My Question: If I ask my dog’s regular vet to fax his records to a different vet, will they need permission from my mom?
Well, I’m taking my dog to the vet, and sort of trying to do it behind my mom’s back. My mom is a completely irrational person. Our dog has been licking and biting his feet (sometimes until they bleed) for FOUR years and my mom (and dad too) have never done a thing about it. My mom doesn’t seem to get how serious this is and that he must have allergies. She’s convinced herself that the dog does this because he’s bored (yeah, I’m sure he likes to entertain himself by making his paws bleed…), and also thinks the sound of the dog licking is annoying and irritating. The dog is doing it all the time but she just yells at him, punishes him by putting him in his crate, steps on his feet, or smacks him. And she’s too stupid to figure out that since he’s still doing it 4 years later, obviously her yelling and crating and hitting him hasn’t done a thing.

So anyway, I’ve already scheduled an appointment to the vet on Thursday. I’m taking him for an exam first before doing any allergy testing because I need to find out whether or not that’s what he needs, and I’d also probably need to save a bit more money to afford that. But, the vet that he normally goes too was too expensive for me, so I started checking the prices at other vets, and I found one that was a bit cheaper, and that offered to just start out with an exam before doing allergy testing. I called them today to give them my information, but they need my dog’s medical records. I told them I would call or e-mail his regular vet and ask them to fax his records to them. But I’m wondering, are they going to have to have my mom’s permission or anything? She’s always the one taking him to that vet (yeah, she takes him for checkups and stuff but still won’t even ask about his paws) and I know her name must be the one in their system. I’m legally an adult (just barely) but I guess I’m not like, the dog’s “legal” owner. So will they be able to fax over the info just from me asking? I just really don’t want them to call my mom or tell me I need to ask her or anything. I don’t want to tell my mom my plans right now because I don’t want her to try to stop me from taking him. I got the appointment scheduled for a time that she’ll be gone, tutoring her kids (yeah, she tutors little elementary kids, yet she treats a dog like this, isn’t that scary?)
And also, I did try to talk to my mom a long time ago (back when this all first started) and convince her to just take him to the vet because he probably had allergies. But that’s when she just insisted that the dog does it for no reason/out of boredom. I had gotten really upset at her because she had just slapped him for licking his paws, yet she just rolled her eyes and was offended that I thought she was “mistreating” him. So yeah, I know this is my only option, because I cannot reason with my mom or convince her to take care of the dog herself. I’m the dog’s only hope.
I just turned 18. That’s what I meant by just barely lol. But yeah, I am legally an adult.
I really don’t think he’s bored because he will literally just lay around and lick/bite for hours non-stop. You can try to give him a toy that he likes and even then he just keeps licking and gnawing. But I have also heard that dogs can do it due to anxiety. So I do believe it started out as an allergy, but with the way my mom treats him, she may have just made the problem worse, because she likely made the dog anxious and that could have made him lick even more. Also, the dog’s feet are usually red and inflamed.

ask the vet that you are going to be taking him to to call your old vet and have them fax the information to them directly. saves you having to call your vet and they can get all the records they need. easy.

I went to a checkup – JUST a checkup for my dog, and I needed to be 18. I asked if they could just let it go anyways since they knew my mom. They still had to fax her a forum and she had to sign it and fax it back….

since the dog is hers and in her name, the vet may not fax information without her consent. You can call and ask, but odds are they will want her consent.

the dog could be chewing on his feet out of boredom.. OCD behavours can include self-mutilation. In which case the dog needs more exercize or mental stimulation to correct it- not slapped around. Try redirecting the dog with exercise or some other activity when you catch him licking or chewing.

But allergies are more likely, I agree. Food allergies are more likely the cause. If possible, try switching brands.. (im sure if you just started buying the dog food, mom would feed it?) You can also try a lil benedryll and see if that helps.. 1 mg per pound of body weight- read the labelling to figure out how many mg is in a dose, and adjust the dose (I *think* children’s has 12 mg per dose, and adult is 25?) if its a small dog, its easier to use the children’s liquid to get the proper dose)

These are some suggestions I offer until you can figure out how to get the dog to the vet for an opinion.

another option- go with mom to the dog’s next checkup. While the vet is doing the checkup mention the feet chewing right there.

What do you mean by “just barely” a legal adult? You’re either 18 or not. Many vets will not deal with underage persons as underage persons cannot legally own a dog or sign contracts. You can always call your regular vet and explain the situation – they can tell you outright wether or not they can transfer the records for you.

My dog is registered at the vet under my mom’s name (since she owned our previous dog) but i am allowed to make appointments, bring my dog in, etc etc without her being present. But i am 22.

Chewing on the feet CAN be an obsessive disorder caused by boredom. Can also be allergies or some sort of sensitivity to something in the home (detergent, carpet cleaner, or even outdoor stuff like road salt.)

You could always try to schedule an appointment with the current vet JUST for an examination. Allergy testing wasn’t even recommended with my dog (who also chewed her feet) – the vet just said to change to a food with no corn, no grains, and a fish/potato base. She stopped chewing for the most part, although once and a while we suspect she steps in something that irritates her feet and she licks a little bit (never to the point of blood though.)

Plenty you can try long before trying allergy testing (which CAN be costly) including change of food, increase of activity, etc etc.

You can just take him to the new vet and don’t have to have the records. Tell the new vet the situation and ask if they really need the records and if so they’ll have an idea how to get them.
It’s great that you are willing and able to step up and take care of this sad situation.

But is the dog bored? Sounds like this could be an obsession. Bored or anxious dogs can develop obsessions so it may not be an allergy. Be sure to discuss this scenario with the vet as well.

What do you think? Answer below please!