Why can't I just tell the vet "no"?

[here to stay]

Tessie has had problems with allegies.  To lots of stuff according to the tests.  So she sent on allegy shots for months.  After about a year, I saw no significant improvement and stopped.

When the vet was last here I asked about an antihistamine for her.  The vet said she would order it but when I called to follow up, I was told that she had talked to the other practise vets and they thought I had stopped too soon.  Since the antihistamine reduces the effectiveness if the shots, no antihistamine for Tess.

So now my 27 year old horse is back on shots that I seriously doubt will work and in the meantime no medication for relief.   Why can't I just say that by the time I can prove to them that the shots don't work, the poor horse will be rubbing herself raw for mist of the rest if her life?  Her main problem is the midges for which there is no shot.

[Maura]

You could even call the manufacturer of the antihistamine and ask them.

[Melissa]

Can you just order it yourself? Or get a second opinion?

[Ken]

It looks like antihistamines are prescription only.

EDIT: but, I also just found this which talks about over-the-counter: myhorseforum.com/threads/horse-safe-antihistamines.350929/

[here to stay]

The trouble is that the vet told me that the antihistamine that they provided me previously might have prevented the shots from working. So no antihistamine at all. This, according to the vet, was the advice of the allergy shot manufacturer.

It's just that I really don't believe the vet but am not sure enough to disregard instructions. Almost sure enough but not quite.

Ken , thanks for the link. It was a good discussion.

[aoconnor]

You are the one who knows Tessie the best. If the allergy shots aren't working, the heck with the vet (who is making a KILLING on the cost of each shot, I assure you), and start her on an antihistamine. There are plenty of over the counter ones that can be used. Platinum Performance has a really good one out, it is pricey though. But I used it very successfully on one of my horses with allergies. I also find that worming mine monthly with ivermectin actually helps them with allergies, as it cleans them out of parasites that can keep them from properly digesting the medications they take for allergies. I know it sounds odd, but it really does help.

I'm so sorry Tessie suffers with allergies so much. It its hard to watch the oldsters struggle.