Veterinarians and pet owners have one major thing in common: they love animals. While vets don’t expect animal owners to be medical experts, one of the best ways you can show your love for your pet is to keep in mind some basic tips that will make vet visits – and healthcare for your pet in general – as effective and stress-free as possible.
Here are some of the things your vet wants you to know before your visit.
Honesty is more important than pride
Pet owners aren’t perfect. Sometimes we miss a dose of medicine, give our dog too many table scraps, or push off the annual vet exams a little too long. However, what is more important than trying to get it right all the time is letting your vet know when you haven’t. The only way your veterinarian can give you the best advice is to understand the full, true scope of your dog’s health. Trying to cover up a few innocent mistakes will not help your dog get better and may even prolong or worsen problems.
Every question is valid
Vets are around to help us diagnose issues and provide treatment plans. However, it is usually you, the pet owner, who has to follow those treatments, administer medicine, and monitor progress. Therefore, if you’re unsure what to do, your pet may not receive the care it needs. So, whether you’re curious, clueless, clarifying, ASK!
If you aren’t sure, call
Vets may be busy and operating under a full schedule, but they would rather address an issue early than before it’s too late. If you’re uncertain about the severity of an issue or don’t know what you should do, call. The trained and skilled clinic staff can sometimes offer helpful advice or can talk with the vet to get a quick answer for you. Of course, you can’t always expect to get a prompt response (especially for non-emergency issues), and you’ll still need to schedule an appointment at some point.
Annual exams are necessary
Some pet owners feel that annual exams are costly and pointless, but they are actually quite crucial to your pet’s health. Regular check-ups are a part of preventative medicine and are used to diagnose illnesses early on or find and correct things before becoming a larger problem. Annual exams can help detect bone or joint issues, bladder problems, illnesses, and even cancer.
Pet insurance may save you money
Medical pet care can be costly, and vet clinics understand that. However, it also costs them money to acquire the equipment, pay their staff, run their building, and (like any other business) bring in some profit. Still, because most vets care about what they do, they’ll want to work with you. One of the things they may suggest to new pet owners is investing in pet insurance. Having pet insurance will make it less costly when those emergency visits pop up and may also mean you’re more likely to visit the vet sooner when an issue arises.
Quality Veterinarian Equipment
At TriStar Vet, we are solely focused on building high-quality, smartly-designed vet equipment at affordable prices. From our veterinary exam table and veterinary scales to kennel panels and drainage systems, we design and manufacture innovative products for your vet clinic that are durable, affordable, and ergonomic.