One of the most painful things pet owners will experience is seeing their pets sick and you are unable to help. Even more frustrating when the vet can’t figure out what’s wrong.
Unfortunately, just like humans, pets get sick, too.
But this doesn’t mean that every veterinarian will diagnose your pet immediately.
In the past, people have visited several doctors before receiving the treatment they desire, and this can also happen to your pet.
Even though it is unbearable, you may visit the vet, and they may fail to diagnose your cat or dog.
At this point, you may start to wonder what the problem with your pet is.
If this happens to you, never give up and visit other vets or even seek a second or third opinion.
Like physicians, vets may not know everything or have the experience to understand what makes your dog or cat sick.
Since you know your cat or dog well, you shouldn’t settle even when the vets tell you to.
After all, you know how your pet behaves when eating, drinking, playing, defecating, and doing other activities.
Continue reading to find out why your vet can’t determine what’s wrong with your beloved pet.
Your Vet Can’t Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Cat Or Dog
Visit Another Vet
It is common for veterinarians to misdiagnose your pet or even fail to find what’s ailing them.
If you visit your veterinarian and they fail to see the problem with your dog or cat, you should always try another veterinarian.
Just like physicians, some veterinarians are more experienced than others.
A vet may perform surgery, do X-rays, or even take blood tests and still not find any problem with your pet.
And most vets will give your pet some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines and tell you to visit later.
If you return and they still can’t find the problem, don’t hesitate to visit another vet.
Visit at least three veterinarians before trying out other specialists.
In some instances, your veterinarian may not understand what’s troubling your dog or cat because they are not specialists in that area.
When this happens, they should send you to a particular veterinarian with vast knowledge in that area (specialized veterinarian).
However, this doesn’t happen all the time, and you may have to figure it out by yourself.
That’s why you should never settle, even if your veterinarian tells you your pet is OK.
Additionally, your veterinarian may not know what’s ailing your pet if they lack the experience to handle certain pet diseases.
If they misdiagnose your cat or dog, the problem may become severe.
Instead of solely relying on your veterinarian, you can always see another vet before it’s too late.
Talk to veterinarians with a particular interest in canine or feline medicine.
Restricted Vet Options Because Of Funds
If you’ve limited the veterinarian’s ability to diagnose your pet because of financial challenges, visiting another vet won’t help.
It is vital to carry out all the tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, and other procedures that the veterinarian recommends.
If the veterinarian tells you to give your dog a special diet, you should do so.
Also, you should be financially ready to conduct tests to determine the root cause of your pet’s ailment.
It is customary in veterinary medicine to perform low-risk and cheap treatments when a definitive diagnosis would be hard to attain.
For instance, your vet may order particular antibiotics without understanding which bacterium induces the signs of infection.
This is dangerous to your pet and may lead to severe problems.
To prevent something like this, you should allow the vet to perform all the necessary tests.
As a result, the veterinarian can get to the root cause of the disease.
In short, you should be ready to spend to get your pet healthy.
Visit The Vet School
If you’ve tried different veterinarians and there is no promising outcome, you should visit the veterinary school and get more opinions.
Unlike a vet who can only perform a few tests, a veterinary school has specialists board-certified in all disciplines.
They can also perform all kinds of tests that your usual veterinarian can only think about.
Meaning you will have all the information that you need to know.
They will also suggest all the possible causes and remedies for your furry friend.
Additionally, veterinary schools have the best and most accurate equipment.
So the test will be accurate, and they can prescribe the correct diagnosis for your dog or cat.
Unfortunately, accessing veterinary schools can be pretty challenging.
All-in-all, you should try your luck and see if you can get help from veterinary specialists in Veterinary schools.
Most specialists will be willing to help as part of their research and studies.
Seek Another Opinion When Your Vet Can’t Figure Out What’s Wrong
You should seek another opinion when your vet can’t figure out what’s wrong after visiting a veterinarian and seeing specialist veterinarians at a vet school.
For instance, you can visit a cardiologist or animal expert.
Unfortunately, it is usually challenging for vets to detect heart problems in pets.
So, after performing all the necessary tests and still, the vet can’t figure out what’s wrong, you should see a cardiologist.
If the dog has some behavioral change and doesn’t feel fine, you can take it to an animal expert.
Even though veterinarians are trained to treat animals, they cannot know all the problems that your pet may be facing.
