Bad Vet in Jinotepe

Submitted by catahoula_fan on 3 December, 2006 - 11:51.
Bad Vet in Jinotepe

I'm not writing this for sympathy, but more as a way to grieve and dissipate the anger I feel. I hope that others can avoid learning the hard way, as I've had to, about the dangers of veterinary medicine in Nicaragua.

In three years here, we have dealt with six different vets and even the best of them could not be an assistant to a vet in the States. I lost one of my favorite dogs yesterday. His name was Breaux, he was a 90lb almost two year old, and he was one of my favs. He was killed by a vet in Jinotepe at Agro Vetrinaria Martinez, Km 47 Carretera Sur.

We never were able to figure out what was wrong with Breaux. The vet decided he needed medicine to make him urinate even though he wasn't drinking water. I only realized the sheer stupidity of this treatment after two shots had been administered and, by that time, the damage may already have been done.

When this vet came to see Breaux the next day, he insisted on tranquilizing him. Breaux was sick, docile and I had even put a muzzle on him for the vet's safety. The vet was still scared. He said that Breaux needed a "powerful medicine" which would "clean him out". He brought out a glucose drip with antibiotics and gave him an enema with it. The guy and his assistant never could figure out how to get the drip going. They squeezed and squeezed, but never considered that air needed to go in before fluid could come out. Guess they never considered that the glucose drip would do more good intravenously either. Breaux never recovered from the stupor of the tranquilizor and he died in Big Red's backseat on the way to Managua for emergency care.

In hindsight, the vet was giving off many signals that he was an idiot and knew nothing about dogs or veterinary medicine. I should have picked up on these signs. I guess I'm still brainwashed into thinking that a "doctor" knows what he's doing. Well, no more.

I knew that coming to this country would mean that I had to be more independent. I even like that aspect of life here. Heck, if you want something done right, do it yourself. I don't know why I didn't realize before I lost my dog that this would include taking care of my animals as well.

It was a hard lesson to learn and it's gonna take a while to get over his loss but first thing Monday morning, I start my education in veterinary medicine.

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i am

Submitted by Che Guevara on 6 December, 2006 - 22:00.

sorry.

Melissa and Roger

Submitted by tom proctor on 6 December, 2006 - 13:43.

Tom and I are so sorry to hear about your dog,our animals are a part of our family,I couldnt imagine not being able to get good vet care.It makes me realize how lucky we are to be 5 min away from our vet.The pain you must be feeling,I know is hard,My heart goes out to you.Whenever I travel it is always hard for me to see all of the animals without homes or love in their lives.Maybe the knowledge you will gain will help you to help them.Tom was so moved by this entry he called me in to read it.We are both feeling your pain. Jan and Tom

Thats sad

Submitted by RundownHarry on 6 December, 2006 - 05:45.

But if you consider that the national hospitals aint so eficient either and those are somewhat supervised.

I am so sorry

Submitted by GranadaSherif on 4 December, 2006 - 10:02.

That same idiot caused my little pocket chihuahua to die.. he is ignorant... Chihuahua, which was the dog's name as well, was 1 year old about 12 Inches long and 7 inches tall and weighed about 1 kg...

I will never have another dog in Nicaragua... it simply hurts too much.

Breaux

Submitted by elnido on 4 December, 2006 - 07:36.

Cheryl here (El Nido's wife). I'm so sorry to hear about Breaux. As a dog lover myself, I can't imagine how sad it is. We've also had difficulties finding good vet care here. We have a local vet who's very kind and compassionate, but lacks all the formal education necessary to be a qualified, full-fledged vet. We bring our dogs to him for the more routine things. We have learned to administer some of these things - like heartworm medicine - ourselves. For more complicated matters, like when we had the dogs neutered/spayed, we had what we believe is a good vet in Managua. Her name is Dra. Claritza Solis Morales. Her phone number is 266-4515. Cell: 882-7247, email:claritza_s@hotmail.com (I hope these are current). Her clinic is located near PriceSmart. When we were preparing to get the dogs neutered/spayed, we wanted to avoid bringing our dogs to Managua so I tried to arrange a 'mobile' vet by having Claritza see several animals in San Juan del Sur. She wouldn't neuter/spay our dogs remotely because she wanted to do that in a sterile environment. We hadn't even thought of that, but were happy she did. We brought the dogs up, left them, with great anxiety, overnight, and spoke to her after the procedures were done to make sure there were no problems. There weren't...either then or later...and we gleefully took them home the next day.

Again, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I love my dogs

Submitted by dollarsterno on 4 December, 2006 - 05:20.

Awful. Sorry to hear this.

If you need a good Vet

Submitted by thunderdial on 4 December, 2006 - 00:45.

If you still need a good Vet, get with me in mail and I'll get you the number.

--- I am trying to be the man my dog thinks I am.

Melissa,

Submitted by cmoore56 on 3 December, 2006 - 12:07.

I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I don't know what else to say, except that I'm very sorry that you had to endure such incompetence. I pray that your precious Breaux didn't suffer. My thoughts & prayers are with you and Roger.

Cathy

Very sorry to hear about your loss . . .

Submitted by arlington on 3 December, 2006 - 12:14.

Very sorry to hear about your loss Melissa. It's never easy losing an animal but, especially this way . . . we're planning on bringing our pooch and he has a long life ahead of him. We'll have to be very thorough in looking for a vet. Best of luck with learning all the VM you can. I had thought there was an American-studied vet in Granada.

I'm sorry too

Submitted by AdamAnt on 5 December, 2006 - 09:45.

Hopefully some good can come out of it though.

First, your message will be read by many and these people will avoid going to the same "doctor". Next, you will learn much about the field and can take care of your animals as well as give advice and help others with theirs. Time heals all...

I am so sorry for your loss.

Submitted by marlies on 5 December, 2006 - 19:54.

I am so sorry for your loss. I love my pets as part of my family and really feel your pain.

I can't speak highly enough of my vets: Veterinaros Associados

They have consulted me via telephone and sent medications to Corn Island in emergency. I flew my "common" dog to Managua to be neutered at their clinic. Please consider them for future consultation. Both speak perfect english.

They are located at the little plaza/shopping center at the entrance to Vivian Pellas Metropolitan Hospital.

Condolences, Marlies

sorry to hear of your loss

Submitted by laplaya vida on 6 December, 2006 - 03:39.

nicaraguan vets are for chickens pigs and cows...IMHO

you need a good vet call and ask for JIM at the pelican eyes

costa rica has the same problem

Submitted by laplaya vida on 6 December, 2006 - 23:05.

the vets down there are shit too ! .

i was taking with a family at the madera beach today . they had none stop stories of bad vets in CR....

BBQ contest fund raiser for vet clinc

Submitted by laplaya vida on 6 December, 2006 - 23:21.

I HEARD of rumor of a bbq contest fund raiser today that will be held in san juan ... proceeds go for the pelican eyes vet clinc.

to late to call jim right now its midnite , for posting date and location info ....but im sure if you call jim 812-0511 he will give you the info...

or if you have a pet emergence he is the best guy to get a hold of ..imho speaking from experance....