IF YOU CAN’T TRUST YOUR VETERINARIAN, THEN IT’S PROBABLY TIME TO FIND A NEW ONE!
- Take the time to answer questions – This is a big deal! If you don’t understand what they are saying or recommending, ask for a further breakdown.
- Follow up – While anyone in the veterinary field understands that veterinarians are incredibly busy individuals, it’s important that someone from your veterinary team take the time to follow up with you, and ask how your pet is doing.
- Advocate for your pet – Your veterinarian should care! They should be creating a plan that is BEST for you and your pet.
Still Unsure?
- Find a different veterinarian for a second opinion!
- Find and create a “team” of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Many vets have an area of special or focused interest. By creating a team of vets that work well with you (and also together!), you are utilizing the “best of the best”. Empower yourself and your pet!
HERE ARE FIVE COMMON SYMPTOMS THAT INDICATE YOUR THAT YOUR PET SHOULD SEE A VETERINARIAN!
VOMITING AND DIARRHEA
If your pet is experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea, it is a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian. Both vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms for a very long list of diseases or illnesses. Animals with ongoing episodes of vomiting and diarrhea are likely to become dehydrated and malnourished, leaving them compromised.
INAPPETANCE
If the dog that turns his nose up to nothing suddenly stops eating, this is a good time to go to the vet. An abdominal palpation by the vet may indicate that your furry friend has an upset belly; an oral exam may indicate dental disease or a fractured tooth. We all require a healthy, consistent diet for optimal health. If your furr-child stops eating, it’s in their best interest to figure out why.
HIDING
If your normally affectionate pet is now hiding, reclusive, and uninterested in interaction, this is a red flag. Animals hide for various reasons, one big reason is for pain. Cats and dogs are incredibly stoic, and often hide pain for a very long time. This is their way of telling you that something’s up, and a veterinarian can help decipher what exactly is going on.
LUMPS AND BUMPS
As our pets age, they tend to collect more lumps and bumps. While some masses are not a concern, others may be malignant (cancerous). The only way to know for sure is to have a veterinarian examine and aspirate (take samples of the cells) the lump. This is a great excuse for your dog or cat to receive a massage! Massage your animal once a month — if you feel a lump or bump that wasn’t their during the previous massage, it’s time to get your vet’s professional opinion.
SCRATCHING
Itchy pets are all too common, and really a challenge to address. I work with a holistic veterinarian, and we see (and help!) itchy animals ALL the time. Sometimes it’s as easy as switching foods, and other times the resolution is more of a challenge. It’s important to rule out allergies, parasites, ear infections or something else .. seeing your pet in this kind of distress is so frustrating.
