you have found some palliative care yourself you know is working. It is unfortunate but their time with us is always briefer than we want it to be, as is our time with our family and friends. I hope that Yogi stays with you as long as he is comfortable and when his distress is too much you can love him enough to let him go peacefully and not in pain. It is all we can do to take care of our little friends and try to understand them as best we can. He sounds very fortunate to have someone to love him all these years so much when so many suffer without love, animals and humans alike. My fondest wishes of a happy life and a happy passing when the time comes for Yogi. We here on the newsgroup are always here to listen. Karen |
#9
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I just wanted to say, I think Yogi has done amazingly well considering the
problems he has had. Unfortunately, it sounds like you live in an area where there are vets that probably treat mainly large farm animals and dogs. It's sounds very rural. I want you to know some vets do care very much. I know my vet does and I know how fortunate I am. Recently, too, there was a thread on alt.med.veterinary where a vet has been very heart broken over a very old sick dog that really truly was in pain and nothing was left to help and the owners could not face letting him go. He died in a very agonizing way at the vets and you can tell this vet is really torn up about it. I think Yogi knows you love him, I think you have found some palliative care yourself you know is working. It is unfortunate but their time with us is always briefer than we want it to be, as is our time with our family and friends. I hope that Yogi stays with you as long as he is comfortable and when his distress is too much you can love him enough to let him go peacefully and not in pain. It is all we can do to take care of our little friends and try to understand them as best we can. He sounds very fortunate to have someone to love him all these years so much when so many suffer without love, animals and humans alike. My fondest wishes of a happy life and a happy passing when the time comes for Yogi. We here on the newsgroup are always here to listen. Karen |
#10
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It's truly unfortunate that incompetents can remain in business. There
must be a regulatory body for vets in your area where you can report your complaints. |
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