We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out
to be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a
bill of £150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return
the animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the
full course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore,
not to provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal
procedure or just a method to ensure our return by giving these in
small batches?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

Anti-b's are often tried for a few days to see if they are having any
effect, if not, then a higher dose can be given or changed completely for a
different type.

As an aside, you can get the prescription from the vet and get it online or
from a good chemist - you don't have to have the vet supply the
medication....anti-b's are extremely cheap

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

I've never had that. There are two possibilities that I can think of. The
simplest is that they gave you all they had in stock. The second is that the
vet was not entirely sure of the best antibiotic for the condition - the
modern approach is to give targeted antibiotics, rather than broad-band -
and wanted to see whether the ones given were effective before continuing.

Colin Bignell

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned
out to be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and
paid a bill of £150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to
return the animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the
full course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore,
not to provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal
procedure or just a method to ensure our return by giving these in
small batches?

I've never had that. There are two possibilities that I can think of.
The simplest is that they gave you all they had in stock. The second
is that the vet was not entirely sure of the best antibiotic for the
condition - the modern approach is to give targeted antibiotics,
rather than broad-band - and wanted to see whether the ones given
were effective before continuing.

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very adept at
tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians, solicitors, estate agents
etc. Except they don't call it "tucking up the punter", they call it
'profesional services'.

Not content with charging £150 for a wound (it only costs that to have an
NHS ambulance complete with two paramedics & full emergency kit attend a
human FFS) they want to stitch people up with drug prices as well.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

Vets are private practitioners, they can charge what they like. There is no
such thing as a magic "full course", or at least, such a thing who's
efficacy has been proven by scientific trial.

I wouldn't pay £150 quid for a consultation and some antibiotics. I'd look
for a vet in a less affluent area.

Tim

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk



ALL vets & dentists should be strangled at birth.

'We look after your best friend' my arse.
They look after themselves.
Money grabbing *******s.
I swear I'll throw a brick through their window, just to get my moneysworth.

P.S. they happen to **** me off something rotten.

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:33:05 UTC, "Tim Downie"
wrote:


Vets are private practitioners, they can charge what they like. There is no
such thing as a magic "full course", or at least, such a thing who's
efficacy has been proven by scientific trial.

I wouldn't pay £150 quid for a consultation and some antibiotics. I'd look
for a vet in a less affluent area.

Round here, a consultation and antobiotics would be about 35 quid at our
vet.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com

The Medway Handyman wrote:

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very adept at
tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians, solicitors, estate agents
etc. Except they don't call it "tucking up the punter", they call it
'profesional services'.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics are different because....?

David

Lobster wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very
adept at tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians,
solicitors, estate agents etc. Except they don't call it "tucking
up the punter", they call it 'profesional services'.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics are different because....?

Amongst themselves they are honest about tucking up the punters, the
professional services brigade believe it to be their birthright.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics don't often earn anything like as much
money.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned
out to be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and
paid a bill of £150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to
return the animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the
full course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore,
not to provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal
procedure or just a method to ensure our return by giving these in
small batches?

I've never had that. There are two possibilities that I can think of.
The simplest is that they gave you all they had in stock. The second
is that the vet was not entirely sure of the best antibiotic for the
condition - the modern approach is to give targeted antibiotics,
rather than broad-band - and wanted to see whether the ones given
were effective before continuing.

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very adept
at tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians, solicitors, estate
agents etc. Except they don't call it "tucking up the punter", they call
it 'profesional services'.

Not content with charging £150 for a wound (it only costs that to have an
NHS ambulance complete with two paramedics & full emergency kit attend a
human FFS) they want to stitch people up with drug prices as well.

Again, not my experience. In many cases, the drugs are the same as used for
humans and would cost the same if you had to buy them from your doctor -
which is why NICE looks at drugs expenditure.

A case in point is that my cat has just had to be put on an inhaler for
asthma. The vet gave me a choice of a cheap inhalation chamber that was
designed for human babies, but will work with animals, or the more expensive
cat specific chamber. Given the number of plastic and silicone mould tools
required for the latter and the probable market size, when compared to the
human baby market, I'm surprised it wasn't even more expensive. She then
looked into the prices of different inhalers and prescribed the cheapest,
recommending that I buy them on the internet, although, until I can get down
to the Chemists, the cat is using one of my partner's spare inhalers.

Colin Bignell

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or
just a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

Vets are private practitioners, they can charge what they like. There is
no such thing as a magic "full course", or at least, such a thing who's
efficacy has been proven by scientific trial.

I wouldn't pay £150 quid for a consultation and some antibiotics. I'd look
for a vet in a less affluent area.

Sunday would be charged as an emergency visit and would I assume that a
serious wound would include treatment in addition to the antibiotics.

