13 Things your vet won't tell you
BY Sue Carney
1st Jan 2015 Animals & Pets
When our beloved pets get ill we entrust them in the hands of veterinarians, it’s not too dissimilar to a trip to the doctors or the dentist as a human. As pet owners we are likely to lie and take liabilities in order to cover up our own mishaps and embarrassments. We ask vets their pet peeves, funny stories, and the judgements they make when you take your pet to the vet.
1. We know when you’re twisting the facts...
If your dog has a two-kilogram tumour hanging from his skin, don’t tell me it wasn’t there yesterday.
2. The reason your pet is fat is because you are...
I would never say that to someone in an exam room but the fact of the matter is if you have an owner who overeats and is inactive, they are very likely to have an obese pet.
3. We’re a vet hospital, not a dog hotel...
People will get upset because their dog got a sheet instead of two fluffy blankets. We’re just trying to get your dog better so he can come home and you can spoil him.
4. Would you like me to let my dog pee all over your house?
Why do people let their dogs pee all over the waiting room?
5. I was working in Saudi Arabia and one of our wealthy clients realised his six-month-old lion needed a vet...
They put it into a specially designed steel transport cage and carried it spitting and snarling into our waiting room – much to the amazement of the other pet owners who were patiently waiting with their cats and dogs.
6. My biggest peeve is people who won’t spend money...
...for their pet’s treatment because their pet was free to obtain.
7. The cheaper, over-the-counter flea and tick treatments are extremely dangerous...
I’ve seen animals having violent seizures after using them; I’ve seen animals die. Ironically, most of these animals still have live fleas crawling all over them.
8. Pet owners seem to start talking and asking questions the moment I put my stethoscope on...
And it always happens, without fail. It would seem obvious that if you have rubber earpieces in your earholes that you can’t hear!
9. We know what you're feeding your dog...
We removed the largest granny panties I have ever seen from the intestine of a Labrador. The owner was very embarrassed!
10. If people are going to have big and potentially aggressive dogs...
...they should spend time training them and understanding how to interpret their dog’s behaviour.
11. Our number one frustration is when clients don’t follow our instructions after bringing their pet to see us...
For instance, they stop treatment too soon, or don’t come back for a revisit. Then they complain the treatment hasn’t worked!
12. As the poet Ogden Nash says...
The trouble with a kitten is that it eventually becomes a cat. People should not get cute kittens or puppies unless they are prepared to look after them for life.
13. If you live in a one-bedroom apartment with no patio and minimal space...
...and you’re gone ten hours a day, getting a Great Dane may not be the best choice. Maybe start with a goldfish?
Keep the fleas away, shop Ionic Pet Brush, £19.99
Browse our pet shop here
