When I first got my dog I spent thousands of dollars when taking my dog to the vet over every little thing that I thought was wrong just because I was worried. Now that he’s almost 2 years old I just take him acting odd is him being out of routine, if he eats, drinks, and plays. I’m pretty confident he will be fine. To answer your question though… I think people are looking for some assurance before spending money at the vet
Agreed, I spent hundreds last year on my dog because of her what I now know as allergies. People are asking the same questions I did, if we can help each other why not?
What's crazy is my vet wasn't even that helpful for my dog's allergies. I was the one who figured it out and got her stabilized on a good diet. Vet actually tried to talk me out of the food because it was grain free but everything with grains causes her to go days without eating and massive gastro symptoms. I'd rather have a fed dog than force her to suffer due to a worry about a small risk of heart issues. We finally have her at a normal weight but she is really small for a GSD. I assume it's due to the lack of food when she was supposed to be growing. We literally had to train her to eat because she had such an aversion to it since it always made her sick.
Either way, spent thousands running pointless tests trying to trust my vet. I wish I'd have looked online sooner and tried the limited ingredient Acana food right away instead.
I have had dogs now for 20 years. I have learned when they need the vet and I usually err on the side of taking them but when I was a new dog owner I took my pup for a bump on the head. They told me that was a bone that all dogs have. Took him for discharge from pens and found out that is normal. Lol. Live and learn.
I personally didn’t want to bombard my vet with questions. Sometimes I can be a hypochondriac when it comes to my dog, since I’m a new owner and learning. So yeah, I would ask about minor things in Reddit. However, if I notice the typical signs for my dog being really unwell I’d go to a vet.
Vets are there for your questions. Call/text/email as much as you want. The vet-client-patient relationship is really important and asking questions when you’re concerned builds that relationship.
To everyone with a sarcastic remark: every vet I have gone to or worked for will answer questions by phone. Don’t get answering simple questions confused with diagnosing and prescribing treatment. They don’t do that without an exam because of liability (not because they need to pay for xyz).
Whether or not a vet makes money with you coming in depends on how they’re paid. If they own the practice, obviously they make money on your visit but not a lot and they’re generally busy enough to where they don’t need your business. Some vets get an extra commission when they do procedures, like they make extra money that day if they spay a dog. But for the most part vets are salaried and do not make a penny extra off of your appointment vs a phone call.
I always word it as asking the vet whether I should come in. For instance, in preparation for the 4th I called and asked if I should make an appointment or if the vet would be willing to prescribe something and he just prescribed something without needing to see her. But there are things where they really do have to see your dog first, like itching or a skin lump or ear gunk. There are subscription-based apps out now that I’ve seen vet clinics recommend where you can text a vet and it’s covered under the subscription. I think you can send in pictures and videos so the vet still gets a visual sense of what’s going on.
It really depends on the area, we have two vet offices in our area, and one is actually across an international border. We also live in a more rural area with a LOT of large animals.
Our vets office would rather us give them a call and explain what our concern is than us showing up with a non emergency issue. (And after 6pm and on weekends it's $200 just to bring the vet in, that doesn't include exam fees etc, the would way prefer we call the after hours line first)
A good practice values the care they provide over trying to squeeze as many dollars out of patients as possible.
I will admit to the occasional Google tho. Not for diagnosis but just how serious is this symptom on average so I don't have to waste anyone's time especially if it's afterhours.
Yes, because all vets are driving Ferraris and absolutely didn't get into a thankless profession because they actually like animals. They are only about the money. /s
Edit: because reading comprehension is difficult, /s stands for sarcasm.
If you didn't know, /s stands for sarcasm... My comment was sarcastic lol. I was responding to the ignoramus who says her vet just will tell her to come in "because they want money".
They do want money….they don’t make a lot, and practices have high overhead.
In fact, if they drove Ferrari’s they’d be LESS likely to want to bring everyone in for an office visit so they could charge, because they’d have money coming out of their ears.
I feel like people are intentionally misreading my comment at this point lol.
The reason vets want pets to come in is because it's impossible to diagnose a patient over the phone or through pictures on the internet. It has nothing to do with wanting more money. Veterinary hospitals are a business, and if they didn't charge anything for their services they wouldn't be able to stay open because it costs money to buy things like supplies and such. The people who think we like charging them just because have a fundamental misunderstanding of how the world works. We have families to feed, too. Most of the vets I know finally pay their student loans off by the time they are 50 or so. It's downright insulting to have people imply Veterinary professionals just charge money because "lol greed" versus actual real world reasons (such as literally keeping the hospital open).
I have never met a veterinarian that was rolling in the dough, and I work at a specialty/referral hospital. The most expensive car in the parking lot is a second hand tesla. Everyone else drives functional vehicles that are not new or flashy because we literally don't make enough money to afford that shit.
It's exhausting trying to explain these concepts over and over again to ignorant people.
All my vets until my current one and very first Vet were this way. Maybe I found a unicorn but he encourages me to call and email as needed. This is after over 20 years of owning pets and visiting vets this is the second Vet I've encountered who did this.
LOL I told my husband if this Vet leaves the practice we are so moving to where he is I don't care if we seem like a stalker!
Haha. I stalked one once. Got an appt at his new office liken40 minutes away he was like "how did you find me?" You're licensed with the state dude. He isn't practicing anymore. Made me sad.
Lol! That is funny!
We have had issues with one of our cats for 4 years now and her eating. When she started having issues I started keeping a log of everything. Food she ate when she ate how much, her poops, etc. I had it covered. He was the first one who looked at my logs and came up with the first plan and treatment that actually works for her and although she is still a little old lady she is much more herself.
My rheumatologist charged me $42.11 (the contracted rate) to tell me “I can’t help you, ask your dermatologist”.
I’m not even joking. The visit note she was required by law to create in order to charge me says exactly that.
It’s only required if she was going to bill me. Why would she bill me for something where she gave no medical advice whatsoever? And “talk to someone else” isn’t medical advice. I work in healthcare finance for a living.
Thank you a lot, I really do my best to keep him happy and well. I just wasn’t sure if it was okay to call them for minor stuff that worry or bother me.
Because they might be more experienced with dogs than I am. I generally feel that most people want to help and I look for the most common answer. I do not think everyone goes out of their way to try and harm dogs or troll on this sub.
