Vets in France
Nov 22nd 2017, 3:25 pm
#1
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Location: Halfway between Ricard & Absynthe
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Vets in France
To follow up from a comment made by 'petitefrancaise', I didn't know that vets were poorly paid in France, but what I do know is that those I have met and dealt with, do a truly outstanding job.
Think I'm fairly well placed to comment too, as this year has been a particularly difficult year for our dog, necessitating several minor operations relating to the breed - a boxer. This last week in particular has been heartbreaking. He suddenly went lame in one hind leg, dragging it behind him. Straight to the local vet (who knows him well), performed all the essential tests, antibiotics etc, but 3 days later both legs were affected, and in true, near ko'd boxer style, was attempting to drag himself along in the garden like a true defeated champion, before I came to the rescue and dashed him off again to the vets. Some more tests followed, and perplexed they put through a call to a very specialised clinic the other side of Toulouse, who told us to be there as soon as they opened early the next morning. Knowing the TLS traffic we left at 6:45 in the morning, and arrived over an hour later. A C-scan revealed that it was far more serious than we thought - either 'un oedeme medullaire ou un processus tumoral' - I wasn't even sure what that meant - a tumour or edema compressing the spinal bone marrow. A condition that was inoperable - unsuitable for any surgical procedure.
He was kept there for the next 5 days in the hope that continued rest and antibiotics may provide a cure. It didn't, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Mme TP insisted we make the round 2hr+ trip every-other day as a moral-booster, for both of us and him.
Decision was finally taken to take him back to our local vets to facilitate treatment and visits. Three days later (today) the news we had been half expecting was confirmed; nothing else could be done, so together with the vet we took the obvious, very final, sad decision. We were told that late last night our vet had had a long conference call with a very specialised surgeon in Luxembourg, who confirmed it was a case of a ruptured disc, the fluid of which was compacting the spine and affecting the nervous system.
So yes, vets here are wonderful, and when we left this morning, the vet who had been treating him was obviously visibly distraught, with very damp eye's.
Mme TP is in a very sad state too, and I've lost not only a dog, but a very best friend.
Think I'm fairly well placed to comment too, as this year has been a particularly difficult year for our dog, necessitating several minor operations relating to the breed - a boxer. This last week in particular has been heartbreaking. He suddenly went lame in one hind leg, dragging it behind him. Straight to the local vet (who knows him well), performed all the essential tests, antibiotics etc, but 3 days later both legs were affected, and in true, near ko'd boxer style, was attempting to drag himself along in the garden like a true defeated champion, before I came to the rescue and dashed him off again to the vets. Some more tests followed, and perplexed they put through a call to a very specialised clinic the other side of Toulouse, who told us to be there as soon as they opened early the next morning. Knowing the TLS traffic we left at 6:45 in the morning, and arrived over an hour later. A C-scan revealed that it was far more serious than we thought - either 'un oedeme medullaire ou un processus tumoral' - I wasn't even sure what that meant - a tumour or edema compressing the spinal bone marrow. A condition that was inoperable - unsuitable for any surgical procedure.
He was kept there for the next 5 days in the hope that continued rest and antibiotics may provide a cure. It didn't, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Mme TP insisted we make the round 2hr+ trip every-other day as a moral-booster, for both of us and him.
Decision was finally taken to take him back to our local vets to facilitate treatment and visits. Three days later (today) the news we had been half expecting was confirmed; nothing else could be done, so together with the vet we took the obvious, very final, sad decision. We were told that late last night our vet had had a long conference call with a very specialised surgeon in Luxembourg, who confirmed it was a case of a ruptured disc, the fluid of which was compacting the spine and affecting the nervous system.
So yes, vets here are wonderful, and when we left this morning, the vet who had been treating him was obviously visibly distraught, with very damp eye's.
Mme TP is in a very sad state too, and I've lost not only a dog, but a very best friend.
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Nov 22nd 2017 at 3:33 pm.
Nov 22nd 2017, 4:08 pm
#2
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,888
Re: Vets in France
To follow up from a comment made by 'petitefrancaise', I didn't know that vets were poorly paid in France, but what I do know is that those I have met and dealt with, do a truly outstanding job.
Think I'm fairly well placed to comment too, as this year has been a particularly difficult year for our dog, necessitating several minor operations relating to the breed - a boxer. This last week in particular has been heartbreaking. He suddenly went lame in one hind leg, dragging it behind him. Straight to the local vet (who knows him well), performed all the essential tests, antibiotics etc, but 3 days later both legs were affected, and in true, near ko'd boxer style, was attempting to drag himself along in the garden like a true defeated champion, before I came to the rescue and dashed him off again to the vets. Some more tests followed, and perplexed they put through a call to a very specialised clinic the other side of Toulouse, who told us to be there as soon as they opened early the next morning. Knowing the TLS traffic we left at 6:45 in the morning, and arrived over an hour later. A C-scan revealed that it was far more serious than we thought - either 'un oedeme medullaire ou un processus tumoral' - I wasn't even sure what that meant - a tumour or edema compressing the spinal bone marrow. A condition that was inoperable - unsuitable for any surgical procedure.
