Meet Your Online Vet! Ask a Vet Pet Health Questions 24/7

 

Posts Tagged ‘touching’

Jasmine Needs Your Help

December 21st, 2010

dog health problems, dog skin problems, dog health illness symptomsYou may remember her from her guest post “Leak under the Kitchen Sink.” Jana Rade is one of the most dedicated pet owners I have encountered, and now she and her family are in need of our help.

Today’s blog will be dedicated to helping Jasmine. Jasmine has had a difficult road as a dog, suffering from one medical mystery to the next. Lucky for Jasmine, she was blessed with truly loving and committed pet parents that didn’t stop when veterinarian after veterinarian dismissed their list of abnormal dog health symptoms.

Though it has taken many surgeries, and avenues of treatment, both traditional and eastern, Jasmine has pulled through each battle triumphantly. Now though they are faced with the horrible reality of being having no more financial funds and the decision is upon them that no pet owner ever wants to face: how far can we go for treatment?

For Jana and her husband Jerry, it really is a matter of can and not should. Jasmine is merely troubled by a skin infection this time, a fairly common dog illness, and they do want to continue treatment, but are simply tapped out. Please read their story here, and consider contributing. Every dollar helps.

abnormal dog health symptoms, dog medical mystery, common dog illness

Tags: , ,
Posted in Charity, Money! Pet Healthcare Spending | 5 Comments

Leak under the Kitchen Sink

December 3rd, 2010

By Jana Radeask a vet a question online, second vet opinion, is my dog sick, symptoms of a sick dog

You find a small puddle under your kitchen sink and because you’re quite sure you didn’t spill anything you call a plumber.

The plumber comes and examines it carefully. “It seems to be a minor leak, might stop on it’s own, why don’t you keep an eye on it for couple weeks and see what happens,” he says.

You pay the plumber and watch it for couple of weeks, wiping up puddles.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

It does not stop, it seems to be getting worse. You call the plumber again.

Why would you let your vet get away with something you wouldn’t tolerate from your plumber?  It’s your pet’s health that is in stake.

He takes a look at it and informs you that you indeed have a leaking pipe. “It’s an old building,” he says, “something like that is to be expected.”

Yes, you know that you’re living in an old building. But you don’t want to spend your days wiping up under your sink.

“Hm, why don’t you put a container underneath it, that should prevent damage from the leak. Call me in couple weeks if this doesn’t help.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Interesting Cases, Room for Improvement, Touching, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Palliative Treatments: Is it Ethical to Treat if there is no Cure in Sight?

November 30th, 2010

ask a vet, ask a vet online, talk with a vetOur Plight Down a Dismal Road

Palliative treatments are those treatments that are aimed at not curing the disease, but increasing the patient’s comfort. It is an area of some controversy, as some people don’t believe it is right to put an animal through procedures–be they surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, the list goes on–if there is no way the animal will be cured of the disease in the end.

Whether the reasons be financial, ethical, compassion, or personal, many people feel passionately about their stance. People say that veterinary medicine is rapidly evolving, and that the “younger generation vets” are more pro-treatment and active to find a diagnosis; I would have to agree, and say that I typically fall into that stereotype. I for the most part believe this is a positive step for veterinary medicine. Mostly.

Even how you & your vet reach a diagnosis should customized.  We went against the text-book medicine route, as we felt it was pointless, and would only cause her pain.

It was a personal experience, the loss of our first pet as adults, that truly opened my eyes and made me realize it truly is a personal decision, one that must be customized by every pet owner, pet, and vet. I wish Dr. Jed and I had not gone through the story that follows in a multi-part post, but am grateful for the lessons it taught us.

It was the evening of October 27, 2008. Dr. Jed and I were newlyweds, and he was back in school full-time studying for his MBA and working as a business consultant, while part-time still “vetting;” I had taken over the hospital. He had just returned home from night school when Madison, our beloved Great Pyr limped. Just a little bit, but with two vets as parents watching over our four-legged children like hawks, not much gets past us medically.

We immediately did a lameness exam on the kitchen floor, and Dr. Jed found a slight swelling towards the end of her radius, one of the bones in her front leg. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Interesting Cases, Touching | 20 Comments

Giving Thanks: If I hadn’t become a veterinarian

November 25th, 2010

thanksgiving dinnerLife constantly makes us question “what if.” If I hadn’t become a vet, where would I be and what would I be doing? A science teacher motivating high school students, or at least attempting to? A travel book writer backpacking across the globe for Frommer’s? A pediatrician calming the nerves of nervous parents? On this day of remembering thanks, I pause to contemplate how becoming a veterinarian has positively shaped my life.

If I hadn’t become a veterinarian, I (likely) would not have been able to take my dog with me to work everyday. This brings me so much joy and comfort, and it is her favorite too. Whenever there is a sad situation or a difficult client, puppy hugs and tail wags are my ultimate comfort.

I wanted to be a veterinarian for longer than I can remember, and I am grateful I had the support–and patience–of my parents, especially when I continuously brought home new strays.

If I wasn’t a vet, I wouldn’t have the knowledge and ins and outs of how to effectively and affordable navigate the corridors of the University healthcare system when Madison was diagnosed with cancer. We are all entitled to our own opinions of course, but Dr. Jed and I chose the course of a single-agent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I know that some people may think this was extreme, but it what we felt was right for Madison, and above all, I am grateful we had the veterinary knowledge to watch for signs of her decline and decreased quality of life.  We stopped the aggressive treatment pretty early in the plan, but I know we did everything to keep her happy and healthy as long as she was meant to be here with us.  For us, it was right.  Everyone has to find their own pet health-care plan that they are comfortable with.

shar pei puppies

Say goodbye to bad days when these guys give you kisses!

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in About pets, Seasonal | 3 Comments

Let’s help these guys

November 13th, 2010

This post is part of the 2010 Blogathon Fund Raising Charity Initiative.

VetLIVE is trying to raise money for National Mill Dog Rescue. National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR) has saved over 3828 dogs and counting. At National Mill Dog Rescue, “It’s all about the dogs.” NMDR has pledged to put an end to the cruelty and evil of the commercial breeding industry, more commonly known as puppy mills. Through educating the public and through the use of their 500 volunteers, NMDR is on the cutting edge of saving mill pets and helping improve the industry. NMDR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Please simply press the “Donate” button below to contribute. All size donations are accepted!


Tags: ,
Posted in Charity, Touching | 5 Comments

 

follow us:

 
Acceptance Mark