We were able to get Pippin into a local vet whose sign we'd seen for years. She took him right in, and did x-rays and did what appeared to be a careful evaluation. We paid her a good bit of money, but she seemed to know what she is doing. She is NOT a wholistic vet, that's for sure: Pip has been on Meloxicam and Tramadol, and she prescribed Truprofen instead of the Meloxicam. However, she shocked us by suggesting EIGHT Tramadol per day for pain. Yikes!!! We'd been giving him a half! I happen to have Fibromyalgia and use Tramadol, but I take two a day; cannot imagine giving a dog of 50 pounds eight of 'em. Anyway, she saw loads of arthritis, nothing new there...and said that he had a slight irregular heartbeat and possibly enlarged liver and spleen...or not. She said neither of these were necessarily a problem. She suggested a sonogram, but frankly, having spent $300 already, we just didn't feel we could afford another $300 at this time. She did do blood work, and we will find out about that tomorrow, including a thyroid test. So we don't know quite yet, and he is still quite lethargic, but he can manage to get down the deck stairs to the yard.
Oh, about the "old" vet: she did this dog's "new puppy" exam, nine years ago, but because she and her associate were "in surgery" today, could not find time to see him. I am bitter about this, and I intend to address it with her, but meanwhile, she has lost two patients. Whoever answered the phone didn't even suggest that there is an emergency vet in the area!
