Pancreatic blah blah blah, what?!

So we were told that we would have an answer in 5 days about Bella's tummy problem. Only a few days pass and we get a message. Unfortunately we were out to dinner on a Friday night and it was from an unknown number so I didn't answer my phone. I call her back on Monday and here is what she tells me: She wants to run another $300 test to determine if Bella has pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. A disease, which, if she happens to have will have a $200 price tag for treatment. FOR EVERY MONTH for the rest of Bella's life. I do not mind the price so much, it just brings me to tears that she would have to be on medicine forever.

I just can't believe it. I mean, seriously. Are. you. kidding. me.

I mean, part of me thinks that maybe we should also test for brain tumors while we're at it. For all we know, her brain is just screwed up. Isn't diarrhea a symptom of everything? I'm sure we have at least another 200 tests we could do. I mean, hell, maybe she has cancer. Let's test for that! We'll biopsy her leg because maybe that's giving her diarrhea.

I know I'm making light of the situation but COME ON!

It's just getting ridiculous at this point. I did my research on the pancreatic insufficiency. Basically it's a disease in which the pancreas doesn't produce the enzymes that help to digest food. The symptoms are "cow pie" (lovely, I know) type diarrhea and extreme emaciation/weight loss (both of which Bella has). BUT the diarrhea is chronic and doesn't go in cycles like Bella's does. Also, this insufficiency is most common in breeds like German Shepherds, not boxers. In fact, it is rarely ever seen in boxers and it's mainly genetic. Seems like that would be a consideration.

Sigh. It just doesn't seem to really fit. Not like the boxer colitis or food allergy seem to.

What we don't understand is why we have to run all of these (ahem, expensive) tests before treating. I mean, seriously, we could rule everything in the world out by a million different tests but why not start with the disease that is most common in boxers (BOXER colitis). Treat her for that. If the treatment works, we know that's what it is. If not, THEN go to the next item on the list. And test. There is no harm in the treatment (it's an antibiotic). It just works or it doesn't. Seems like the best option.

Not test, test, test, until we hit. That is expensive and it doesn't make the puppy any better in the meantime.

So we are frustrated. This "specialist" is just seeming to be going down the checklist while meanwhile costing us thousands of dollars while promising to "find the cure" and telling us to "consider returning the dog to the breeder since she is a defective puppy." (At this point you should imagine me sitting in front of her with both of my middle fingers pointed at this stupid vet. SHE is the one charging us literally at least $2K for trying to FIND what's wrong. We just want the puppy we love to be better. Return her?? Eff you, man).

She is just being ridiculous. So we are calling our original vet to get her second opinion. If she concurs with this specialist, we will have the tests done through the original vet. Since the "specialist" is really not doing anything special there is really no need to stick with her. Anyone can shoot darts in the dark. And if that's the case, we'll go back to the first vet that we know and love.