another vet story- opinions please - Page 2

"ALL ABOUT MONEY MAKING BIG BUCKS A LOT OF VETS DO NOT GIVE A STUF ABOUT THE DOG JUST THE BIG BUCKS"

I don't know how this vet does business, but for many working and hunting breed owners, having the same vet take care of their dogs that services the local LEO's is a confidence booster and a great marketing tool for the vet.

Having successfully done surgery on a feral neighborhood cat that was dying from a purulent abcess the size of a tennis ball on its neck, (it adopted me after he recovered)  I can understand how shaving helps to keep the wound clean and avoids fur from, getting in the wound, creating an abcess. However, without knowing the cause of the wounds, it is hard to ascertain if the vet engaged in overkill in order to only see the dog a minimum amount of times, or if the treatment was warranted.  Assuming the dog is healthy, one has to wonder how much of the vet care given is excessive and margianlly effective..

My vet would run up the bill on my dogs if allowed. Meds are a money maker as they buy them at a discount.  Basically, the dogs get the same level of care as I would at a similar physiological age. 

In my one time veterinary care of a purulent abcess (from hair getting in the wound), I used an X-acto blade, a hypodermic, hydrogen peroxide to debride and clean the closed wound, a little  gauze soaked in betadine and antibacterial ointment.  Had teh cat not been near death's door, i would have gotten some chlorophorm, but the poor animal had no strength left and given the purulent discharge, I doubt that it felt anything.
 
f it had been my dog, I'd have been ok with the cleaning of the wound and a coure of antibiotics, but the opening up of the incission may have been a bit extreme, when a less invasive option could have been used in a stepped response.  If in a couple of days it showed any evidence of infection, I'd then look at a more invaside/agressive course.  I'm just not a fan of putting the animal through more than it has to endure.  A pup or elderly, ill or weak dog, would get a different and more agressive course.

GSDfan,

Sounds like the vet did the right thing...better safe than sorry especially with a dog of this caliber.  You should be grateful the vet took such pains to treat what could have turned out to be a serious wound had it not been treated properly.  The fact that it didn't bleed much is a good indication that it sealed off and would not have drained properly on its own.  The dog may look like hell but I see no reason why he can't continue with his education.  GSDs are stoic, if he isn't limping or fussing with the wound I say keep training.  I say this assuming there is no great physical activity involved in sniffing out explosives.  With the wound treated this way he will heal quickly. 

And no, I'm not a vet, vet tech etc...just a gal who grew up on a farm and saw lots of different injuries and how they were treated from dog bites to a horse going thru barbed wire.   

Cool your jets and chill out about it, as the dog was treated properly.  I'm sure you have other things that are more important to spend your energy on. 

Deb