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Thread: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    North Burnaby
    Posts
    429

    2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    So, a month ago in Vancouver we got that big snowfall and while I was out shoveling my labrador was naturally outside with me playing. I didn't think anything about chucking her ball in to the snow up the street until and off she ran after the ball like a bat out of hell, only go to all Bambi on ice once she arrived near the ball. I didn't think anything about it at the time, but she's since really been favoring her hind right leg and obviously strained something.

    Fast forward a couple weeks and I took her in to our vet as she's still prone to limping after exercise and lets this leg splay out beside her instead of curling up like normal when she sits or lays down. A follow up vet appointment two weeks later (earlier this week) and both vets at this hospital we go to indicate I will likely need to take her in for surgery, that it's basically a foregone conclusion she's ruptured a tendon in her knee. Follow up recommendation for blood work and xrays to confirm, and today I get a call from the specialist.

    What I'm concerned about is this all seems really rushed to me, they want bloodwork done prior to the xrays and want me to book the xray and the surgery for the same day.. and only like a week from now. Hmmm.. Well, my dog obviously can't speak for herself but she seems pretty much normal until she runs around a while, and then she's stiff on that leg 30-45 mins after she cools down.

    So.. do I blindly follow these experts opinion? My thought is I need to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. So on that note, does anyone have a vet they trust in the Lower Mainland? I'll take her to Chilliwak for all I care so long as it's something I can trust and not someone simply after my wallet. Seems major surgery, my dog will be laid up for 4-6 weeks thereafter. I don't want to rush in to this for her sake either.

    Cheers.
    Last edited by ActionJackson017; 02-22-2020 at 07:16 PM.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Williams Lake, BC Canada
    Posts
    14,168

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    Hmm last 3 labs needed this surgery, last 2 needed both rear legs done .
    Advice..you must trust your vet.period.
    They too advised a lot of tests..for cancer etc.we declined but got the surgery...Ebony got the surgery @ 8 years old now coming up on 10 years.
    It pained me to watch her struggle in pain.we owe our 4 legged family proper medical care.
    I do not know qualified trustworthy vets down province, but that's my views.
    Good luck.
    Steven

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Hope & Tulameen
    Posts
    8,621

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    35rem on this site is a Vet, maybe PM him for a bit of advice / referral ??

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    823

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    Personally, I would get a 2nd opinion.
    The way you have described, it doesn't sound like it's urgent.
    I don't see a downside to that...

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Cedar B.C.
    Posts
    6,999

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    Second opinion for sure
    "BORN TO HUNT"
    Foxton's Cuervo Gold "KEELA" Oct. 2004-June 2017. Always in my blind and my heart.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    955

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    https://amherstvethospital.com. They recently removed tumour from my Brittany's lip and did an excellent job. Not cheap but not even close to the quote by these guys: https://canadawestvets.com (Apparently very good but prices are off the charts). Anyway, have always had good experiences with Amherst

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    ladner bc
    Posts
    376

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    I would be getting a second opinion for sure it cant hurt.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    North Burnaby
    Posts
    429

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    Thanks all for weighing in. Canada West is where I've been referred to and I just can't help but feel like I'm being pushed in to this. No prices or options offered, it's all just "do this, do that, book now, see you next week, and have your credit card handy".

    I see my dog, and she seems normal and not in any discomfort. She doesn't react if I manipulate or massage her leg... I take her for on her regular 20 minute walk and there are no problems. I'm inclined to just get her xrays and then see what they turn up.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,559

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    I went for a second opinion with one of our bulldogs, now we have a better vet. Our previous one seemed to always charge a lot, i fianlly decided to ask another vet what theynwouldve charged for the same stuff and it was a fractionof the price. Not just the price though, he is a better vet and always goes for the most affordable simple option, a lot of vets seem to just immediately go for blood tests,xrays etc.

    We use Dr,Om at the cloverdale animal hospital.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Squamish
    Posts
    6,082

    Re: 2nd opinion on vet? Advice requested

    I highly recommend Eagleview Veterinary in Squamish. We went to a shyster here in town for a couple visits then went to Eagleview and I'd never go anywhere else. One of our dogs is lumpy as hell... the shyster wanted to remove each lump as it came up but Eagleview said the lumps seemed to bother us more than the dog, so why bother?
    Is Justin Competent, or just incompetent?

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