So it's illegal for vets to give advice or assistance over the phone?

FIRST OFF... NEVER GIVE YOUR DOG TYLENOL OR IBUPROFEN!....ever.

I always like to put a mini-disclaimer on some of my medical comments with "I am NOT a veterinarian. Yes... I have a 25 yr history working in vet medicine, but I've been out of the loop for awhile and popular treatments ebb and flow". I don't want to have to argue with anyone or DEFEND my comments in here. This is just what I do with my own dogs and have for years.

For many years aspirin was a very acceptable med to give with the "warning" that it can cause the same intestinal distress in dogs that it can in humans (even intestinal bleeding).

Within reason - I do a lot of my own home-remedy treatments, and when you do that you have to be willing to assume any failures you experience or unexpected negative results you may get. Trust me...there is a REASON vets have gotten sooooo unreasonably leary about handing out medical advice over the phone. A brief well meaning phone recommendation has turned into more then one nasty lawsuit that blindsides a well meaning veterinarian. POOP HAPPENS. Mother nature calls the shots sometimes...and she has not always read the rule book on the ABC's of treatment. There are humans who drop dead from their first dose of aspirin due to anaphylaxis. Dogs can do the same thing...

Personally -

I don't hesitate to give my 10 yr old 92# Boxer mix an aspirin twice a day when she's limping (which is a low end dose) for her weight. I always give it with her AM feed/PM feed . I let her eat 1/2 her food... give her the aspirin and let her eat the second 1/2 of her food. I want that aspirin sandwiched in-between the food and not laying on the top or bottom of her stomach to irritate the gut wall. I've never had a problem with it, and she gets great relief when on it. She blew her shoulder a few years ago going after raccoons in our woodshed and initially my vet put her on Rimadyl. I wasn't comfortable with the potential Rimadyl side effects so after a few days I put her back on my aspirin regiment. She appears to get rapid relief from the aspirin but I DO NOT keep her on that regiment for more then 4 days (MAX). Usually she's better after a few days.

The worrisome part about aspirin is that the dose is a bit gray... so ALWAYS go with the lower dose and see what you get. Here's something from the internet which gives basic (acceptable) mg dosages. Since the size/weight of the poor dog in question was not mentioned you can calculate out her dose from here...

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Aspirin Dosages for Dogs

Warning-

Aspirin has the same problems in dogs that it has in people. It can cause gastrointestinal upsets and ulcers if the GI signs are ignored. It can cause renal failure if overdosed. It causes an increase in clotting time. This usually isn't a serious side effect but it does occur. Despite these shortcomings it has a lot of beneficial effects and it is inexpensive.

Dosage(s)

The currently recommended dosage of aspirin varies a little from publication to publication but it is between 5 and 15mg/lb every 12 hours. Since there is a range I usually pick the middle of it and go for about 10mg/lb every 12 hours. This works well and seems to be pretty safe. That works out to an aspirin tablet per 32 pounds of body weight twice a day. I have to admit that I rarely advise giving more than 2 aspirin twice a day despite the fact that some big dogs could obviously take more based on the per pound calculation.

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Good Luck.. so sorry this is so long...

The people you spoke with probably were not actual Vets themselves, in that case it is illegal much the same as practicing medicine without a MD behind your name.

It's not illegal for the Vet to give info to you over the phone.

Many Blessings!

It may very well be illegal.

I know for a fact doctors can't do it. And they most definitely can't prescribe medication over the phone (oh wouldn't that be lovely). Doctors and Vets are people who're really good at complex puzzles. it's hard for them to make a complete and accurate picture without seeing the pieces of the puzzle themselves.

Of course it's illegal for either an MD or a DVM to suggest medical treatment for an animal or person they have never seen. Why don't you try making a cold call to a doctor's office where you've never been and see how far you get on advice over the phone? Go ahead. It's ridiculous to blame a medical professional for not breaking the law and exposing him or herself to malpractice suits, because you think they should be philanthropists.

Do you have a very good friend you can ask for help or family. Is there a Humane Society in your area that could give you help? I am sorry you are going through this.

I did not think it was illegal for vets or their assistants to give info over the phone... I've had mine ask questions and give advice. And my vet also allows payments to be made if arrangements are made in advance... or if you've been a regular for years.

If we have arthritis sometimes a warm bath helps... What if you tried warm compresses on her joints that hurt.

Keep trying to reach your reliable vet!!! This other place you're trying to reach doesn't really seem worth trying to get help from. If it is an emergency, any GOOD vet would be more than willing to help. Try taking your dog in somewhere if she is in a lot of pain. Some vets have a kind of animal ER.

I am not a vet but you can try to give her 1/2 a dose of childrens tylenol. what I mean is 1/2 of what you would give a 1 year old child. I am not sure why the Vet didnt tell you how to ease her pain over the phone that is crazy. remember to cut the dosage in half and then double the time between the doses.example of meaning if the instructions say to give every 4 hours make it every 8hrs. if the dosage sayd 1/2 tsp make it 1/4 tsp. hope this helps till Fri.

How can they prescribe anything for an animal they don't know nothing about pet's health history or condition? The same thing would happen if you called any new human doctor about a pain or problem you were having.(who would also want money upfront in the US). No one can prescribe or diagnosis over the phone or net & it is illegal since exam is required. It is not the vet place or fault that you have pets or no job or no funds - the choice for pets was yours not theirs. Just keep trying your vet til Fri.

Sorry to hear about your dog and your situation.

I have never heard of something like that being illegal, maybe they can't tell you what drugs you can give, just in case you over dose and your dog dies because of it.

I also think that vets charge too much, yeah I know the schooling and operating the office costs a lot of money, but why do pets have to suffer because of it?

Are you serious?! That's ridiculous and outrageous.

I can't believe what the world is coming to, sometimes. I would keep calling and trying to find other vets...I know they are not all like that, because my vet here has a number plus an all hours emergency number that I can call to reach him if I have questions. I have used it twice before, once at eleven o'clock at night. You just have to find the right one...

I'm sorry that your vet is an @$$hole, I would try to switch immediately. I can't believe they would do that to you. :(

You didn't ask it right. You gave too much information and the vet assumes that you're using only that to avoid bringing the dog in (they see it all the time).

Go back on the phone - to a different vet-- and CALMLY say you have a severely arthritic older dog who suddenly manifested a lot of pain and that you need to ask how to stabalize the dog till you can get him in to the vet via car tomorrow. You ask also what your options are on making it as easy for the dog as possible and what do you need to watch for. Ask about hot packs and if they should be used.

The vet doesn't need to know about your circumstances, only that right now and here at this moment you have a dog in pain and need some advice for the moment only. Not any indication that this is all the 'help' the dog is going to get. Keep calm. Stick to what I posted above.