Missed Diagnosis, Anxiety, and Aggression

My boy injured his leg, well that’s what the first vet said. Three months later he’s still limping. Let’s get a second opinion.

His first, 2nd opinion, appointment was scheduled on a Friday. Bentley has always been super anxious with vet care. And nearly every time we’ve ever gone he had to be sedated. This new vet had never handled Bentley before and they were intimidated,  unable to get a mussel on him, and I ended up having to reschedule.

Frustration doesn’t begin to explain how I was feeling. I went to check out and reschedule the appointment. I was given an oral sedative and a mussel to take home. They wanted me to mussel him before bringing him back. The appointment was rescheduled for the following Monday.

An off duty surgeon was hanging out around the reception desk as we were leaving. I guess he could sense my disappointment. Walking out into the parking lot he followed me to ask what happened. I explained the ordeal and Bentley’s initial diagnosis of soft tissue injury. I told him that he was my boy and he may be hard to handle but I don’t think that means we should be shoved to the side.

I understand he does gator rolls on the way back for exams, but in my opinion any qualified vet should be able to take care of him. Bentley is only 63lbs, large yes, but not gigantic! I detailed my feelings that since Bentley shows aggression through anxiety “no one really gives a shit about us” and began to bawl.

The surgeon calmed me down and seemed to actually care. I mean why else would he have followed us out? He went back inside and made sure I was to see him on Monday. He also gave me tips for any future visits to calm Bentley.

I truly believe divine intervention happened that day. Even though I said we’d be back to reception, in my head I was saying no way in hell we’ll be back! Until that surgeon chased me down.

It probably would have been another month before i made another appointment. And at that point it could have been to late. Even though three months had passed since Bentley’s initial misdiagnosis, his chest and organ scans still came back clear. All thanks to that chance meeting and a surgeon who truly cared.

8 thoughts on “Missed Diagnosis, Anxiety, and Aggression”

  1. WOW! Talk about “divinely intervention”! DOUBLE WOW! Yes,that Surgeon was exactly where he was supposed to be at that very moment!!

    And I agree with yiu, trained veterinary professionals should certainly be able to handle a 63 lb. dog who is reacting out of sheer fear!

    Did yoh actually see that particular Surgeon on that Monday? So glad he cared enough to make a differen c e.

    As far as the misdiagnosis, I’m afraid many of us were sent down that route…arthritis…sprain…muscle pull, etc.

    I know it’s not funny, but I love that Bentley does GATOR ROLLS! What a visual!! YOU ROCK BENTLEY!! Steve Irwin would be proud, by crocky!

    Hugs to all!

    Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

  2. Oh Sally! Funny is an understatement. He plays the vets and they fall for it everytime. It’s almost as if when they see his big pit bull head walk in the room they are already nervous.
    He has truly perfected the gator roll. And as big as his head is, compaired to his lean slim body, we actually call him crocodile head. So its fitting!
    Yes it was the same surgeon that day and he actually performed the biopsys for us as well. And called again yesterday to check on him. I wish i could remember his name! We’ve seen sooooo many doctors this month. And honestly its all beginning to run together!

    Love in Atlanta,
    Jamie, Bentley, & Bailey

  3. Wow! Your story sounds so similar to mine! I wonder what state you live in, hah. Eva limped for close to six months before we had a diagnosis and it was so hard on the both of us. It got to where I was sobbing at night because I just couldn’t make her feel any better and it was making me feel seriously so incredibly terrible! i can understand your frustration with the vet anxiety too. Eva doesn’t roll, but she vocalizes, bad. She yips and screams and cries and makes hunting dog noises and the people at our family vet are NOT very accommodating to that. Our surgeon, however, has a side door that they bring us in where they can put us RIGHT in the back in a room and Eva NEVER gets nervous. Which is especially good now that she’s on three legs! Cant have her slipping on the floor.

    1. Welcome to the family! Today is Bentley’s 1 week ampuversary. I love the side door! I wish all vets had that for pups like ours. I’m sure there are many more like us!
      I’m in Woodstock, GA. This site is one thing I can truly rely on at the end of a tough day. Everyones stories seem so similar and their feelings throughout their journeys helps me too. I find i can relate to so many.
      When we were first diagnosed I never really stopped to think how I would feel after amputation.
      It was all about Bentley getting better. Then we picked him up and it all set in. Grief, guilt, selfishness. The people on here really helped me realize I did the right thing. And comforted me with their own similar feelings.
      Good luck with Eva! Keep in touch!

      Love in Atlanta,
      Jamie, Bentley, and Bailey

  4. Awww . . . poor thing. If I could, I would do gator rolls in the doctor’s office too! Especially the dentist office! LOL!

  5. Whenever I’m trying to get Murphy to do something, or if he was in trouble for something, he alligator rolls! lol And our Cassie is terrified of the vet! She is almost 11 years old and has never had her temperature taken. As a puppy when they tried, she yelped & hollered so much that she pooped. đŸ™‚
    Murphy was misdiagnosed, too, from the end of October until the middle of February. Even after x-rays at a radiology center.

    Hoppy 1 week Ampuversary Bentley!

    Donna

  6. Aww Cassie bear. Lol thats to funny about her temperature experience. Should be interesting to see how Bentley handles the chemo appointments. Im pretty nervous. The last thing i want is for them to have to reschedule!

  7. Jamie, for the first chemo you might ask if it will be easier for them if they’ll let you stay with Bentley until he is calm and comfortable. The dogs do have to stay stationary for the duration of chemo because it’s an IV that can take about an hour. Cicero is a bit of a nervous-nelly. Despite extensive socialization as a puppy, puppy classes, obedience classes, going to work with me, etc, he is still a not fond of people. (When I noticed what turned out to be his tumor on his leg, and took him to his new vet, he was so nervous he hid on the bookshelf…..yeeeah, and he’s 120lbs. Didn’t work out lol) Luckily, the staff there was sweet and patient with him and they literally cuddle and per the chemo patients for the duration of the treatment to ensure they don’t move. Cicero has completely all of his chemo; luckily he ended up trusting a particular vet tech very quickly and we didn’t have any behavioral issues. But seriously, if you’re worried, do ask if you can stick around because it’s better than not doing it at all! Keep up the good work!!

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