Five things Vets Say that Aren't True

Anyone who knows me, know that I have a quirky sense of humour.  As many like to poke fun at me or my profession, I to can do my own bit of poking - at my profession, myself and at pet owners too!  I usually keep the most intimate of  poking in private though, but there are situations (like now), where I can't stay quiet and not share what I am really thinking. 

I'm all heart with an Aussie sense of humour... honestly!

There are many online articles out there claiming the multiple things that vets say that aren't true. In other words, the procedures or actions of vets which are downright lies. I have come across so many comments and articles, that it isn't a specific one that has got me angry.

Frankly, enough is enough!

You see, veterinarians are an amazing group of people.  They are highly skilled, highly trained, hard working and extremely devoted to what is truly a life calling.  It has been shown that for most of us, the decision to become a vet occurred by the time we were 10 years old - it was an emotional decision based on a passion for all animals, rather than a practical understanding of the work load, income, lifestyle, and what the general population may end up thinking of us.

For an intelligent group of people, we made a massive life choice based on pure emotion - really really stupid in retrospect.  But it explains why vet bashing comments hurts so much.
And what would otherwise be random comments or articles are painful for us to read.

Many vets will admit that they decided to be vet by the time
they were 10 years old. For me, I was only 8.

I take any unjustified attack on my colleagues or my profession as personally as I would an attack on myself. 

 

" A Ha" (imagine me in martial arts pose ready to defend myself against an attack!)

I can guarantee you that there are a lot of blog posts, articles in magazines, or emails where people often write about the things that vets say that aren't true. Virtually every one of these "articles" I have read are really "anti-vet" or "vet bashing" or worse, advertorials for products that a vet would never recommend or use.

When I read these articles,   I know better, as do my colleagues, and those within the veterinary profession.  These writers smatter a smidge of fact, with a lot of opinion, and call it "The Truth". 

Unfortunately, it is with "The Truth" that pet owners get themselves unstuck.

There is as much truth in these articles as there is meat in meat pies (this is an Australian analogy that may be lost on some of you.... Australian meat pies are not really required to have meat in  them).

This sort of "vet bashing"  really isn't new, but with the advent of social media outlets, it hits a whole new level.  There are Facebook pages and websites devoted to hating veterinarians.  Sadly, such campaigns have resulted in the suicide of the target.  Often, the comments are just generally hating anything remotely associated with vets - anybody who is  a vet is the target - whether justified or not!

But I have no doubt that these anti-vet articles do gel with some people who just want to believe in a veterinary conspiracy theory.  (i.e we are all money hungry, rich vets who sit by our fires drinking port swirling our moustaches relishing in the  victims we have scammed  that day for money for unnecessary tests, procedures, medications or whatever we are supposed to do in the scamming process according to "The Truth").

So, in the spirit of  common online or published magazine titles

 " Five things Vet's say that Aren't true",

I thought I would write, as a vet

 "Five things Vets Say that Aren't true"
 

What Vets Say that Aren't True - Number One: " I can see that you love your pet very much" 

 I have only said this line once as a lie. Probably many of my colleagues have never lied when they used this line, but I have no doubt that many other colleagues have been in a similar situation, where they had to say platitudes to the owner, but really feeling something different.

"I can see you love your pet" (not)!

 I remember my situation clearly.  It was a very sick, very very thin, Pomeranian.  She was literally skin on bone.  She was only 5 years old.  The owner was wailing and crying on how much they loved "the dog" , but now it was too old, and therefore not worth it,  money wise, to do anything to help it.

"The dog" had a name but they never used it.

They wanted "it " euthenased.  In fact, it took alot to convince them to let me at least examine this little one first.  For me, I cannot euthenase anything without knowing that it is the right thing to do for that animal.   That rule is unbreakable!

When I saw the physical state that poor baby was in, the rotting teeth in her  head, the sores over the abdomen from the million and one fleas crawling through the coat.....

