Big Paws Only Dog Forums
BPO Recommended Reading => Book Club & Noteworthy Reads => : Kermit October 31, 2005, 12:56:58 AM
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...and go to a vet who is not familiar with large and/or giant breed dogs!!!
My little Mokey, who is a mixed breed, is 11 weeks old. Her mama was believed to be an Irish Wolfhound mix and it looks like daddy was probably a Pyr or Pyr mix. My pup weighs 25 lbs. Nothing shocking there.
Well, I went to a new vet who was recommended to me by someone in town. I made an appointment for shots and deworming. Well, the woman seemed nice until... she stuck my pup with a rabies vaccine before I could even react. :o I couldn't even speak. 11 weeks... surely that's too young for a rabies shot!!! So when I went to pay, the receptionist starts complaining that we have the birthday of my pup wrong because there is no way the vet would give an 11 week old puppy a rabies shot!! (Well guess what, she just did!!!!) So she went to the back to check with the vet, and then the vet told her to tell me my puppy was older than what I wrote down. Why didn't she tell me to my face I wonder??? ???
So I contacted the woman I got the puppy from, and ask if I had the age wrong. She tells me I had it right, Mokey is 11 weeks old. So then I was worried and I took Mokey to another vet who I used before. He used to have a Kuvasz and is very familiar with "big paws"... as we like to call them. He looked her over and checked out her teeth. "This dog is too young to have a rabies shot. She is definitely under 12 weeks". I almost fell off the seat. He said it would be easy for someone to think she was older because of her size, but a close examination told the true story. He thinks Mokey will be ok and she didn't seem to be having any bad reaction to the shot.
So... I called the vet who gave Mokey the Rabies shot. And I can't even believe it- she tried to argue with me and she was defensive and rude. She said "there's no way the dog could be 25 lbs at 11 weeks old". Honey, my dog Nigel weighed more than that at 11 weeks!!!
Anyhow, I learned a good lesson and poor Mokey had to endure a rabies shot at too young an age. AND it won't even work because she's too young and she has to get ANOTHER one in a few weeks. >:(
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!
Mokey still can't believe it happened to her!!!
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I am so sorry this happened to you. What an aweful vet!!! Grr people like that shouldn't be allowed to be near animals!
I hope she is doing ok. And wow she is getting big ;D
OH and Dibby says hello Mokey, I think he has a crush on her. hehehe
Nina
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Poor Moki :(
That is appaling! I am not sure who licenses vets, but I would complain to them. I might even complain to the better buisness bureau if I couldn't find the licensing people.
I hate stupid vets >:(
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Yeah, I have been trying to figure out who to complain to, because I even have the rabies certificate that says right on there that her age is 11 weeks at the time the shot was given! It's ridiculous. >:(
I guess Better Business Bureau would be a good start.
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I did a little research on my state website and found in Mass, Vetrinarians are regulated by the "Division of Professional Licensure". If you go to your state's website, they have have a similar department.
The mass.gov website also lists two national vetrinary organizations:
American Association of
Veterinary State Boards
4106 Central
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 931-1504
Fax: (816) 931-1604
E-mail: info@aavsb.org
American Veterinary
Medical Association
1931 North Meacham Road - Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847-925-8070
Fax: 847-925-1329
E-mail: AVMAINFO@avma.org
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Thank you Heather, you are really on top of it! I am pretty upset by the whole thing and I just can't think straight, so I appreciate it. I am just trying to keep my calm and not do a drive-by throwing eggs at the vet clinic or something!!!
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That is too scary!!!
Something similar happened to my daughter when she was younger but at the time I didn't know it was wrong. :( I just believed the Dr. If it had happened later I would've definitely freaked out and done something about it! She had started her shots at a different Pediatricians out of state and when it was time for some boosters, they gave her the wrong one.. found out and then added the right one on top of it. Ended up giving her 4 shots in one day. I was so upset, but like I said I didn't know better at the time.
Good luck with Mokey (love her name BTW). I hope that she is no worse for the wear.
