Xeney's story reminded me of our own experiences with UCD. Izaak presented with epilepsy as a 4 mos old puppy and we took him there a couple of times in the middle of the night, that being when grand mals frequently occur. One time, he obligingly had one right there in the clinic proving that mom and dad weren't over-exaggerating his symptoms. Anyway, we discussed a MRI but asked if the results would change the treatment plan. The answer was no change as we had just started phenobarbital so had had no time to get the dosage stabilized. The MRI might provide some answers as to the cause of the epilepsy (which was very new to the standard poodle breed at the time) but wouldn't change the treatment. The vet was very supportive of our decision to wait. Back then a doggy MRI would have been a couple of thousand dollars, and we didn't see how it would change Izaak's quality of life at the time.

Guess the point of this story is that the UCD vets were very reasonable in considering all the options and benefits without pushing revenue into the system.

Our regular vet (Joan Teitler) sold her practice so she could work there. One of the most intuitive vets I've ever met. Amazing the diagnoses she comes to just seeing the dog walk in the door, and the best follow-up of any doc I've ever met, for hoomans or aminals.