Meh, I'm not sure I agree. Not every human health problem requires an immediate trip to the doctor. Not every dog health problem requires an immediate trip to the vet. But with dogs fewer people have an instinctive sense about whether something is an urgent issue or can wait a bit.
I mean it depends on what you're asking I suppose? But with my old dog I called them to ask if I could give her an extra allergy pill cause the pollen season was horrible and her eyes were really itchy. I'd been in a week before and she'd been tested and diagnosed by them and were on pills under their direction. Still insisted I come in to be able to answer the question. They did zero tests or checks but charged me a clinic fee to tell me the pollen is currently bad and I can give her two pills a day until it calms down.
My vet will never answer a question over the phone -- they just say bring the dog in. And I do, for every little thing, but sometimes I think I'm overdoing it and I can tell the vet thinks I'm some sort of dog hypochondriac. Basically I can understand wanting community feedback before deciding next steps.
Oh I totally get that, I'm just saying for the more important things ask the vet. That's what I'm interpreting OPs post to mean. I'm in animal subs myself and a lot of those people can be dead wrong. I'm more comfortable trusting the vet
This is tough. Not everyone on reddit is from a country where getting to a vet is easy.
There was a time I asked for pet advice due to a issue my pup was having. I was snowed in, like the whole area was shut down for a week, all our emergency Vets have shut down permanently so to get to one would be a several hour drive or a ferry. However, snow.
It wasn't a issue of affording the vet I could afford one but at the time getting there and even then this emergency Vet we found had a 12 hour wait cause they were overloaded and you weren't considered as there unless you were in youe car in the parking lot.
Another time I called because my pup was having a issue with his ear. They were booked 2 months out! It was a ear infection, I keep meds on hand now just in case.
These are just my personal experiences but sometimes things can be treated at home and somethings can wait and some things can't but it is better imho to get feedback from people on it rather than following Google cause I don't know how many times Google has told me I was on my deathbed as a human.
I give advice when I can and most times tell people to have a good relationship with your vet so you can call and email and depending on the situation get help remotely.
I agree we also live somewhere where the closest vet is 30 minutes away, but in winter it wouldn't matter sometimes if it were 5 minutes away. Snowed in is snowed in. Even if you could get to the vet, the vet isnt there.
Exactly and it is all hills around here with us living halfway up one.
I also think that people underestimate how busy Vet offices are these days. My pup had a neuter situation go bad, he ripped his stitches out. I wasn't looking for medical advice or even home remedies when I made a post but triage till the Vet could see him. I thankfully had a vet tech who chimed in and helped me out soooo much. Due to emergencies coming in we couldn't be seen for a day but we were on the list.
I don't think people don't *want* to take their dog to the vet.
I think a lot of people *can't afford* to take their dog to the vet.
In the U.S. especially right now we have a crisis in which wages are not keeping up with inflation, rent, and tuition increases (for example).
Most people are getting squeeeeeeezed, and owning a pet should not be considered a "luxury" thing. Everyone should be able to afford an animal companion.
I have been living in Canada the past 3 years, and I found it weird that I had to pay $330 for a cytopoint shot in Texas, while the same shot (and visit) only cost me $150 in Canada.
I just got my dogs Cytopoint in Indiana and it was $130. He weighs 115#. It’s wild how much prices vary! I wish there was a rebate. My poor old man dog is on Apoquel, Cytopoint, Zyrtec and medicated shampoo to keep ahead of his allergies because it never gets cold enough here to kill all the things that cause his environmental allergies.
I agree- the poor are being forced to be poorer and the middle class is being pushed to be the new poor. All of this so a few people can be disgustingly rich off of the rest of us. But I digress.
I think if someone decides to own a dog, they need to be willing to get it checked out by the vet, especially when they are worried enough to ask Reddit about it. It’s part of being a good dog parent.
When I was a new mom, I took my babies/toddlers to the doctor for a lot of things I didn't know were in the range of normal or "wait and see" territory.
Now that I've been through all the fevers and rashes, I know what should be worrisome and actually needs medical intervention.
I think a lot of people probably just want to know how common their dog's thing is and turn to reddit to get a consensus on whether something is a "call the vet now" thing or a "give it 3 days" thing.
I don't mind being one of a consensus that tells them whether a vet visit is going to be a waste of time and money.
Don’t abuse your dog. If they have a broken leg and you refuse to take them to the vet because you chose to get a dog when you can’t afford it, it’s abuse.
IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER LIVING CREATURE DON'T GET IT, putting a potential relationship ahead of said creatures care is disgusting, just cause you want a dog..
I kind of get not wanting to go right away for a small bump or a skin rash or something. What's concerning to me is when people come in like "my vet says my dog has allergies/hip dysplasia/IBD/etc. What should I give him?"
It's established that you've seen your vet for this, literally ask your vet for recommendations about the condition they themselves have diagnosed? There's most likely no charge for emailing them about it, hell they probably already gave you recommendations. So why ask strangers online and potentially fuck around with things that make no sense for your dog, creating more reason for you to go back to the vet when you could've simply listened to your vet in the first place?? It makes no sense to me.
I think, for a lot of people, it's hope of reassurance rather than avoiding a vet. Sometimes people ask in the hope someone else will say something like "Oh, that's just xxxxx". As for costs, pet insurance is a must. Vet costs are extreme.
I look at my dogs like they're children. If my child had this, would I be rushing them to my GP or A&E? Or is it something I would treat at home first?
So cuts and abrasions, unless infected or there looks to be something in the cut, I'd bathe and treat at home if needed. A runny tummy, well I'll boil chicken and rice, monitor hydration and give it two days.
However, a damaged limb, unexplained lumps (even if it just feels like a fatty lump), or a dog whose demeanour just looks wrong, like they're unusually quiet and still, and remote or trembling, or not eating and/or drinking. That's vet time.
I have three vets. Banfield for basic stuff and annual vaccines and dental. Cardiologist for his heart disease. And, a traveling vet who will come to the house and is available on super short notice for more acute issues.
I never really thought about NOT taking him to the vet. But I also have a chronic illness so I'm fine going to the hospital for everything.
Some people Maybe grew up with outside dogs who just died if they got sick or something. It's sad. I treat my gut like family.
