Rocky's medication

[cherrypoker]

Hello again everyone!

I've just come off the phone with the vet and have to say i'm very disappointed.
He has informed me that to get a repeat prescription of Rocky's medication i have to see him again at a cost of �23 plus the medication which is a total of �60.
Why does he have to be seen? They know the problem.
Can they do this?

Thanksx

[kita1]

Has the vet seen Rocky since your last post?

If not then he probably wants to check to see if the tablets are working or not. It would be pointless keeping him on the tablets if they are not working.

The vet can demand to see the animal (in some cases they have to see the animal by law before prescribing tablets).

If you are unhappy with the treatment or the vets attitude you can go to another vet and get a second opinion, but to be honest in your situation (and your dogs age) I would hesitate before doing that.

How is Rocky? Is he eating anything?

[kita1]

You might wish to join this group for people who's dogs have cancer.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCance r/

[cherrypoker]

Hiya!

Yes Rocky has started eating again but only small portions, very small. As this is the case i have been trying to get him to eat every couple of hours.
He seems to have a little bit more energy and he is now lapping up water, instead of me giving him it through a baby's bottle. That must be a good sign.
As for the vet he has seen rocky since my last post this is why i don't understand the need to see him. Don't get me wrong i would do anything for Rocky if he needed it, i just felt at this time it was a little unnecessary.
Thanks again, i'll keep you posted.

Kind regardsxx

[cherrypoker]

I took him to the vet by the way and he gave him some more tablets, soloxine 0.8mg 2 per day.
He weighed him and he is still severley underweight, however the vet assured me that this will take months to correct, his age and the type of cancer (thyroid) being the main factors.
Any tips to build him up a bit quicker would be appreciated.

Thanks againxx

[Noweia]

Hi cherrypoker,

I don't know anything about Rocky, but by law vets can only continue repeat prescriptions for a number of months before the animal has to be seen again.

In many cases the vet won't prescribe more drugs without seeing the animal as the drug levels need to be monitored closely to judge their effect. Such drugs include ones for hormonal diseases, like Cushing's, Addison's and hypo/hyperthyroidism, where the amount of drug required changes with time.

Form your responses, does Rocky have goitre causing low levels of thyroid hormone? If so, your vet needs to see him again for the above reasons. The amount of drug Rocky needs may gradually increase, and the best judge of that is your vet. The more often he sees Rocky, the better he will be able to see how well the tablets are working and monitor changes in his condition.