Looking for a GREAT vet in the GTA!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Karolina & Nestle

Karolina & Nestle

Member Since 2022
Vet Rant!
Sorry if my post isn't allowed here but I'm just so frustrated with my vet. Short background story. I've had Nestle for over 7 years and we've always gone to the same vet. He was close by and prices were reasonable. We never had any health issues and were only going once a year for an annual check up. Until Dec when he was diagnosed with diabetes. First of all, the vet started us off with Caninsulin and "prescription" diet. Since I'm new at this I listened to his advice and trusted he knew what he was doing. Fast forward 2 months and no improvements I became desperate and joined this group and learned so such. Decided to switch to Lantus and advised my vet of that as well as diet change to LC. We started Lantus on Feb 25 with 1.5 units. On 6th day I did the curve at home and sent the results to the vet. He emailed back advising me to up the dose to 2.5 units. Once again not knowing any better I followed his advice. 2 doses after that Nestle's PMPS numbers were in the low 100s and I was worried and scared to give him the full 2.5 units, so I don't cause a Hypo episode. Under the advice of group members I gave him .5 units that night and then adjusted his dose to 1.75 the next morning and have been doing so ever since.
Today my vet calls to check on the new dose and asks when I'll be doing the curve. After I told him what has happened and that I went down to 1.75U he insisted I go back up to 2.5. When I told him I'm not comfortable doing so and that I will remain at 1.75 until I can do the curve he snapped at me saying I'm not following advice of the doctor and still insisted I should go back up to 2.5. I stood up to him and told him I'm not going to and he hung up on me. Needless to say I'll be looking for a new vet.
Sorry for the long rant but I know members of this group will understand my frustration and disappointment.

If anyone in the GTA area has or knows a vet who's knowledgeable in feline diabetes I'll gladly take that recommendation.
 
I'm sorry your vet is such an idiot and hung up on you.
I would also start a new post for today on the lantus forum like you have been doing and copy this and post it there also and ask about the dose you are shooting
I see that Elise has been helping you on the lantus forum so you can tag her about the dose
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
I'm sorry your vet is such an idiot and hung up on you.
I would also start a new post for today on the lantus forum like you have been doing and copy this and post it there also and ask about the dose you are shooting
I see that Elise has been helping you on the lantus forum so you can tag her about the dose
Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm sticking with 1.75 until I do the curve. And then I'll ask for recommendations
 
Hi, I'm in Etobicoke

My cat Alani (4 years) was first diagnosed diabetic at CTVRC (https://ctvrc.ca/). I had to take her there because it was an emergency situation and they diagnosed Diabetic KetoAcidosis. Since then she's been on Lantus insulin. The Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Ho is great, but they only treat emergencies or referrals.

Currently, her regular vet is Dr. O'Toole at Bloor West Village Animal Hospital (https://bloorwestvet.com/). He's very good IMO and diagnosed a tumor in one of my other cats very early. The only thing I can say against him is that he talks very fast. I'm not sure what area you are in, but I would also try Kingsway Animal Hospital (https://kingswayanimalhospital.com/) and Royal York Animal Hospital (https://www.ryah.ca/). I sometimes get my diabetic food from Kingsway Animal Hospital and have used Dr. Dawn Brown on occasion with my other cats.

I'm surprised your vet advised to increase the dose without doing blood work. IMO Blood work would be more accurate to assess fructosamine levels. Recently, I had blood work done by Dr. O'Toole and he advised that I should increase the dose from 2 units to 2.5 units as her sugar was too high.

Her body tolerated the increase well with a spot glucose check with my human glucometer. I did a Curve the other day and it seemed normal for a diabetic cat.

Also, FYI Lantus cartridges and the needles are cheaper at Shoppers. Just you have to buy 5 packs and figure out a way to store them for 6 months.

