Pets are considered to be and treated like family members in many households. When pet parents bring their animals in to the veterinarian for a routine checkup or for an illness or injury, it is assumed that the doctor will be honest and up front about the animals care. Unfortunately, it seems that there are some things that the vet may not be telling you. Let’s take a look at the five things most vets are not sharing with their clients:
1. Medications May Be Cheaper Elsewhere
Buying your pets medications and flea and tick treatments at the vet often comes with a large mark up. There are multiple online sites dedicated to selling the same exact medications and treatment that are offered at the vet at a fraction of the cost. It may be slightly more inconvenient to order online and wait to have your items shipped, but it can save quite a bit of money. There are also generic products available at pet supply stores that work as well as the name brands offered in the vet’s office at a much lower price point. A good vet will be able to help you find the most affordable medications for your animal.
2. Vaccines Are Not Always Necessary
There are many reported cases of pets being injured by vaccines or suffering from being over-vaccinated. Yearly booster shots are often unnecessary, especially if the animal is an indoor-only pet that does not travel. It is important to find a vet with whom you can discuss your vaccination choices and who does not push vaccines on you and your pet when you do not wish for them to be administered.
3. Tests Without Symptoms Are Often Unnecessary
Vets who push annual blood tests on healthy asymptomatic animals are often more concerned about their own profit margin than the health of their patients. Pets that show symptoms of an illness or have a medical condition warrant testing, but otherwise it is unnecessary.
A good vet will be able to tell you what your dog or cat truly needs – they put your pets health care as top priority, rather than over-vaccinating to make more money for the clinic.
4. Quality Food Matters
There are so many high quality pet food brands on the market today that are highly preferred to lower quality grocery store brands. Pets that are fed the better food brands are often healthier with stronger coats and teeth and improved life spans. It’s not always exceedingly expensive and can make a big difference in the health of your pet.
5. You May be Missing Crucial Health Information
Most people don’t realize that vets – just like doctors – see a large number of patients every day. So when you take your dog to a normal vet office, their goal is to address the current issues and get you out of the door as quickly as possible to move on to the next patient. They usually don’t have a deep enough knowledge or enough time to go over your pets history, what they eat, their routines, etc.
A good vet will take the time to not let your pet just be a number. They will get to you know and your animal and ask questions to help improve their overall health by suggesting a better diet, vitamins and supplements, exercise routines, and being on hand to answer your questions. By doing more preventative care, your vet is showing he truly cares more about your pet than he does his pocketbook. Preventative health care can add years to your animal’s life and shave the costs of emergency vet care down drastically.
Although these things are not always intentionally being omitted from conversation, it’s important to remember that you are the biggest advocate for your pet. Armed with the proper knowledge, you can be an informed client and ensure that your animals get the best care possible for its entire life.