Everybody understands that it is important for vets to communicate what they are thinking and how they would like to treat your pet.
It is also very important that we listen to what our owners have to say and pay attention to any suggestions they might make, however unlikely we might think they are.
I learnt this important lesson many years ago as a new graduate working in Liverpool.
A lady came to the surgery with her middle aged Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He had a sore back and was unwilling to jump up or go upstairs.
I examined the little dog and he indeed seemed uncomfortable when his lumbar spine was palpated.
With my recent knowledge from university I was concerned about a possible disc problem.
The owner asked me: “Do yu think it’s werms, doctor?” (it was quite common to be called doctor in Liverpool in those days).
I had never heard of worms causing back pain, so ignored this suggestion. I gave a two-week course of anti-inflammatories and was concerned when she returned that no improvement had been made. I decided we needed to take an x-ray to check out the dog’s spine and discs.
As I admitted her pet, she said: “Do yu think it’s werms doctor?”
There was no abnormality detected on x-ray and I concluded that he was suffering from muscular pain.
When collecting her dog the owner inquired: “Do yu think it’s werms?
So along with her second course of anti-inflammatories, I gave some worming tablets.
I saw the dog and owner a few days later. He was much better thank you very much, after having passed two large tape worms!
I was much more careful after this. I would always listen to owners’ suggestions and take them into account even if they seemed unlikely.
So I was a little taken aback when an owner who, along with his dog, was suffering a general malaise and respiratory disorders, informed me: “It’s the gases, you know.”
He spent a great deal of time digging around the foundations of his house seeking out these gases. This was over 30 years ago when less was known about radon (I had not heard of it at the time) and indeed he was living in a radon area.
There have been many other similar situations over the years. Owners often have a close affinity with their pets and know when something is not right with them even when there is little to go on.
Listening is so important.
Alder Veterinary Practice, 58 Bourne Road, Spalding, PE11 1JW. Call 01775 766646. Opening hours 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am alternate Saturdays. 24 hour emergency cover.
