Why we push for answers

May 2025

A few weeks ago, Tilly's mum contacted me asking if we could transport Tilly to the emergency vet as she had been unwell for a few days and she was very worried about her. Tilly's mum didn't have anyone else to ask for help and couldn't get her into the car. 

It was late on a Saturday afternoon, and there was no way I could say no. 

Tilly let me do a quick assessment before getting in the van. She was dehydrated, lethargic, refusing food and had lost a bit weight in only a few days. 

Tilly spent a few hours there with her mum, and I told her if she needed transport home, to let me know. Tilly's mum contacted me for transport back home for Tilly. Poor Tilly was struggling and barely wagged her tail when she saw me. 

Without running more tests and keeping her in overnight (which would have cost a small fortune), Tilly's mum opted for some hydration supplements and anti-nausea medication. However, there was no real plan for Tilly besides if she doesn't get better, you can come back to the emergency vet. The vet noted that she was dehydrated and gave her some fluid and her temperature was normal. 

I discussed some options for Tilly which included going to her normal vet for blood tests on Monday. Essentially if her temperature is normal, an infection was unlikely. A blood test would be a good base line if nothing else showed up, but it gives you information about how well the liver, kidneys and blood cells are functioning. 

I dropped Tilly back home and told her mum to reach out if she needed anything else. 

The next day, Tilly's mum reached out again and was worried about her and that she didn't have long left on this earth. Bre and I went over to see Tilly just in case it was the end for her. I took her pawprint too.

After probing a little more into Tilly's symptoms and behaviours over the last few days, I was sure a blood test would reveal the cause of Tilly's issues. Tilly's symptoms resembled similar symptoms to humans who have high blood sugar levels. Unsure if she could get Tilly into her normal vet (a mobile vet), I gave her the details of another vet practice who would be able to help her out.

Tilly and her mum went off to the vet the next day, and before the day was out, Tilly was diagnosed with diabetes and was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and if not treated urgently can be fatal. Tilly has commenced insulin to get her blood sugars down, and while Tilly is doing better, she wasn't out of the woods yet. Tilly is getting back to her normal self; however she has lost some of her eyesight, which is a side effect of uncontrolled blood sugars (even in humans) 

Tilly is a resilient girl, and having reduced vision was never going to stop her.

You may have gotten to the end of this story and thought... What is your point, Rachel?

I have found recently that people leave the vet feeling overwhelmed with medical jargon and no real plan for their pet. 

I have personally experienced how to treat my dog's aliment but not educating me on how to prevent it in the first place. Lucky, I have my medical background, so I can ask the right questions, to get the answers I need. 

However, most people don't have that background to help them make sense of the situation. 

My advice:

Don't be afraid to ask questions, particularly if something doesn't make sense to you. After all you need to have all the information to make the best decision for you and our pet. 

Get a second opinion, if necessary, particularly if you feel dismissed. 

x Rachel