He was kept there for the next 5 days in the hope that continued rest and antibiotics may provide a cure. It didn't, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Mme TP insisted we make the round 2hr+ trip every-other day as a moral-booster, for both of us and him.
Decision was finally taken to take him back to our local vets to facilitate treatment and visits. Three days later (today) the news we had been half expecting was confirmed; nothing else could be done, so together with the vet we took the obvious, very final, sad decision. We were told that late last night our vet had had a long conference call with a very specialised surgeon in Luxembourg, who confirmed it was a case of a ruptured disc, the fluid of which was compacting the spine and affecting the nervous system.
So yes, vets here are wonderful, and when we left this morning, the vet who had been treating him was obviously visibly distraught, with very damp eye's.
Mme TP is in a very sad state too, and I've lost not only a dog, but a very best friend.
Think I'm fairly well placed to comment too, as this year has been a particularly difficult year for our dog, necessitating several minor operations relating to the breed - a boxer. This last week in particular has been heartbreaking. He suddenly went lame in one hind leg, dragging it behind him. Straight to the local vet (who knows him well), performed all the essential tests, antibiotics etc, but 3 days later both legs were affected, and in true, near ko'd boxer style, was attempting to drag himself along in the garden like a true defeated champion, before I came to the rescue and dashed him off again to the vets. Some more tests followed, and perplexed they put through a call to a very specialised clinic the other side of Toulouse, who told us to be there as soon as they opened early the next morning. Knowing the TLS traffic we left at 6:45 in the morning, and arrived over an hour later. A C-scan revealed that it was far more serious than we thought - either 'un oedeme medullaire ou un processus tumoral' - I wasn't even sure what that meant - a tumour or edema compressing the spinal bone marrow. A condition that was inoperable - unsuitable for any surgical procedure.
He was kept there for the next 5 days in the hope that continued rest and antibiotics may provide a cure. It didn't, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Mme TP insisted we make the round 2hr+ trip every-other day as a moral-booster, for both of us and him.
Decision was finally taken to take him back to our local vets to facilitate treatment and visits. Three days later (today) the news we had been half expecting was confirmed; nothing else could be done, so together with the vet we took the obvious, very final, sad decision. We were told that late last night our vet had had a long conference call with a very specialised surgeon in Luxembourg, who confirmed it was a case of a ruptured disc, the fluid of which was compacting the spine and affecting the nervous system.
So yes, vets here are wonderful, and when we left this morning, the vet who had been treating him was obviously visibly distraught, with very damp eye's.
Mme TP is in a very sad state too, and I've lost not only a dog, but a very best friend.
Nov 22nd 2017, 5:05 pm
#3
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Joined: Nov 2017
Location: Rennes
Posts: 53
Re: Vets in France
Our local vets have always been excellent.
Nov 23rd 2017, 9:19 am
#4
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Joined: Sep 2012
Location: Provence
Posts: 803
Re: Vets in France
Sad for you and Mrs TP. It's always hard to loose a beloved pet.
We had some not so good experiences with vets in France but thankfully now have a very kindly, caring and professional one very close by.
We had some not so good experiences with vets in France but thankfully now have a very kindly, caring and professional one very close by.
Nov 23rd 2017, 3:40 pm
#5
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Vets in France
So sorry to read this TP. I know from experience how hard it is to lose your most loyal best friend. I lost mine in 2014 and I'm still not really over it.
Nov 23rd 2017, 8:18 pm
#6
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Charente Maritime
Posts: 9,346
Re: Vets in France
Very sorry about that, but seeing your best friend suffer at old age is difficult as well. Sure you took the right decision.
Nov 24th 2017, 2:53 am
#7
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Vets in France
I'm so sorry Tweedpipe. Big hug.xx
Nov 27th 2017, 4:45 pm
#8
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Location: Halfway between Ricard & Absynthe
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Re: Vets in France
Many thanks to all for your thoughts and kind words. Really appreciated.
Nov 27th 2017, 9:16 pm
#9
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,612
Re: Vets in France
I'm so very sorry that you have both lost your wonderful chap Mr&Mrs Tweedpipe.
Our pets take up such a huge part in our hearts don't they. Gutted for you both.
