Oh I'm glad you feel like that too then and you don't think i'm being critical of you or trying to push you into doing something you don't want to! It's just that I know how you must feel every time she's like this, coz as I said, I had to go through it myself and like you, I'm thinking, will she pull through it this time, whereas my vets always had this nonchalonse (?sp) about it all and just thought it was her having eaten something nasty every time it happened, and I just knew in my bones it was a lot more than that, nobody knows your dog better than you do, and vets are treating dog after dog each day, and it's only when you get insistent/persistent with them that they seem to bother to take it any further. Having also owned a horse you can imagine just how many vet's visits I've had in the last 20 years, and I can tell you one thing, they are always, but always, very willing to chat to you when they have a free minute to discuss things in detail with you, I have never found it to be otherwise with any of them, so if you decide to phone him or pop round and see him, I'm sure he can give you some answers. Ask the receptionist what would be a good time to phone him for a quick chat, or if there is any chance he could ring you? Maybe write down any questions you want to ask before you pick the phone up, it might help!

If you're doing some searching on the net, just punch in any of her symptoms at random, or any clues the vet might give you about what he might suspect, and take it from there. I found no end of info for Cassie's problems, and it's amazing what comes up from the weirdest of things you punch in! I even typed in "black poo in dogs" one day and found out what was wrong with one of my dogs just by going through all the various symptoms that she had which matched those on the page, turned out it was the spinach she had the day before! Good luck Brandie, I don't want you to have to watch her in that state again, like i had to do with mine, it's awful.

Hello!
So glad you got some good news, I think I would have another chat to your vet too...if you're uneasy on the phone could you pop in? Or ask if they can email you????? Does the surgery have a website or email address? You could email them first...just an idea!!!!!!! They may be able to tell you some warning signs to look out for so she doesn't get as poorly, that you wouldn't ordinairly notice??? You must be relieved though...what a week you've had!

Hiya B/S, please don`t start looking on the net for a diagnosis, you might end up worrying yourself to death

Here is what I think you should do:-

Write your worries/concerns down on paper, reread them & then rewrite them to ask as questions to give your vet.

Ask Your vet WHAT EXACTLY the blood tests were for and TELL him you would like a copy of all the blood & any other results please You have PAID for them & are ENTITLED to have the results & for the time it takes him to explain things to you, don`t worry if you don`t understand them, we`ll help you thru it He is not doing you a favour, you`ve paid for it in hard earned cash!

*He said the tests brought back more questions than answers, whatever that means *

You HAVE to ask him WHAT questions he was asking ie:- what did he suspect & WHAT has he tested Brandie for

I would think the best way to do this is face to face NOT over the phone or email, must be face to face even if you have to wait at his clinic till he makes time for you.

She is your dog, not your dads, I think????? But by all means take your dad along for moral support & INSIST to your vet you want to get the bottom of this SOONER rather than later & if he isn`t capable of giving a diagnosis then INSIST he refer Brandie to a specialist vet hospital/university who possibly can.

Sorry for caps but I wanted to stress things I feel strongly about

Good luck

Agree Christine, you pay for an opinion and that is what you should get, if the opinion is that the vet does not know and has no answer then you should be referred to someone who may be able to help. Also agree that searching the net will be more worrying than pushing the vet for more information, only someone who has seen the problem can offer an opinion and if they are unable they should/must send you to someone more qualified.

Poor you having to go through all this - the uncertainty is awful. {{{hugs}}} to you and Brandie honey - we're all thinking of you xx

You will see from my post Christine and Thordell, that I meant for her to search the internet AFTER she has spoken to her vet or got some results about a diagnosis. I obviously didn't mean her to go in there blind and diagnose Brandie herself! Perish the thought!!!!!!!!

I also think a vet might be more willing to speak to you over the phone than take up an appointment space too, coz they have loads of spare time out of surgery hours when they do this sort of thing, i.e. ring clients with information, or chat to clients, that is how they work imo! If you choose to visit the surgery, I feel he will give you far less time than he would do in his spare time talking to you over the phone, but that's just my opinion! Alternatively, ask if you can pop in during out of surgery hours to chat to him, maybe after he finishes his ops in the morning?

Thanks for all the advice (and the hugs Vicki )
I think I will phone first and ask if it would be better to go down or for him to phone, as long as he answers all my questions I don't mind which.
I will write down all my quetions and all his answers so I don't forget anything

This is what I want to know:
What were the blood tests for,
what did they find/not find,
what he suspects it could be,
what the next tests will be looking for,
and is there anything I should be doing for her at home, or looking for.

Have I missed anything?

Hiya H, no not getting at you at all, think the nets brill myself but if you don`t know what you`re looking for is even worse than a needle in a haystack

Disagree very much with *I also think a vet might be more willing to speak to you over the phone than take up an appointment space too,*

Vet has already charged for an apptment & WAS HIS DUTY to explain everything AT THAT APPT,. another appt should NOT be necessary

meant to put a smilly in somewhere but forgot sorry

tHANKS j, Nice to know not alone on that way of thinking. Sometimes minor things undiagnosed turn to major probs & its better to at least have a referral even tho a specialist may not find the prob but better safe than sorry

Hiya B/S I always like to be face to face, phone is phone & sometimes lets people get away with a lot of things
Bit tired now but looks like you got things covered q wise, will have a look in morning if I think of anything else or anybody else thinks of something help us out

yes heres 1, whats he going to be looking for/testing if Brandie has another turn & why can`t he do any tests now rather than waiting if/when it happens again doesn`t he think better to refer her to specialist now, if not, why not?

If you think you`ll forget any, (like I do till I get home) print all q`s out & give them to him & tell him you`ll wait outsidefor 10 mins for him to digest them

And don`t worry thats an order