The RIGHT vet

[franp]

Is here such a thing as a Flat faced vet?Is getting a vet familiar with our Breed so vitally important? Let me share a story; hopefully none of you will ever be in this situation..

My friend Ann has a year old girl who has had occasional bouts of acid reflux; she forgot to tell me. We live in different parts of the city ;she uses a different vet than I do.

Last week, her dog SUDDENLY developed aspirational pneumonia(it always comes on all of a sudden). She ran with her to the emergency vet near her house.. Called me hysterical (I would have been crazed as well).

The ER vet was a General practitioner who had no breed specialty knowlege. Wanted to do all kinds of tests; endoscopy ,barium xrays etc..I told Ann to tell them NO tests, till she spoke to her own vet and then to just stabilze her cause she probably had AP.. And do a chest Xray..

Well, the pup was vomiting..This is the worst; We are raw feeders.. There was blood in the vomitis..The Vet (who still had not figured out this was AP told Ann (after being extremely critical of how the dog was fed, that it was NOT blood, but the meat that the dog was FED!!

To make a long story short; in the morning, her regular vet called; cancelled all the fancy tests and had an xray to confirm AP.. She has acid reflux which can cause vomiting that can cause ap..

A flat faced vet would know this RIGHT away.. But a vet NOT familiar would not and would subject the dog to tests..

This dog has since gone to Dr Kinnear, who is a renowned Bulldog Vet on the East coast;she will have a pallate clip.That should correct the problem.Dr Kinnear heard the story; knew in one minute,

So,, yes, IMO,, if at all possible, we need to find a VET who has experience with Flat faces, be they pugs, frenchies, pekes etc..

Our dogs are just too special.

[frenchiesmom]

I agree also. My vet to is familiar with these breeds, to which I am very fortunate. I only have the one frenchie puppy, but I also have 4 pugs, a shih tzu and 3 boxers So over the years I have become pretty familiar with these types of breeds, and there definitely are vets who don't have a clue as to how to treat thes special little guys. Their eyes are also a big problem. I have had a very sad and trying experience with that as well also, as well as other less serious problems known to these breeds which would not affect other breeds. So yes it is very important..

frenchiesmom

[quinnybear]

i have learned another good point from you ! we live in the country. they have really started to build out near here. fredmeyer, safeway, walmart, etc. my vet is also new. they have 4 vetrinarians and also tend to livestock.i chose them mainly because they are just 5 minutes away. they all fell in love with rocky.they said he is their first and only frenchie. which at the time made me wonder about their knowledge of the breed. rockys vet did tell me one her long time patients is an english bulldog.he goes back in next month for his rabies shot and i will definatley ask some questions. meanwhile i met a lady who lives nearby that has two frenchies.she said her vet raises them and that she saw his and fell in love. i got his number from her and if i dont get the right answers from my vet. i will call the other. she told me he has been raising them for years and specializes in the flat faced breeds. thank you all for your valuable info. i want to know that if ever down the road (god forbid) that rocky develops problems,he wil get the best of care from a vet that is experienced with his breed............deb

[Martina]

THANK YOU Fran for that valuable information and lesson!! It is very hard to find a vet whom one is comfortable with and who is knowledgable in/on the topic of flat faced breeds. Here's wishing everyone luck finding a good vet that you like!