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At the OC pound this morning: 2 month old husky pup ..... already taken off the web site.

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Tank turned nine in November. As you know, that's a LONG life for a 160 lbs Boerboel. He has been super healthy until the last couple months. Now he's declining fast.

Today Tank is undergoing anesthesia to clean out an infection in his anal sacs (it's been damned stinky in my office :eek:). The vet also thinks one of his lumps is malignant, and possible lymphoma due to his swollen neck glands. The vet suggested a biopsy, surgery, and chemo for his cancer.

I knew the stage would eventually come, when hard decisions have to be made. At five years old, not a second's hesitation on the surgery and chemo...But on a nine year-old mastiff??? Today I am racked with guilt and indecision.

I told my partner today that I'm retiring. No more business travel. I'm just going to stick around the house for the next several months and make sure he's comfortable and not stressed or isolated. This is going to be a hard one boys :(


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Craig...sorry to hear this. Someone once said pet ownership is not for wimps. Focus should always be on quality of life for your companion. I know - easier said than done. We've all been there.

Getting back to the question of buying meds from your vet - or not. The office that my vet works out of is about a 45 minute drive but there's another office owned by the same company closer - only a 15 minute drive. I ask my vet if I could drive there and pick up the Thyro tabs for Winkipop. So today I get a call from one of the vet assistants who says I can get it from that office but only if I take Winkipop there for an examination (at no charge). I ask, what if I just take your Rx with me...wouldn't that suffice. She says "No...the only way they will do it is if she is examined again." I tell her I'm trying to buy from the vet to help them make money but taking my arthritic girl somewhere in and out of my truck and inside the vet's office....mingling with other dogs and cats...that's not in HER best interest, if I can help it." She was just examined a week ago....sheesh....they aren't helping themselves to get my business. So then I ask for the details on the Rx and after checking pricing I can buy it online and get it shipped to my door for one fifth of what they charge. So I placed an online order and they will check with my vet's office to verify the Rx and then the meds will be sent to us.

Hey, I tried.

Meanwhile they are sending her film to a radiologist to check on that spot they saw....will keep you posted....

Thanks Baz. Sounds like we're both having a tough time.

We have to keep in mind that a veterinary practice is a business, just like a donut shop or Home depot. They make a living selling merchandise and/or services. When they see Winkipop with arthritis or Tank with cancer, they see a selling opportunity. Demanding another exam, even if free, is only an attempt to up-sell you something else.

To profiteer off Winkipop's meds, or encourage an $8000 surgery and chemo to treat the cancer of a dog already three years past his expected lifespan,is simply looking for a revenue opportunity.

...Maybe I'm just shooting at the messenger.

Here's Gus waiting for the rain to end in Black Mountain N.C. last week.


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Craig, be there for Tank. Best hopes and wishes for you guys. Olive sends her loves.

Bugs, I hope you guys are battening down the hatches tonight. Big storm headed your direction. I am sure you are prepared.

I know vets operate a business, Craig and there's nothing wrong with that. In this case I think the requirement for an exam was their idea of insulating them from possible legal issues, should something bad happen. But I also think my vet could have streamlined the deal, but he's so busy, I can't expect that to happen, realistically.

I try to support local businesses.....but in turn I expect (to some degree) that the business earns my business.

I'm happy to pay for the services we are getting. This is a busy office so I know they have a lot of business, which is a good thing that I respect.

As far as having a "system" that is designed to generate additional revenue...IMHO that is how ALL medical businesses are set up. It's their business model. But again....they are entitled to do what's necessary to support their operation, which as SiberianDVM pointed out - helps pay for equipment, etc. necessary to provide the very best service they can.

There is a fair amount of margin on these meds, so most places understand the market and are prepared to flex in price. That's one of the reasons Bug's vet and my vet both suggested we look into other purchasing options. As long as it's part of protocol, I'm cool with it.

Hey Baz,

Sorry you had to go through all of that..... Sounds like a bit of a hassle. I know our vet does a mini exam every time one of ours go in. Big trip or small trip, there is always an exam of sorts.

On a positive note, it sounds like Winks in on the path to get the meds she needs. Also I'm sure your way ahead of me on this, but when our boys began early having difficulties with their hips, arthritis and such, we ended up getting a collapsable ramps designed to make it easier for puppets to get in and out of trucks and SUVs. No more joint jarring jumps for our aging family.