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Keep an eye on her...if she got her 1st or 2nd series a shots plus her rabies, that is a lot for a pup...I try to wait 6mths for rabies
I know the law in MA is 16wks is the minimal age for puppies to be vaccinated against rabies
Also, if there is a law for minimal age, then put a BIG complaint in against her
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I don't blame you for being upset. You should definatly contact that heather found.
Jenn
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Oh that's terrible! I hate when people who are suppossed to know better don't.
I had a problem with a vet not too long ago and looked into who to file a complaint with. Unfortunately there is no National Board that governs Vet's, there are some State one's but they can't do much and if a Vet has a complaint filed against them in one State they can move to another and set up shop. It's horrible!
The best defense we have against bad vets is to be really informed ourselves and ask lots of questions. As my horse vet said "if a Vet get's upset because you are asking questions that's a sign of insecurity" I don't want that in a vet.
If I remeber correctly my Summer was 20 pounds by 11 weeks and she's not even a Giant Breed dog, so that Vet was plain Stupid!
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OMG - Rebekah, I am sooo sorry. Poor Mokey! That is just plain ignorance on the vet's part and she should not be practicing! To assume a dog is older than you think based on weight is just downright stupid.
Good info, Jenn! I'd definitely file a formal complaint. Who knows what other methods she uses to diagnose and treat animals and how it could negatively impact lives!
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OMG Rebekah I'm so sorry. I can't believe that not only did the vet give a rabies Vacc to a puppy but didn't even ASK you first! That absolutely floors me. All these things like calling the local paper come to mind....... but filing a complaint is good too :) I'd ask for where this vet went to school and call the school too. Rip on them for not teaching their students about large breed dogs (Which bring in more money then the small ones so it's only good business sense). IDJUTS!
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...and go to a vet who is not familiar with large and/or giant breed dogs!!!
My little Mokey, who is a mixed breed, is 11 weeks old. Her mama was believed to be an Irish Wolfhound mix and it looks like daddy was probably a Pyr or Pyr mix. My pup weighs 25 lbs. Nothing shocking there.
Well, I went to a new vet who was recommended to me by someone in town. I made an appointment for shots and deworming. Well, the woman seemed nice until... she stuck my pup with a rabies vaccine before I could even react. :o I couldn't even speak. 11 weeks... surely that's too young for a rabies shot!!! So when I went to pay, the receptionist starts complaining that we have the birthday of my pup wrong because there is no way the vet would give an 11 week old puppy a rabies shot!! (Well guess what, she just did!!!!) So she went to the back to check with the vet, and then the vet told her to tell me my puppy was older than what I wrote down. Why didn't she tell me to my face I wonder??? ???
So I contacted the woman I got the puppy from, and ask if I had the age wrong. She tells me I had it right, Mokey is 11 weeks old. So then I was worried and I took Mokey to another vet who I used before. He used to have a Kuvasz and is very familiar with "big paws"... as we like to call them. He looked her over and checked out her teeth. "This dog is too young to have a rabies shot. She is definitely under 12 weeks". I almost fell off the seat. He said it would be easy for someone to think she was older because of her size, but a close examination told the true story. He thinks Mokey will be ok and she didn't seem to be having any bad reaction to the shot.
So... I called the vet who gave Mokey the Rabies shot. And I can't even believe it- she tried to argue with me and she was defensive and rude. She said "there's no way the dog could be 25 lbs at 11 weeks old". Honey, my dog Nigel weighed more than that at 11 weeks!!!
Anyhow, I learned a good lesson and poor Mokey had to endure a rabies shot at too young an age. AND it won't even work because she's too young and she has to get ANOTHER one in a few weeks. >:(
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!
Mokey still can't believe it happened to her!!!
SOME VETS ARE HORRIBLE!!!
as an ex vet tech, i got a jon once in a vet office, since i only was a tech at a shelter, i thought id do ok here. a woman came in with a small mix breed, she also brought her 12 year old daughter. the poor little dog was hit by a car. after 300.00 worth of ex rays, he saw no breaks and told the owner he needs to do a blood work up. i saw by the gums, it was bleeding internally, the woman said that was all the money she had, no CC. can she please make payments. he said NO!
he didnt even to offer euth. for this suffering dog. as the child cried, he said take the dog home. she asked what would happen to it, he said it should be dead by 4 days. i was applaled!! needless to say, i walked out of his office. he said, where are you going, i need a tech, you cant leave me in a lurch like this. i said, yes i can, and
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Doghealer,
You will need the Vet's full name, as it appears on her license, and her state license #. Also the clinic name and address, as well as the name of the vaccine used, exp. date, dosage given. Write out everything that has happened up to this point, before you contact or go back to the clinic to get the info. Write down everything that happens after you request the info and during the process of obtaining it.
