06/05/2021
This. So much this. The emergency contact for Grassy Creek has, and always will be, UT Large Animal Hospital as is stated on our voice-mail. The vast majority of our regular clients are fabulous and understanding and respectful. And for that, we are so grateful. We do this because we love helping. Not for any other reason.
Last night I stumbled upon a thread where someone had taken to Facebook to help their animal who was in need of emergency medical intervention. While we know well that social media is a great place to obtain genuine knowledge it has also become a place where keyboards become weapons of warfare. We know well the positives and negatives to social media... that’s nothing new.
The person’s regular mobile vet was unavailable for whatever reason. Maybe that was a family emergency, another client, or hell maybe that veterinarian was on their once a year vacation they deserve. For whatever reason, they were unavailable and this person was panicking for the welfare of their animal (understandable). The conversation from people on the thread quickly took to name calling of veterinarians that couldn’t be there every time they called, couldn’t figure out their animal’s issues, or trashing the one that made a human mistake in “misdiagnosing” Fido 10 years ago. It broke my heart.
Did you know veterinary medicine has one of the highest su***de rates for career paths? Perhaps it’s because they leave vet school with over $150k in student debt on average and the industry does not have job opportunities reflective of this debt to income ratio. Perhaps it’s because they want to save them all but sometimes the financial capabilities of the animal’s owner do not make life saving measures an option - forcing them to end the lives of animals that COULD possibly survive. Perhaps it’s the constant demand for availability to clients 24/7 - 365 - and if they aren’t it’s become socially acceptable to take to the internet and post negative reviews and create mobs of like minded people for these doctors and technicians to read online. Perhaps it’s that becoming a veterinarian or technician means you are at least somewhat of a empath and you feel bigger for those around you than yourself. Regardless of the above “reasons” there is no excuse for the high su***de rates that WE the clients can do our part in preventing.
First: There are 85 million or so animals in the USA - of those animals - 2 million are insured. Insurance may be costly up front but think about the heart ache it would save you if you animal gets sick and the freedom it gives your veterinarian to do all they can to help. If insurance is not something you are interested in make a deliberate savings account specifically for the animals you are the care taker for so that in the event of emergency you are prepared.
Second: Communicate with your veterinarian. Ask them who they recommend if they are for whatever reason unavailable. Write down those back up contacts and have them ready in the event that you need them. It is not the veterinarians responsibility to be there at a moments notice for every animal the render care to - it’s just not humanly possible. Make a PLAN! Work together! Communicate about your budget clearly up front and have them help you understand the levels of treatment options there are and costs involved.
Three: Only YOU know your animal. If you don’t feel like you are getting the answers you need during treatment and diagnoses tell your veterinarian how you feel and tell them you are going to seek a second opinion. Almost all of them will agree it’s a good idea especially when it comes to hard cases or animals in need of specialists. That second opinion does NOT need to come from social media or google. It needs to come from another DVM.
Four: Do NOT participate in the social media witch hunting of veterinarians. It’s disrespectful and disgusting. You don’t know the whole story of the animal/client relationship in question - it’s not YOUR animal. Do NOT blame veterinarians you don’t know - don’t call them as****es, terrible, or worthless. I promise you those doctors and their techs want nothing more than for your animal to be well.
Five: Understand that their time is valuable too. Their time with their family is not worth any less than time with yours. If it can wait ‘til morning do that. Please don’t call them on a Sunday for a 3 day old laceration or a colic that you have been doctoring yourself since Thursday. If it can’t wait call the emergency line not their cell because they gave it to you that one time. They have staff for a reason - it’s so that they can take better care of your animal when they need you - rested and focused.
Six: Say THANK YOU - say it too much. If it wasn’t for them and their selfless sacrifice we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, provide care for our furry friends, or have treatment options available to us any day of the week. Send them flowers. Send them sweets. Send them to dinner. Send them to the spa.
For the love of veterinarians.... Please don’t continue to encourage others to bad mouth our docs and their techs over the size of your bill, call times, lack of answers, “missed” symptoms, and anything in between. I promise they are doing the very best they can. They are human just like me and you.
✌🏼💞🦄‘s
-WhoaZone Equine-
