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#180375 06/21/05 01:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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sable Offline OP
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TO ALL ANIMAL LOVERS
(BEWARE OF DR. SHELIA. SHE IS TREATING ANIMALS BEFORE RUNNING TEST)
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOUR ANIMAL

It all started on February 25, 2005. I sent my 14-year-old Pomeranian to Dr. Sheila to do a routine teeth cleaning and have some teeth pulled if needed. I have always done what's best for my animals. Preventative maintenance. Here is a copy of what she sent to me:
Dear Tina,
I strongly recommend brushing Sable's teeth at least once a week. Or send her over for plaque removel every 6 months. She had hugh amounts of callus on her teeth. That gives her a chronic infection, and the constant amount of bacteria in her blood tends to damage the kidneys.

Sincerely,
Shelia k Schmeling, DVM
BELIZE LICENSE 9909

She gave me a 20 day supply of Baytril 22. I followed her directions and gave Sable all pills. Before I sent Sable to her she was so energetic. I could set my clock by her. She was up before me, she ate 3 times a day and always wanted outside. After the 20 pills she still was not right.

Sables symptoms were: A poor appetite, weight loss, thirstiness, vomiting and urinating during the night.
All of these are indications that kidney function is decreasing. I didn't know that then, but I know that now. Dr. Shelia should have known..
For more info: http://www.inkabijou.co.uk/kidney.htm

I called Dr Shelia and told her what Sables symptoms were. I ASKED FOR A BLOOD TEST TO BE DONE. When I got in to see Dr Shelia she told me that Sable did not need a blood test. She gave me a 10-day supply of Doxycycline for tick fever and sent me on my way. As you can see from her own notes ABOVE, she should have done a blood test. I gave her the first pill as told as soon as I got home. Sable could not keep the pill down so I called Dr Shelia. She told me to give it to her with YOGURT. So I did, not knowing what I know now about the drug. Doxycycline should not be given with food (milk or yogurt) or supplements containing calcium iron or magnesium (like antacids) because these agents will interfere slightly with the absorption of the antibiotic

For more info go to http://www.mirage-samoyeds.com/tick.htm#13.

After 10 days she still was not right and the phones were down so I called Dr. Deshield's office and was told that Sable should have been on the medication for no less that 14 days IF SHE HAD TICK FEVER. So I put her on it once again. Sable could not hold anything down so this whole time I am giving it to her with yogurt.

After 18 days Sable still was not right so I called Sheila again and she told me to put her on it for another 30 DAYS. STILL NO BLOOD TEST.

Eighteen days into giving her the medication I called Shelia because Sable was not responding. She finally said to bring her in and she would do a blood test.


Before she even did a blood test she told me that Sable had Schiff Schevington diseases. I asked her to write it down so that I could look it up on the Internet. She told me I would not find much. That even most doctors had not heard of it. She gave me a description of it and I did find it on the Internet under invertebral disk diseases so that is what she treated her for. She gave me steroids for her and gave her a shot.

THEN she took the blood test. The next day when my husband called to find out the result she told him that she had 75% kidney failure. He then asked if there was anything that we could do and she CHUCKLED and said what you want to give her a kidney transplant or dialyses. She was so cold and unsympathetic.

Kidney failure: By following your veterinarians advise, you can hope to relieve effectively the signs of a chronic kidney failure, and offer your pet a better quality of life. Although it cannot be cured, you may well slow the progression of the problem with appropriate diet and treatment.

For more info: http://www.inkabijou.co.uk/kidney.htm

My dog would still be alive today if Shelia had taken a blood test when I asked her to. Sable did not have tick fever. Sable had a kidney problems from bad teeth.

Pomeranians can live well over 15 and if she had done the blood test at the beginning as I asked, Sable would still be alive today. The blood test and visit was $35.00 BZE when she finally did it. What is your dog worth.

Small dogs, like Pomeranians, may not qualify for senior status until they are over 10, and may live long past age 15. A thorough veterinary examination for geriatric dogs is recommended at least twice a year. This way, you can address health crises as they occur, and work proactively with your veterinarian to maintain your senior dog's health. WHICH INCLUDES BLOOD TEST.

http://www.thepetprofessor.com/secArticles/dog/Caring_for_an_older_dog.asp

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE VETS HERE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP UP WITH THERE LICENSE.





I WANT TO HEAR YOUR SHELIA STORIES.
EMAIL ME [email protected]
OR MAIL TO P. O. BOX 162 SAN PEDRO

Thanks, Tina

#180376 06/21/05 04:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 71
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Michael DeShield is the only vet to see in Belize IMO, and its totally worth flying him over to the island for checking your animal. I am deeply sorry about your Sable.

#180377 06/21/05 04:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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sable Offline OP
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I am getting another dog and that is what I will do.
Thanks for your response.

