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  #1  
Old July 2nd, 2013, 12:55 PM
monstro monstro is offline
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Question Dog's eye check

Hi,

My dog is 10 years old Russian spaniel. He is in a good health. However I would like to see an ophthalmologist to check his right eye. Looks like he might have developed something similar to anisocoria (his right pupil is bigger than the left one). I have been trying to find one for the last several days, but Google returns only some Animal eye clinic, that is too far from Thornhill where we live. And they need some referral. I called VEC (veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto), but the also need a referral. We haven't been to a vet for many years, there was no need, now, there is one place there we went a year ago, because the dog was limping a little (the limping went away by itself in 3 days), and now it seems that we need to go to the same vet clinic in order to get referral to go to see an ophthalmologist in VEC. "Our" vet clinic (we've only been there once) wants to change use $70 just to give a referral. omg, it's just a referral, not a surgery. And we would also have to pay to the ophthalmologist at VEC, or wherever they sent us.

Is this a common practice here to get to see a specialist?, Because to be honest, it's a robbery to charge $70 for just a referral, why cant I go directly to see the eye doctor, make an appointment myself? How do you find ophthalmologists in Toronto, except of googling on internet, can you suggest a good one who's professional and not so greedy?

I am ready to pay, but I need a professional and I need results, unfortunately there are to many greedy amateurs pretending to be vet specialists.

Thanks a lot.
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  #2  
Old July 2nd, 2013, 03:38 PM
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marko marko is offline
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Hi monstro,

Welcome to the forum,

Although there are plenty of cheats in this world, the going rate for professional service is set by market forces and geography. I agree that the cost for veterinary care in major cities is high and that the cost for specialists in many cases can be prohibitively high.

But unless I've read it wrong it sounds to me like you do not have a vet and imo, that should be step 1. Why do you not have a vet?

Your dog should see a vet yearly for shots and preventative care. That vet should come recommended hopefully from someone you trust. That's the key - recommended.

When you have a vet like that, the price for a referral is ZERO dollars because they have seen your pet, and can now accurately refer to a colleague.

When you have no vet, you need a referral. It's just that simple.
And when no vet knows who you are, now you need their time and you need to sit down with them to get a referral - it's normal that you pay for that time. Just like a lawyer isn't cheap, vets aren't cheap either.

Although I agree that 70. just to get that referral is high, honestly, in my opinion the best thing you can do is find a regular (recommended from someone you trust) vet for this dog and give the dog a general checkup.

I'd expect that general checkup to cost 65-110 bucks depending on where you live. I'd expect the referral to the opthamologist after the exam to cost zero dollars, members should feel to correct me if they feel that this fact is false.

When you deal with trusted, recommended professionals - you don't get greedy amateurs.

Hope that may help and good luck.
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  #3  
Old July 2nd, 2013, 07:33 PM
free free is offline
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i'm up in aurora and my vet charges that for a yearly check up vaccines included. if my dog needs a referral I will be charged for a visit, so that they could send their findings to the referred vet.
it is the law that dogs get at least a rabies shot every 3 years
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  #4  
Old July 2nd, 2013, 08:27 PM
monstro monstro is offline
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Thank you marko, joane.

In fact we do have a vet, the one we went to when the dog was limping. We are indeed registered there, they opened a file, performed a standard first visit checkup. So, we do have a vet. When I called them and asked for a referral to an ophthalmologist, the secretary said - it's gonna be ~$70. From what I understand that was a price for a visit, to see a vet, so that she give us a referral. But the Dr. is not an ophthalmologist herself, ophthalmology services are not even listed on the clinic's website under "services". So, I wasn't sure what these $70 are for. Looks like I need to turn that visit into something more than just the eye problem. Just don't want to be overcharged for nothing or for services that are not needed. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who can recommend a vet, (some people who recommended me a vet, one visit was enough to grab my legs and run away from such a vet), so I've chosen a clinic not far from my location, based on high ratings reviews on http://www.vetratingz.com/. Not sure though if these ratings can be truly trusted.
Thanks joane for making clear that even to get a referral is equivalent to a visit. marko said zero $$, so I was a little confused...

Last edited by monstro; July 3rd, 2013 at 06:45 AM.
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  #5  
Old July 2nd, 2013, 09:59 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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If/when you go for a referral, please do not let them vaccinate your dog. With the limp, and the eye, your dog may have a central nervous system infection, or who knows what, aand only healthy dogs should be vaccinated.

I had a head injury once and had that "one pupil larger" thing for awhile - I used massage and chiropractic care.

