Category_Dog Blog
The Vet's Corner
The Vet's Corner: Five Questions Your Vet (or You) Should Ask during Every Visit
You never know what they might pick up rolling in the leaves!
3) Have you noticed any lumps or bumps? If you observe, feel, or think you’ve imagined a suspicious growth or discolored patch of skin on your pet, have your vet check it out. Immediately. My veterinary memory is littered with too many tragedies of “I could’ve helped if the owners had brought the pet in sooner.” In many forms of cancer, a few days or a couple of weeks can determine life or death. The same rule applies to coughing, decreased energy, reduced appetite, or any other change in attitude. Don’t delay having your pet checked by your vet. 4) Is your pet doing anything that bugs or annoys you? Barking at neighbors, jumping up on guests, the occasional accident in the house? Behavior problems rarely burst on the scene, they typically gradually escalate over months or years. The best (and most effective) time to correct unwanted behaviors is when they’re just beginning. Too many pet owners are embarrassed or think the problem isn’t “vet-worthy.” There’s never a behavior I consider insignificant. Subtle can become significant quickly. Bring up any (and all) annoying or embarrassing actions or habits of your pet. Treated early, most can be corrected and others can be controlled. 5) Do you have pet insurance? While this may seem like an odd question for your vet to ask, I have a simple reason for asking: I want to eliminate economic euthanasia. A veterinary survey found that 95% of veterinary practices reported they offered limited treatment options to pet parents because they feared the client couldn’t afford the care the pet needed. Innumerable dogs and cats are euthanized simply because the owner can’t afford veterinary care. The relief I’ve witnessed from clients with pet insurance after an injury or serious illness has been diagnosed is priceless. We can then focus on getting the pet better instead of how we’re going to pay for it. That’s why I’ve been asking this question for the past twenty years. I hope you answer “yes.” These are five questions I think every veterinarian should ask pet parents. There are many more important questions based on each pet’s unique circumstances. If your vet doesn’t ask you these questions, I recommend you ask them. A close, open, and informative bond with your veterinary healthcare team is the best way to ensure your pet receives the finest care possible.