#180378 06/22/05 07:45 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
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I've used both vets over many years for dogs, cats, horses and cattle for spaying, parvo, tick fever and more have been pleased with both. Sorry you lost your pet.


Belize based travel specialist
www.belize-trips.com
[email protected]
#180379 06/23/05 04:36 PM
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,050
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Hello Tina

I am sympathetic to your loss. However, when you live in a third world
country life does not carry the same value as it does in so called first
world countries.

I am extremely grateful that Dr. Sheila Schmelling provides this island
with adequate vetinary care.

Only a few short years ago the kindest way to treat an ailing pet was to
put a bullet to its temple and pull the trigger!

I am sorry that you were not happy with the $35 Bze service that your
received, but please don't try a "boycott" scenario after so many people
have worked so many years to achieve basic and affordable vetinary care
to the island.

So, do you plan to simply black ball the one qualified and licensed vet
that is willing to come to the island each week, or you want to have her
license pulled too? Will you be finding a suitable qualified
replacement vet to fill the vacancy and shall you be subsidising the
vet's expenses?

Sheila does not have the best bedside manner, but in most traumatic
situations the doctor doesn't have the time and energy to give you
comfort whilst they are attempting life-saving technics each day without
the benenfit of a fully equipped clinic and laboratory.

Yours sincerely

Amanda Syme

Hello Tina

You had asked about some Sheila stories. Mine is quite short and
straight to the point.

Last month I had both of my dogs - local potlickers - put to sleep.
Jody was 10 years old and Heidi was 12. They were old, and tired, a
little arthritic,losing their eyesight and to top it off they were
getting cranky and snappy. It broke my heart to come to the decision to
go to Sheila to be put out of their pain. I am so thankful that there
is a place here on the island where our beloved pets can be humanely
euthanized. When I think of what the alternatives are ..... I can't
even bear to think of the choices.

Sheila was quite professional and business like until she saw that I was
quite distressed. She gave me some compassionate words, reconfirmed to
me that I was making the right decision and even passed me a tissue.

She did not hug me and give me a shoulder to cry on, she didn't listen
to be going on about all of the cute stories I have about my dogs.

She did her business and moved on.

What do we want? A vet or a shrink?

It is up to us to have our own moral support systems, it really isn't
Sheila's job.

Not everybody is sweetness and light here on our beautiful island. Some
people are not in the tourist business and some people just get along
better with animals.

Of course, there are choices, we can go to Belize City to Dr. DeShield
if we are not happy with the care that Saga is providing us. But to some
cost is also an issue.

That was my Sheila story.

Amanda

#180380 06/23/05 08:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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sable Offline OP
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I AM NOT TRYING TO CREATE A FIRE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT ONE OUT. MY DOG WAS MISDIAGNOSED . i AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOUR DOGS GOT THE TREATMENT THEY NEEDED. WE NEED A VET.

#180381 06/23/05 09:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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sable Offline OP
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I am not trying to blackball anyone and money is not the issue here. ($35.00 bze). Most likely you misunderstood the original statement. Please read again carefully. First you have to recognize the problem before you can come up with a solution. Dr. Shelia is working hard with the zoo and community ect. Maybe she is overworked. I have been working with another Vet Dr., to service the island to help resolve the problem. I would hope that Dr. Shelia would be able to work well with others. All donations would be appreciated. Thanks to SAGA for all they have done. Tina

#180382 06/24/05 10:24 AM
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,050
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FYI Tina there are at least 2 retired resident vets on the island and at least 3 visting vets that are here for months at a time.

Perhaps you need to be more persistent when your gut is telling you that you need more attention to a matter. You do need to take matters into your own hands here - even when you have professionals available. Everybody is overworked and underpaid - and most professionals are also cost conscience to the point of not recommending too many tests when they feel that the syptoms are "text book."

Misdiagnosis happen all of the time, everywhere in the world - follow your gut instinct and next time also get a second opinion when you feel it is necessary.

I got a new puppy - pot licker again. She is just adorable. Of course when you adopt an island dog you never really know what you're getting!

I wish you a long and enjoyable life with your new pet.

#180383 06/24/05 10:51 AM
A
Anonymous
Anonymous
A
Sable,
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience. I will comment only to say that while Dr. Sheila's bedside manner might not be perfect... she was great with my DeeOGee.
SAGA provides a wonderful and much-needed service and they need everyone's support to have good facilities, including a vet. Thanks SO MUCH to Eileen for her tireless work in this area. (I know she doesn't do it alone, but she is the workhorse and lifeblood).

#180384 06/27/05 12:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 759
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sable...sorry about your bad experience, but dr. sheila was my vet while in corozal for a year...she did an excellent job in the care of my cat(brought from the states) and my "pot-licker" adopted puppy from corozal...i was told she was not particularly a "people person"...but i wanted someone to care for my pets....just my dr. sheila experience....kerry


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