Contacting the AVA is nice, but won't get her in trouble.
You need to contact the state board at:
http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/Veterinary/
After you have all the info, call them. They should email or snail mail you a form to fill out. Just remember to try not to be emotional when writing your statements and do them as soon as the happen to maintain accuracy. Date and time everything you write out.
Unless the vet has had complaints in the past, she probably won't loose her license, but she could be fined, fired from the clinic she works at if not an owner, and at the very least, if a second complaint is every filed, she will be in major trouble...
Also keep an eye on your pup for reactions now and after her next vaccine, any neg. effect in the future could be a result of this vaccine given too early. So, I agree with BabsT, wait until 6 mo. to give her that rabies shot. Also do discuss this with your vet (the one who had a Kuv), sounds like he/she will give you the best advise for Mokey.
Deena
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...and go to a vet who is not familiar with large and/or giant breed dogs!!!
My little Mokey, who is a mixed breed, is 11 weeks old. Her mama was believed to be an Irish Wolfhound mix and it looks like daddy was probably a Pyr or Pyr mix. My pup weighs 25 lbs. Nothing shocking there.
Well, I went to a new vet who was recommended to me by someone in town. I made an appointment for shots and deworming. Well, the woman seemed nice until... she stuck my pup with a rabies vaccine before I could even react. :o I couldn't even speak. 11 weeks... surely that's too young for a rabies shot!!! So when I went to pay, the receptionist starts complaining that we have the birthday of my pup wrong because there is no way the vet would give an 11 week old puppy a rabies shot!! (Well guess what, she just did!!!!) So she went to the back to check with the vet, and then the vet told her to tell me my puppy was older than what I wrote down. Why didn't she tell me to my face I wonder??? ???
So I contacted the woman I got the puppy from, and ask if I had the age wrong. She tells me I had it right, Mokey is 11 weeks old. So then I was worried and I took Mokey to another vet who I used before. He used to have a Kuvasz and is very familiar with "big paws"... as we like to call them. He looked her over and checked out her teeth. "This dog is too young to have a rabies shot. She is definitely under 12 weeks". I almost fell off the seat. He said it would be easy for someone to think she was older because of her size, but a close examination told the true story. He thinks Mokey will be ok and she didn't seem to be having any bad reaction to the shot.
So... I called the vet who gave Mokey the Rabies shot. And I can't even believe it- she tried to argue with me and she was defensive and rude. She said "there's no way the dog could be 25 lbs at 11 weeks old". Honey, my dog Nigel weighed more than that at 11 weeks!!!
Anyhow, I learned a good lesson and poor Mokey had to endure a rabies shot at too young an age. AND it won't even work because she's too young and she has to get ANOTHER one in a few weeks. >:(
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!
Mokey still can't believe it happened to her!!!
SOME VETS ARE HORRIBLE!!!
as an ex vet tech, i got a jon once in a vet office, since i only was a tech at a shelter, i thought id do ok here. a woman came in with a small mix breed, she also brought her 12 year old daughter. the poor little dog was hit by a car. after 300.00 worth of ex rays, he saw no breaks and told the owner he needs to do a blood work up. i saw by the gums, it was bleeding internally, they weere white and would not bounce back to pink,the woman said that was all the money she had, no CC. can she please make payments. he said NO!
he didnt even to offer euth. for this suffering dog. as the child cried, he said take the dog home. she asked what would happen to it, he said it should be dead by 4 days. i was applaled!! needless to say, i walked out of his office. he said, where are you going, i need a tech, you cant leave me in a lurch like this. i said, yes i can, and SAID, YOU NEED COMPASSION !!!!!!! you Mutha*&^^&**&^%%$$%^^&*
hope all the money he makes, being a "VET"? brings him misery
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I went through several "vets from h*ll" before I found one that I like...Samson was 43 lbs. at a little under 14 weeks...My vet had never had a Great Pyr client so I brought her info. before the visit which she obviously read over...I am sorry that happened to you guys!
