So Upset Over Alfie

[NoMercy]

My little boy has been back and forth to the Vets over the last few weeks and has been treated for eczema. I was told to keep bathing him in the Malaseb (steroidal) shampoo. When he showed no improvement, I took him back and he was given further courses of antibiotics and steroids and I was told to persevere with the baths. I have been bathing him everyday but he's just been getting worse and has no fur left on his elbows and paws.

Took him to a different vet today and she looked alarmed when I gave her a brief outline of his diagnosis/treatment in recent weeks. He hasn't got eczema, he's got friggin mange !! She said it would have come from a fox and when I think back to the home I moved out of a few weeks ago, I shudder when I remember that we had a fox coming into the garden nightly.

Do I have grounds for complaint/reimbursement from the previous vet?

[DTCwordfan]

I would have thought so, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would eb able to answer

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/home/

[DTCwordfan]

Poor boy by the way.....it should soon come back with the right treatment.

[tonyav]

Bloody hell, NM how could the vet get that so wrong.

[Greedyfly]

I would say so. After all if this diagnosis is correct then I would definately complain. Poor little mite, if he's been suffering all this time due to wrong diagnosis I would be furious. I would complain to the old vet in writing and request a refund for treatment/consultation paid. That's awful. Hope he feels better soon.

[NoMercy]

Thanks, DT. He is now being treated with further antibiotics, Piriton and Advocate.

The original vet insisted it was eczema brought on by an allergic component. I think I will stick with the Vet I saw today.

[boxtops]

Oh NoM - so sorry. I'd have a go at the other vets, certainly.

Many years back one of my cats was misdiagnosed by a vet (admittedly it was long ago, in the days before such good diagnostics) and he died in the end - with hindsight we might have done something about it, but we were too upset at the time to ask questions. I wish now I had, but it was too late.

[bednobs]

hiya, how do you know the second vet has the diagnosis right?

[sunny-dave]

Yes you should complain - the crucial thing is probably about how easy it is to confuse the two conditions - the reaction of your new vet suggests that it should be obvious which is which.

Hugs to Alfie from Maisie & Gizmo

[divegirl]

Hi NoM, has either vet taken skin scrapings? Also, what type of mange has been diagnosed?

Have a look here and see if you can recognise his symptoms.....

http://www.dogguide.net/mange.php

Lisa x

[firewatch]

The first vet should of taken a skin scraping to rule out anything more serious then excema,and then repeated it with each further return visit. MAnge mite is VERY easy to see on a skin scrapping. So yes you do have ground to be reimbursed!

[sunny-dave]

I think, bednobs, that NoM would obviously wait until the new treatment shows signs of working before being 100% sure - but mange is pretty easy to diagnose if you know what you are looking for (mites & mite crap).

[NoMercy]

I don't know, Tony. Aside from the £370 I've spent over the last four weeks (not including the further £101 today), Alfie has been suffering needlessly and the Malaseb has been exacerbating his symptoms. :(

[tonyav]

I hope you can get your £370 quid back, NM.

[bednobs]

ok, it's just that she only got the new diagnosis in the last 3 hours and is already wanting to complain about the other vet! I was going to say, it would be a much better position of strength if at least the new treatment worked first before complaining about the old vet (especially as it seems very similar to the old treatment)

[divegirl]

erm....any answer to my question?

[tinkerbell23]

Hey hun.

So so so sorry this has happened- id be the same- they are just our wee babies!!!

How well you done though getting a second opinion and hopefully thats Alfie on the road to recovery now!!

Try not to feel bad, you followed professional advice and when it wasnt workin you got another opinion..well done and looads of (gentle) cuddles from me & pablo to Alfie xxxx

[NoMercy]

Sorry, dg, my internet is slow.

She just said it was typical mange due to its location on his legs and feet and the characteristic smell. No scrapings were taken.

[divegirl]

Right.....you need to get scrapings done and ...yes I would question the first vet and the costs incurred if they had not taken scrapings!

What treatment has he been given now?

Lisa x

[NoMercy]

Treatment is as per my above reply.

[NoMercy]

Alfie waves paw to Gizmo, Mazie and Pablo...