Advice for pet owners from an RVT
- Please be honest with us. We aren't going to report you to the police because your dog got into your stash. We need to know if your cat's wound happened two days ago or two hours ago. Just tell us what happened.
- VACCINATE YOUR PETS. We don't care about your stances on human vaccines. Your pets NEED theirs. Parvo is one of the worst things a puppy can get, it has a high mortality rate, and it's prevented by vaccinating. Distemper and Rabies are INCURABLE, and ONLY prevented by vaccines. Vaccinate your pets, even if they are indoor only.
- Your dog is not a wolf. It does not need a grain-free diet. Dogs have evolved to digest carbs and grains alongside us. Grain-free diets have been linked to causing a heart condition called DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) and we are seeing more and more cases of it in younger and younger dogs. My clinic personally had 3 cases in the last two weeks, and it is a horrible thing to see.
- Spay and neuter your pets if you aren't going to breed them. If you are, do NOT breed before they're at least 1.5 years old. Two years is better.
- Besides altering your pet, leave the rest of their body parts alone. Your dog prefers having their ears and tail. Your cat needs their claws. Declawing is cruel and banned in many places, and ear cropping/tail docking isn't far behind.
- STOP LISTENING TO YOUR BREEDER INSTEAD OF YOUR VET.
- Retractable leashes are literally garbage and should be banned.
- Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier when you bring them to the clinic! Do not carry your angry cat inside in your arms!!
- Cats do not do things out of spite. Your cat does not pee outside of the litter because it's angry. It's probably stressed, or is having urinary issues.
- Stop being rude to the vet staff. We have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, and it's only getting worse. We have enough to deal with without you reaming us out because Fluffy needs their nails trimmed TODAY and we're booked up for 3 weeks.
- Stop scruffing your cats. Its an outdated form of restraint and it is physically painful.
- Train your dogs. Bad behaviours are 90% boredom and bad habits. Spend time with your dogs.
- Again. Please be nice to the vet staff. We're doing our best to help your pets. We're overworked, exhausted, underpaid and underappreciated. We are tired. Be gentle and be kind.
- IF YOUR PET BITES, JUST TELL ME IT DOES. I WILL NOT JUDGE YOU. I JUST WANT TO NOT GET BIT.
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