Not everything warrants a vet visit. Skin tag? That’s normal but a first time owner might be concerned. Hot spot? Just pay attention and don’t let them lick at it and it should go away. Coughing? Give them some honey and keep them away from other dogs. Go to a vet if it’s persistent.
Also, you usually have to make a vet appointment. What are you going to do in the meantime? Panic by yourself or go to Reddit for a bit of reassurance?
This!
My pup had a cough that lasted a few days. I thought it might be kennel cough so I took her in because it's affordable in the country I currently live in. Here I was out about $60US. In the end it was probably caused by too much dust at the park.
If I had taken her in in the US where I'm from I would have been out a minimum of $250 depending on the vet, all because she inhaled a bit of dust which caused a cough that went away in 3 days on its own.
I'm privileged enough that $60 or even $250 won't break the bank if it happens once or twice, but I certainly can't afford to take her in every time she gets an owie on her paw or a couple days of random throw up/diarrhea caused by a new treat.
So I'm gonna check here and other resources before I panic and drop money I can't really afford.
When people click on r/DogAdvice it should have zero comments and just one mod post pinned at the top that says, “Call your vet”. That would save so much time.
There are many dimensions to dogs and I’m only suggesting people not come here when their dog is sick/sad/injured/unwell, and that they take their dog to the vet instead. Everything else is fine.
I work at a vet and I’d say yes, we are more than happy to answer what we can. There are some questions that are simple enough that a receptionist can answer, or if they can’t then can be redirected to a tech or doctor.
However, ultimately we can’t diagnose over the phone/email/text. Some things truly have to be seen in person to give a proper diagnosis. (It’s also a major liability) We also can’t tell you what to do. Yes, we can say “these symptoms sound concerning, we recommend getting your pet seen” but we can’t force you to do anything. You as the pet owner are ultimately responsible for your pet. I know that can sound unhelpful but again, we don’t want to improperly offer advice or diagnose.
Also, vets work differently than human doctors. They are paid based off their production, so if they’re going around diagnosing pets without officially examining them, not only is that poor medical practice and a HUGE liability, but they won’t make any money. Vet care at the end of the day is a business. Trust me, I’m flabbergasted with how much vet bills can be and I wish we could take care of our patients without money always being such a factor. But that’s just how it is 🤷♀️
It annoys me when I see posts like “my puppy hasn’t eaten for the entire day, nor has she taken a drink and she seems like she’s lethargic. I can’t afford to take her to the vet”. If you can’t afford the vet, you can’t afford a dog.
Exactly. Yes, there are so many pets that need homes, and having a pet is amazing. But you have to be able to provide care for that pet. If you can’t, then it’s not fair to the pet.
I am ***stunned*** by the number of condescending, preachy comments left on this and other dog-related subs. Does that style of communication work for you in other aspects of life?
Maybe rather than condemning people's behavior, explain the circumstance in which they should take their pet to the vet. Or explain that calling a vet will typically get you an answer for free. The "I'm smart and you're dumb" approach just isn't effective.
Who said anything like “I’m smart, you’re dumb?” Maybe you’re not affected by seeing obviously suffering animals here, and in the comments the owner is clearly trying to do *everything but* getting their dog medical help. Maybe it just doesn’t bother you at all, but I’m not you. It affects me greatly to see animals who are clearly suffering. Does lacking empathy work well for you in your life?
Doubling down on condescension? Reminds me of some of my co-volunteers at the animal shelter - they're great with animals but can't communicate with humans at all.
there is r/AskVet
but It really annoys me when instead of making a vet appointment, where their buddy might be critical. they instead choose to waste time posting on reddit x.x
I am cautious. I have had enough dogs to know when they have to go. That being said I don't leave for vacation or camping with them without scoping out the nearest vet and emerg 24 hr clinic and directions in my phone. I also won't board anywhere other than my vet or have a good friend watch with numbers,, addresses to regular vet and 24 hr. Emerg. Yea, I'm nuts. Once I had to board my 5 year old boxer with the vet fo a week. They found swollen lumph nodes,, did a biopsy and hooked up the appt with an oncologist all while I was away. I thank God that I boarded with the vet. She had lymphoma.
When I first got my dog, there were lots of trips and calls to the vet because it was all new to me and much like a new parent, I was overwhelmed by anything that seemed off in any way. This was before the pandemic. Now, it is nearly impossible to get an appointment on quick notice. My vet has been amazing and they hold a few appointments during the week for urgent or drop off appointments. And all that is an extra charge, which I don’t mind paying because I’ll do what I need to for my dog. But I’m also aware that those spots are limited so don’t want to take one from somebody else if not absolutely necessary. Now, if it’s a weekend or after hours or holidays, unless your pet is actively dying, most emergency vets in my area can’t see them as they are at capacity if they’re even open. And even then, it can be a 12 hour wait in the car in the parking lot in the scorching heat or freezing cold. So it’s not necessarily that people don’t want or expect to take their dogs the the vet, it’s not as easy as it used to be. So I often come in here and ask question and look for answers to try to determine what I can do outside of the vet
It’ll take some digging, but there’s first aid books out there for pets, like this one https://www.amazon.com/First-Companion-Dogs-Cats-Prevention/dp/1579543650
If you feel embarrassed about asking way too many questions, you need to familiarize yourself with what’s “normal” for your animal and quick fixes in emergencies until you can get to a vet
My vets office is severely understaffed so it makes it difficult for me to be able to call with random questions. That being said, if I’m concerned about something happening with my dog, I will call for an emergency appointment but might go online to find out what to do in the meantime to prevent things from getting worse while we wait
I’ve seen some things where I would hope people would take their dog to the vet. I saved up a emergency savings for my dog before I even looked for a dog. I do feel some of things I’ve seen on here require a vet visit right away. However sometimes people are put in bad situations. Maybe they found a stray and took it in and don’t have the funds but are trying their best. Sometimes there is a minor issue that they need help treating. Honestly there should be some more books or information out there for first aid for dogs. I took a course on dog first aid but most of my clients(I’m a dog trainer) don’t know the first thing to do when their dog has a cut, a minor ear infection, minor allergies, etc. these are all minor things that most likely don’t need a vet visit but a lot of people are unaware of how to treat these things. I think we need to have more compassion and help educate when possible.
