Veterinary School Phone Consultation

[fionasmom]

Does anyone know if any of the major veterinary schools will do a phone consultation? I would be willing to pay for the time. I do not want or need a diagnosis for my dog, as he has been diagnosed and given a treatment plan by a major referral hospital in the area. I am really interested in research that might show prognosis depending on the options presented to us.

 

[LTS3]

They do but it's typically only a courtesy consult for vets only. Maybe your vet would be willing to arrange something with a veterinary school or point you into research currently being done. Some vet school web sites have current research and clinical trial info you can browse.

 

[neely]

They do but it's typically only a courtesy consult for vets only.

I agree.

Our specialty vet contacted U Penn because their veterinary medical school was doing research on our dog's autoimmune illness. Just out of curiosity, is it for your GSD? The reason I asked is because it was our GSD too.

 

[fionasmom]

Yes, it is for my GSD. I in no way doubt anything that the specialist in LA is saying and his options for treatment are exactly what should be offered. In a sentence, Orlando is 14 and has had Cushings for 6 years and then his melanoma episode (treated by same surgeon and oncologist at the same place, successfully) and is absolutely failing in the long run. He now has a tumor in his anal gland which is too small (good so far) to biopsy, so the only course of action is removal of the gland entirely so that we can see what is in there. I am specifically wondering about rate of growth....not only mets, but just plain old discomfort with something getting larger in that area...and trying to decide if the tumor will move more slowly than what his life expectancy might be. Yes, I need a psychic, not a medical school for that question.

 

[neely]

I'm sure you've throughly researched many treatments for Cushings Disease. But I thought I'd ask if you have you seen this article in Whole Dog Journal? The reason I mentioned it is because one of the meds our GSD was taking for his autoimmune illness was Ketoconazole. Diagnosing Cushing's Disease in Dogs - Whole Dog Journal

I think when it comes to our animal's health we all wish we were psychic. I understand how frustrating this can be for you. When our dog had a biopsy and was diagnosed at three years old it took awhile to find the best course of treatment. The frequency and dosage of his meds constantly fluctuated. However, he lived beyond all the vet's expectations to the ripe old age of 16. I wish you the best of luck and will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[fionasmom]

That is a very informative article, much better than many out there, but WDJ has a great reputation. My first Cushing's dog dxed in the late 1990's was on Lysodren and did go into an Addisonian state, probably intentional at that time on the part of many vets. He weakened greatly but developed a mysterious scrotal tumor despite having been neutered years earlier. He died during the surgery to remove it at 13 years old. When Orlando was dxed, I refused to use Lysodren and decided to use Vetoryl. He has been on it for 6 years and has done very well with it; my first dog only lived 2 years with the Lysodren. We changed vets once and he has a spectacular vet to whom he owes the last 6 years, along with being saved from melanoma.

Thank you for all your kind words.....this is truly the down side of pet ownership.