Remote consults good for pets and vets

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Anthony Todd — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 11:18:21 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

A 'diagnosis' of erectile dysfunction is easy. This is not a diagnosis of the cause of the problem. That said a good history may indicate an underlying cause.

A 'diagnosis' of eczema is easy but cause is more difficult and I would say impossible without a clinical examination.

[/quote]

[Arlo, this is a good example of my apparent "turbo", as Bob has missed the [?my?] vital point.]

Of course erectile dysfunction [and an itchy dog] should also have the underlying cause investigated, but my key is concurrently, ie fix the presenting symptom and as well as, or then, find the cause.

Same applies to eczema; steroids relieve the symptoms, as will Viagra and the cause or diagnosis, can proceed concurrently, not after the cause is found and/or eliminated. [which often doesn't fix the problem!!]

Same applies to "masses or lumps". Remove the lump [usually] then histo for diagnosis, advice and prognosis.

Nearly always wait-and-see with any presented mass ie owner is concerned, if left, continues the owner's concern and can end up as a more serious mass, and always much bigger......

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:04:14 GMT

Former MemberLucy Fleming and Joyce Whitehead - yes, thanks, know about that one. Happens when I delete a tangent and I will get the techies to iron that one out for the upgrade ...

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Bob Russell — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:52:29 GMT

This is exactly my point about diagnosis.

A 'diagnosis' of erectile dysfunction is easy. This is not a diagnosis of the cause of the problem. That said a good history may indicate an underlying cause.

A 'diagnosis' of eczema is easy but cause is more difficult and I would say impossible without a clinical examination.

Physical consultations can be tough enough but a remote one is so full of dangers it is not acceptable. It will be interesting however to see how much money talks!

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Lucy Fleming — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:16:29 GMT

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]

Arlo Guthrie - on this thread, which I can read and respond to normally I keep getting an odd message, photo attached. Just in case it’s a glitch you need to know about. I’m on an iPad if that helps.

[/quote]

I'm getting the same thing, on a desktop in Chrome

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Julie Innes — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:45:27 GMT

But... that would render my special talent for sniffing out pseudomonas in ears defunct! (I don't have many special talents, so I am particularly proud of that one)

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:28:12 GMT

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 23:06:03 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]A diagnosis per se, however elegant, esoteric, rare, or even commonplace, doesn't fix anything at all.[/quote]

No but it might be handy to know you've got heart disease, DM, Parkinsons etc, and treating them might make Viagra unnecessary!

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Anthony Todd — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 20:00:59 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]I doubt it. There are loads of causes for erectile dysfunction most of which would require a one-to-one consultation and bloods. [/quote]

Of course, there probably are, but Viagra has been found to bypass, fix, and remedy their complaint which seems to be, exactly and only, what these men are concerned about.

A diagnosis per se, however elegant, esoteric, rare, or even commonplace, doesn't fix anything at all.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:44:54 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Remote consultations may be just about acceptable in humans for erectile dysfunction medication but I suspect the sufferer can make that sort of diagnosis themselves![/quote]

I doubt it. There are loads of causes for erectile dysfunction most of which would require a one-to-one consultation and bloods.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Bob Russell — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 15:17:59 GMT

I accept that much of the time you may be right with a remote consult.

I can tell a dog is atopic with a telephone conversation and be right most of the time. I cannot smell the secondary infection, see the fleas, see the tiny lesions that are hiding in the scurf. Examine skin scrapings, look for cheyletiella, examine the ears.

This article was so full of bull that it is a disgrace it was even published.

Publish the 'independent' study!

Remote consultations may be just about acceptable in humans for erectile dysfunction medication but I suspect the sufferer can make that sort of diagnosis themselves!

What will it take to control these chancers?

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:51:06 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]Or even a decent comb through to check for fleas. I’ve had lots of clients convinced it isn‘t fleas as they have “treated“ it, only for me to find them after a really good comb with a flea comb. [/quote]

[Arlo will delete this as turboing]

Trouble is the chances of finding even one allergen causing insect are not 100%, in fact often rarely; vets I know have done that and the client looks at them smugly and says "so it's not fleas then" and the impact is therefore nil.

[/quote]

I do still find it useful, even if you find nothing, as you can talk about the difference between animals that are itchy because they are hooching with fleas (each flea bite itches a bit, lots of flea bites lead to an itchy pet) vs animals that you suspect are itchy due to flea allergy (even a single flea bite sends the "nervous system" for want of a better term into overdrive and results in a very itchy pet) and why it's even more important that they use environmental control and decent, regular flea control.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Nicola Cole — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:35:06 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[Arlo will delete this as turboing]

[/quote]

Not turboing-you didn’t mention fleas in the last comment

Personally I run a flea comb over but don’t make a big deal of it so if negative then it’s not a big thing. But I do still find a large amount of fleas!

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Anthony Todd — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:17:39 GMT

[Arlo will delete this as turboing]

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:10:04 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Pick the right "skin issues" to present, and obviously you get 100% agreement.

I wonder how you do a skin scrape via video link.

[/quote]

Or even a decent comb through to check for fleas. I’ve had lots of clients convinced it isn‘t fleas as they have “treated“ it, only for me to find them after a really good comb with a flea comb.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:54:58 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Independent clinical trials of dermatological issues to assess pets with skin issues via video then face to face. 100% agreement on diagnosis apparently.[/quote]

Pick the right "skin issues" to present, and obviously you get 100% agreement.

I wonder how you do a skin scrape via video link.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:44:59 GMT

Just a note to say that I've let TT back in. It was originally on the understanding that he only posted either new threads, or tangents. However, it became clear straight away that doesn't work too well when it's an on-topic tangent (as here) ... just leads to two parallel discussions about the same thing.

So instead, the strict rules are: only on-topic replies within a thread. Anything which is in any way tangential to the main thrust of the original post MUST be started as a tangent, or a new thread entirely. Likewise anything repetitive, such as steroids. And no turbo posting (ie consecutively within other people's threads).

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Anthony Todd — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:34:48 GMT

Well not at all! I think any experienced clinician can diagnose almost all purely skin conditions on sight only.

In fact it used to be taught on that basis to a large degree, with lab confirmation if unsure/confirm.

Feline demodex on a human's torso was somewhat perplexing though, and the pictures would need to be "focussed". And there would be a small number of other conditions causing confirmation.

RE: Remote consults good for pets and vets

Nicola Cole — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 12:37:00 GMT

I’m looking forward to lameness work up via video...all that time we spend palpating limbs must obviously be a waste of time!