Colin Bignell

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given.

....

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our practice
(about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking the
antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Mary

On Oct 16, 12:42*am, "fred" wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message

k...



We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

--
Regards,
* * * *Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

ALL vets & dentists should be strangled at birth.

I hope your teeth rot.

MBQ

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
t...


That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our
practice (about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking
the antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Change your doctor then!
Who are they and I will have them talked to.


Mary

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Lobster wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very
adept at tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians,
solicitors, estate agents etc. Except they don't call it "tucking
up the punter", they call it 'profesional services'.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics are different because....?

Amongst themselves they are honest about tucking up the punters, the
professional services brigade believe it to be their birthright.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics don't often earn anything like as
much money.

Again, your knowledge of "the trades" and how they are run is minimal Dave,
(3 months research doesn't teach you a lot)! But at least the old vets
where I live don't ask for a 50% deposit for 'materials' *before* they start
treatments.

Tanner'O

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:36:17 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given.

...

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our practice
(about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking the
antibiotics when symptoms have gone.


That's just plain wrong.

Derek

Derek Geldard wrote:
On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:36:17 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given.
...

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our practice
(about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking the
antibiotics when symptoms have gone.


That's just plain wrong.


But it is odd how 'courses' vary according to who gives them to you.
Typically dentists prescribe shorter courses than doctors. It often
seems random how long a course is. And that is even for the same medication.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

fred wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given. It seems a little odd therefore, not to
provide a full course on the first visit. Is this normal procedure or just
a method to ensure our return by giving these in small batches?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk



ALL vets & dentists should be strangled at birth.

'We look after your best friend' my arse.
They look after themselves.
Money grabbing *******s.
I swear I'll throw a brick through their window, just to get my moneysworth.

P.S. they happen to **** me off something rotten.



Vets and dentists I can live with, they at least do provide a useful service,
How about we start off with estate agents... wait a minute a fair number
will be getting shafted with the downturn in house sales.
...and what about those scumbags in the stock market who have been creaming
it in for years shortselling and insider dealing.
then there's the lawyers...

Mary Fisher wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given.

....

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our practice
(about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking the
antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Mary



Symptoms can disappear very quickly, but the bacteria causing the infection
are still there in significant numbers. For example one of my kids had am
eye infection, two doses of antibiotics and 4 hours later all visible
symptoms had effectively disappeared, but it would be irresponsible to then
stop taking the treatment.

Any health professional that tells you otherwise is giving poor advice. In
some cases I could see them telling you to take for a minimum of x days and
then if you are all clear stop taking them. But the simple statement you
make above strikes me as dangerous advice.

cheers

David

DM wrote:
Mary Fisher wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out
to be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a
bill of £150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return
the animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the
full course should always be given.

....

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our
practice (about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop
taking the antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Mary


Symptoms can disappear very quickly, but the bacteria causing the
infection are still there in significant numbers. For example one of my
kids had am eye infection, two doses of antibiotics and 4 hours later
all visible symptoms had effectively disappeared, but it would be
irresponsible to then stop taking the treatment.

Any health professional that tells you otherwise is giving poor advice.
In some cases I could see them telling you to take for a minimum of x
days and then if you are all clear stop taking them. But the simple
statement you make above strikes me as dangerous advice.

cheers

David

It seems that from Nov 1st vets will be allowed to charge for
prescriptions, presumably to make up for the income they lose when
people buy drugs online.

"DM" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill
of £150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return
the animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the
full course should always be given.

....

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our
practice (about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking
the antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Mary

Symptoms can disappear very quickly, but the bacteria causing the
infection are still there in significant numbers. For example one of my
kids had am eye infection, two doses of antibiotics and 4 hours later all
visible symptoms had effectively disappeared, but it would be
irresponsible to then stop taking the treatment.

Any health professional that tells you otherwise is giving poor advice. In
some cases I could see them telling you to take for a minimum of x days
and then if you are all clear stop taking them. But the simple statement
you make above strikes me as dangerous advice.

We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...

cheers

David

Mary Fisher was thinking very hard :
We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...


I have always understood that the way it works with A-B's is that the
full course prescribed always has to be taken because it has to be
enough kill all of the germs causing the infection. If not all are
killed off, then the rest then become resistant to the particular A-B
which was used.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Mary Fisher wrote:
"DM" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:

Symptoms can disappear very quickly, but the bacteria causing the
infection are still there in significant numbers. For example one of my
kids had am eye infection, two doses of antibiotics and 4 hours later all
visible symptoms had effectively disappeared, but it would be
irresponsible to then stop taking the treatment.

Any health professional that tells you otherwise is giving poor advice. In
some cases I could see them telling you to take for a minimum of x days
and then if you are all clear stop taking them. But the simple statement
you make above strikes me as dangerous advice.