Even many years on, tears well up in my eyes at the state that beautiful dog was in.  The eyes told me of the pain she  was in.  To this day, I remember her name too.... as a vet I have euthenased many loved animals, and all haunt me in one way or another.  This one haunts me in a special way.  I told a lie to a pet owner (one of my rare situations when I have).

Letting this little girl go to Doggie Heaven was the kindest thing I could've done. Seeing the state that she was in, and hearing the tears and wailing of the pet owner, claiming to love their pet so much, and that they could never live without it. 

Telling the owner what I truly thought of their version of love, was not going to change anything for this poor suffering girl.. The best I could do was give her the gift of a painfree death. And this is what I did.

  As for the owner, I don't know what happened to them.  That day was the first and last time I saw them.

What Vets Say that Aren't True - Number Two:  "Sure, I am happy to come in after hours to see your pet" or another version is "Sure, I am happy to stay back late  to see your pet "

 Vets are people with spouses, family, outside hobbies... and all they want is a happy work/life balance like everyone else. I am happy to stay back later than our closing time to see a pet, if that is truly necessary, and it is a genuine emergency.

It's a mystery!

 We  (Dirk and I) have stayed back to 9 or 10 or later at night, and weekends also, to do what needs to be done.  But I am not happy when I find out that the pet has been sick on/off for a few weeks, and has been going down hill for the three days before the owner decides to bring it in.

Especially if it has a condition that is not immediately life threatening (like an ear infection or a rash)

It won't die overnight, so it could be seen the following morning easily.

 Except, according to the owner,  it can't. The owner is often due to fly out for a two week holiday the following morning, and suddenly,  the pet's medical problem becomes an emergency.   Or they can't because they are working that day.

As a solo vet, I work Monday to Fridays 9 to 6, and Saturday 9 - 12.  I rarely leave at 6 pm on a weeknight, and leaving at 12 on a Saturday is just a dream! So I am looking at a 50+ hour week easy!  Except I am not paid an hourly rate, so more hours do not mean more pay!

I rarely get a day off, and I am not going to apologise when I do take a break or an early mark.  I am certainly not going to apologise for attending my children's school functions, presentations or helping with canteen.  I am a mother of four beautiful children, who are more important to me than anything else in the world.

But, if a pet is seriously ill and needs me, then if I can help, I will.  No quibble, no argument. I am happy to do it, and my family understand. In fact they often help out.  I always say, 'If I can I will, if I can't there is a good reason for that. " and I sometimes say "If this is not good enough for you, then you need to find another vet."

We will stay back to suture up wounds (we do know that if any wound is sutured within the first three hours of the injury, the infection rate drops dramatically), and we also know that dogs with uterine infections need to be operated on sooner rather than later.

My family know that, and they understand.   

I am not happy about taking time away from my own family all because of the pet owner's poor time management or poor prioritizing. It is unfair to my family and to me.

So, yes, it is a lie if you hear a vet say "I am happy to stay back to whatever time to see your dog" as most times they are sacrificing their own family time to stay back to see your pet. So  they when they do, be thankful as they are sacrificing their time to help you.

Just think about how you feel about doing overtime at short notice.

What Vets Say that Aren't True - Number Three "Of course I don't  mind that you can't pay now"

There is a funny ad on TV in Australia about the payment of EFTPOS fees to a business' bank account.  Generally, it would take 2-3 days for the EFTPOS transaction to reach the business' account, and the ad is all about showing people taking products and services, and telling the business owner that they will pay them 3 days later.  The ad is promoting a particular bank putting the funds of the transaction into the business account that night.

For some reason, some pet owners feel they have the right to dictate their payment terms to a veterinary business, in the same way that these consumers do at those shops in the advertisement. 

