Vets - and loss of a best friend

[barrys]

Those of you who have been to our place are bound to have got to know Sean, our extremely good-natured and docile German Shepherd.

After 7 years of faithful companionship, I am very sad to say that Sean passed away in the early hours of this morning after a one-month illness.

Apart from my own personal grief, there are, however, some lessons to be learnt from his death which I would like to share with this forum, knowing full well that a lot of you have dogs.

When Sean appeared unwell about 4 weeks ago (he had got thin and wasn't his normal vibrant self), we took him to our normal vet on the Khlong Road, who had been recommended to us some time ago.

They took a blood test and told us they would phone us with the results.
The next morning after no phone call had come, we called the vet and were told Sean had blood parasites.
We went and collected medication, which was then adminsitered to Sean over the following 2 weeks.

As there was no apparent improvement in his condition at the end of that period, we took him back to the vet.
The previous procedure was then repeated, i.e. blood test, promise of a phone call with the results, our phone call to them after it didn't materialise, same diagnosis (blood parasites).

We were told that his medication should be changed.
We gave Sean the new medication for the next 2 weeks and still no improvement.

He was taken back to the vet again and we were given another week's medication.

Yesterday morning, his condition deteriorated dramatically.
He had no energy to walk or even stand and had completely lost his appetite. All he wanted to do was lie down and drink water.

Out of desperation, I tried to contact Dawn & Catherine of Head Rock Dogs for advice.
Catherine kindly returned my call.
I asked if she new another vet and she recommended the one in Soi 55/1.

We took Sean there and he was examined immediately.
Another blood test was taken and, while waiting for the results, the vet established with his stethoscope that there was something not right with Sean's heart.

On examination of the blood sample, the vet was immediately able to diagnose heartworm disease.
He said we would also use the same blood sample to see if his liver and kidneys were ok.
He was put on a drip to counter dehydration and we were given some medication for him. We were to take him back to the vet today.

The most important thing I learned yesterday and was not aware of before is this:

In the climate here (with all the parasites and mosquitoes), it is ESSENTIAL for dogs to have a preventive injection against heartworm disease EVERY 2 MONTHS.

Had I been aware of this or if a correct diagnosis had been give at the beginning, Sean would still have a good few years ahead of him and I would still have my best friend!

I hope this might help to make others aware and save somebody else's dog and spare them the pain I am feeling now.

So when you visit us again, you will now only be half-licked to death by Leah, our Golden Retriever

RIP Sean

[JD]

I feel for you Barry, I've lost a few of 'Best Friend' Dogs over the years.

There is a fabulous Poem by The Actor Jimmy Stewart about his dog Beau, I found it on youtube once before. Well worth a look.

[Terry]

A sad way to learn a lesson.

Thanks for sharing this - I will miss Sean's aggressive welcome

[PeteC]

I'm very sorry to hear this as well. Those of us who have had pets throughout life knew well how sad their passing is.

There is heartworm oral medication as well that you give monthly once it's confirmed the dog does not have heartworm. I've used it exensively in the States but don't know if available here. Dawn should know. Here's a link as an example. Pete

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Heartworms-cat86.html

[moja]

The tablets are available here, we bought them at the pet shop in the car park at market village.

Our dog is terrified of the car so injections every other month were out of the question

[Bamboo Grove]

Very sad to hear this, Barry. Sean was a nice and friendly dog.

[dtaai-maai]

Truly sorry, Barry - Sean was a lovely feller.

[fiesta fred]

Sorry for your loss. I also had a similar experiance at the klong animal hospital. Lucky that I went to the vet on 55/1 a couple of days later when I saw no improvement. I was not able to communicate with the klong vets and I am now able to ask question and be informed with the vet on 55/1.
Also his prices are much cheaper then the klong.

[barrys]

Thank you all very much for your kind words and comments - much appreciated.

I also enjoyed the poem a lot - thanks for that JD!

fiesta fred's comments are very relevant, too, I feel.
Following subsequent discussions with the vet in soi 55/1, he felt that Sean could have been successfully treated if the heartworm had been diagnosed at the beginning.

I asked him for his view on why the other vet hadn't tested for this or carried out a simple stethoscope examination - his comment was "probably lack of experience".

