I don't get vets!!

[raingirl]

OK...

So. We went and booked Odin's eye surgery last saturday. We were under the impression it was for a removal of the cherry eye, not to tuck it again, but asked if the vet could call us to confirm. We have been calling daily since monday (when the vet came in) to confirm. I finally just heard from her and it was a TOTAL miscommunication!

She says the quote we got for the surgery was for one eye (and we need both eyes done), and for another TUCK! He has already had 2 tucks and both times it came out within a few weeks of the surgery! Why on earth does she think it's going to work this time??

I do understand her reservations about removing it. She is worried that because he already has dry eye, that what if this tear duct is the major producer of tears and if it is gone, then he will have no tears. usually the upper gland does 66% or so of the tears, and the lower one (the popped out one) does 33%. But she has no way to tell if that is his case, and the upper one is damaged at all, which is possible, and we remove the lower one, then he could end up in a lot of pain from lack of tears.

I'm so annoyed and confused now. We can cancel which we probably will do.

She suggests we try one more time. If it pops out again, then she will consider removal. And if he has no tears after that, there is a surgery they can do to bring a saliva duct up to the eye to lubricate it (ewww)...

I just want to cry right now. We saved up just enough for the quote, and now it will be more, and not even for the surgery we wanted.

[Eleni]

maybe get a second opinioon from another vet



Eleni

[SnowDancer]

Is your vet part of a team that includes an eye specialist? My vet refers serious eye cases to a particular eye specialist in another practice in Toronto. And of course there are always the wonderful specialists at Guelph when time is of the essence and a 24 hour work-up by a Toronto specialist would be more time than my pet had.

[raingirl]

I think I will cancel and ask to see a specialist. This is my first dog and I just choose this vet because it was close. They are really nice but I think I need a second opinion. I don't want to make him go blind from lack of tears, but I know the surgery isn't going to work!

[BMDLuver]

To quote my vet.... tucking is a waste of money in 75% of cases and a money grab by vets who are looking for repeat customers. We've had two repairs come through rescue and both had to be redone. :sad:

[Beaglemom]

Raingirl I agree. I think you should get a second opinion and see a specialist if possible.

[Maxam]

If it didn't work twice, I don't know why he/she thinks it will work the third time. Call her on her confidence, see if she'll credit you the difference of doing a tuck vs operation if you have to go back a fourth time for the operation.

I would personally go to another vet for a second opinion.

[Dahlia]

Did you tell the vet how you feel? I would insist that they just remove it if they've already tucked it twice and it didn't help. But if that vet just wants to keep doing the tuck she probably is just trying to make money. In that case I wouldn't want her to do the surgery anyway and would look for another vet - preferably a specialist. Why would they give you a quote for just one eye if you were scheduled for 2? That doesn't make any sense.

Our vet is really good about listening to what I want. If I feel like something needs to be treated that she would rather do a wait-and-see, she goes ahead and treats it. I have waited and seen about all I can stand to, and it has never done any good. In your case you would be wasting a lot of money on an operation that is pointless. Good luck with finding another vet.

[Prin]

I would see the specialist. Every time a dog is under anaesthesia, it damages their system. Not good. I'm surprised a vet would do unnecessary surgeries to a bulldog..

[100%doglover]

I went to a specialist to get my shepherd's pannus condition confirmed. Don't know where in Ontario you are but this great dr. is located in Toronto's west end. PM me if you're interested to get further info.

It's heartbreaking to feel so helpless....

[pamha]

I don`t know if this is possible for dogs, but for people with dry eye, there is a proceedure where they can plug or cauterize the tear duct. The result is that any tears produced stay in the eye instead of draining. I`ve had mine plugged and it did help.