They will say at the time of the consultation " I don't care how much it costs, I just want my pet fixed".  Now, for the more experienced veterinarians, they know exactly what this phrase means.  It translates to " I am not going to pay you a freakin' cent, but I want you to fix my pet"

"Not happy when I have to deal with a small number of thieving lying pet owners. 
You are a tiny tiny minority but you cause so much pain".

In my veterinary practice, 97% of the time this statement  of " Of course I don't mind" is actually true. For the pet owners that I know and see regularly, I do not mind that you can't pay now.  You are family. 

 It is a bond that I have with my pet owners, that I know that they will pay when they can, as they know that I will do the best I can for their pet, always. 

So, we are now talking about the 3% of loser clients, usually it is the client who has been once or twice only - where this statement by the vet becomes untrue.  Even though the owners are told of what the costs are going to be before we start, they say at the time of discharge of the pet from hospital  " I'll pay you $200 now, and then $50 a month".

 Say what?  You are dictating terms of doing business with me?

"Of course I don't mind that you were dishonest with me in the whole transaction process, and that I took time away from people who wanted my services, but I had to send elsewhere because I was dealing with your pet (that you are now not paying me for). "

Seriously, I do mind.    


What Vets Say that Aren't True - Number Four "All I care about is the money"

Well, actually I have never said that, and I have never met a vet who has said that to someone. 

Virtually every vet though has had the line said to them that " All you care about is the money", so I suppose it is feasible for a vet to say that.  If other people think it, then it must be what we must say (or think).

But if we did say it, it would be a lie, as I don't care about the money.

I do not see anything wrong with being paid for the work that I offer as a veterinarian.  It is my job, my life, my vocation and my passion. Unfortunately, the last three do not pay my bills, but my job does.

I find it strange that a philanthropist who earned his/her  money selling computers or real estate or whatever, garners more respect donating money to animal causes, than vets who do more for animal causes than anybody.

Just think about it.

My advice to anyone who truly wishes to help animals, is to  enter a high paying profession, earn lots and lots of money, and then work with animals in your spare time.  You will get more satisfaction,  and you will truly make a difference in an animal's life.

Obviously being a vet isn't enough, as we are just in it for one thing only.



What Vets Say that Aren't True - Number Five: A Microchip means your pet will make it home!

Councils in NSW and governments elsewhere push the rhetoric that a pet's microchip is the only way it is going to make it back home.

They make a law saying that all pets must be microchipped at point of sale.  Unfortunately, at the point of sale, the microchip in the pet is in the breeders name usually.  

How, on God's Earth, is a microchip in a pet that is not going to reside with the breeder where it came from,  is going to ensure its reunion with its final forever family, I have no idea. 

Especially if that breeder has to go through multiple years of records of different tan/black puppies with a white spot on the left foot, to find the right owner (if we are lucky).

If microchipping truly meant reunion, then the microchip would be implanted in the presence of the forever family, and registered automatically in their name.   If microchipping truly meant reunion, then the details would need to be updated each year. Pets change owners, people change mobiles and addresses. 

It's not the vets fault however, as we had no input into the initial legislation, and have had little impact on any changes since. 

At my vet hospital, we have been scanning and checking microchips for over 10 years now, and we find so many that are out of date.  We tell owners, and most of them understand and appreciate what we are doing.

To my surprise, many think that updating the database when you move is my responsibility.  It's not.  It is yours, as the owner of your pet to double check, and update all of the details.  Under privacy laws in Australia, I cannot change anything on the NSW Companion Animals Database.  

I am Dr Liz, the mad vet from Bellambi.  As a vet, I love seeing happy healthy pets, as this is why I entered the veterinary profession.  To keep our animals healthy, to get them well, and, above all, make them happy members of your family, as well as the overall community, what I (with my colleagues) strive for.

I do not believe in hatred or being unnecessarily nasty. I believe in compassion, kindness, tolerance and understanding, and try to extend that to all that I meet.

Thank you for understanding my quirky sense of humour in reading "Five things Vets say that aren't true"