If this were my dog, I would want a full blood test (including thyroid) and run a tick test, unless your dog has lived it's life in a conrete city. My next step would be a K9 chiropractor.

That one eye thing *may* be more of a neurological condition than an eye doctor, I am not sure, but that's who they sent me to. I have found that most neuros are pretty limited, and their tools are very expensive (Mri's and ct scans).

It's really nice if you can find a vet that I a good problem solver with an open mind, and, as marko said, it takes awhile to find that and build that relationship. Having had senior dogs and been out on a limb not having a regular vet at the time (mine was in the proces of retiring), it's an awfully hard position to be in.

I wish you luck with this - it sure would help if these dogs could talk and tell us what they might be thinking.
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  #6  
Old July 3rd, 2013, 10:21 AM
monstro monstro is offline
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Angry

Hi MaxaLisa, thank you very much for the warning.

Indeed, I found enormous number of articles explaining that vaccinations can be extremely dangerous and fatal, let alone the side effects.

My dog is almost 11 years old, start doing vaccinations now makes no sense.

He was given all required vaccinations as a puppy, and as this article (http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites...cinations.aspx) says: The latest scientific research shows that after the first course of injections as a puppy most dogs are immune against these diseases for at least seven years, if not for life.

Especially for a senior dog that has developed working immune system.
I tend to believe that Profit-hungry drug companies and vets are 'frightening' dog owners into inoculating their pets more often than necessary, especially with Whombo combos, mumbo jumbos vaccines - combination vaccines that contain multiple modified live viruses mixed with various bacteria. Think of them as toxic soups, biochemical wolves in sheep’s clothing.

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/0...shot-for-dogs/

Here is also a good article about profit-hungry veterinarian clinics, that care not about your dog, but about their pockets:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites...cinations.aspx

Even the fact that I wanted to see an ophthalmologist - I cant book a visit with ophthalmologist directly, but I have to visit "MY" vet to give me a referral, for $70 ... Hmmm, actually it not "", but rather "(((((".
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  #7  
Old July 3rd, 2013, 03:35 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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Sometimes it's not about the vets being money hungry. Sometimes this is a way for the referral vets to make sure that a regular vet has evaluated the dog and has determined that an opthalmologist is the right person for the dog to see.

That said, I'm fortunate that here in the US a referral isn't needed. I'm taking my girl for an opth. checkup.

In this day and age of the corporate buyout of vet clinics, it is becoming more and more about profit. This is where we can hopefully make a statement by seeking out practices that are practicing the type of vet medicine that we expect - patient and client centered. This is something I've thought about, since the area where I live has nearly been completely bought out by a large corporation. I am systematically looking at all non-corporate practices to find the right one for us.

All of that aside....

Your dog is 11 years old. Some bloodwork would really be a good idea.

Last edited by MaxaLisa; July 3rd, 2013 at 07:44 PM.
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  #8  
Old August 7th, 2013, 01:07 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monstro View Post
Hi,

My dog is 10 years old Russian spaniel. He is in a good health. However I would like to see an ophthalmologist to check his right eye. Looks like he might have developed something similar to anisocoria (his right pupil is bigger than the left one). I have been trying to find one for the last several days, but Google returns only some Animal eye clinic, that is too far from Thornhill where we live. And they need some referral. I called VEC (veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto), but the also need a referral. We haven't been to a vet for many years, there was no need, now, there is one place there we went a year ago, because the dog was limping a little (the limping went away by itself in 3 days), and now it seems that we need to go to the same vet clinic in order to get referral to go to see an ophthalmologist in VEC. "Our" vet clinic (we've only been there once) wants to change use $70 just to give a referral. omg, it's just a referral, not a surgery. And we would also have to pay to the ophthalmologist at VEC, or wherever they sent us.

Is this a common practice here to get to see a specialist?, Because to be honest, it's a robbery to charge $70 for just a referral, why cant I go directly to see the eye doctor, make an appointment myself? How do you find ophthalmologists in Toronto, except of googling on internet, can you suggest a good one who's professional and not so greedy?

I am ready to pay, but I need a professional and I need results, unfortunately there are to many greedy amateurs pretending to be vet specialists.

Thanks a lot.
Yes it's common practice to need a referral from your regular vet to see a specialist, we have to this too in my state . I agree it does feel like highway robbery and I think it keep pets from getting the care they really need as some people can't afford to pay for two vet bills. There are vet clinic that do not charge as much as vet , maybe you get a referral from them or what a pet store like Petco , some have vets .
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