Now, I don't want to condemn anyone or get angry about this - it won't bring my dog back!

But for Christ's sake - if you go to a doctor or a vet, surely you should be able to assume that they are reasonably competent!!!

[Vital Spark]

So sorry to hear about your loss Barry, when you have a dog for that long he's part of the family, and undoubtedly part of your life. I like to imagine a wonderful doggie heaven with an abundance of smelly bones to chew on, snuggly kennels, and plenty of playmates. He'll probably meet my crazy springer spaniel, and Mr.VS's lovely flat-coated retriever. He'll be at peace there.

Rubble (aka snake wrangler) is over 5 years old and I've never given him injections or pills for heartworm. After reading your sad story I'll pop along to my favourite vet - who just happens to be the guy on 55/1 (it's called The Pet Clinic and he has a sign on the Petkasem Highway directly opposite the soi). He's a great, compassionate vet (quite rare in Thailand), and he saved Rubble's life over 4 years ago.

I believe that you can get pills which are a tad easier for the dog, if you can't/they won't go to the vet. As we're almost 35kms from Hua Hin I think it would be the better option for both of us.

VS.

[margaretcarnes]

Very sad Barry - your story reminds everyone I think of pets we have lost over the years, but hopefully your post will alert people to a particular problem which can easily be avoided, and help to prolong the lives of many other Best Friends.

[barrys]

...... and now an equally sad or, perhaps, even sadder sequel to this story .....


About 2 weeks ago, we took our Golden Retriever, Leah, to the vet in Pranburi to find out if she was pregnant after we had her mated and she was acting a bit out of sorts.

The vet said it was unlikely but he felt she needed an x-ray examination and he didn't have the necessary equipment.

So we took Leah to the vet in Soi 55/1 who had been recommended to us earlier and had accurately diagnosed Sean just before he died.

After the x-ray, he said that Leah was not pregnant but had an infection of the uterus. which needed to be operated on and would make her infertile.

We obviously agreed and she was kept in overnight.

My g/f collected Leah the next day and brought her home.
We followed the instructions and kept her confined until it was time for her to be taken back to the vet to have the stitches removed.

After the stitches were removed, she was brought home again and we had instructions to keep the wound area clear of water for a few days.

The following evening, horror struck.

Leah had gone for a run in the garden and when she came back, she was covered in blood.

On examination, I found that the entire wound had opened up, spilling out her intestines.

We wrapped her in a blanket after consulting with the vet in Pranburi by telephone and drove her to his surgery.

After a brief examination, we had to agree for her to be given an injection to let her pass away without any further suffering.

I will spare you the more gory details of her demise, but it was a horrible death.

Before leaving the vet's, I asked how this could happen.
After some reluctance on his part but much insistence on my part, he told me that, in his professional opinion, the internal self-dissolving stitching of the stomach wall had not been carried out adequately to take account of Leah's substantial size and weight.

So her mere running around had caused the wound to burst open again.

It's taken 2 weeks for the anger to subside sufficiently for me to be able to recount this.

I still haven't confronted the vet responsible but intend to do so this week.

So it looks as though the 2 main vets in Hua Hin that have been regularly recommended were directly responsible between them for the death of both my dogs - and they're taking good money for doing it!!

I'm trying very hard not to make this into a rant - but it's bloody difficult!!!


Does anyone know when the new Kasetsart University veterinary teaching hospital being built next to the new army golf coure (almost opposite Bayan) is scheduled to open???

We have a 10-month old Siberian Huskey and I honestly wouldn't know now where to take her if she has something seriously wrong.

RIP Leah

[PeteC]

Rant away Barry. I know how hard it is to put a family pet down when it reaches old age and sickness. I can't imagine having to do it unexpectedly. Sorry for your loss. Pete

[Chas]

So sorry Barry.

Dogs DO seem to have a way of becoming part of the family and of living in your heart. ( I cant say the same for cats though!)

Our six year old Basset Hound is such an important part of our lives that even though we have discussed her eventual death, we know we will have a very hard time dealing with it. We know that.

So sorry both for your loss and for the way it happened.

[moja]

so sory to hear about your loss I cannot imagine what it feels like to loose two dogs so close together you must have such a void in your lives.