
Avoid at all cost if you love your pet. ## update to prove ignoring south wales vets advice made him better ## I took my Spaniel to South Wales Vets on 28th January, after he was seen via video call by a vet the night before from pawsquad, who suspected an eye infection or irritation.
He was prescribed antibiotic eye drops and pardale-V pain killers for 5 days for eye infection and a check up was arranged. The next appointment was 2 days later.
By then he reacted well to the eye drops, his eyes started inproving in pictures. At the follow up appointment, I saw a different vet. They used a Tono-pen and prescribed him prednisone acetate drops (steriod drops) and arthrocam (stronger pain killers), as they felt the infection was still present aswell as inflamation.
I wasnt expecting the following up appointment to cost double. But I understood, once the bill was explained, and continued to administer the new drops and pain killers.
Three days after that appointment, I called video call vet again in the evening, as he was getting drowsy and weak. He was drinking more and eating more than usual. They advised me to go to the out of hours vets who were fantastic.
He perked up at the out of hours, shortly after. I was lucky he was the only dog in the practice, so I was able to discuss his symptoms in detail, and he was well monitored over the space of a couple of hours, where he improved.
The vet tested for ulcers or injury to the eyes, which was clear. He then advised that the symptoms are likely from the steriod drops and to lower the dosage to a stop. Also from experience of the breed and observations, it is likely due to allergies and gave me advice which helped him improve further.
After i stopped the drops, he was no longer drowsy or showing symptoms of weakness. I submitted an insurance claim for the appointments. It was at that point, I realised that due to getting dates mixed up. I stopped the first eye drops 2-3 days early.
I called south wales vets who prescribed them, as I was told in the first appointment, to complete full treatment, even if symptoms improve. They advised me to make an appointment, which I attended earlier today and south wales vets told me to bin them.
I assumed they were going to see if he needed an additional prescription. Instead, before looking at him, a vet told me that the advice the out of hours gave me was wrong. She explained that the out of hours are rushed and work awful times, so often give rushed advice.
She advised that the symptoms during the emergency vet, would not have been from the steroid drops and would be an underlying condition, meaning I need to pay a further 400+ pounds for a blood test and additional tono-pen test, which I could not afford.
She said the only other option would be to put him back on the steriod drops, which I didn't feel was best. I therefore had no option but to stick to the vet's advice from 4 days earlier, and continue clearing his eyes and remove allergens for now.
As a result, the vet opened her door and told me to go to a different vets if i feel that way, infront of a busy waiting room and receptionist which was mortifying. I've been visiting that practice for years with my old dog, but I knew at that point I couldn't go back. I thanked the receptionists as they were so helpful but unfortunately I wont be returning.
Update picture below, Bandit on a 4 mile run today. South wales vet, should have tested the eyes with dye for scratches before prescribing the steriod drops and they didnt. Likely was poisoning his blood stream with steriods. Thank you south wales vets, for turning a simple eye infection and allergy, into 500 pounds worth of vet bills and made my dog more sick! Heard back from the insurance today. No surprise the out of hours vets submitted their claim but south wales vets havent despite me setting it up over the phone the same day.