All the Vets I took him to didnt think his sickness was related to the engorged tick I found on him several days before

I bet if you saved and preserved that tick and brought it into the Vets along with your dog some things could have been ruled in/out much faster too. ( well maybe) LOL

What type of tick was it and what part of the country do you live in?

Your sad situation really does hit a very raw nerve with me.

I live in an area on the east coast where there are lots of white tailed deer, they carry the ticks that carry lyme.

About five years ago I rescued a dog from West Virginia, where the situation is about the worst in the country for lyme. When I got the dog, she was completely skinny, she literally looked like a walking skeleton. She's a large dog, probably a cross between a Lab and Weimaraner. I couldn't figure out why if she was so thin and obviously hungry she wasn't eating any or all of her food.

Then, two days after getting her, I petted her face and mouth area and she screamed in horrible pain. I rushed her to the vet, gave them the dogs history, and after an examination, they made the diagnosis of a brain tumor. Estimates about how to deal with it and when were in the works before I gave any type of authorization.

I was completely horrified and didn't know what to do. I consulted a vet in WV, she told me to have a lyme disease test done. It came back positive, after meds, she was fine.

I have vented before on this forum about this issue. I do realize that vets make mistakes, this is not the issue for me. It's that they sometimes refuse to listen to common sense, and expect the worst, and proceed with that thinking, which is probably going to cost big $. My current vet who I love and adore, always takes the "path of least resistance" which is completely my way of thinking.

I'm on my 7th vet in 17 years (I think) and my feelings toward the profession would be completely different if they would have simply said that they were sorry for a mistake, that did cost me lots of money and frustration. One time I was so furious about a mis diagnosis that almost cost me my dogs life, I almost put my cell phone through a plate glass window. And I am considered a very calm person.

I have also learned the hard way to question everything vet says and research every little speck of information I can find. This has saved me tons of time and money and my vet is on the same page with me on this one.

The last time this issue came up, Meghan (bless this persons heart) pointed out that vets are not money planners, nor are they in business to become millionaires. With the amount of debt each vet incurs when studying not to mention start up costs for a practice, all of this is a huge issue.

BUT, something in the profession has been lost, and a severe disconnect is in place between client and vet. I would like to know if there is a "code of conduct" for vets. If there is, it needs to be reviewed and revised. IF there is not, there needs to be one.

We as pet owners are at the mercy, yes mercy, of vets when we have a sick pet. We simply do not know what is going on and the thing we want is to have our pet well again, or at least an honest diagnoses.

We need pity from vets. Plain and simple. Honest pity. If we get this, the money will flow to the vet without question. Without it, the profession is in a dire situation.

SG

I agree with what everyone has said so far.

There is no code of conduct or code of ethics for vets that deal with clients. There are standards of care which address proper testing, treatment, medical records, etc. But they do not address client communication, which IMHO is the single most important factor in being a good veterinarian, at least a vet in private practice (maybe the researchers don't need such good people skills LOL).

Most of the time in vet school is spent learning medicine. My school does have a comparably extensive business and communication course. But if one is not an effective communicator already, the course isn't going to change that. It may make you more aware of the problem, and the effect it is having on your ability to practice good medicine, and even the effect on the bottom line, but it won't transform someone who doesn't like dealing with people (most vets are introverts and prefer not to deal with people; I'm a bit of an oddball, go figure) into one who does.

I think some personality traits that make one a good vet school candidate- being independent, perfectionist, studious, etc.- are not necessarily the same traits that make a good vet. You get into vet school based on your ability to pass tests and make good grades, not on your ability to work as a team or to be an effective communicator. The more competitive vet school is, the more likely the people who are excellent students but not necessarily good communicators are going to be admitted. So it is no wonder that many vets simply don't know how to deal with people. We spend a lot of time and effort learning everything we can about medicine so that we don't screw up, and no time learning how to deal with screw ups once they occur. I don't know what the solution is- vet school is really hard and even some of the people who make it into vet school never graduate. So you do have to be a good student. But you don't have to be a good communicator, and you can easily get through vet school without learning that essential skill.

I decided I wanted to be a vet while in high school. I went to work for one(fifty cents an hour) to see if I could handle the nasty end of the business. I wound up as an early version of a vet tech---not nearly are wekll trained, but adept in several phases of that profession. Turns out the nasty end---cleaning up sick/injured animals, euthanizing, keeping the building clean, etc. was the easy part.

I found I could not stand about half the people who were pet owners. And there were a couple of professionals I was not eager to meet or talk to when necessary.

Since then I have owned several dogs, cats and horses---so have utilized vets on a regular basis. I know of about 8 locally who all have varying degrees of aptitude in dealing with pet owners---some are great animal handlers/doctors and have little people skills. Others are better at working with people along with their healing skills. I only know of one who is a failure at both dealing with people and animals.

All the vets I know(save the one)---knowlege gained from personal dealings---are dedicated animal healers. But, all have made mistakes. And all were as regretful as possible about those mistakes. I have seen cases where a vet did not charge for a failed diagnosis/treatment---and cases where they did.

I just moved---not far, but too far to stay with my former vet. I went to a new one today(immunization time for the dog). I had no knowlege of this vet, save the fact several folks with whom I work like him. I am not always an easy owner myself---I have some beliefs gained from years of experience that are not in line with current policies followed by most vets. I think I will like the new one---he is obviously competent and cares.

I am very puzzled and concerned by the fact that I, a dog walker who belongs to a national organization, have a "code of ethics" that I agree to. While vets who spend incredible amounts of time and money getting an education, and are responsible for the health and well being of living creatures, have none.

SG

OK, so to say we don't have a written code of ethics isn't 100% correct. The AVMA does have a code of ethics which we all follow, but if you follow the link to it below, you will understand why I didn't count it as a real code of ethics. It has more to do with standard business practices than ethical behavior, IMHO. The only truly ethical guidelines are that we have to treat or refer animals in an emergency, and the principle of informed consent (which not all vets do very well, if at all). Everything else is stuff like look professional, don't show up for work drunk or drugged, don't slander your fellow vets, don't violate patient/client confidentiality- all guidelines for good behavior for anyone, professional or not.

I think our oaths sum up ethical behavior much better than our code of ethics.

This is the one we take upon entering vet school:
At the time of being admitted as a member of the veterinary medical profession, I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity; I will give my teachers the respect and gratitude which is the due; I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity; the health of my patient will be my first consideration; I will respect the secrets which are confided in me; I will maintain by all means in my power the honor and noble traditions of the veterinary medical profession; my colleagues will be my brothers and sisters; I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics, or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient; I will not use my veterinary medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity. I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honor.

Once we graduate, we take the veterinarian's oath:

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Nowhere does it say you have to strive to be kind, gentle, caring, a good communicator, etc. And of course there are no guidelines for how to deal with making mistakes, except that we are supposed to be honest-not apologetic or forthright, just honest. So I could be completely "ethical" according to our code of ethics, and unless the client directly asked if I made a mistake, I would never have to say that I did, and I would never have to apologize. That is not how I practice medicine or deal with people. But it is ethical to do so, according to our profession. And I completely agree with you SG, that is very oncerning.

Here is a link that might be useful: AVMA code of ethics