Why are people quick to say "call a vet now?"?

Question

I had asked a question earlier about giving my dog too much of her meds. If I'm asking a question here, wouldn't you think it was for a reason?
Reason #1 It was 4am. If Devora knows a vet open at 4am, please tell me.
Reason#2 quick answer
Reason#3 more than one response feed back.

Before you are quick to jump down someone's back by saying "take her to a vet", "Call a vet", or anything like that, consider THE TIME ZONE! EVERYONE is NOT on your time zone!!

Answer 1

You're right. And animals always seem to get sick late at night or during a long weekend! "Talk to the vet" is great advice but not everyone can access a vet or even afford to go to the vet. I try to encourage people to make sure the animal is eating and drinking (at least until help is available)! Also, it doesn't hurt to contact rescue groups because a lot of these people will give advice over the phone. I even encourage people to call the zoo or local universities and colleges for advice.

Answer 2

Some Vets Are 24 Hrs Clinics, Regardless All Vets Have A 24 Hr Emergency Line

Answer 3

Remember that most of us are not in your time zone either. Besides you can wait until the vet opens if you want to call.

Depending on the situation, in this case-amount of medicine- its not just a simple answer that we can tell you. Vets know more about chemical interactions from meds, the specific conditions in the dog, and how medicines will affect the dog than any of us do.

And most of the time you have to say call a vet because too many people think they can try to play vet and will probably end up effing everything up.

Answer 4

Diagnosing an animal is a hands-on thing. Even a veterinarian cannot diagnose an animal via the internet, they need to actually see the animal and possibly run tests, etc., depending on what is wrong.

Now if your dog is having something less severe, like diarrhea, that isn't concern for immediate vet attention, only if it goes on for more than 2 days or so without improving do you need to see a vet. When people come on her and say things like their dog is shaking, can't move, coughing up blood, that is an "see a vet now". (In the case of your question, the giving of extra medicine, a double dose is *likely* not enough to OD your dog. They typically don't prescribe high enough doses that would risk OD if you double-dosed them once. Don't make a habit out of it though. Your vet should have a 24 hr number for such questions, you will want to get that number written down for future reference.)

If you *really* want to find a vet, you can, even at 4am. There are 24 hr emergency vet clinics in most larger cities. Even when I lived in a small town (around 1000 people), there were a couple times we had to call the vet in the middle of the night for an emergency and the vet, right out of bed and still in her pajamas, treated our animal.

Answer 5

No matter the time zone, there are emergency vet services and vets on call to be able to answer questions. Asking for advice on the internet is NOT a good idea and even those who are qualified to offer a CORRECT answer..we can't legally do so..we have not seen your pet, we have not done an exam, we do not know your pets medical history.

A lot of info given out on places like this could be very harmful even fatal to your pet if it were to be followed..your vet or an emergency vet NEAR you are the only sources of info that you should be following in regards to a medical issue that arises with your pet.

Answer 6

That's not the point. Some questions just should not be asked on here because (1) there is very unlikely to be a vet on here answering vet questions, although some people CLAIM to be vets; (2) even a qualified vet can't make a diagnosis over the computer. So, perhaps you shouldn't ask in the first place. There are always 24-hour emergency veterinary services if you're too worried to wait until the morning. Asking a bunch of well-meaning strangers over the internet could result in a dead pet.

Answer 7

I always say I think it's best to call a vet in any of those questions just so that people don't think I'm suggesting leaving a sick animal without medical treatment (I don't). Also, lots of places have 24 hour vet emergency centres, but I know some places don't. To me, it's usually a case of get hold of a vet wherever possible and necessary, otherwise try ___ such a thing.
People are probably just trying to give you the best advice they can, don't take it personally.

Answer 8

I didn't answer your first question as I didn't feel qualified to do so. Yes of course, we all appreciate the time zone thing, but probably most of us are not medically trained and therefore our concern is with your dog and who best to help her. If you call the surgery, there should be a 24 hour answering service, for emergencies or they will give you another number to call to get help. I understand your panic, but we are all around the world and are powerless to help you in a practical way. I hope your dog is okay now.

Answer 9

It's all short words,

"call" "a" "vet" "now"

So it's easy for them to spell.

Plus some people know very little about medical care and are just typing to type and don't want to admit it.

That's my theory on why they say it. Because sometimes it is really not a good answer.
"my dog ate an onion will it die?" "Oh My God! Call a Vet Now!"

Can you think of any other reason rather than lack of intelligence that a person would answer that way to that question? Plus the words in the answer only have a few letters so they can spell it too. I can't even figure out why people ask those types of questions.

Answer 10

I know it can be so annoying, there is such a thing as first aid for animals.
However, having said that I know what I'd do if it was my pet and it's difficult to be exact online anyway. I wouldn't like to be the one to advise someone and then have their pet die because it didn't go to the vet or the advice I gave was wrong.