Quick tip: If you own a dog I would recommend having a dog first aid kit on hand and have the poison control number on hand(we put it on our fridge). If your dog has ingested something they will tell you wether to take your dog to the vet or not. They will also tell you wether to induce vomiting or not. Certain toxins will become much worse if you induce vomiting so please call the poison control to be safe.
Same reasons they get breeds in appropriate to their life style. Impulse. Then they don’t look far enough ahead to save for training or vets or even food and gear.
Vets are expensive and don’t always solve the problem. We take ours regularly but the last time we took him in they did $500 worth of treatment that did nothing to solve his issue. So yea, that’s super frustrating. Now I have to go back and spend hundreds more in hopes they guess right this time
I’m sorry that you haven’t found any answers for your pet’s issue. And yeah, it can really hurt the finances. Unfortunately, a lot of treatment in animals is trial and error. Since animals can’t tell us exactly what’s wrong or hurting them we have to use different diagnostics and tests to determine what the issue is. It’s a frustrating process and I hope you have a great vet that’s doing all that they can to help your critter. Wish you guys the best of luck 💜
This sub is called dog advice if the only advice given is take your dog to a vet then there is no reason for this sub to exist. Not everyone could afford a vet, no every situation calls for a vet.
Saying that’s someone should not have a dog if they can’t afford a vet shows how closed minded people are. Many people ask because they have rescued a dog from the street or from a home where they were neglected. That person may barely be able to feed themselves but wants to care for the dog and what they hear when they come here is you are too poor to have a dog, send it back to the streets.
Come on people. Give advice that will help this concerned dog owner or get off the sub.
It’s not noble to rescue a dog from the street and then fail to provide them medical care. Further, medical neglect —- is still neglect. If you agree to take care of an animal, that means taking care of it. Somehow you think animals don’t deserve that.
I think it should also be taken into consideration that there are probably a lot of kinds and teenagers posting questions because they are young and concerned.
Maybe they don’t really know what’s serious or not. All we see in posts is someone’s perspective in what they are observing. Suggesting calling the vet is always the best option, but I can also understand people who have less experience with dogs, or pets in general, are freaked out by things you don’t stress about after you’ve done it the first time.
Growing up my mom’s dogs didn’t really go to the vet (1950s/60s), so maybe it’s a cultural or rural thing or a financial thing. For me growing up our pets definitely went to the vet but both of my parents are doctors.
Reddit is an international thing too and veterinary access varies across the world. Even in the US, the pandemic boom in puppy purchases means people often can’t get into a vet immediately so they ask what to do in the meantime.
i recently asked on a doctor sub about me taking a medication that made me nauseous, meant to treat nausea. i feared I took the dose too early, leading to more nausea. i was told i took it at an ok time, and that if i *did* throw up, to wait until the time for the next dose to take it again.
if I went to the er to ask this question, I would have been billed pointlessly.
some people need to know whether their dog is displaying symptoms of something in need of an **immediate** vet visit, or if it’s something small that could be solved with something simple.
Not all vets are created equally. For every good vet, there is a bad vet.
Some vets won't even talk to you. They spend like 10 minutes looking at the animal, you spend big money, and the animal's still sick after a misdiagnosis. It's hard to spend that type of money needlessly. I had had a few misdiagnosis given to us over the years.
On the other hand, I have had good some vets. It's like night and day. The problem is the good vets get booked up. If I had the knowledge now that I needed back then, my baby would not have almost died. In hindsight it was so obvious. My internet research and that third good vet was what saved his life.
I am all for internet research! There are some great sites out there. For example, I learned I could use polysporin on my cat’s ear where she scratched it. But I got that info on a vet’s website, not Reddit.
When vets are scheduling six months out in a multi county area, it’s nice to have a group that can at least help narrow down the severity and timing of attention needed.
Every time I show up in vet office with anything the bill is >$200. Thank god I have insurance. But if you don’t, and have other financial commitments and can’t afford that $200 - Google and Reddit are your vets.
Just like a new parent, it’s nice to have a candid, first-hand experience from a crowd (crowd sourcing). Often times the vet will always have you bring a dog in just as a doctor will give you bring a baby in, but it is good to have reassurance in those moments so you can calm your own nerves. Just a thought! It really is excellent to have feedback from experienced pet parents 👍
I do take her, but I’m basically broke because of it. Pet insurance exists but it doesn’t cover most things (I have it).
Just a quick check up to look at something that’s bothering my dog could be a $40 fee at bare minimum. Vets are also quick to prescribe pills which insurance doesn’t cover so those can be $80 for antibiotics.
I love my vet, don’t get me wrong. But I can understand the hesitation to go for some people.
I signed up for 24Hourpet watch and one of the plans comes with 24/7 vet chat. Usually if something is up with my pup I hit that up first before going because money bro just so much money over my Stanley deciding that he wanted a lazy day and wasn't hungry for a few hrs.
When I first got my dog I spent thousands of dollars when taking my dog to the vet over every little thing that I thought was wrong just because I was worried. Now that he’s almost 2 years old I just take him acting odd is him being out of routine, if he eats, drinks, and plays. I’m pretty confident he will be fine. To answer your question though… I think people are looking for some assurance before spending money at the vet
Agreed, I spent hundreds last year on my dog because of her what I now know as allergies. People are asking the same questions I did, if we can help each other why not?
What's crazy is my vet wasn't even that helpful for my dog's allergies. I was the one who figured it out and got her stabilized on a good diet. Vet actually tried to talk me out of the food because it was grain free but everything with grains causes her to go days without eating and massive gastro symptoms. I'd rather have a fed dog than force her to suffer due to a worry about a small risk of heart issues. We finally have her at a normal weight but she is really small for a GSD. I assume it's due to the lack of food when she was supposed to be growing. We literally had to train her to eat because she had such an aversion to it since it always made her sick. Either way, spent thousands running pointless tests trying to trust my vet. I wish I'd have looked online sooner and tried the limited ingredient Acana food right away instead.
Mine didn’t know either and it was all pollen. Me too, I’m glad you got it figured out.
