Posted by Nitehawk (Camp Verde, Arizona, America) on 10/27/2010
Dear Bob & Wife in Pennsylvania: My eyes fill with tears at the loss of Rusty. And, at the loss of our wonderful Tuffy, an Australian Shepard who was only 4 years old when he suffered the same fate as Rusty. The Vet was a classic idiot, and I blamed myself for quite awhile until it was proven that I wasn't responsible for Tuffy's death. It wasn't Lyme's disease, either. It was a side effect from his rabies shots that caused kidney failure.
Even tho it's been 6 years ago, I remember clear as a bell saying thank you and farewell to the most amazing friend I'd ever had. My husband had raised him on goat's milk from a 3 day old orphan. We still miss our Tuffy. We always will. One thing I can say we gained from his time with us: From then on we will seek a second opinion & optional treatment. Vets are merely guessing, with little more knowledge than we have. Shame on those vets who have no compassion for their charges, or their people. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt experience with Rusty.
Posted by Carrie (Manchester, Ct) on 08/30/2010
I bought a rescue puppy at 4 months of age. When I bought her, she seemed perfectly healthy. Stools were normal - she had energy and seemed very healthy. I took her to the vet for her check up and to clear her for any issues. She had a small ear infection which was cleared up easily enough with an ear cleaning and drops, and the vet recommended I give her Lyme vaccination. I was reluctant, but the vet convinced me it was necessary. So, she got her Lyme vaccine. I was due to go in a week later for her 5 in 1 vaccine which included Parvo. I saw another vet that day due to the one who originally gave her the vaccinations not being available. He gave her the 5 in 1 vaccine, and he injected her with ANOTHER Lyme vaccine. He told me it was Lyme as he was injecting her. I told him that she already had her Lyme vaccine last week and she wasn't due for her second for 2 more weeks. He looked perplexed, pulled the needle out, and didn't charge me for the vaccine. He didn't even put it on the bill that he GAVE her any Lyme vaccine. The very next day, my dog had terrible mucus filled diarrhea. HORRIBLE. She became dehydrated, despite me giving her water orally via a syringe, and so 2 days later I took her back to the vet. They gave me a prescription for the possibility of worms even though her feces showed no worms, and gave my antibiotics in case she had an infection in her intestines. Her poo got better. Markedly better. Normal! I felt much better. 4 days ago, her prescription ran its course. 3 days ago, her poo was fine. 2 days ago, it started getting softer, but still formed a normal shape. Yesterday, it was extremely soft. Pudding like. I began feeding her a bland diet, and added a little canned pumpkin in there for added fiber. Last night, her feces were extremely soft, and I knew I was in for a sleepless night. I was up almost all night with her, taking her out several times to poo. Her poo got much worse throughout the night until around 5am it was total mush. She is once again quiet, and I am force feeding her water. I made an appointment with the vet and her appointment is at 3:40pm. Although, I'm taking her to the same vet office I believe made her sick in the first place. I'm seriously considering taking her somewhere different. What should I do?? I really need help to make my puppy healthy, but I feel lost as there is no diagnoses for her issues, at least thus far.