They may be doing everything right and not have a definitive diagnosis; they should be conducting a differential diagnosis.
If a definitive diagnosis fails, a vet should carry out a differential diagnosis, which allows them to test all possible diseases in light of the symptoms.
But if your vet doesn’t perform such tests, seeking an opinion from other experts can help you to know what to test.
Serious Diseases Make It Challenging For A Vet To Figure Out What’s Wrong Immediately
Before you blame the veterinarian or undermine their job, think twice.
Not all diseases can be detected at once.
Most serious conditions, such as heart diseases, cancer, and renal diseases, are difficult to detect.
So, no matter how many tests you take, these diseases may not manifest themselves in the early stages of their development.
Regardless, serious diseases may start to show as they develop.
For example, your dog or cat may become lethargic, change its defecating cycle, become passive, change eating patterns, and even lose weight.
If you notice such signs, you should take your pet to a specialist instead of an ordinary veterinarian.
These signs of severe disease may lead to your pet’s death.
Unfortunately, it would cost you a lot, and only a handful of pet owners may be willing to spend to treat their pets.
Moreover, such diseases start with minor signs that you or the vet may not detect in time.
You must closely monitor your cat or dog and note any behavior changes.
If your vet has inferior tools, they may not detect severe diseases like cancer.
Moreover, you may have to perform x-rays and several tests to detect such ailments.
Negligence From The Veterinarian
Sometimes, the vet cannot properly diagnose your dog or cat because of their negligence or the veterinary clinic.
Some vets don’t take their jobs seriously.
As a result, they may not conduct all the necessary tests, leaving your pet vulnerable and ailing.
Also, some veterinarians may not know everything but will not admit it blatantly.
A professional veterinarian does exhaustive research and lets the pet owner know if the issue is out of their hands.
That’s why you need a second opinion from another veterinarian if your veterinarian can’t treat or diagnose your pet.
Besides, the veterinarian may also behave strangely by not answering your questions or explaining things in detail.
When this happens, don’t hesitate to change your veterinarian to get the help you deserve.
Can I sue my veterinarian?
You can sue your vet if you claim that you and your pet have suffered veterinary negligence.
- But first, you must prove that your vet accepted the responsibility to treat your pet.
- Then you have to confirm that your vet deviated from the “professional standard of care,” which can often be backed up by other veterinarians you’ve asked for second and third medical opinions.
- After, you must prove that your pet suffered any injury because your vet deviated from the ” professional standard of care.”
- Lastly, you should also prove that your vet’s action or inaction led you to suffer unwanted consequences from the ordeal.
Call Emergency Hotline Number For Pets
When your vet cannot detect the problem with your cat or dog, they should consult with specialists or refer you to one.
If they don’t refer you because of one reason or another, you should seek help yourself.
Look for the emergency hotline number for pets and contact them.
If you don’t have the emergency veterinary number, get in touch with your vet to give you.
Call the veterinary clinic in case the situation gets out of hand.
Conclusion
Instead of leaving your dog or cat to suffocate to death, you should always seek a second opinion to detect the problem your dog or cat is facing.
Visiting the vet is not enough, as the issue may be beyond them.
Also, some diseases take a long time to manifest, and the vet may miss them during the first visit.
See another vet, visit the vet school, look for a second opinion from other specialists, and take note of the signs your pet shows.
These will help you find a lasting solution and save your dog or cat from suffering.
We wish you all the best as you find a lasting solution for your furry friend.
At the same time, never ignore strange behaviors or pain from your pet, as it is easier to diagnose serious diseases earlier than late.
Purrfect n’ Pawesome is the brainchild of Amanda, who has been into researching and writing about pets to help other pet parents in nurturing their adorable pets. Currently, she runs Purrfect n’ Pawesome along with her team of experienced and dedicated pet experts. Along with being an awesome writer and entrepreneur, Amanda is a cat mom to two innocently spoiled cats, Balanca and Scruffy.
She has been writing about pet care and nurturing and wants to share her readers’ experiences, learnings, and knowledge.
Over the years, she had the opportunity to work with various pet owners having multiple breeds, and that exposure gave her experience and the lessons of a lifetime.
Her family, her entire universe revolves around her two cats, who give her endless support and inspiration to move ahead with her objectives in life. Amanda is a live example of a balanced approach to all parenthood questions we all face in life.
