[nagdu] searching for a new vet.

[Raven Tolliver]

Lori,
Prescription dog food is a gimmick. I'm not going to rant about
processed food and home prepared, but I definitely think you can find
a less costly dog food. You can cut costs by feeding a food that is
more hypoallergenic but doesn't cost a fortune, and stopping those
allergy meds and replacing them with something inexpensive and more
natural. For instance, lavender essential oil helps tremendously with
allergies, and it is one of the most inexpensive oils out there.

Let's talk about this food thing first. Here are the ingredients for
the food you feed.
Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil, Powdered
Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid,
Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline
Chloride, DL-Methionine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement,
L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement,
Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate,
Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin
Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous
Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate,
Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural
Flavors, Beta-Carotene

This might sound very harsh, but there's nothing in that food. There
are no fruits or veggies, and the only source of meat protein is
chicken liver, and it's hydrolized, whatever that means. Other than
that, this food is made up of a bunch of mineral and vitamin
supplements and has no real substance. I'm 100% positive we can find a
better food for your dog.

Acana and Great Life are good brands. You can get more than 20 lbs for
under $90 when you buy from either of those brands. Those brands also
offer kibble with freeze dried pieces, meaning higher nutrient value
for your dog. And that right there is the best thing for your dog. A
food that is high in nutrients and doesn't provoke allergic reactions
is the best food.
That prescription diet is another way for vets to make money, and does
nothing to improve the well-being of your dog. Scrap it. Your dog will
make it just fine without that stuff, I promise.

There are a gamut of herbs, essential oils, flower essences, and
homeopathic remedies that can help with allergies. Lavender essential
oil is a default for a lot of people because it does a great job of
soothing and detoxifying. Great brands are Hopewell essential oils,
Mountain Rose herbs, Young Living, Tropical Traditions, and Doterra.
Look for them online, not in stores, since the stuff in most stores is
synthetic, diluted garbage.
Herbs you can use for your dog include ginger, turmeric, and burdock
root. All of these can be given in capsule form and found at
supersup.com, vitacost.com, and the Vitamin Shop.

Also, get your dog on a quality omega-3 supplement. Your dog's body is
stuck in an inflammatory state, and providing omega-3 will help dial
things down a notch. Nordic Naturals, Country Life, TwinLab, and
Natural Factors are good brands.

I know this is a lot of info, and doesn't help you find another vet,
but it gives you a starting point for spending less money at any vet's
office and improving your dog's health, which is what matters most.

Googling vet offices in your area and calling them with a list of
questions is a good start for finding a new doggie doc. Ask them what
the charge is for an office call. Do they give discounts for service
dogs?
I would also see if they offer integrative medicine. This is
essential, especially if you have a sick dog, which it sounds like you
do. You can just flat out ask what their approach is to dealing with
dogs who have food sensitivities
and environmental allergies. If they say something along the lines of
prescription diets or pills, steroids, blah, blah, blah, that's not
the right doc for your dog, IMO. Of course, if the conventional
approach works for you, then no biggie.
The vet I took the Golden Guy to when I lived in West Michigan gave a
50% discount off everything, though I would not expect that from
anyone else, and they weren't a good place according to my uppity,
super strict standards.
Good luck in finding a new doggie doc.
-- 
Raven
Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
www.1am-editing.com

You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
have or what you do.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 11/12/15, Lori Dent via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I’m thinking seriously about  searching for a new veterinarian for my guide
> dog Gipp and my 2 other pets. I like my current veterinarian and he and his
> staff are  great with my animals. But frankly  their expensive and I’m
> getting to the point I can’t aford taking my animals here anymore. I’m been
> using my current veterinarian since about 2005 and I do get a multiple 20%
> discount but that isn’t enough of a discount. When I do go to the vet I
> never come out spending under $100 and in fact it’s always $100 and more.
> For example, I get my guide dog Gipp’s food through my vet because Gipp is
> on a prescription dog food for food allergies and he’s allergic to the
> protein in the leading dog foods. Also he’s on allergy medication.
>
> Gipp’s food is called Ultra Allergeon ZD and I get him a 25 pound bag
> through my vet that cost $90and some change and his allergy medication that
> I get for him for a30 day supply costs me around $97 and some change. But
> that doesn’t count the flea proventitive and frontline meds that I get for
> both dogs and I usually get a six month supply of both flea proventitive and
> frontline getting one extra frontline tube for both dog for purchasing six
> months supply of frontline. Also for Gipp he can’t have the normal hart gard
> beef chews because he’s allergic to beef. So he get a nontasteless pill that
> is  specially formulated for Gipp  to prevent heartworms and any other
> parasite.
>
> Anyhow, with all the medications for the dogs and the cost of the vet visits
> and any testing if needed or bloodwork ect it’s costing me a fortune.
>
> I was wondering what kinds of discounts do you all get for your guides? Do
> your vets charge you for the meds but not the office vist ect?
>
> Like I’ve said I like my vet but I can’t afford them anymore. I do have care
> credit but I’m on a limited income.
>
> I want to find a new vetinarian that will   take good care of my animals and
> listen to what I need to tell them about my animals  and  listen to my
> concerns and answer any and all my questions  but not charge me a arm and a
> leg for medications, testing and exams ect.  I need more of a discount then
> just 20% and I need the vet  who cares about the dogs and not so much about
> the money side of things. I know I will spend some money on my animals which
> is not a problem but I don’t want to be always spending over $100 and more
> everytime I need to take my animals to the vet.
>
> I’m going to do some researching of vets in and around my area and call them
> and see what type of services they provide and go in and get a tour of their
> ficilities.
>
> Any thoughts and suggestions on where to start? I want to continue to give
> all my animals the best of care when going to the vet but be affordable and
> reasonable where I’m not paying  a arm and a leg for everything because it’s
> so exspensive and I can’t keep addording this like this.
>
> Lori and the Gipper
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