Ask your vet.

Are you seeing a pattern here yet, in terms of people's responses?

We can't help you. Ask your vet.

I have been back to the vet who is like a dead fish.  He waffles like Boris Johnson and has said they have confirmed chronic bronchitis
Today a girl in pet shop said drugs cause diarrhoea and more.

You really need to find a different vet. One who’s knowledge and opinion you trust.
The staff in a pet shop are not qualified to give advice. I can’t fathom why you’d believe a shop assistant but not a qualified vet.
Some medications do cause diahorrea but I’ve personally not experienced this with steroids.

>drugs cause diarrhoea and more

This is ridiculous. Drugs cause constipation. Drugs cause death. Drugs cause out of body experiences.

Please stop asking unqualified people (such as us and pet shop staff) about issues they can't help you with. Complex medical conditions need veterinary diagnosis and help.

If you don't like the vet you have, get another one. Get your notes transferred from the previous vet and discuss with the new one. Stop asking here...

> I have been back to the vet who is like a dead fish.  He waffles like Boris Johnson and has said they have confirmed chronic bronchitis.

Maybe worth you registering at a new vets?

>Today a girl in pet shop said drugs cause diarrhoea and more.

If your medication came with the data sheet any known possible side effects will be listed on there or you may be able to find it on the noah compendium site. Some may have diarrhoea as a possible side effect yes but not all of them, even the ones that do have it as a possible side effect not all animals will experience it.

Dear Mozartbailey, you are obviously very concerned about your boy. Having read through your posts I think your vet has been very thorough. Your boy is an elderly dog with a chronic condition, as comes with old age to all of us. A persistent cough, which does not seem to bother him, as you say he still enjoys walks and is good in himself, but seems to bother you more. Your vet is treating it and your boy is as fine as he can be, (I am assuming it could not be kennel cough, if so that will pass in time). All dogs get squirty bottoms from time to time. My cure is the dog fasts for 24 hours (not easy with a spaniel) then poached chicken and rice for a few days then slowly back to their normal food. Tinned Chappie is a good meaty topper if you feed hard food. This is just a cough, and nothing more sinister which your vet has ruled out, then enjoy your boy, lots of walks and if the cough doesn't bother your boy then try not to let it bother you.

I'd sign up to a new vet. You are clearly not convinced current one is providing a good service , ask dog walkers in park who they rate and move

> ask dog walkers in park who they rate and move

Even better, ask local breeders who they use because breeders tend not to use 'bad' vets

How can anyone seriously complain about medical bills when you see the prices being asked for some puppies?

Is it right that someone I know just paid £3000 for a Bulldog puppy while comments are being made about vet bills to keep our beloved pets healthy and alive?

Vets treat all animals and considering your pet can't communicate to them what their symptoms are or how they feel, they do a damn fine job and for the most part, the bills are not overly expensive and are covered by your pet insurance.

I find it absolutely outrageous that the price people are asking for a puppy is going through the roof yet complain about the cost of keeping them healthy.

I have requested a prescription for 2 drugs to save money. Hitherto I have purchased drugs from my vet. Why has he charged me £20 for 2 prescriptions . I have paid £20 for 2 bits of paper

The charge is literally for paperwork. I got the impression you are an accountant by trade? Surely you're familiar with charging for paperwork

its a private prescription , ask your doctor to do a private script and see what they charge. Even an NHs script costs £9.25 for each medication  . £20 isnt too bad maybe not the cheapest but it is going to save you money in the long run.

He isnt going to give it too you free. No more than you wouldn't expect to charge for your services in your job

> I have paid £20 for 2 bits of paper

You've got a very good deal. Most vets charge that for each prescription, not for two.

The charge is for the time taken to check your dog's history, work out the appropriate dose and authorise it. All professionals charge for their time.

Recently changed vets, previous one would put both items on one prescription, cost was about £25.  New one has to write it out on two separate ones, cost me £16.50 for 1st and another £11 for 2nd but I will save far more than that by getting the meds on-line.

Dear MB,
Given what you have posted I expect those two bits of paper are properly prescribed medicines for your dog. Prescribed by someone who is a qualified vet. I further expect that your vet is being responsible in giving you a way to buy the proper meds for your dog and not get any old thing of the internet. I do think you are being unreasonable just now.

> Today a girl in pet shop said drugs cause diarrhoea and more.