I ended up buying this insulin cooler

https://lifeina.com/en/home/14-lifeinabox-3701335000075.html
 
If you're far enough west in Mississauga there are two great vets in Milton, both believe firmly in home testing. Our primary cat vet would not let me out the door until I showed her I could do everything right. Our secondary vet boards diabetic cats the right way meaning they don't make empty promises. In good traffic he's 30 minutes to the airport. Closer to Oakville is the Cat's Castle, looks a bit rundown from the road but they boarded all five of ours in a family emergency and board diabetics.
I can't name them out loud but avoid the butcher on James Snow Parkway. We had a member pleading for help who turned out to be a neighbor, he was sent home and told YouTube would show him how to test and shoot. Their cat never was diabetic.
You can either tag me, PM me or just ask and I'll send you the names and contact info.
 
KRSAAA said:
Hi, I'm in Etobicoke

My cat Alani (4 years) was first diagnosed diabetic at CTVRC (https://ctvrc.ca/). I had to take her there because it was an emergency situation and they diagnosed Diabetic KetoAcidosis. Since then she's been on Lantus insulin. The Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Ho is great, but they only treat emergencies or referrals.

Currently, her regular vet is Dr. O'Toole at Bloor West Village Animal Hospital (https://bloorwestvet.com/). He's very good IMO and diagnosed a tumor in one of my other cats very early. The only thing I can say against him is that he talks very fast. I'm not sure what area you are in, but I would also try Kingsway Animal Hospital (https://kingswayanimalhospital.com/) and Royal York Animal Hospital (https://www.ryah.ca/). I sometimes get my diabetic food from Kingsway Animal Hospital and have used Dr. Dawn Brown on occasion with my other cats.

I'm surprised your vet advised to increase the dose without doing blood work. IMO Blood work would be more accurate to assess fructosamine levels. Recently, I had blood work done by Dr. O'Toole and he advised that I should increase the dose from 2 units to 2.5 units as her sugar was too high.

Her body tolerated the increase well with a spot glucose check with my human glucometer. I did a Curve the other day and it seemed normal for a diabetic cat.

Also, FYI Lantus cartridges and the needles are cheaper at Shoppers. Just you have to buy 5 packs and figure out a way to store them for 6 months.

I ended up buying this insulin cooler

https://lifeina.com/en/home/14-lifeinabox-3701335000075.html
Click to expand...

Thaks for all the info. That's great
 
I'm rarely on the board as Katherine mentioned. Fellow GTA person here. It took me one heck of a long time to find Butters's curent vet, so I can relate to your struggle.

I recommend requesting an interview with a potential vet before you commit. There is a resource on the board with interview tips and questions , which I used when I was looking around. It helped me first decide what was important to me in a vet/clinic.

By the time I found her vet/clinic, Butters had been diabetic for six months so I wasn't focused on that at all. My top priority was finding someone who would see me as part of Butters's care team and allow me to be heard. Someone who would welcome my questions and help me make the best decisions for her rather than someone who is just going to tell me what to do. But everyone is different. You may have other priorities. That's why I recommend doing interviews.

Best of luck in your search!
 
Butters & Lyla said:
I'm rarely on the board as Katherine mentioned. Fellow GTA person here. It took me one heck of a long time to find Butters's curent vet, so I can relate to your struggle.

I recommend requesting an interview with a potential vet before you commit. There is a resource on the board with interview tips and questions , which I used when I was looking around. It helped me first decide what was important to me in a vet/clinic.

By the time I found her vet/clinic, Butters had been diabetic for six months so I wasn't focused on that at all. My top priority was finding someone who would see me as part of Butters's care team and allow me to be heard. Someone who would welcome my questions and help me make the best decisions for her rather than someone who is just going to tell me what to do. But everyone is different. You may have other priorities. That's why I recommend doing interviews.

Best of luck in your search!
Click to expand...


Thank you for your response.

I totally agree with what you said. Finding a vet that helps you make decisions but also listens to your concerns and not just tells you what to do is so important.
 
I’m lucky that my vet respects my opinion and listens. I’m so scared as to what I will do when he retires which will be sooner than later.

I would give 2.25 another day or two. With TR you hold for 10 cycles once you see blue nadirs on a dose. He just might then need an increase. He’s bouncing now so let’s see where he lands.

Sorry your vet is so fat headed and full of himself. :bighug:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top