Words to live by...

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" -- Dr. Seuss

I saw this quote on the bottom of an email, part of the salutation line and thought how fitting this is for every day life and can be applied in veterinary medicine.  

Often times clients are embarrassed to ask questions or share their pet's history with the doctor because they are fearful that they will be perceived as if they did something wrong or did not take care of their pet.  This is not the case, by the time you walk through the doors of a specialty and emergency hospital, we know you care, otherwise why would you be there? Regardless of the circumstance of how you and your pet arrived, we are grateful you made it so you can get the answers you are looking for.  

"Say what you mean, mean what you say" 

This is also important.  Saying that your cat has been straining "forever" is a very long time.  In order for us to help, we need to know is "forever" a day, a week, a month? Please be direct and specific and we will do the same. 

"They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care"

That one applies for all of us in veterinary medicine.  Once a client walks in, they know to expect the most advance medical care we can provide, what the clients want is a person who talks to them in a language they can understand.  Someone who cares for them as well as their pet.  Someone who helps educate them about diabetes, epilepsy, or whatever the issue may be.  

We are all in this together and we all have the same goal, the best care that can be provided for your pet! 

Education is the key

So we all have heard and have said ourselves, "there is no such thing as a stupid question".

I would say that statement is accurate and if you don't ask the question, how do you know the answer?

I bring this up today because in emergency and specialty medicine,  often times decisions are made in part, based on finances.

I never , never, pass up an opportunity to speak with elementary school, middle, and high school kids about animal health and safety.  I have added finances to this talk, yes, to 1st grade kids I will talk to them about pet care and financial obligations. Why?  Because no one did this for me!

Like anyone in this field, I grew up bringing home every stray animal as well as wildlife.  If the neighbor's dog got loose, they knew to come to our house to pick it up, but not without a lecture from a very precocious young girl.  Later, as a teen working as a staff member at a small town veterinary hospital, I remember thinking to myself "why doesn't the doctor fix it for free if he knows how? Why doesn't she do it because she loves pets?"

Little did I know that in most cases they did, and when the clients were charged, it was little to nothing.  The effect this had on the clients went unnoticed by some, greatly appreciated by others.  Although I am sure it made the doctor feel great to do this, it affected the hospital negatively.  Without the income coming in, there is no way to pay the staff, the electric bill, upgrade equipment, order food and medical supplies, etc.  A hospital simply can not provide the best care for free and keep their doors open.

Medicine has a price.  It is expensive.

When I was a manager, a client asked me once, "you expect me to pay $$ for 30 minutes of the doctors time?", my answer was no, I expect the doctor to be able to provide you with a list of things that may be going on with your pet after examining them within 30 minutes. We may not have an answer but we have a direction to go in.  You are paying for their knowledge.  Their time is worth something.  Their ability to know what to do next is worth something.

Back to the education part of this blog, people spend millions of dollars on their pets. That money is not spent on veterinary care alone, it is spent on things like Halloween costumes, rain coats, doggie massage, etc.  Don't take my word for it, Time Business did an entire article on this alone:

http://business.time.com/2012/10/04/millions-on-pet-halloween-costumes-why-we-spend-more-and-more-on-pets/  

I have no issue with spending money on the "extras" for your feline or canine companion, however, it should NOT take the place of spending money on preventative care.

If you can afford a gucci bag to carry your dog in without taking food off the table for your family that is great! You work hard for your money, spend it how you wish but please, please, please make sure your animal is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and in good health.  Please make sure that you know what is normal behavior for your pet so you recognize what is not normal.  Please know what medications your pet is on and their dose.  Please ask your veterinarian what food is best for your pet and why, take note of their daily routine, if they are need training and behavior modification ask for help, it is out there.

Maya Angelou  is famous for saying "when you know better you do better".

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3503.Maya_Angelou

Education is the key.  We need to educate ourselves and share that with others.  There is not a day that goes by that someone does not teach me something new.  It may be a fact about a specific breed of a dog or cat that I am not familiar with or it may be about new technology.  I want to know better, I want to do better.  If we can all do that, we are then all part of the health care team for our pets that mean so much to us.

(for more on this topic there is an ongoing blog at http://www.angryvet.com/the-cost-of-veterinary-medicine )