It sounds as though you are willing to take the advice of someone who works in a pet shop over the advice of a trained professional who is a qualified vet. Having read all your comments it would seem to me that you have no faith in your current vet's ability in which case I would suggest you find another vet practice where you trust their diagnosis.

> I have been back to the vet who is like a dead fish.  He waffles like Boris Johnson and has said they have confirmed chronic bronchitis

Find another practice with a vet that you respect.

My dog has unremitting diarrhoea since taking corvental and prednisolone
The vet on 2 occasions has given me medicine to stop the liquid  waste matter
Should he not be explicit and say that corvental causes diarrhoea.
The anti diarrhoea medicine is not countering the corvental affects

Mozartbailey:  Vet Bills.  Realistic or over the top:  IMO Vets are controvercial with many things.  Old fashioned remedy for diarrheoa is plain boiled rice/chicken bones and if those are unsuccessful on their own, prescribed Promax for gut inflammation.  Ask your Vet for a number of doses ideally 3 measured syringes (on one prescription charge).  Hope this helps and avoids any rip off...

"...bones"?

Harley: Today a girl in the pet shop said drugs cause diarrhoea and even more:  Couldn't agree more with your comments.  I'm sure like Mozartbaily we are all open to suggestion if our dog is very poorly and not seen to be picking up from a health problem and yes - changing Vets sounds like something to consider.

Garbo:Yes ground chicken bones and not cooked ones either - RAW.  Try it and see how quickly your dog's gut settles.

I have been boiling Asda chicken breasts and uncle Ben's plain rice for a week but will try the bones. Its embarrassing  as the pavement looks flooded with bistro gravy on the walks

I’ve had good results with slippery elm powder. Well the dogs have.....! It worked a treat.

Mozartbaily:  Oh goodness, I can imagine the scenario. Just strip down a chichen of meat and crush the bones so there are no 'chokable' size pieces, mix with the plain boiled rice 'not uncle bens or similar which has all sorts of additives' and mix through....hope to hear back from you one way or the other.  (if after 2/3 days there is no improvement, continue to feed the suggested diet but get the Promax product from your Vet to administer alongside.  Good Luck!

RozzieRetriever:  Glad you said the dogs have and not you hee hee!

Slippery elm is great to soothe tummies both human and dogs alike makes  a very nice  drink in hot milk too.

Please see another vet. This situation has become far to complicated for a forum to safely advise especially as we can't see your dog or his records and don't have veterinary qualifications. 
I raw feed so don't have an issue with giving raw bones infact they are a necessity but  if your dog isn't use to them be very careful before u have another problem to manage.  Personally I would.stick.to boiled chicken no bones or.boiled white fish. If that doesn't sort it in a day or 2 then back to the vet maybe with a stool sample

furriefriends> Slippery Elm Does it taste nice? Probably the only thing I haven't tried for an upset stomach,,,it would be a great thing to reduce Vet & Prescription Bills if it worked all round!

I just make it up like hot chocolate and add sugar or honey to taste.  As to if its nice depends on your tastes i suppose
The dogs get it sprinkled into their food if  needed or it can be given as a drink in water . They have never complained
It was first suggested by a medical professional for a family member decades ago who had stomach problems.  Been around for centuries

furriefriends:  Agree a forum can't replace Veterinary advice.  We have advised the same what with raw product and the involvement of prescribed medication should things continue.  Just hope things improve for Mozartbailey.

onetwothreefour: We can't help you. Ask your Vet: This poor owner has asked his Vet... Who says we can't offer advice if we have found our beliefs useful? Regarding the thread topic...Vet Bills- realistic or over the top? I've often been 'hoodwinked' by Vet's over the years and spent hundreds if not thousands on their recommendations so sorry, I can't always agree with the advice given.

To no one person in particular:  For the first time since joining this forum, I have read a thread through from beginning to end.  The thread relates to Vet BILLS. Realistic or over the top.    Maybe the question should have been:  Are Vets commited to animal welfare by explaining their diagnosis to owners and what that entails or profit related to what products they are promoted with or sponsored by?  I have a very close friend with multiple Veterinary Practices throughout Wales who when questioned admitted prescribing relates to what ever product they can make more profit margin on.  On overall forum resppnses: Surely compassion and or empathy should prevail when newcomers have concerns or questions...is that not what a normal forum is all about? Snappy answers and baffled science links are not helpful IMO

Of course some dogs are sensitive to chicken and rice, as they are two of the most common dog food ingredients.