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Yeah, first you have to find a vet that absolutely loves animals. It's amazing how many just look at them as "things". Then you have to get one that knows about your specific dog. Our vet, Dr. Jim Codington is so awsome!!! The first time we brought Drake in as a pup, Jim walked in the room, shook our hands and then got down on the floor and got face to face with Drake and let him lick his face. We were blown away and knew that this guy loves animals. Plus, he is really good looking so most women, and maybe even a few men, are all ga-ga when they're around him. Fortunately for us guys, he hires a lot of pretty and competent young women, so there's eye candy for all his patients. He is really intelligent and takes great care of his patients. He uses traditional and alternative methods to treat pets and gives great advice. He even built a little chapel outside his office for people to take their sick and/or old pets to say their final goobyes in a peaceful setting. So thoughtful.... We feel really lucky to have such a great vet and we tell everyone about him. Yogi even goes to Dr. Codington! I hope most of you have someone similar in their area. Here's a link to a writeup on Dr. Codington:Â
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAH/Update10-1/upd10-1_countryvet.html
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Oh my GOD that cat is HUGE
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wow that cat is huge!
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I'm so sorry you had to go thru this. What a horrible vet. I know some people dont' know how old their pets are when they get them, but usually people with puppies have the accurate age. If she thought Mokey was older, she should have told you, at which point you could have corrected her.
I agree you should go with the complaint, to the vet board and the state board. I hope you find a vet that is much more competent.
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She said "there's no way the dog could be 25 lbs at 11 weeks old". Honey, my dog Nigel weighed more than that at 11 weeks!!!
  Obviously someone not familiar with large dogs (and probably very impressed with herself). One of my 26 day old kuvasz pups already weighs in at 6# 4oz!
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Poor Mokey! Stupid damn vet! You think having giant breeds is bad, you want to try having a shar-pei. Most vets are totally ignorant of the shar-pei's differences from an average mutt and want to do outragoues operations on a dog that is too young and are totally unnecessary. Some vets I've been to, you can see their eyes go 'KERRCHING!' the moment you walk in with a shar-pei. I've even been told I'm foolish having that breed and I should have them insured as they're always sick (I've spent around £500 in the last 8 years on my two girls and most of that went on spaying, one teeth cleaning session and two lots of stitches due to fights - sickly breed indeed!). How else would you explain a vet telling a new puppy owner their 8 week old pup immediatly needs a face lift, full entropion surgery, an operation to fix an elongated palate and it's nostrils realigning? This happened last month to my friend who sold a puppy to somebody. Luckily they took her advice and found a shar-pei friendly vet.
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Jeez, that vet sounded more like a plastic surgeon than a vet. A face lift for a shar pei?
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You do have to be really careful choosing a vet. I'm somewhat aggressive with the vet, I used to be a vet tech, and I question everything. If I have to argue with them, I leave. I WON'T do all of Earnest's vaccines at once, it makes him sick and droopy for a few days, sometimes he runs a low fever, so I like to space them out. More than one vet argued with me that he'd be "fine" and it was ok for him to be sick from the vaccine. No, it's not.
The last time I was at the vet (I won't go back) The tech walked in, grabbed Earnest, and squirted yellow paste down his throat. I said "is that Strongid?" She said yes. I said "what kind of worms did he have?" She said "his fecal exam's not ready yet". ????!!!! We're giving him wormer before the results of the fecal? Then she comes back in smiling and says "the results were negative". Then WHY did we give him poison? When I asked she said "oh, we always do it twice a year". But if he doesn't have worms, he doesn't need wormer. Then they argued with me about "prevention". Well, they don't eat anything off the ground (training) I keep my yard really clean, and except for going to work with me at the kennel, they're not really around other dogs much - isn't that prevention enough?
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That's AWFUL.
Mokey is such a cutie pie!!!