Zoobiquity

What Veterinarians Know That Doctors Don't
Here's a physician who actually understands the gap and is trying to decrease it. Check out her book here. There is even a zoobiquity conference for the increase in discussion of shared disorders and increasing health concerns. We all have a similar mission, so why not help each other's field out.

Veterinary Professionals Are Medical Professionals

Similarities To Your Physician

The behavior of some clients is typically our biggest frustration in my profession. I don't know what it about a pet that makes the average person lose all common sense. I just want to ask some of these people if they would ever treat their own personal doctor the way they treat the veterinary professionals because I'm pretty sure the answer would be no. Here is a list of the 5 biggest client-related issues we deal with:

1) Information over the phone
We are not a hotline; a vet or  vet tech cannot give you information over the phone. Our definition of something may be different than yours. You don't call up your physician and ask you what is wrong with you over the phone without setting up an appointment, do you? We need to use all of our senses in order to diagnose your pet. If we give you advice that ends up hurting your pet because it had a condition that you didn't tell us about, I doubt you're going to be happy.

2) Diagnosing you
I did not go to medical school - I cannot diagnose the lesion on you. If it's similar to a lesion on your pet, then guess what I'm going to tell you - That's what your physician is for.  I can tell you if what your pet has can be transferred to you and that you may have it, but that doesn't exempt you from going to your doctor. You don't ask your physician to diagnose your pet, do you?

3) Paying your bill
Clients are usually surprised that they have to pay their bill up front and that we don't bill them. Clients have abused the billing privilege in the past, so you will rarely find a vet that won't ask for payment up front.  When you go to your personal doctor's office, you usually still have to pay some sort of co-pay up front. That being said, there is insurance!

4) There is insurance
There is pet insurance out there! It isn't for everyone though. If you have a breed that is prone to a certain disease, then hopefully you can find an insurance company that will help you pay for any expenses as your pet gets older. You have to look into the different plans and decide what works best for you. VIP, Trucompanion, ASPCA, Nationwide, are just a few big name companies out there. Just do your research. Here's a link for a few others: Pet Insurance

5) Respect
I can guarantee that the way some clients talk to us, is not the way they would talk to their own doctor.  Yelling, complaining, demanding, or neediness. We understand you're upset, but you don't need to be rude in order to get what you want.

We are here for you, we are in the business of customer service, so we want to help you decide what is best for your pet. We will give you all of your options, we aren't going to decide for you. We can steer you in the best direction for your pet, but ultimately you have the ability to make the decision, please take your vets advice. They don't have the same relationship that you have with your pet, yet they still want to do everything they can to help your pet. If that isn't compassion, then I don't know what is.

Senior Puppies

So your puppy isn't exactly a puppy anymore...now what?  Senior status is dependent upon breed and size. Larger breed dogs reach seniority around 6-7 years old while smaller breed dogs and cats reach seniority around 8-9 years old.  A general rule of thumb is that your pet is considered senior when they reach half their life expectancy. So what can I do?

There are some changes that are going to be made.

1) Activity - Stairs and ramps may be a soon-to-be purchase. Arthritis is a common process that most pets go through.  Anything to help ease their hips and elbows and allow them to climb up onto the couch to cuddle with you.  Pets still need exercise though, just not as much as they have been getting.  Your older pet will be sleeping more and losing muscle tone. Their metabolism slows down but in order to keep them from gaining weight then exercise is still key. This leads me into my next point.

2) Diet - It's time to switch to a senior diet. When most pet owners ask me when it's time to switch, it's the time to switch. Senior formulas have less calories and more fiber; some even have joint supplements.  If your pet happens to develop a disease or dysfunction, there are most likely diets out there that will help benefit them. Anything from kidney disease, to diabetes, and gastrointestinal issues. Your vet isn't trying to make money by suggesting these diets, they are trying to help prolong your pets life. 

3) Supplements - Does my pet need them? If you appreciate the holistic approach to aging, then there are a few supplements to consider. 

 *Milk Thistle - liver health

 *Curcumin - brain, joint, and anti-cancer properties

 *Fish Oil - healthier skin and coat, mental health, improved immunity

 *Glucosamine - joint health

4) Mental - There is such a thing as Canine Dysfunction Syndrome aka Alzhemiers. Older dogs may get more anxious or confused. They can loose control of their bladder (especially spayed females), appear "lost", restlessness or roaming, or even uncharacteristic behavior.  Your pet isn't able to see or hear as well as he/she use to, so it's understandable that they seem more lost and confused.  Be patient. All they want to do is please you more than ever. 

5) Veterinary Visits -  You will be frequenting the vet more often. A good recommendation is to visit every 6 months for a well visit. Your vet will also start suggesting annual bloodwork. Even if you pet is acting normal, you don't know what's going on internally. Medicine is an amazing thing and we can help prolong our pets life by catching any serious illness early. Bloodwork will show kidney, liver, blood, and electrolyte function. This handy file here can help you better understand what your vet is looking for but don't worry if there are slight elevations in some values. This may just be your  pet's normal value, so if your vet says he/she's not worried, then just monitor the values and start questioning it when the values start increasing at each visit. Dental cleanings and mass removals may be more often now as well. 

6) Hard decisions - That moment is going to come. That decision that no one wants to make and as a vet I cannot make it for you. You know your pet best, you know what your pets' quality of life has been and what it is now. There are various sources that will help you make that decision and assess quality of life, such as this Laps of Love survey.  

Just know that your vet is there with you every step of the way as your pet ages and will do whatever is best for your pet. Enjoy every moment, you know your pet will be doing the same. 

Every Time

On a serious note, this week, another veterinarian committed suicide. Our profession, my profession, has one of the highest suicide rates. The following words have been spreading across veterinarian's Facebook profile's all week. 

"Every time you say vets are money grubbing, or 'too expensive' or just in it for the money.

Every time you decline all diagnostics yet demand to know 'what's wrong with my pet'

Every time at a social function or other completely inappropriate place you find out that someone is a vet you ask them for free advice about your animal.

Every time you feel justified posting a shitty practice or vet review when everything was done according to the standard of care but your pet died anyway.

Every time YOUR lack of preventative care resulted in your pets early death yet you blame the veterinarian.

Every time they get in early and stay late and work an 80 hour week because your pet that had been ill for days suddenly becomes an emergency at 5pm on a Friday and you demand to be seen - claiming these heartless vets won't treat your baby.

Every time someone says 'why didn't you become a real doctor?'

Every time someone complains about the cost of veterinary care... comparing human medicine and insurance subsidies to pet ownership (totally voluntary btw).

Every time that someone doesn't pay their bill and thinks that they are entitled not to because pet ownership is their 'right'.

Every time someone walks in to a clinic and threatens to 'sue your ass if you make one mistake with my baby'.

Every time a graduate vet looks at the hundreds of thousands of dollars in crippling debt and listens to clients driving Mercedes and BMWs complain about the cost of a spay using good anesthetic care and adequate pain management.

Every time... You are part of the problem.

The problem is suicide in veterinarians. Most of us went to veterinary school because we care. We have a calling to care.... but there is a dark and expensive cost to compassion.

Think before you act or speak.

Author:Tamara Vetro Widenhouse DVM"