An alternative is steamed white fish and mashed potatoe.

What about rump steak bien cuit yorky puddings cabbage n baked spuds

Mozartbaily:  Hee hee...and a cheeky little Bordeaux on the side!  Keep your chin up - all will come right

Have you tried minced spinach I remember reading about this years ago in dog world.
Think it was about a table spoon although can't remember if it was per meal or per day now.

Getting back on to the topic of vet bills this article might help clear some of the confusion. It's also worth comparing vet bills to the cost of the equivalent treatment from a doctor in private practice (not NHS). Vets are revealed to actually be cheaper for the same procedures!

When my dog was 1 year old he looked strange - he was bloated and looked like a stuffed doll
On walks people commented about him
The senior vet inspected him on 2 occasions joking and saying " he has a rats tail". His tail had no hair. The senior vet did nothing to help him
One day I saw a lady junior vet and she told me that the " rats tail" was a signifier of " thyroidism
She put him on Leventa for life and he became a normal looking healthy dog.
What's your thoughts on the senior vet.
I have other events like this to tell you

Actually you can purchase value white fish fillets (usually Pollock or similar), modestly priced, in the frozen section of most supermarkets.

You can cover the fillet on a plate and microwave.

It is especially good for dogs with pancreatitis, as a maintenance diet, with overcooked brown rice or potatoe/sweet potato.

This condition also has direhoea as a major symptom.

Having had a dog that was prome  to pancreatic type symptoms although  ever confirmed I've usually got some frozen white fish in the freezer for such things. A.couple.of days on  that usually put him right and as mine cant have chicken it is  my go to meal

> What's your thoughts on the senior vet.<br />I have other events like this to tell you

Is this the same vets?  if so I'd think the best answer is to change to another practice.

Yes it's the same vet.
My other dog at 7years old started fitting
The senior vet said £2000 scan would look for a tumour.  I refused his scan.  Weeks later I saw the junior lady vet employee who told me that middle aged dogs can become epileptic. She said the scan was not necessary
I listened to her.
He lived 12years 9 months

>My other dog at 7years old started fitting. The senior vet said £2000 scan would look for a tumour.

7 years old is very late to start idiopathic (no known cause) epilepsy; that usually begins between 18 months and 3 years. To start fitting at 7 years usually indicates a physical cause such as a tumour, so the senior vet was absolutely right to consider it. The junior vet was actually quite irresponsible to say what she did; I imagineit was because she was inexperienced with epilepsy.

This just feels like your practice in your opinion has done little right over many years  
Surely having no trust in your vets as it appears u don't then moving practices is the reasonable.option.

You need to be able to have faith in them and work in partnership so the best can be done for.your animals and that's clearly not the case here

Either change vets unless that really isn't possible  or at the very least discuss your concerns with the senior partner or similar.

This thread is so bizarre it goes beyond words. Person moans about their vet and is told to change vets or talk to vet about it. Returns and moans about a different thing. Is told the same. Returns and moans about yet another thing. Is told the same. And so on. It's like some weird postmodern piece of art or... something.

>It's like some weird postmodern piece of art or... something.

Groundhog Day, the film where the main character is condemned to repeat his day over and over until eventually he learns the error of his ways and is able to move on - and so is everyone else.

Good one jeangenie ,its not  just this thread tbh there are some weird things going on here atm  leaving me scratching my head

When my dog was 9 he started to limp so we attended the vets. They took x ray for £200 and told me he needed a £800 operation.
The vet never showed me the x ray
The vet said the dog would not walk without the operation
I refused the operation and within 7 days my dog was walking normally

Jeangenie, onetwothreefour<Vets can be very persuasive when explaining things away and trusting them over the years has cost me a considerable amount of money.  Great relationship with my current Vets but I question every monthly bill I am sent, I look at every itemised charge and often found discrepencies which relates to the original thread.  I have been charged for duplicate prescriptions, given replacement products at a higher cost and even found products charged that I have never had.  However, they are fantastic knowledgable Vets and have never let me down on treatments but sometimes their advice has been questionable as far as prolonged treatment which was unnecessary but would have filled their bank account...please don't ridicule people by talking about fictional things such as -groundhog day' etc.  Not helpful & not nice...responding is not compulsary. (furriefriends - surprised you joined in too - we disagree about a lot of things but still got the feeling you were an understanding person)

Please change your vet Mozartbailey