Today I would like to talk about a very important topic for all of those who intend to or have pets. I love animals, all kinds of animals and there is something that bothers me to watch: people fully trusting themselves and their pets to a veterinarian and often being exploited financially and their pets being victims of abundant and unnecessary tests and treatments.
Me, for example, in addition to other animals, i have dogs since I was five years of age.
I followed them from babies to adulthood, their inherent health problems and consequent death. And I myself was a victim of exploitation by several Veterinary Clinics and specially Veterinary Hospitals. See when we have a pet there is nothing we won’t do for them and when somebody speaks of miraculous costly treatments and operations, even with difficulty, we always find a way to get them for our beloved pets. Often those treatments are completely obsoletes, causing the animal to be subjected to unnecessary treatments which contribute nothing to solve their health problems and those last, valuable times together to be diminished in quality for both: owner and pet.
So that your pet can have an end of life as comfortable and cheerful as possible here is my advice, what I have learned through the years.
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First, contrary to what happens in human medicine, Veterinarian Hospitals are centers of animal and human exploitation. And so are animal health insurances. People insure their pets and then go to these Veterinarian Hospitals or franchising where they are recommended all kinds of tests and treatments for a simple tummy ache. And because the owner has his pet insured and therefore does not have to pay more for it he allows him to be subjected to all of the procedures believing he is taking the right decision when in reality he is being the victim of a business of exploitation where who really wins are veterinarians and insurance companies (see there is no pleasure for your pet in taking blood all the time, being vaccinated, receiving sedatives anytime to do an x-ray / ultrasound or simply to clean his teeth!).
There are frightening ads on tv talking about the terrifying consequences of not having your pets dewormed and for owners to go right away talk to their vets!
And owners do all of this because they truly believe they are helping their pet’s health.
How i Take Care of My Dogs
My dogs NEVER did any treatment for their gums or teeth in the vet. I do give them bones and treats to help keep their mouth healthy and it has been working all these years. But you can brush their teeth if really needed with the right brush and toothpaste specially formulated for your pet.
My dogs and my family are dewormed every 3 months and we are all doing great.
My dogs are vaccinated once in a year or every 3 years depending on the Country we live in and they only take the mandatory vaccinations.
My dogs don’t do any exams unless they are showing symptoms of needing them ( normally at old age only) and though sometimes they just don’t need them because with a regular physical exam the vet know what it is right away!
My dogs eat a good food so they won’t miss vitamins and they eat a food which meet their needs: for adults, for puppies, for renal problems, for heart problems, etc. They eat the right quantity for their weight. For example: my two oldest dogs eat renal food in a preventive way because they have high probability of developing renal problems (one has leishmania and the other is very old) and both take supplements.
My dogs wear a flea and tick collar and i substitute them every 3 months.
I cut my dog’s nails whenever and if necessary (actually just one of mine dogs, the oldest one needs it as they tend to naturally wear them when walking).
I bath my dogs one time per month or every 2 months depending on necessity and I groom them myself too if needed (I don’t want to expose them to a foreign and stressful environment). Every now and then, when needed, I clean them with baby wipes.
My oldest dogs have special mattresses for their joints where they love to lie in.
My dogs do walks 2 times a day - 30 minutes every walk (but you can do shorter and more frequent walks for older dogs), have lots of love and are very happy just like this.
My advice to choose a good veterinarian is to:
- Don’t accept tips from veterinarians who tell you how to choose a good veterinarian!
- Pay attention to the recommendation of other people (you may get to know some great vets this way);
- Avoid Veterinarian Hospitals or large Veterinarian Groups with too much exposition on tv or yellow page add;
- Avoid Clinics with too much staff ( it means they are trying to maximize their clients and the time you will spend with your vet will be shorter);
- Choose a small clinic with a maximum of 3 veterinarians (would be ideal);
- Opt for an older vet, might be wiser and experienced and not so greedy ( there are exceptions);
- Pay the Vet a visit without your pets and get to know the space and the receptionists ( if you don’t like the staff you probably won’t like the vet as veterinarians tend to select staff similar in temperament to themselves);
- Avoid vet clinics with luxury cars, top of the range in their parking lot belonging to medical staff ( somebody’s pet is paying them, don’t let it to be yours);
- Find another vet if a vet clearly opposes holistic philosophies or alternative treatments, gives you skeptical looks, makes condescending remarks, ask for exams and tests with no apparent reason ( note: good doctors can know about major problems of your pet just by auscultating them and making a physical exam!);
- Try to take one pet at a time to the vet or if you have many pets who need vaccination try to schedule a visit at your house so it won’t be such a moment of anxiety for them;
- Take the vaccination time to ask for a general consultation and check-up for each one of your pets ( auscultation and physical exam);
- Learn what's normal for your pet, so you recognize the first signs of illness. If a pet's not well, don't wait until he's really sick before you call your vet;
Nowadays, you have the internet to your disposition. If your pet has any general symptoms search in credible websites about it, keep informed.
General things my pets do have:
- - shake their ears and cry because have pain on them – solvable with a trustable earring solution ( place in their ears every day for a few days)
- - their eyes are very red and barely can open them – solvable by cleaning with a cotton soaked with warm water several times a day
- - scratch their ass on the floor – need to be dewormed and so do we
- - have itching – they need a bath and if the time has come, a new flea/tick collar
If their symptoms persist please consult your veterinarian.
More serious symptoms:
- Coat Problems
- Weight loss
- Loss of body mass in the head
- Loss of appetite
- Pies nails
- Hot nose (fever)
- Lumps in the body
- Constant cough
Please consult your vet if your dog presents any of these symptoms.
Note: these are only a few I know that I have seen in some of my dogs
For example, one of my dogs has leishmania and he takes medication every day. Because of his disease once in a while he has fever and less appetite (but these symptoms only last a maximum of one day) and he naturally has pies nails.
Another example, other of my dogs has lumps in the body. But those are benign lymphomas and therefore not harmful.
But I have had other dogs which had more serious problems.
One presented several of these symptoms which strongly developed all together plus renal failure, etc in 2 months lead to his death. There was nothing vets could do, he shut down completely. One moment he was ok, the other he was not.
Other had a degenerative problem, other a cancer, etc.
What I mean is do whatever it takes for your pet when and if needed but take conscience that sometimes there is nothing that can be done… and at such times give your pet all the comfort and love possible so he can spend his last days in peace and not in a cold veterinary clinic subjected to tests.
