After my dog's annual check-up and blood work a clerk there called to say that the dog needed thyroid medication. The vet wasn't available since he's gone and wouldn't be back for a week. I was assured that the medication had no known side effects -- which is not true, as I found out later.\r
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15 minutes after the first dose of the medication my dog, a chi mix, threw up. Some of the stomach matter entered her nose, blocking her nasal air passage. She had to breathe through her mouth for the next 2 - 3 hours. Moreover, during that time she had numerous episodes of reverse sneezing. \r
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I didn't think it was the medication, since I was assured of no side effects. But 12 hours later, the second dose caused the same reaction in the dog, as did the third, fourth, and fifth dose. That's when I got on-line to various vet-school and other sites to research the medicine and the condition. It turned out to be a well known side effect for a medication for a condition sometimes misdiagnosed. \r
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I immediately stopped the medication and call the clinic for information. The vet was still unavailable, the clerk again strongly advised continue the medication (""your dog is much better off with it, untreated thyroid condition can be serious""). This time I didn't take their word for it.\r
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When I finally got hold of vet and told him about the dog's reaction to the medicine, he said,""she threw up through the nose? Never heard that before!"" and laughed. \r
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So here is a vet who didn't bother with consulting a client about treating a serious condition with medication that has known strong side effect, and dismissed the client when told of it.\r
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As for my dog, she is waiting the required 30 days from the last dose for a comprehensive re-test. The sample will be drawn at a different animal clinic and sent to Michigan State University, where there is a well recognized facility for testing for canine thyroid function.
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