Quote:
Originally Posted by KJohnson
We've had such a hard time finding a good vet that we are comfortable with.... this is Westin's third vet, AND we are going up north about an hour to get his neutering done because it is ridiculously expensive here (unnecessarily so). *sigh* I feel like I can't find a good pediatrician for my child, you know?
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I do know what you mean! I believe that the medical community (pet and human) have good intentions, but seem to have too many customers and too little support staff. IMO, they tend to offer very generalized service or treatment that works for 90% of the population.
Instead of taking whatever a veterinarian (or human doctor) says at face value, I try to arm myself with whatever information I can research. Knowing the right questions to ask can save you time and money. My vet did say that the over-the-counter Safe-Guard (for about $5) was the same product as their prescription Panacure (for about $20)...of course that cost them revenue, but I appreciate my vet's honesty.
So, if your vet comes back and offers a prescription Panacure, ask about Safe-Guard. If they reccomend prescription Flagyl (Metronidazole) ask about over-the-counter 250mg Fish Zole, also about potential side effects of Metronidazole on the liver and other organs.
As you can probably tell, I'm a little skeptical about the medical community, but try to see my vet as a partner/consultant to discuss options than as the end-all, know-all for my dog's health.