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Seeing Eye To Eye With Your Pet's VetOct 16 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Look beyond the impressive schooling, and even the winning bedside manner to see if your views, and the views of your vet-candidate jibe on crucial later life issues.
Two Epinions friends have recently lost beloved pets, and this editorial is dedicated to MrsFitts and dear, sweet Freeway, and Pogomom and her beloved Pogo(pup). This editorial applies to cats and the people they keep around to buy their food, kitty condos and catnip, as well as dog owners/former owners such as myself. As our pets live longer and longer lives, it is even more important to ask some tough questions up front when selecting a vet. Are Your Pet Care Philosophies Congruent? Most vets are competent at giving annual shots, physicals and caring for minor ailments such as foxtail-induced boils and cut paw pads. If you're not sure how, they will show you how to clip nails, and recommend the best heart worm/flea/parvo preparations available. The vast majority are compassionate and understanding, when a family desires to have a broken leg set, and gladly advocate getting that overly social pet spayed or neutered. Crunch time comes as your pet ages, and you still want the best, and most care provided. While open to discussing your older dog's failing kidneys, and need for a lower protein, easily digestible diet, (lamb and rice diets are frequently endorsed), some vets are not in favor of prolonging an aging pet's life, and you may find yourself at odds with that same smiling woman or man who always seemed so agreeable before. Before the beloved creature put tendrils of unconditional love around your heart. and became so much more than a mere family pet. While the ripe old age of 12 or 13 could be expected as a healthy pet's due lifespan, newer medications and advances in nutrition have let us have 3, 5 or even 7 more years of togetherness and belonging. Please be sure and discuss your personal philosophy of pet care, expected medical intervention, and the lengths you are prepared to go to, in the name of love. Yes, your views may change, (and likely become even more emotional), through the years, but as with health care in general, an up front conversation can help you weed out potential vet candidates and make for less harsh surprises in times of medical emergency, or as the end inevitably nears. As an R.N., I strongly advocate all people to make their personal health wishes known through legal instruments such as Living Will or Advance Directives. Although we will be doing this for our loyal furry companions, it makes good sense to appraise a potential vet of your expectations and desires. In Conclusion If your choice comes down to two equally qualified vets, with similarly winning warmth and personality, their philosophies on end-stage geriatric, and major trauma events should be important as well. These seldom-asked questions often provide the pet owner with that final piece of crucial information toward making the best, informed choice of right veterinarian.  |
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