Veterinary Staff vs. Everyone Else

Picture this. You work as an accountant and have no experience with cars and mechanics. A newspaper flyer for a local mechanic shop advertises that they can change your oil for $40. This sounds like a pretty good deal to you so you bring your car in for the oil change. After taking a look under the hood, the mechanic tells you that in addition to the oil change, he recommends you change your oil filter and since winter is approaching he would like to use a high-quality oil. While he’s at it he offers to put in some antifreeze, and some other things that you don’t understand because you’re not a car person. Of course, the mechanic is offering you the best possible options for your vehicle to be winter ready and in it’s best shape. As someone who is not familiar with mechanics, you trust his better judgement and give him permission to do these things. When the time comes for you to pay, the bill has suddenly jumped from $40 to $120, however, you rest easy knowing that you did what the mechanic recommended and your car is good-to-go for the winter season. It may even last you a little longer because of it! You could have just watched a YouTube video on how to do the oil change yourself, but you made the decision to go to a professional.

So why does going to the Veterinarian have to be different? 

As veterinary professionals, we understand that you have your pets best interest in mind and want to do what is best for them. Here’s the thing. We do to! We love your snuggly cat or your nervous dog who accidentally pees on the exam room floor! WE LOVE THEM! They are why we joined this field of work. It’s our passion to make sick pets better so they can return to their happy healthy lives. We want to do everything in our power to prevent them from getting sick. 

So often, clients tell us about things that they have read on the internet, what someone at the pet store has recommended to them, or what a friend-of-a-friend did to make their cat stop having hairballs. We get it. You want the best for your pet and you want to be involved in learning about the best options. The difference is, all of these other sources of information a) may not be true, or b) aren’t tailored for YOUR pet. Veterinarians go to school for a whopping eight years. We call them doctors for a reason, they have done the proper schooling to earn that title. I’m sure that when your personal doctor tells you things about your health, you listen. Veterinarians are the same, only for your dog, cat, lizard, bird, etc. After finishing school, they go to conferences and keep studying, in order to stay current with the latest scientific discoveries. They are members of various associations and colleges that hold them accountable and ensure that they are practicing the best medicine. If they don’t, they go under discipline and are not allowed to practice medicine. Registered Veterinary Technicians go to school for two years to study the nursing side of the veterinary profession. They, too, are members of associations and are required to continue their education and are held accountable for their actions. If they put a pet in harms way or allow an animal so suffer, they will also be under discipline and not be allowed to practice medicine. As veterinary professionals, we learn how to suit a treatment plan or a diet recommendation to your particular pet. Healthcare is not a one-size-fits-all situation. We have your pet’s best interests in mind.

That being said, what worked for your friend-of-a-friend’s cat won’t necessarily work for yours. The home-made concoction of herbs and oils won’t necessarily make your cats cold go away. And I don’t want to step on any toes here, but we can’t guarantee that the part-time people at the pet stores know what is best for your pet’s health either. Chances are that they aren’t a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or an RVT (Registered Veterinary Technicians). They may just know that pet’s love the taste of the food, owners love the way the food looks like a fresh pot of stew, and the bag claims that it doesn’t contain any corn. If the food bag says it doesn’t contain corn, that must mean corn is a bad thing, right? No! Back in the 90’s, pet food companies started being allowed to make negative claims on their food bags and this just confuses owners! In this scenario, veterinary professionals have actually learned about all the benefits that corn has to offer once it’s been broken down so that all of the goodness on the inside of the kernel is accessible. Corn is actually an excellent source of antioxidants, protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids! This is just one example of many on why it is crucial to ask your veterinarian about any and all things ‘pets’. The pet store may have plenty of things that are great for your pet such as treats, leashes, beds, and collars. But if you wish to purchase something from the pet store that relates to your pet’s health, why not visit or call your veterinarian and get their take on it? If they aren’t familiar with the product, take a picture of it an email it to them, or better yet bring it in. If you want to know if you are feeding your cat the best food, bring the bag in and have one of the RVT’s or technicians do a nutritional analysis. If the person at the pet store told you about this amazing product that kills ticks and fleas, bring it to your Veterinarian to see if the medicinal ingredient is reputable. Just please, start trusting your veterinarian that he or she and their staff have nothing but your pets best interests in mind. 

Lakeshore Road Animal Hospital

2319 Lakeshore Road W, Oakville

289-837-0100