I took my dog to the vets today, as planned for his crucia ligament operation. He was given a general anesthetic so the vet could start the op. Quess what, the vet rang me up after an hour to say, wait for it..... his crucia ligament is fine! It turns out I have had four weeks of worry and stress (let alone what the dogs been through) with people offering advice on what to do, most saying have it done, while others said it won't work on greyhound/whippets. For a moment, and only a moment, I even considered having him put down, and for what, for a vet to make a misdiagnosis. The kids have even sold some of their playstation games to help with the cost, its been a family affair.
Turns out my dog has sprained his hock or so the vet thinks. I am so annoyed, of course the vet was appologetic, not the one who misdiagnosed she was 'elsewhere' when I went down.
The only good thing is my dog will be fine, but it makes my blood boil to think I could have put down a relatively healthy dog. Next time I'll get a second opinion, maybe a lesson for us all.
Davepu.

Hi Davidpu,

Blimey!!!!! Thats a good thing I suppose, but not for your worry and the cost etc. At least you know he will recover from this.

If you are interested, we use homeopathy a lot for our dogs and have used Arnica and Ruta Grav very successfully.

Massaging often helps to, but you have to be gentle to start with.

I am pleased he hasn't got to have the op, poor little guy!! :)

manda
X

A lurcher friend of mine says "dog oil" is also good for sprains etc. I'm certainly after some sort of rub on medication to help the healing, can you give me more details. It would have to be something he won't lick off.
The worst thing about this whole episode is that the vet actually put my dog to sleep for the op. He hates vets and was there for 8 HOURS! Why didn't they knock him out the first time I took him down, would have made sense to me. Anyway, after kicking up a fuss they only charged me £17, good job too.

Hi,

I should think so to!!!! I wouldn't be happy paying for a wasted stay and wasted operating time. Hopefully he will heal quickly and be back running around like mad very soon. :)

manda
X

Broken cruciates are so easy to diagnose that I am horrified a vet got it wrong. Time to change vets!

I hope they are not going to charge you ! Glad though it is just a strain.

Lucy

Glad he didn't have to have the op, takes months to get back to normal and at least the vet had the courage to own up to the mistake being made. Don't think I would go back there though and I wouldn't pay them a penny either, it was there mistake not yours.

Margaret

They still made you pay something even though they got it wrong, and if they had been right you wouldn't have had to come back in at all? That is disgusting, especially after what they put you and your dog through.

totally agree I wouldn't have paid them a penny and I would have been asking them for compensation...

We don't know how this dog presented at the consultation or what history was given so I think it is quite hard to judge the vet on here. If Davidpu is dissatified he could report it to the BVA at least the vet would then have a chance to have their say. If the 'Lurcher Friend's' treatment doesn't work not sure who to seek come back from there :p:D

well IMO I think the fact that the vet reduced their payment showed they accepted the blame for mis diagnosis.. so its clear cut to me..

That may be because the operation was not actually carried out. Hope you're never on my jury :p:D

mmmmm maybe not carried out but the poor dog was knocked out and the cost for that would have been more than the amount charged surely??

regardless, I ham just glad the poor lamb is ok :D and thats the important thing now isn't it...

Lynsey, it is common practice to anaesthetise or sedate in order to diagnose a cruciate ligament injury, too painfull otherwise :)

wasn't meaning it wasn't, but surely the fact that they only charged such a small amount for doing this, indicated that they felt they were to blame somewhere along the line, well thats my interpretation, but as I was not in the room at the time I do understand I COULD be wrong, :D
I am not knowledable of the vet profession and it seems you are which is why you are defending it, I was merely defending the right to not be upset and dragged through a traumatic experience because of a missdiagnosis. I just felt for the owners and their children and the poor dog, like I said at least hes going to be ok. :D
last post on subject.. Good luck doggy xx

I don't have any veterinary knowledge beyond the lay person and I am not particularly defending them, I'm just taking the devil's advocate stance of pointing out that we are only hearing one side of this, sorry, David, it's difficult to word that without sounding rude to you but that's not my intention :) I hope the dogs improving too.

Isabel,
I reply to your querry, My dogs history is on their records as they treated him for a injury a couple of months ago and I also have he jabbed there. He was presented with bent down toes and a considerable limp. The vet just looked at him walking and ran her hands down his leg and said, quote, " Its definately the crucial ligament, the signs are classic, especially as he hasn't been in any pain."

If the vet wasn't sure why didn't they knock him out and do a thorough examination, like they did when he was meant to have his operation. On three seperate occasions I asked if she was sure about the diagnosis and she assured me she was. With the vets being at the bottom of my road they are very convineant.

The dog has since been seen by a greyhound specialist who diagnosed his back was out and swollen ligament in his back leg. The back was put right and Green Oil given to put on the swelling for ten days.
The update is the dog is much better and happier and when I went to see the vet (not the one in question, she was "busy" but another one) they admitted they had got it wrong and were sorry, so what would be the point of complaining to the BVA.
I think the moral here is, if unsure, always get a second opinion. I'm sure you would agree on that.

I'm not really disputing anything your have said and as you say a second opinion if you are in any doubt is a good idea. What I do question is how it seems to have gone from misdiagnosis to negligence in the eyes of some posters. Medicine is rarely black and white and they did correct their diagnosis on closer examination. I would guess you don't think they were negligent or you would thinking of the BVA.

Isabel, a final word they I think it best to lay this one to rest, so to speak.
They didn't give a corect diagnosis at all. When I picked the dog up from the vets ( after 8 hours) the vet had changed her diagnosis to a sprained hock or rhuematism. The Greyhound specialist said there was no sign of rhuematism or crucia damage and couldn't see why that diagnosis had been made. I just wish they had knocked him out or offered exrays in the first place and save me and the dog 4 weeks of worry. The problem with vets is we have to trust their judgement on these matters, like I said before, because of the advice I was given by some, I nearly had the dog put down. Thank goodness I didn't. Negligence is too stronger term for this I feel. but I do strongly feel the vet should have confirmed her diagnosis, if she was unsure through exrays etc.
I have'nt taken any offence at what you have said, 99% of the time vets get it right, but that 1% when they get it wrong can have serious consequences.
Best wishes,
Davepu

The most important thing is that my dog is now much better and will make a full recovery.