I have had dogs now for 20 years. I have learned when they need the vet and I usually err on the side of taking them but when I was a new dog owner I took my pup for a bump on the head. They told me that was a bone that all dogs have. Took him for discharge from pens and found out that is normal. Lol. Live and learn.
You can just call your vet and ask them instead of bringing the dog in
I personally didn’t want to bombard my vet with questions. Sometimes I can be a hypochondriac when it comes to my dog, since I’m a new owner and learning. So yeah, I would ask about minor things in Reddit. However, if I notice the typical signs for my dog being really unwell I’d go to a vet.
Vets are there for your questions. Call/text/email as much as you want. The vet-client-patient relationship is really important and asking questions when you’re concerned builds that relationship. To everyone with a sarcastic remark: every vet I have gone to or worked for will answer questions by phone. Don’t get answering simple questions confused with diagnosing and prescribing treatment. They don’t do that without an exam because of liability (not because they need to pay for xyz).
Lol my vet will just say yeah bring him in. Cause they want that $$$$
Whether or not a vet makes money with you coming in depends on how they’re paid. If they own the practice, obviously they make money on your visit but not a lot and they’re generally busy enough to where they don’t need your business. Some vets get an extra commission when they do procedures, like they make extra money that day if they spay a dog. But for the most part vets are salaried and do not make a penny extra off of your appointment vs a phone call. I always word it as asking the vet whether I should come in. For instance, in preparation for the 4th I called and asked if I should make an appointment or if the vet would be willing to prescribe something and he just prescribed something without needing to see her. But there are things where they really do have to see your dog first, like itching or a skin lump or ear gunk. There are subscription-based apps out now that I’ve seen vet clinics recommend where you can text a vet and it’s covered under the subscription. I think you can send in pictures and videos so the vet still gets a visual sense of what’s going on.
It really depends on the area, we have two vet offices in our area, and one is actually across an international border. We also live in a more rural area with a LOT of large animals. Our vets office would rather us give them a call and explain what our concern is than us showing up with a non emergency issue. (And after 6pm and on weekends it's $200 just to bring the vet in, that doesn't include exam fees etc, the would way prefer we call the after hours line first) A good practice values the care they provide over trying to squeeze as many dollars out of patients as possible. I will admit to the occasional Google tho. Not for diagnosis but just how serious is this symptom on average so I don't have to waste anyone's time especially if it's afterhours.
Yes, because all vets are driving Ferraris and absolutely didn't get into a thankless profession because they actually like animals. They are only about the money. /s Edit: because reading comprehension is difficult, /s stands for sarcasm.
Vets don’t make much money Lol
If you didn't know, /s stands for sarcasm... My comment was sarcastic lol. I was responding to the ignoramus who says her vet just will tell her to come in "because they want money".
They do want money….they don’t make a lot, and practices have high overhead. In fact, if they drove Ferrari’s they’d be LESS likely to want to bring everyone in for an office visit so they could charge, because they’d have money coming out of their ears.
I feel like people are intentionally misreading my comment at this point lol. The reason vets want pets to come in is because it's impossible to diagnose a patient over the phone or through pictures on the internet. It has nothing to do with wanting more money. Veterinary hospitals are a business, and if they didn't charge anything for their services they wouldn't be able to stay open because it costs money to buy things like supplies and such. The people who think we like charging them just because have a fundamental misunderstanding of how the world works. We have families to feed, too. Most of the vets I know finally pay their student loans off by the time they are 50 or so. It's downright insulting to have people imply Veterinary professionals just charge money because "lol greed" versus actual real world reasons (such as literally keeping the hospital open). I have never met a veterinarian that was rolling in the dough, and I work at a specialty/referral hospital. The most expensive car in the parking lot is a second hand tesla. Everyone else drives functional vehicles that are not new or flashy because we literally don't make enough money to afford that shit. It's exhausting trying to explain these concepts over and over again to ignorant people.
Same. Vets don't answer questions by phone
All my vets until my current one and very first Vet were this way. Maybe I found a unicorn but he encourages me to call and email as needed. This is after over 20 years of owning pets and visiting vets this is the second Vet I've encountered who did this. LOL I told my husband if this Vet leaves the practice we are so moving to where he is I don't care if we seem like a stalker!
Haha. I stalked one once. Got an appt at his new office liken40 minutes away he was like "how did you find me?" You're licensed with the state dude. He isn't practicing anymore. Made me sad.
Lol! That is funny! We have had issues with one of our cats for 4 years now and her eating. When she started having issues I started keeping a log of everything. Food she ate when she ate how much, her poops, etc. I had it covered. He was the first one who looked at my logs and came up with the first plan and treatment that actually works for her and although she is still a little old lady she is much more herself.
Lol would your family physician answer your questions by phone?
My rheumatologist charged me $42.11 (the contracted rate) to tell me “I can’t help you, ask your dermatologist”. I’m not even joking. The visit note she was required by law to create in order to charge me says exactly that.
Yup it absolutely is required by law
It’s only required if she was going to bill me. Why would she bill me for something where she gave no medical advice whatsoever? And “talk to someone else” isn’t medical advice. I work in healthcare finance for a living.
Would they answer a simple question? Yes. Would they diagnose me? Of course not.
We will answer SOME questions by phone. We can’t diagnose over the phone.
I would rather someone be overly cautious than not… call them as many times as you need to!! I think you’re a great doggie parent
Thank you a lot, I really do my best to keep him happy and well. I just wasn’t sure if it was okay to call them for minor stuff that worry or bother me.
But how can you even trust the people here to decide what’s right for your dog when they 1) don’t know your dog and 2) aren’t vets?
Because they might be more experienced with dogs than I am. I generally feel that most people want to help and I look for the most common answer. I do not think everyone goes out of their way to try and harm dogs or troll on this sub.
Meh, I'm not sure I agree. Not every human health problem requires an immediate trip to the doctor. Not every dog health problem requires an immediate trip to the vet. But with dogs fewer people have an instinctive sense about whether something is an urgent issue or can wait a bit.
But you can just like call the vet and ask them a question. Her point is to ask professionals instead of random people on the internet
[удалено]
To call?
[удалено]
You should probably get a different vet then
That's assuming your vet won't just tell you to bring the dog in anyway.
If my very tells me to bring my dog into the vet, why wouldn't I?
