Good job Jamie!

Jamie, I think it's great, but would maybe hit the whole "what if this was another dog without an owner-advocate" angle harder, maybe even from the POV of the person who would never be able to understand all this through no fault of their own. Are you going to take it in and talk it out with them or mail it?

I now know to ask about the small bit of dye. Thank you.

Makes a person wonder how many of these get misread. We often hear on the tick list, a "low" or "light" positive, and there is no such thing. Risa's C6 of 60, with a *smudge* of dye is the perfect example of this.

Makes me sad.

Jean, I'm probably going to mail it. I'm so non-confrontational. This is easier for me.

I like the idea of addressing the idea of owners that might not have a clue about what could be going on, but I'm unsure how to bring it up.

I, too, have been wondering how many tests are getting misread. I hate to come off like I'm "anti-vets" or constantly questioning their practices. But I also seem to find myself in situations where that is the ONLY thing I can do. I'm not one of those people that just accepts things as fact. I like to do my own research as well. Which, I know, can find me in conflict with veterinarians. I'm not trying to be a know-it-all. I simply want to know what I'm dealing with and do the best I can for my dog. And if that alienates me. . .well then I will simply find another vet more open to working with me.

Jamie, do lab techs in vet clinics have to do proficiency testing? When I did bacteria testing, I had to pass a twice yearly set of proficiency samples in each of the bacterial analyses my company was certified for. Most of the test results were mid-range, but for drinking water samples we were expected to detect coliforms at a low level. It seems like a vet lab would have to adhere to the same level of quality with state testing to ensure that they are giving accurate test results. If I had failed a proficiency test, my boss would have had to submit a corrective action stating what we had determined caused the incorrect answer and how we would prevent it from happening in the future. It seems to me that your vet needs to do this as well.

I'm not sure, Leah. It's a good question, though. I just hope that they take this to heart and do something to remedy it. I know, when I worked there, there were times when things came up and we changed the way we did things to eliminate having those issues again.

Update:

Risa is doing fine on the doxy. I mailed the letter to the vet on Tuesday. Haven't heard anything from them but I don't actually expect to.

I will probably be calling the vet this week to request an additional month of doxycycline to put my mind at ease. Also, Risa has been having yucky poos for almost 2 weeks and I worry that it might put her immune system at a disadvantage so I definitely want to continue with the doxy. I am so angry her gut is off again (loose, very mucusy stools). We weren't able to get the food she usually eats because the distributor was out. I got something else instead which should have been fine but something in it is bothering her (and I have no idea what). ARGH! Fortunately, I should be able to get the Answers again on Monday and get her gut back on track.

I also ordered some Cosequin for her joints to help her from having long-term issues. Plus, due to her active lifestyle, it's long overdue. I just hope it doesn't bother her either.

I am glad that she is doing well, and also about the joint supplements. Hopefully once you get the food straightened out, her "mushy issues" will be okay too.

Hope that you can find Risa a healthy equilibrium soon.