Poor poor puppy.

Another puppy post! Who's excited?!

Today we had a scheduled trip to the vet to get Bella re-checked to make sure that she didn't still have a bladder infection. So we have to carry her in with a full bladder (interesting). The vet then pokes a needle into her tummy to get urine out of her bladder.

She comes in and says, "Oh, I couldn't really tell if there is still an infection there. I'll have to send it off to the lab." GREAT. Cha-ching.

Then we start talking about her poop issues which are no better at all. The doctor wants to start her on more meds (aka anti-diarrhea pills, etc). Cha-ching again.

We have done research and talked to Gina (who had these issues with Dallas) and just want to try her out on the medicine that typically helps boxer colitis that he was on. The only missing symptom that Bella doesn't have though is blood in her stool so the Dr is hesitant to start her on that medicine. BUT from talking to Gina, Dallas didn't have blood in his stools at first either.

She then tells us that perhaps we should see an internal medicine specialist. After I get on the same page with all of the medical related people in the room who use big words that I can't understand, I start to see that an internal medicine specialist sounds very expensive. So I say that. "That sounds expensive."

And the docs response: "Yes, the first visit is a consult where he/she will look at all of my notes to determine if we are on the right track. And then they'll decide whether to give the meds or do a colonoscopy."

Me: "How much is the consult?"

Doc: "$300."

Ok. That is about two pairs of jeans. Or a purse. Or a multitude of other things. FOR A FREAKING DOCTOR TO READ NOTES AND NOT TELL US ANYTHING WE DON'T KNOW ALREADY! I can only imagine what the colonoscopy would be.

Not to mention, I don't get why we are going through all of this when we could just spend $70 on the medication. If it works, great. If it doesn't, then explore other options. Sigh.

So the doctor then tells us SHE will consult her network of vets to get second opinions. Free for us. Why wouldn't she have mentioned that in the first place? And by the way, you have to remember that this doctor IS the "specialist" we were seeing. She isn't our normal vet, she just has experience with boxers and this specific condition which makes seeing an internal medicine specialist even that more ridiculous.

So we walk out with no formal resolution STILL on her tummy issue. But she still somehow managed to rack up a $300 tab for us. Cha-ching.

$#*&)$#

SO FRUSTRATING!!!!! I would totally not mind if we were actually solving the problem but we are throwing money down the tube without having ANY resolution.

I cried the whole way home. I just want our baby to be better.