Over the years, I’ve often heard people say they don’t feel a vet is necessary when an animal is sick, as they feel the animal will be fine and all they have to do is wait.
Vets, however, do so much more than just look at illnesses, and animals can react differently to distress, pain and suffering that humans do.
Looking at the animal and needs is so important. If you feel your pet has a problem, ensuring they are safe and feel comforted is the first step, then a call to a vet can help diagnose any potential serious condition which may be affecting your pet. The vet can do tests and diagnose the correct condition, as well as providing any necessary medication or treatments.
The best time to start your pet introduction to a vet is when they’re young, or as soon as you get them, to familiarise them with the environment and hopefully as a means to help reduce their stress on going to the vet. My own dog, fully blind since the age of 7, used to begin to shake like a leaf at the word ‘vet,’ being mentioned, and knew by which way I turned, ie either left or right from the local co-op, that it was a visit to the vet.
Vets can be there from the beginning. It’s also a good idea to build some trust with your practice. I used to quite like that my local vet referred to my pets using my surname, even the gerbils. Initial visits can be for a check up, weight, health and possibly vaccinations. This helps during an emergency, as the vet has all your pets details on their system and speeds up treatment where needed.
With a vet you can trust, with well trained staff, your pet will be safer. We only find that out, by using the services of a vet, by seeing their interactions – and making our own decisions on who we are comfortable with.
Don’t put off getting treatment in an emergency. Our pets deserve the same treatment as we’d give ourselves, and if the worst happens, call the vet as soon as you possibly can. This allows the vet to give you immediate advice over the phone, and if it’s serious, decide if your pet can be moved and taken to the vet surgery, or whether the vet needs to come to you.
[…] Most of us that are familiar with dogs have seen this happen, as it’s fairly frequent behaviour. It looks a bit minging to some and funny to others, but the long and short of it is that the dog needs a bit of help. […]