With spring here and summer fast approaching, our thoughts turn to warm sunshine, the gentle sound of birds singing, peepers peeping, flowers in bloom and not to be forgotten, the ticks that harbor Lyme disease.

Maia, my Golden Retriever, has been my faithful companion and partner for the past 13 years. I thought I was about to loose her in the fall of 2004. At first, her symptoms seem to indicate that old age was finally setting in. Her rear legs seemed to weaken as she was having difficulty getting up into a standing position. This went on for a couple of days. Then, quite suddenly, her front right leg could no longer support her weight. The onset was quick and the level of deterioration was severe. At this point I was worried and frightened because Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer, and I was sure my old friend had succumbed to bone cancer.

My husband and I had planned a short vacation but I couldn’t bare the thought of leaving her with the pain she was obvious experiencing. I placed a frantic telephone call to my veterinarian and, fortunately, they fit Maia in right away. Following a thorough physical exam, Maia was found to have normal vitals, and the in-house test for Lyme disease proved negative. There was no tangible reason for her lameness.

However, even though the test was negative, my veterinarian decided to treat Maia’s symptoms as if she had tested positive for Lyme disease. The treatment was a short course of antibiotics accompanied by a mild steroid. The veterinarian stated that if the symptoms cleared up, she would then extend the antibiotic treatment for a full six weeks. The degree of pain that my dog was demonstrating gave me little reason to be hopeful, but I trusted my veterinarian and would follow through with her recommendations.

Less than 24 hours later Maia showed marked improvement and within three days all signs of lameness were gone and my old girl was her joyful self once again. The antibiotic treatment was extended resulting in a complete recovery.

Veterinarians are not gods. They are fallible human beings as we all are. For this reason it is of the utmost importance to have a good working relationship with your animal’s veterinarian. Certain diseases – like Lyme, which is difficult to diagnose due to a high incidence of false negative blood tests – dictate an immediate and radical form of treatment. Other times, extensive diagnostic testing is required. Then there are cases such as Maia’s where treating the symptoms was suggested even though all test results came back negative.

Veterinarians can only rely on their own physical examinations, their experience, intuition and the pet owner’s observations. As pet owners we know our pet’s habits, how they move, and how they react when they feel well versus when they feel pain.

When you visit your veterinarian, don’t be afraid to offer your concerns and your observations. Veterinarians went into this line of work, which serves others because they had a desire to help animals. Those who have remained true to their oath will seriously consider the information you have to offer.

Sometimes veterinarians forget that their job affects our emotions. However, most veterinarians genuinely care about the animals that they treat. I have met very few who loose site of their original love of their profession. Most of these people are compassionate human beings that are rushed because of an overloaded schedule. Sometimes, we as the consumer need to gently nudge them back into feeling the compassion that brought them to this profession.

Maia is still wonderfully active and healthy thanks to the caring staff and a caring veterinarian who took the time to listen and look a little deeper. I know that when the inevitable happens, I will not be ready for her to leave me, but as of the writing of this article we have had another eight months together. I am truly grateful for I cherish every single day that I am given with this friend who has given me so much.

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.