Part of being a responsible
puppy or dog owner is knowing when to call the
vet. Too many people let things go and have a
"wait and see" attitude when their pet
has something wrong.
Sometimes, "wait and
see" is fine, other times it can be the
difference between life and death. With many
things, the sooner caught, the more effective and
even less expensive treatment can be. Younger
dogs, older dogs or dogs with a condition that can
affect how it responds to illness can succumb
faster than a young, healthy dog. Age and overall
health play a factor in how a dog will respond to
an illness, accident, etc.
Your
vet should be you first ally when concerning the
health of your dog. Try to use a vet willing to
work with you and who seems generally concerned
about your pets. Just like with human doctors,
there are vets who are very dedicated to their
profession and others who are not.
Having a good
relationship with your vet is a key element in the
health and maintenance of your dog. If for some
reason I have to leave a clinic my pets are seen
at (like when my family moved), I will think
nothing of interviewing various clinics to ensure
my pets will find someone as caring as the people
we had to leave.
With
the Internet as popular as it is, many people go
there for information before the vet. Though the
person may get advice, it may be totally
incorrect. Many conditions have similar symptoms.
What if someone says their dog had the same
symptoms and was fine in a couple days but your
dog's symptoms are of something potentially
deadly?
Even vets on line cannot see your dog to
examine, runs tests, etc. These are vital in
proper diagnosis. Relying solely on information
from message board posts, etc., is not the best
way to find out what is wrong with your dog.
There
are quite a few instances when you should call
your vet. He may tell you to monitor the situation
for a few days, give you an appointment or refer
you to an emergency clinic.
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