If your dog or cat isn’t responding to treatment as well as you’d like, or their problem comes back, it’s tempting to either just sit on it or go to a different vet for a second opinion.

Today I want you to meet Molly and her owner Bex, whose story is a great example of checking in with your vet when treatment wasn't going to plan, and how seemingly simple common problems can actually be the result of something much more unusual!

Lessons for Everyone - Bex had a great approach to Molly’s illness, with lessons that we can all learn:

• Looking for information online but knowing that a vet visit was needed. No information online (even on this site!) can replace a consultation with your veterinarian so that a thorough history and physical examination can be performed.
• Not ignoring the fact that treatment hadn’t worked as well as expected. Seeking additional help early rather than wait until Molly was really sick, and not going to a different vet because things hadn’t gone to plan first time. Working through a health problem is a process, and you shouldn’t expect your veterinarian to be able to cure every problem in a single consultation.
• Common things occur commonly. If you hear hoofs sometimes it’s zebras rather than horses (but normally it’s horses)! For animals that are really sick it may well be best to run a whole barrage of tests immediately. For most though, when time is not so critical, there is a process of testing for or treating the most likely diagnosis. If there isn’t the response expected then the more unusual causes will begin to be investigated.

A big thank you to Bex and Molly for letting me share their story! Find the full show notes with pictures here

Love the show? Sharing this episode or leaving a review helps others know it's worth a listen! - https://ourpetshealth.com/review