Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Big, my childhood pet died of similar tumors. Unfortunately, not all medicine - for humans or puppies - is conclusive. Tests can only prove so much. Tumors are not always found. My grandfather always used to say "Don't forget - doctors are PRACTICING medicine." Well, he used to say that, before he died of cancer that was not found in early tests.
Big, one of the hardest things in the world to do is accepting that someone/thing you loved is gone.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Originally Posted by Big
Put yourself in veterinary doctors' shoes and ask this question:
When they make decisions according to hospital guidelines are they prone to finding the cheapest way possible to help your pet the most or are they prone to finding a way to help your pet while getting the most money they can out of you?
The vets I have worked with have kind of put that question in my hands, not theirs. When my young dog swallowed a live bird, and they had to do surgery to get the bird out, and since he was so young, we ate the cost. When this same dog was much older, and the surgery that would relieve his pain would also not nec. lengthen or improve the quality of his life (he was still deaf and blind, and couldn't get up and down stairs), we decided to put him down.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
By the way, I think many problems in dogs result from castration or from a lack of the opportunities to breed. When I first came from Russia we brought our dog, a King size poodle Orphey, with us. He made puppies three times in Russia and was not castrated. Here in New York he got sick from bone cancer at 9 years old and died at 10. He came here at 7 in perfect health. I just don't remember that many dogs having problems in Russia before age 10. Breeding did not require papers and club affiliation in Russia. It was left up to the owners and castration was really rare.
Castration just screws up their hormones and drive to stay in shape and overall reason to live a long time.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Castration may screw up their hormones but there are millions of unwanted dogs every year that are euthanized in the US becasue people do not "fix" their dogs.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Originally Posted by ODH
Castration may screw up their hormones but there are millions of unwanted dogs every year that are euthanized in the US becasue people do not "fix" their dogs.
I think that has to do with the laws. I am pretty sure it is illegal to breed and sell dogs without proper club affiliation and permits. This makes it diffcult for people to sell puppies. That is why so many dogs are homeless as they get thrown out while BUYING A GOOD DOG AT A STORE IS OFTEN MORE THAN A $1000.
Breeding like anything is a big business. Business owners do not want to see people selling dogs for a $100 which they sell for $1500.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Think about it, why would you throw out your dog's puppies if you could sell them for $100-$200 each? Also, those people that bought from you would pay $200 and those people that buy dogs don't usually throw them out.
That is how it was in Russia. There were advertisements where people could call and buy dogs from regular owners. Of course, they could also get a puppy at a club if they wanted a special breed with special documents for shows and stuff like that.
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human
Big, you have it all wrong you don't need club or breeder affiliation to see a dog. Only if you do it for a living. They want to make sure living conditions, shots and ECT... Are all up to standards. Heck any newspaper in Iowa has a section with dogs for sale. Not all of them are breeders or belong to a club. You can get a great dog from all sorts of places not just puppy mills.
__________________
"He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice.
" -Tom Brands 01/20/08
Re: My disappointment with veterinary medicine surmounts that of human 
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