What's wrong with calling your Vet?

Question

I just don't get it. Why aren't people seeking proper medical help for their dogs? Is it because they don't like their Vet, don't trust their advice?

I think it is great to come here asking for advice on Training, Food, Toys, Adoption questions......but for medical advice?

Can someone please help me to understand why you would come on here and ask strangers who may not even have a dog for help with your sick one? I'm not talking about advice on clipping your dog's nails or fleas...I'm talking about Parvo, Seizures, Labor- the serious situations. Thanks!

Answer 1

Most vets won't give too much information over the phone they are asking here for others experience.

Parvo can and has been treated in homes, seizures unless they are severe and not stopping there is no need to panic. That's easier said than done when one of mine seized for the first time.

Im more worried about the trolls asking the stupid questions that everyone answers and gets all worked up.

I did rush to the vet once with whip worm but it was a 80 pound anatolian with liquid ???? I wanted someone else to take care of that.

Answer 2

My sister is a vet, and she won't give any more than the most basic advice - the stuff you can find in any pet book - over the phone. It's unethical and often illegal to make diagnosis over the phone without actually seeing the animal.

So, for someone whom has little money, or has little access to transport, or simply has a long way to go to reach a vet (not everyone lives in an urban area - Some of my sister's clients live places that are literally only reachable by plane or boat!), the web represents a first chance at triage. "Can the problem be dealt with at home?" they wonder, and so they ask, and hope for a straight answer.

For other people, I'm sure, it's simple cluelessness or laziness. I'm not generally in a position to tell whom are the people legitimately asking for help because they have limits on them, and who are the people that just need a good swift boot to the bum, so I generally try to give a straight answer. Most of the time, anyway.

*edit*
doglover:
Do not try to misrepresent what I said. Check my above post. See where it says "basic"?
Basic first aid is *not* complicated advice, and you know it - It's available in any library, and is the kind of advice that is ALWAYS ethical to offer.

In the "my dog is bleeding" scenario, she'd collect the basics (where? why? how fast?), give the necessary basic instructions on how to respond, and set an immediate emergency visit with the on-call vet. If she's the on-call, she then hauls her carcass to the clinic to meet the patient (assuming it's not working hours and she's there already). This is something she does all the time. Even when suffering from kidney stones. Even in the middle of an Alaskan winter night. Even when deeply sleep deprived from emergency calls.

You're either pushing an agenda and trying to make me (or my sister) 'wrong,' or are being willfully obtuse. I don't care which; either way I deeply resent your poor manners. Shame on you.

Answer 3

to Larid C: if your sister is a vet your telling me that if I called and said "my dog is bleeding, I don't know what to do?" she would tell me "I don't know either try checking a dog book?" or would she say "Why don't you bring your dog in so I can look at him?" here is an example of a time I called the vet for something that scared me, I rub my dogs feet with bag balm to keep them soft but when I turned around my dog ate a pea sized amount from the can. I called the vet right away and told them, the first thing they said is how much did he eat(they thought he ate it all)when I told them they said he would be just fine. so your saying that if that had happened your sister wouldn't give the same advice? Lots of these questions could be answered over the phone "my dog might have another puppy in her, it's been hours" the vet would likely tell them to bring the dog in. In my opinion if your vet won't give you help on the phone, I mean if you have to bring your dog in then you have to, but if he won't then your vet is only in it for the money(because to take a phone call is free) somethings need to be seen, yes, but they can help you make payments. If a vet is truly in it for the love of animals they do anything, my vet makes my dogs regular appointment the last one because he knows he will be with us for over an hour because I ask so many questions it's crazy, but he answers every one and NEVER makes me feel stupid or rushed. Every one should have a good vet, and if you don't it's time to get a new one for your animals sake!

Answer 4

Some people want to ask if it may be parvo or serious situations before they go straight to the Vet. Going to the Vet does cost money these days. Asking other peoples opinion is just something alot of people do before they take a unnecessary trip to the doctor.

Answer 5

I would just let people know it doesn't cost one cent to call your vet for advice even an emergency vet we have many of times even 3o'clock in the morning the( emergency one of coarse) all I'm say in if its about the money at least call that's free then go from there on arrangement for payment if you have to bring them in i think people are to scared money wise they think there going to say bring them in and that's money right maybe some would be surprised if it could be resolved over the phone FREE just try it what you got to loose in fact it might just put your mind at ease maybe its not all that after all at least TRY is what I'm saying you never know old saying"ITS HARD KNOWING NOT KNOWING"
I would like to say if it is your REGULAR vet is the one who knows your animal has all there files he has the best ADVICE for your situation I WOULD TRUST MY VET OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON WHATEVER HIS RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT'S WHY HES MY VET!! FOR AN EMERGANCY OUR VET TAKES US RIGHT IN THEN NOT WAIT FOR AN APPIONTMENT WHAT KIND OF VET IS THAT?suicide line thanks for calling could you please HOLD LOL for laird c your sisters a vet and they only give information you can find in a book correct why is the people on this site or internet qulifyed more than the vet even over the phone I DONT THINK SO I THINK THE PHONE WOULD BE A BETTER CHANCE NO MATTER WHERE I LIVED SORRY I DISAGREE
To laird maybe you should read my post as well cause i think you must of misunderstood me thats why i got so defensive i just said call the vet first to find out if it was a serious enough situation to be seen by the vet of coarse but otherwise they CAN answer some problems NOT DIAGNOSE as i feel some people here try and make diagnosis that could result in a misdiagnosis and cause harm instead of help get what im trying to say?
your vet is the one who should tell you weather the situation is one to come in for or not i would only rely on his opinoin since he is my pets vet and knows my pets history
thats why im saying call your vet FIRST

Answer 6

You know what, as crazy as it may sound, some people may just not know what to do. Sometimes in the heat of the moment I get flustered and loose track of what I should be doing. Most cases these people probably need someone to tell them to call their vet. Which is fine. I'm not making excuses and I agree that in any serious situation your vet should be consulted I'm just shedding some light on why some people feel the need to seek help else where.

Answer 7

You would probably be surprised at how many people don't have a vet!! It's disgusting. I picked my vet before I ever rescued my dog and trust her fully. I can't imagine not having one for all of my "dumb" questions. Even though I don't have to call her often, there is peace of mind in knowing I could. Also, people have dogs that can't afford them or WON'T afford them, that's a completely different (dumber) problem.

Answer 8

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'm glad you see my point of view!! Are people just too lazy to get off their back ends and call or go see a vet for their poor sick pets?! It's really obvious the answers they are going to get so why bother coming on here asking questions like they do about their pets??

Answer 9

I don't know if this is the reason, but my dogs' EX vet would NOT give advice over the phone. Every time I would call, they would tell me to bring them in. Since I have found a new, and MUCH BETTER, vet, she gladly gives advice over the phone. She NEVER tells me to come in unless it is completely necessary! Maybe these people have vets like I used to... and in that case, FIND A NEW ONE!

Answer 10

I;m guess folks are asking here because they don't want to spend the money on a vet. If this in the case then one really needs to ask why they have the dog if they aren't willing to care for it.