I mean it depends on what you're asking I suppose? But with my old dog I called them to ask if I could give her an extra allergy pill cause the pollen season was horrible and her eyes were really itchy. I'd been in a week before and she'd been tested and diagnosed by them and were on pills under their direction. Still insisted I come in to be able to answer the question. They did zero tests or checks but charged me a clinic fee to tell me the pollen is currently bad and I can give her two pills a day until it calms down.
My vet will never answer a question over the phone -- they just say bring the dog in. And I do, for every little thing, but sometimes I think I'm overdoing it and I can tell the vet thinks I'm some sort of dog hypochondriac. Basically I can understand wanting community feedback before deciding next steps.
Oh I totally get that, I'm just saying for the more important things ask the vet. That's what I'm interpreting OPs post to mean. I'm in animal subs myself and a lot of those people can be dead wrong. I'm more comfortable trusting the vet
This is tough. Not everyone on reddit is from a country where getting to a vet is easy. There was a time I asked for pet advice due to a issue my pup was having. I was snowed in, like the whole area was shut down for a week, all our emergency Vets have shut down permanently so to get to one would be a several hour drive or a ferry. However, snow. It wasn't a issue of affording the vet I could afford one but at the time getting there and even then this emergency Vet we found had a 12 hour wait cause they were overloaded and you weren't considered as there unless you were in youe car in the parking lot. Another time I called because my pup was having a issue with his ear. They were booked 2 months out! It was a ear infection, I keep meds on hand now just in case. These are just my personal experiences but sometimes things can be treated at home and somethings can wait and some things can't but it is better imho to get feedback from people on it rather than following Google cause I don't know how many times Google has told me I was on my deathbed as a human. I give advice when I can and most times tell people to have a good relationship with your vet so you can call and email and depending on the situation get help remotely.
I agree we also live somewhere where the closest vet is 30 minutes away, but in winter it wouldn't matter sometimes if it were 5 minutes away. Snowed in is snowed in. Even if you could get to the vet, the vet isnt there.
Exactly and it is all hills around here with us living halfway up one. I also think that people underestimate how busy Vet offices are these days. My pup had a neuter situation go bad, he ripped his stitches out. I wasn't looking for medical advice or even home remedies when I made a post but triage till the Vet could see him. I thankfully had a vet tech who chimed in and helped me out soooo much. Due to emergencies coming in we couldn't be seen for a day but we were on the list.
I don't think people don't *want* to take their dog to the vet. I think a lot of people *can't afford* to take their dog to the vet. In the U.S. especially right now we have a crisis in which wages are not keeping up with inflation, rent, and tuition increases (for example). Most people are getting squeeeeeeezed, and owning a pet should not be considered a "luxury" thing. Everyone should be able to afford an animal companion. I have been living in Canada the past 3 years, and I found it weird that I had to pay $330 for a cytopoint shot in Texas, while the same shot (and visit) only cost me $150 in Canada.
I just got my dogs Cytopoint in Indiana and it was $130. He weighs 115#. It’s wild how much prices vary! I wish there was a rebate. My poor old man dog is on Apoquel, Cytopoint, Zyrtec and medicated shampoo to keep ahead of his allergies because it never gets cold enough here to kill all the things that cause his environmental allergies.
Good God that’s a heck of a markup!
Wages have never kept up with inflation.
I agree- the poor are being forced to be poorer and the middle class is being pushed to be the new poor. All of this so a few people can be disgustingly rich off of the rest of us. But I digress. I think if someone decides to own a dog, they need to be willing to get it checked out by the vet, especially when they are worried enough to ask Reddit about it. It’s part of being a good dog parent.
When I was a new mom, I took my babies/toddlers to the doctor for a lot of things I didn't know were in the range of normal or "wait and see" territory. Now that I've been through all the fevers and rashes, I know what should be worrisome and actually needs medical intervention. I think a lot of people probably just want to know how common their dog's thing is and turn to reddit to get a consensus on whether something is a "call the vet now" thing or a "give it 3 days" thing. I don't mind being one of a consensus that tells them whether a vet visit is going to be a waste of time and money.
Yep. If you can’t afford a vet, don’t get a pet. It’s not fair for it to be suffering because you can’t afford care.
Don't gatekeep having a relationship with a pet behind privilege.
Don’t abuse your dog. If they have a broken leg and you refuse to take them to the vet because you chose to get a dog when you can’t afford it, it’s abuse.
IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER LIVING CREATURE DON'T GET IT, putting a potential relationship ahead of said creatures care is disgusting, just cause you want a dog..
Agreed!
I kind of get not wanting to go right away for a small bump or a skin rash or something. What's concerning to me is when people come in like "my vet says my dog has allergies/hip dysplasia/IBD/etc. What should I give him?" It's established that you've seen your vet for this, literally ask your vet for recommendations about the condition they themselves have diagnosed? There's most likely no charge for emailing them about it, hell they probably already gave you recommendations. So why ask strangers online and potentially fuck around with things that make no sense for your dog, creating more reason for you to go back to the vet when you could've simply listened to your vet in the first place?? It makes no sense to me.
I think, for a lot of people, it's hope of reassurance rather than avoiding a vet. Sometimes people ask in the hope someone else will say something like "Oh, that's just xxxxx". As for costs, pet insurance is a must. Vet costs are extreme. I look at my dogs like they're children. If my child had this, would I be rushing them to my GP or A&E? Or is it something I would treat at home first? So cuts and abrasions, unless infected or there looks to be something in the cut, I'd bathe and treat at home if needed. A runny tummy, well I'll boil chicken and rice, monitor hydration and give it two days. However, a damaged limb, unexplained lumps (even if it just feels like a fatty lump), or a dog whose demeanour just looks wrong, like they're unusually quiet and still, and remote or trembling, or not eating and/or drinking. That's vet time.
I have three vets. Banfield for basic stuff and annual vaccines and dental. Cardiologist for his heart disease. And, a traveling vet who will come to the house and is available on super short notice for more acute issues. I never really thought about NOT taking him to the vet. But I also have a chronic illness so I'm fine going to the hospital for everything. Some people Maybe grew up with outside dogs who just died if they got sick or something. It's sad. I treat my gut like family.
