Re: Littleberry, diagnosis issues
Hi Littleberry,
I don't blame you for wanting to recover your cost on the LDDS that was lost and I am one who had alllll the testing done on my baby, Squirt. My vet was very thorough about that and I am very grateful to her for it. However, knowing what I know now compared to then, I could have saved myself about $600 by having the UTK panel done at the very first plus the ultrasound. Not to mention saving Squirt somewhere around 20 hours in the vets office waiting on draws. You might ask your vet if she would be willing to apply the cost of the LDDS that was lost to the UTK panel cost, and bypass redoing that test. Your baby would only have to be at the clinic for a few hours VS all day if she will do that for you.
As for "walking a fine line" with your vet, that is understandable to a degree. I am one who simply HATES confrontations and doesn't do well with them at all, especially with someone I perceive as an expert, which a vet certainly qualifies as. However, when it comes to Cushing's, keeping the vet happy has no place at all in the picture. It is sad, but many vets just don't have the experience or basic knowledge to deal with Cushing's properly. I am NOT saying your vet is one of these but it is an unfortunate fact that many cush parents have had to face with their own docs. We could tell you hours of horror stories about folks who loved and completely trusted their vets only to find out the hard way they were not qualified to deal with Cushing's. This is why it is so critical that cush parents educate themselves on the condition so they can work with their vets rather than trusting them blindly to do what is best. Cushing's requires team work, not a follow-the-leader approach.
Your vet is following the normal approach to diagnosing Cushing's and that is comendable! So many don't even do that! But if you can't talk with your vet for fear of what will happen, then team work will be difficult if not impossible. Just keep in mind that you are paying for their time, expertise and help...in essence, they work for you and you are the boss. No amount of schooling, degrees, practice or experience can come close to equaling your knowledge of your baby. We know our babies better than anyone and, as such, our vets should be willing to listen to us and work with us based on that intimate knowledge.
Now, having said all of that, the LDDS is a good place to start the diagnostic phase and, again, I am pleased to see your vet starting there. That says they do have experience and are following the procedures that have been established. That is very good news. AFter the LDDS is repeated, tho, I would forego the HDDS if recommended and go straight to the UTK panel. The UTK panel and an ultrasound will give you as much info regarding the possibility of Cushing's as well as get a good look at many other organs. By suggesting that you have the UTK panel done instead of repeating the LDDS, we are simply trying to help you save some money, save your baby (and yourself!) some added stress, and decrease the time for a diagnosis.
Hang in there! You are doing a fine job!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls
PS. what is your baby's name, BTW?
Here are some links on Cushing's as well as the UTK panel and Atyipcal just in case:
Kate Connick*
http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html
Long Beach Animal Hospital*
http://www.lbah.com/canine/cushings.htm
Drs. Foster and Smith*
http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+2097&aid=416
Newman Veterinary*
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/CushingDiag.html
Cushing’s signs and pics*
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/CushSignFrame.html
BMD Health Library*
http://www.bestbeau.ca/bmd_health_links_4.htm
(scroll down to see Endocrine Diseases)
Mar Vista Animal Medical Center*
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/cushing_s_disease.html
Vetstream*
http://www.vetstreamcanis.com/ACI/Fe...ctSheet052.asp
Atypical Cushing’s*
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm...date=&pageID=1
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=132&t=
UT Panel
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/en.../treatment.php
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/en...logy/index.php
Hi Littleberry,
I don't blame you for wanting to recover your cost on the LDDS that was lost and I am one who had alllll the testing done on my baby, Squirt. My vet was very thorough about that and I am very grateful to her for it. However, knowing what I know now compared to then, I could have saved myself about $600 by having the UTK panel done at the very first plus the ultrasound. Not to mention saving Squirt somewhere around 20 hours in the vets office waiting on draws. You might ask your vet if she would be willing to apply the cost of the LDDS that was lost to the UTK panel cost, and bypass redoing that test. Your baby would only have to be at the clinic for a few hours VS all day if she will do that for you.
As for "walking a fine line" with your vet, that is understandable to a degree. I am one who simply HATES confrontations and doesn't do well with them at all, especially with someone I perceive as an expert, which a vet certainly qualifies as. However, when it comes to Cushing's, keeping the vet happy has no place at all in the picture. It is sad, but many vets just don't have the experience or basic knowledge to deal with Cushing's properly. I am NOT saying your vet is one of these but it is an unfortunate fact that many cush parents have had to face with their own docs. We could tell you hours of horror stories about folks who loved and completely trusted their vets only to find out the hard way they were not qualified to deal with Cushing's. This is why it is so critical that cush parents educate themselves on the condition so they can work with their vets rather than trusting them blindly to do what is best. Cushing's requires team work, not a follow-the-leader approach.
Your vet is following the normal approach to diagnosing Cushing's and that is comendable! So many don't even do that! But if you can't talk with your vet for fear of what will happen, then team work will be difficult if not impossible. Just keep in mind that you are paying for their time, expertise and help...in essence, they work for you and you are the boss. No amount of schooling, degrees, practice or experience can come close to equaling your knowledge of your baby. We know our babies better than anyone and, as such, our vets should be willing to listen to us and work with us based on that intimate knowledge.
Now, having said all of that, the LDDS is a good place to start the diagnostic phase and, again, I am pleased to see your vet starting there. That says they do have experience and are following the procedures that have been established. That is very good news. AFter the LDDS is repeated, tho, I would forego the HDDS if recommended and go straight to the UTK panel. The UTK panel and an ultrasound will give you as much info regarding the possibility of Cushing's as well as get a good look at many other organs. By suggesting that you have the UTK panel done instead of repeating the LDDS, we are simply trying to help you save some money, save your baby (and yourself!) some added stress, and decrease the time for a diagnosis.
Hang in there! You are doing a fine job!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls
PS. what is your baby's name, BTW?
Here are some links on Cushing's as well as the UTK panel and Atyipcal just in case:
Kate Connick*
http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html
Long Beach Animal Hospital*
http://www.lbah.com/canine/cushings.htm
Drs. Foster and Smith*
http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+2097&aid=416
Newman Veterinary*
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/CushingDiag.html
Cushing’s signs and pics*
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/CushSignFrame.html
BMD Health Library*
http://www.bestbeau.ca/bmd_health_links_4.htm
(scroll down to see Endocrine Diseases)
Mar Vista Animal Medical Center*
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/cushing_s_disease.html
Vetstream*
http://www.vetstreamcanis.com/ACI/Fe...ctSheet052.asp
Atypical Cushing’s*
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm...date=&pageID=1
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=132&t=
UT Panel
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/en.../treatment.php
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/en...logy/index.php
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