i posted earlier about my 12 yr old large breed and canine diabetes incepticis [ spelling ] the vet ruled it out but to be honest she does have all the signs of it, now the vet says to get a bladder scan , i asked about what would happen in the scan she had to be there all day sedated shaved and scanned, i am very concerned she's got really bad arthritis can't hold her water for long and stresses when away from home, so asked could i be with her to be told no , dogs are always better when owners are not there was the reply, then i asked if you do find something what can be done about it , nothing i was told but 1 could pay £400 for the peace of mind knowing there nothing in her bladder, so what do i do , have peace of mind knowing she's clear and feel guilty i have put her through it , or get it done to be told she's got a tumour and nothing can save her , i am really torn on this problem , what would you do  thanks

she's got really bad arthritis can't hold her water for long and stresses when away from home,

I wouldn't put her through it if she were mine.

The thing is dogs are generally booked in in the mornings and then they sit and wait incase emergencies come in or until it is their time, they can wait for hours I know it is the way they do these things, but it is bad enough for a young dog for an older girl with all her other problems just wouldn't put her through it. I'd probably call around and ask if there was another vet who would be more amenable to shortening the time, or could fit her in as the very first appointment.

I don't understand why a scan would necessitate a) sedation, b) £400?? It's surely not much different to a pregnancy scan -or do they do something different? Before we had a DNA test in Persian cats we all had to have our cats' kidneys scanned. That was done without sedation and the cost was around £50 per cat.

i don't understand it either , a friend at work had her boy scanned for bladder stones , no sedation, and cost £45 , i'm thinking of taking her for a 2nd opinion , but i don't know how you stand with insurance if you do, she is not covered for anything to do with tumours so i will have to find the money , i just want the best for her without any poking proding or pain,

I would be as wary as you. My old lady Pepsi ruptured her cruciate a few weeks ago and she is nearly 10. old for a Bernese. I could not get my head round her having major surgery and weeks of cage rest so we weighed up the options and decided to let rest and pain relief do it's best. Now 6 weeks on she is getting around comfortably and doing a good 1/2 hour walk with little limping just a strange gait. she is in no pain and I am glad we took that option. If they find a tumor but still cannot do anything whats the point? I am very very lucky my vet will let me stay and even watch the ops but that is because I have a medical background and I realize how lucky I am. If you can find a vet who will scan while she is awake it would be a much better option for her I think. It could be they wish to do an internal scan so hence the GA. Hard choice to make.
Hope you can get it sorted without the GA.
Aileen

I wouldn't do it.  pointless excersise.  no peace of mind if your poor girl has a horrible day out and any sedation does carry risk. a risk to me not worth taking.

just a update on my girl, found a vet that will bladder scan her , no sedation, and costing £42 , so taking her tomorrow

Fantastic!!!! :-)

excellent :)  a far better solution

thats good.. I agree with Carrington you just have to insist.  I have always said if you dont book her in first then I will sit in the waiting room with her and wait..tuff.... they always give in because they can.. really it just means your calling the shots not them and they dont like it.

My old girl was diagnosed in April for having a bladder tumour, I happy to say she's still here and doing well, despite an unrelated infection.  i chose to let nature take its course within reason.  She was given AB's for a few weeks and metacam to control the tumour.  For her bladder I give an homeopathic med which works, I get the name if you want it and I also give an homepathic drop for her arthritis.  Since she's had Tramadol she's had a new lease of life and is getting about lovely.

I don't know if her tumour is a malignant one or not as I chose not to investigate and put her through it.  I understand the vet can tell/have an idea from the scan due to the shape and smoothness of it.

i can't say your dog will follow the  same path as mine but its worth trying the meds if their not suffering or will relieve it within  a week or two.

Hope that helps and I'd steer clear of teh vet wanting £400 for a scan.  i find if they see the end of that money line coming they try it on to get the most. xx