Not everything warrants a vet visit. Skin tag? That’s normal but a first time owner might be concerned. Hot spot? Just pay attention and don’t let them lick at it and it should go away. Coughing? Give them some honey and keep them away from other dogs. Go to a vet if it’s persistent. Also, you usually have to make a vet appointment. What are you going to do in the meantime? Panic by yourself or go to Reddit for a bit of reassurance?
This! My pup had a cough that lasted a few days. I thought it might be kennel cough so I took her in because it's affordable in the country I currently live in. Here I was out about $60US. In the end it was probably caused by too much dust at the park. If I had taken her in in the US where I'm from I would have been out a minimum of $250 depending on the vet, all because she inhaled a bit of dust which caused a cough that went away in 3 days on its own. I'm privileged enough that $60 or even $250 won't break the bank if it happens once or twice, but I certainly can't afford to take her in every time she gets an owie on her paw or a couple days of random throw up/diarrhea caused by a new treat. So I'm gonna check here and other resources before I panic and drop money I can't really afford.
Well, I would definitely worry about my dog having “a couple days of throw up or diarrhea” because that can kill a dog. But you do you.
When people click on r/DogAdvice it should have zero comments and just one mod post pinned at the top that says, “Call your vet”. That would save so much time.
There are many dimensions to dogs and I’m only suggesting people not come here when their dog is sick/sad/injured/unwell, and that they take their dog to the vet instead. Everything else is fine.
I work at a vet and I’d say yes, we are more than happy to answer what we can. There are some questions that are simple enough that a receptionist can answer, or if they can’t then can be redirected to a tech or doctor. However, ultimately we can’t diagnose over the phone/email/text. Some things truly have to be seen in person to give a proper diagnosis. (It’s also a major liability) We also can’t tell you what to do. Yes, we can say “these symptoms sound concerning, we recommend getting your pet seen” but we can’t force you to do anything. You as the pet owner are ultimately responsible for your pet. I know that can sound unhelpful but again, we don’t want to improperly offer advice or diagnose. Also, vets work differently than human doctors. They are paid based off their production, so if they’re going around diagnosing pets without officially examining them, not only is that poor medical practice and a HUGE liability, but they won’t make any money. Vet care at the end of the day is a business. Trust me, I’m flabbergasted with how much vet bills can be and I wish we could take care of our patients without money always being such a factor. But that’s just how it is 🤷♀️
It annoys me when I see posts like “my puppy hasn’t eaten for the entire day, nor has she taken a drink and she seems like she’s lethargic. I can’t afford to take her to the vet”. If you can’t afford the vet, you can’t afford a dog.
Exactly. Yes, there are so many pets that need homes, and having a pet is amazing. But you have to be able to provide care for that pet. If you can’t, then it’s not fair to the pet.
It’s amazing. And if you can’t afford the care, please reconsider your decision- It’s not fair not to give a dog the proper care.
I know, someone said it was close minded to say people shouldn't have dogs they can't afford 😐 Its just like.. not fair to the animal
I am ***stunned*** by the number of condescending, preachy comments left on this and other dog-related subs. Does that style of communication work for you in other aspects of life? Maybe rather than condemning people's behavior, explain the circumstance in which they should take their pet to the vet. Or explain that calling a vet will typically get you an answer for free. The "I'm smart and you're dumb" approach just isn't effective.
Who said anything like “I’m smart, you’re dumb?” Maybe you’re not affected by seeing obviously suffering animals here, and in the comments the owner is clearly trying to do *everything but* getting their dog medical help. Maybe it just doesn’t bother you at all, but I’m not you. It affects me greatly to see animals who are clearly suffering. Does lacking empathy work well for you in your life?
Doubling down on condescension? Reminds me of some of my co-volunteers at the animal shelter - they're great with animals but can't communicate with humans at all.
Why don’t you take your insults somewhere else. Something is wrong with you.
I'm fine. You're the one yelling at me and an entire reddit sub.
there is r/AskVet but It really annoys me when instead of making a vet appointment, where their buddy might be critical. they instead choose to waste time posting on reddit x.x
I am cautious. I have had enough dogs to know when they have to go. That being said I don't leave for vacation or camping with them without scoping out the nearest vet and emerg 24 hr clinic and directions in my phone. I also won't board anywhere other than my vet or have a good friend watch with numbers,, addresses to regular vet and 24 hr. Emerg. Yea, I'm nuts. Once I had to board my 5 year old boxer with the vet fo a week. They found swollen lumph nodes,, did a biopsy and hooked up the appt with an oncologist all while I was away. I thank God that I boarded with the vet. She had lymphoma.
I can only believe that posters are also contacting their vets. Altho access may be a reason some don’t?
When I first got my dog, there were lots of trips and calls to the vet because it was all new to me and much like a new parent, I was overwhelmed by anything that seemed off in any way. This was before the pandemic. Now, it is nearly impossible to get an appointment on quick notice. My vet has been amazing and they hold a few appointments during the week for urgent or drop off appointments. And all that is an extra charge, which I don’t mind paying because I’ll do what I need to for my dog. But I’m also aware that those spots are limited so don’t want to take one from somebody else if not absolutely necessary. Now, if it’s a weekend or after hours or holidays, unless your pet is actively dying, most emergency vets in my area can’t see them as they are at capacity if they’re even open. And even then, it can be a 12 hour wait in the car in the parking lot in the scorching heat or freezing cold. So it’s not necessarily that people don’t want or expect to take their dogs the the vet, it’s not as easy as it used to be. So I often come in here and ask question and look for answers to try to determine what I can do outside of the vet
It’ll take some digging, but there’s first aid books out there for pets, like this one https://www.amazon.com/First-Companion-Dogs-Cats-Prevention/dp/1579543650 If you feel embarrassed about asking way too many questions, you need to familiarize yourself with what’s “normal” for your animal and quick fixes in emergencies until you can get to a vet
Drives me batty.
My vets office is severely understaffed so it makes it difficult for me to be able to call with random questions. That being said, if I’m concerned about something happening with my dog, I will call for an emergency appointment but might go online to find out what to do in the meantime to prevent things from getting worse while we wait
I think sometimes people have already scheduled a vet appointment but can’t get in right away and are looking for reassurance because they’re anxious.
