In January I had my staff operated on for a luxating patella.I followed the vets instructions and returned to the specialist for follow-ups as requested.He said that my dogs lameness was due to muscle wastage which didn't ring true as his his muscle looks equal in both hind legs.His examinations were also carried out with virtually no physical contact-just looking at the dog.I was unhappy with the amount of obvious discomfort my boy was in so took him to another vet who says not only is there a lot of swelling but also the knee cap is not running in the groove it should but on bone. Arthritis has already set in(my dog is 3 years old)He is now facing further surgery.
My question is has anyone had a similar experience-the vet said it will be more difficult second time round.Any advice please.

No IMO the second op should not cause any extra problems unless the tibial crest was moved and this has broken free. Ask lots of questions of the new vet ask to see the x-rays and ask the vet to draw what he is going to do. This way you will understand what is involved and have a better understanding of what is going on. Hope your dogs op is succesfull this time around. All the best. Jackie

I was very interested to read your message as my dog also has luxating patellae in both knees. He has been seen by a specialist who did not want to push us into having surgery done as he said that the problem can come back again. Sadly, it looks like this has happened with your dog. It must be very disheartening for you after going through the op, the follow-ups and the rehabilitation etc.
As Jackie has said, you need to find out from the new vet exactly what he plans to do so you have all the information you need.
I do hope that things work out this time.
Joyce

As a slight aside from the original subject, do you get to see the ex-rays? I always consider that as I am paying the vet for the consultation, ex-rays and any treatment which this shows as necessary then I should be kept Fully informed at every step of the way and this includes being shown the ex-rays. After all, you are paying for them. I would never stick with a vet who kept me in the dark!

Just my thoughts, John

Hi John
yes I did see the x-rays although I was far from happy with the first specialist(the one that performed the op).In 4 consultations I would be suprised if we had spent more than a total of 15 mins total with the vet.After the op I received no info on after care at all-it took me 3 phone calls to the vet just to find out about removing the staples.I can honestly say that in the time I've had dogs(all my life) he was the most impolite, (seemingly)uncaring vet I've had the displeasure of meeting-an expensive lesson at £700!! In fact he seemed to be very reluctant to touch the dog at all (my dog is non-aggresive) Why use him I bet you're asking-he was recomended by my own vet as being the best and thats what I want for my boy so I hoped his surgery skills were better than his bed-side manners so to speak. My dog is now booked in at another specialist for a 1 hour booking appointment to examine him and discuss our options so fingers crossed.Thanks for all your replys.Archer.

I once met a vet student who did not fill me with confidence. When later talking to the head of his department I found he was top student of his year! You can never tell!

John :(

Have always thought that a vets people skills, ability & desire to explain to the dogs owner what is going on as many times and as often as needed was almost as important as their vet skills. The owner needs to like and trust their vet to feel comfortable when putting their loved pet into their hands. And as we all know dogs sense how we feel so it must be better if the dog knows we are content. Ja:)kie

In the practice I use one of the vet's has virtually no people skills whatsoever, he will answer your questions as fully as possible and tell about after care, rarely offers much voluntarily, but he is one of the most brilliant vet's I have had and I would trust him unreservedly with my dogs, he does go that extra mile to sort them out and doesn't charge the earth. Ingrid

Hi Ingrid, thats good and I have had vets like that too, but if you don't know what questions to ask you need a vet that has enough sensability to realise it and offer help. Ja:)kie

In NM, the Vet practise I used was a partnership between father and son. The father was in his sixties, possibly seventies, and intimidated me with his aloofness. I always breathed a sigh of relief when the "son" (40s) came into the exam room. He was friendlier and knew how to reassure my worries.

That said, during the 4 years that I frequented the establishment, I noticed the elder dr. possessing some wonderful skills that he used freely for his calling. While he might be brusque and surly towards me, he always talked softly to my dogs, touched them with relaxed hands, and seemed to really feel their pain. It was as if he was completely focused on the animal as the patient, but the owner was a necessary evil :)

He had a true gift and once I realized that his coolness towards me was nothing personal, I really learned to appreciate his dedication towards caring for my dogs. He would be so fully focused on healing the animal, that attempting to explain what was going on became an afterthought. After all, that's what we were all there for...not if I was happy or not :) His nurses became very adept at filling in us owners :D :D :d

I was saddened when he decided to fully retire. One thing though, his son would not hesitate to call the dad up to benefit from those decades of living education ;) I think that I would not choose a dr. to be that curt today, esp. if a younger sort. He was definitely "old-school", but he was very effective. I kind of miss the old guy even now :)
toodles