Bully rubs, ear scratches and positive good will thoughts from Henry and us...


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Hey Craig,

Very sorry to hear about Tanks health challenges. It never easy to hear news like that about your pal. Even knowing ahead of time never makes it any easier. My wife has a coworker who's mastiff has been faced with health hurtles this year too. They don't have kids so he is their true baby and I'm amazed what they are doing to address them.

We truly are sorry to hear the news but as we have seen from her friends mastiff, he has pulled through shocking everyone. So where I am going with all of this is don't lose faith brother Craig.

Tank may rebound after treatment.

Positive thoughts and well wishes sent your way...


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Last post of mine on this subject: don't blame the veterinarians, blame the politicians and lobbyists who wrote your states pharmacy laws.

Yes, veterinarians are subject to the same pharmacy laws as are physicians and pharmacists, and the laws vary from state to state. In GA, I was prohibited from filling a prescription written by another veterinarian or a physician. Yet, if I examined the animal and documented the need for medication, I could fill it legally. Also, I was prohibited from charging money to write a prescription, yet I was required to write one if the client asked for it. I had a standing policy to price match any product or medication, yet people still wanted the written script so they could avoid the 7% sales tax (no sales tax exemption for animal meds) by buying from PetMedExpress.

Now tell me how I'm supposed to stay in business if I'm required to work for free?

Ef it, that's why I closed my practice.

I agree we have too many stupid laws and we elect people who think it's their job to make even more laws. But too often those laws are the direct result of efforts of lobbyists from the industry.


I can't recall our vet ever doing ANYTHING for free.
I spent over $8000 there in 12 years for one dog.

If i go to a doc, it costs me $25. if I took the dog to that vet it was $150 minimum, even if there was nothing wrong.

Baz, I must not have communicated my frustration correctly. My post was not meant to justify the business model as acceptable. I feel looking to maximize revenue from our pets when they are sick is deplorable. I meant to criticize it. I'm saying we need to be aware that some of the business methods of these practices may be less than altruistic. We need to be smart veterinary consumers. I believe a veterinarian practice can stick to "best practices of medicine" and still make a living.

Here's a couple of examples I don't like:

When Tank was to be neutered, the local vet told me he would need a $2500 "scrotetomy" (due to the size of his junk). I called my old vet who retired and he laughed, saying it was completely unnecessary. He said Tank'll just have a "little tea bag". I found another vet, Dr. Lookingbill. She also shook her head and said..."maybe he has a big house payment". That was seven years ago. No scrotectomy and no problems. Unfortunately, Dr. Lookingbill had a baby and left the practice.

The vet I use now recently opened up an in-office diagnostic laboratory. Now, every time I need deworming meds (every time he eats a rabbit he gets worms) they want to run $200 worth of lab tests before selling me the meds. They won't even do vaccination updates without "mandatory lab work". I had to take him to a vaccination clinic at PetCo just for a simple bordatella refresh.

Yesterday they wanted to biopsy ALL of his "lumps". The very same vet who told me BEFORE they had the in-house laboratory, that Tank's lumps were just fatty and nothing to worry about and common in Mastiffs. Only one of the lumps is "suspicious". I asked him if the biopsies were done in the new in-house lab". He said "yes". So, when the biopsies had to be sent out, and there was no money in it, they biopsies weren't necessary. Now that they do the test themselves, Tank needs 6 pieces of tissue cut from his body???

I know there are many good ethical veterinary practices out there. We just need to find them.

You have health insurance, and that's the co-pay, right?What did they bill to the insurance company? Most people do not have health insurance on their dogs, and that's a big difference.

The DOG thread
 

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Aahhhhhh.................................what? Just look away human.


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Sponge dog, square pants

The DOG thread
 

Nope! The 2016 Christmas rage according to Sharper Image

"Dog Drone2000" Gen-2 with electric fan technology.

After several failed attempts at a realistic look, DD2 arrived at a better look after several failed attempts of the more common and traditional quad blade design.

News at eleven
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Gen-1


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Back when I had a disposable income....i.e. SINGLE, I saw a dog like this in Switzerland attached to a gal that made Melania look like a $4 crack 'ho. You coulda bounced a 20 dollar gold eagle off her butt......:rolleyes:

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