We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...

As it happens I am :-) ... but not in a medical capacity.

In any case the reduction of bacteria by use of antibiotics is more of a
scientific matter. Doctors are not always good scientists, especially GP's.

I left the option open where perhaps your doctors are not totally wrong but
your interpretation of what they mean may be questionable.

cheers

David

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
Mary Fisher was thinking very hard :
We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with
research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...


I have always understood that the way it works with A-B's is that the full
course prescribed always has to be taken because it has to be enough kill
all of the germs causing the infection. If not all are killed off, then
the rest then become resistant to the particular A-B which was used.

Yebbut knowledge changes. I always understood that Earth was flat ...

Mary

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:59:33 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
. uk...
Mary Fisher was thinking very hard :
We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with
research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...


I have always understood that the way it works with A-B's is that the full
course prescribed always has to be taken because it has to be enough kill
all of the germs causing the infection. If not all are killed off, then
the rest then become resistant to the particular A-B which was used.

Yebbut knowledge changes. I always understood that Earth was flat ...

You were just plain wrong then and you are just plain wrong now.

http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+71-80/Footsteps+74/Misuse+of+antibiotics.htm

http://snipurl.com/batsinherbelfry

"Often, people will stop taking the antibiotics as soon as they feel
better, and not finish the complete course of treatment. This may
reduce the effectiveness of the cure and can even cause the infection
to worsen."

***

"Research also suggests that the way antibiotics are used might
contribute to an increase in resistance. So while doctors need to
prescribe correctly, it is up to the patient not to misuse them.
Different antibiotics are used to treat different bacteria and doses
able to kill or stop the bacteria vary, so people should avoid taking
their medical treatment into their own hands. "If you have an
antibiotic prescribed, you should use it for the complete course of
treatment. If you are haphazard about dosage regimes and you don't
completely eradicate the germ concerned, a resistant organism is more
likely to develop," says Dr Douglas Fleming, a GP and director of the
Disease Surveillance Research Unit at the Royal College of GPs in
Birmingham.

Derek

Mary Fisher expressed precisely :
Yebbut knowledge changes. I always understood that Earth was flat ...

Mary

The earth must be flat or we would all fall off it.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Tanner-'op wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Lobster wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very
adept at tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians,
solicitors, estate agents etc. Except they don't call it "tucking
up the punter", they call it 'profesional services'.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics are different because....?

Amongst themselves they are honest about tucking up the punters, the
professional services brigade believe it to be their birthright.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics don't often earn anything like as
much money.

Again, your knowledge of "the trades" and how they are run is minimal
Dave, (3 months research doesn't teach you a lot)! But at least the
old vets where I live don't ask for a 50% deposit for 'materials'
*before* they start treatments.

Oh do **** off you ****, you are getting boring now.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
Mary Fisher expressed precisely :
Yebbut knowledge changes. I always understood that Earth was flat ...

Mary

The earth must be flat or we would all fall off it.

Thee must be something mde by Men in White Coats to prevent that :-)

For reasons not at all connected with this ng I must unsubsciribe. It's been
nice knowing you all ...

Mary

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
Lobster wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

The third possibity I can think of it that 'professionals' are very
adept at tucking up the punter. Vets, dentists, opticians,
solicitors, estate agents etc. Except they don't call it "tucking
up the punter", they call it 'profesional services'.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics are different because....?

Amongst themselves they are honest about tucking up the punters, the
professional services brigade believe it to be their birthright.

And builders, plumbers, mechanics don't often earn anything like as much
money.

Not many of them go out to Africa each year for voluntary work, as my vet
does, either.

Colin Bignell

In article , Harry
Bloomfield scribeth thus
Mary Fisher was thinking very hard :
We've been with the same practice for very many years and have full
confidence in their advice and the way they keep up to date with research.

But I'm not a doctor, perhaps you are ...


I have always understood that the way it works with A-B's is that the
full course prescribed always has to be taken because it has to be
enough kill all of the germs causing the infection. If not all are
killed off, then the rest then become resistant to the particular A-B
which was used.


Yep!, thats the way they work and how it should be and people who don't
complete courses are assisting further drug resistant strains to
develop;(...
--
Tony Sayer

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
t...

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
Mary Fisher expressed precisely :
Yebbut knowledge changes. I always understood that Earth was flat ...

Mary

The earth must be flat or we would all fall off it.

Thee must be something mde by Men in White Coats to prevent that :-)

For reasons not at all connected with this ng I must unsubsciribe. It's
been nice knowing you all ...

If it's not too late...

....Cheers.


--
PeterMcC

If you feel that any of the above is incorrect,
inappropriate or offensive in any way,
please ignore it and accept my apologies.