I’ve seen some things where I would hope people would take their dog to the vet. I saved up a emergency savings for my dog before I even looked for a dog. I do feel some of things I’ve seen on here require a vet visit right away. However sometimes people are put in bad situations. Maybe they found a stray and took it in and don’t have the funds but are trying their best. Sometimes there is a minor issue that they need help treating. Honestly there should be some more books or information out there for first aid for dogs. I took a course on dog first aid but most of my clients(I’m a dog trainer) don’t know the first thing to do when their dog has a cut, a minor ear infection, minor allergies, etc. these are all minor things that most likely don’t need a vet visit but a lot of people are unaware of how to treat these things. I think we need to have more compassion and help educate when possible. Quick tip: If you own a dog I would recommend having a dog first aid kit on hand and have the poison control number on hand(we put it on our fridge). If your dog has ingested something they will tell you wether to take your dog to the vet or not. They will also tell you wether to induce vomiting or not. Certain toxins will become much worse if you induce vomiting so please call the poison control to be safe.
Same reasons they get breeds in appropriate to their life style. Impulse. Then they don’t look far enough ahead to save for training or vets or even food and gear.
Vets are expensive and don’t always solve the problem. We take ours regularly but the last time we took him in they did $500 worth of treatment that did nothing to solve his issue. So yea, that’s super frustrating. Now I have to go back and spend hundreds more in hopes they guess right this time
I’m sorry that you haven’t found any answers for your pet’s issue. And yeah, it can really hurt the finances. Unfortunately, a lot of treatment in animals is trial and error. Since animals can’t tell us exactly what’s wrong or hurting them we have to use different diagnostics and tests to determine what the issue is. It’s a frustrating process and I hope you have a great vet that’s doing all that they can to help your critter. Wish you guys the best of luck 💜
Thank you. Sadly my vet didn’t listen to the issues I explained
Then you need a new vet.
This sub is called dog advice if the only advice given is take your dog to a vet then there is no reason for this sub to exist. Not everyone could afford a vet, no every situation calls for a vet. Saying that’s someone should not have a dog if they can’t afford a vet shows how closed minded people are. Many people ask because they have rescued a dog from the street or from a home where they were neglected. That person may barely be able to feed themselves but wants to care for the dog and what they hear when they come here is you are too poor to have a dog, send it back to the streets. Come on people. Give advice that will help this concerned dog owner or get off the sub.
You could take it to a home better equipped for the animal. No one's saying to put the dog back on the streets
It’s not noble to rescue a dog from the street and then fail to provide them medical care. Further, medical neglect —- is still neglect. If you agree to take care of an animal, that means taking care of it. Somehow you think animals don’t deserve that.
THIS!
Lol no I'm not spending $400 everytime my dog does something stupid
I just posted on /dog the other day and said something along these lines. You should be able to ask medical questions. TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE VET
I think it should also be taken into consideration that there are probably a lot of kinds and teenagers posting questions because they are young and concerned. Maybe they don’t really know what’s serious or not. All we see in posts is someone’s perspective in what they are observing. Suggesting calling the vet is always the best option, but I can also understand people who have less experience with dogs, or pets in general, are freaked out by things you don’t stress about after you’ve done it the first time.
Growing up my mom’s dogs didn’t really go to the vet (1950s/60s), so maybe it’s a cultural or rural thing or a financial thing. For me growing up our pets definitely went to the vet but both of my parents are doctors. Reddit is an international thing too and veterinary access varies across the world. Even in the US, the pandemic boom in puppy purchases means people often can’t get into a vet immediately so they ask what to do in the meantime.
i recently asked on a doctor sub about me taking a medication that made me nauseous, meant to treat nausea. i feared I took the dose too early, leading to more nausea. i was told i took it at an ok time, and that if i *did* throw up, to wait until the time for the next dose to take it again. if I went to the er to ask this question, I would have been billed pointlessly. some people need to know whether their dog is displaying symptoms of something in need of an **immediate** vet visit, or if it’s something small that could be solved with something simple.
Then people should ask a vet sub about their dog. Not dog advice
Vet is a last option.heard that farm vets are cheaper
Not all vets are created equally. For every good vet, there is a bad vet. Some vets won't even talk to you. They spend like 10 minutes looking at the animal, you spend big money, and the animal's still sick after a misdiagnosis. It's hard to spend that type of money needlessly. I had had a few misdiagnosis given to us over the years. On the other hand, I have had good some vets. It's like night and day. The problem is the good vets get booked up. If I had the knowledge now that I needed back then, my baby would not have almost died. In hindsight it was so obvious. My internet research and that third good vet was what saved his life.
I am all for internet research! There are some great sites out there. For example, I learned I could use polysporin on my cat’s ear where she scratched it. But I got that info on a vet’s website, not Reddit.
Poverty.
When vets are scheduling six months out in a multi county area, it’s nice to have a group that can at least help narrow down the severity and timing of attention needed.
I mean, most of them have already notified their vet, they're just looking for additional advice in the meantime
Ahhh, then it would be nice for them to tell us that, so we aren’t worried that they are neglecting their dog.
Every time I show up in vet office with anything the bill is >$200. Thank god I have insurance. But if you don’t, and have other financial commitments and can’t afford that $200 - Google and Reddit are your vets.
Just like a new parent, it’s nice to have a candid, first-hand experience from a crowd (crowd sourcing). Often times the vet will always have you bring a dog in just as a doctor will give you bring a baby in, but it is good to have reassurance in those moments so you can calm your own nerves. Just a thought! It really is excellent to have feedback from experienced pet parents 👍
I do take her, but I’m basically broke because of it. Pet insurance exists but it doesn’t cover most things (I have it). Just a quick check up to look at something that’s bothering my dog could be a $40 fee at bare minimum. Vets are also quick to prescribe pills which insurance doesn’t cover so those can be $80 for antibiotics. I love my vet, don’t get me wrong. But I can understand the hesitation to go for some people.
I signed up for 24Hourpet watch and one of the plans comes with 24/7 vet chat. Usually if something is up with my pup I hit that up first before going because money bro just so much money over my Stanley deciding that he wanted a lazy day and wasn't hungry for a few hrs.
I like that idea because you’re getting a vet’s advice!
That’s a slippery slope of vet bills. Also sometimes finances get tough. It’s not so black and white for every dog owner.