Critter
Moderator
Several times over the last couple of months I've been pondering what-ifs with regards vet visits, and a recent thread has got me thinking again...
How should we handle it if we don't agree with our vets?
For example if we learn on here that a certain med works really well in comparison to another, but they prescribe the lesser of the two, or if we read the signs and symptoms of an illness but the vet is dismissive.
I guess the simple answer is to change vet, but it's not always that easy.
I would hate to argue with a vet's diagnosis or prescription - afterall they really do know so much more than I about animal health issues, and I would hate to sound like I was trying to say "I know best", but how would you suggest to your vet that you would like to try this or that, without sounding like a know-it-all?
And I do appreciate too that just because we have read of similar symptoms on a forum it doesn't mean it automatically applies to your own pig, so perhaps what the vets says really is right in your pig's case, and I know you should show a level of trust in what your vet says - and yet many of us have gone away wondering if the treatment given is not quite appropriate, and wished they (the vet) had done something else.
I was pondering this too when I took Snowball to the vet, but as it turned out I happened to be happy with what the vet did and confident in her abilities, so I didn't feel in that position of mistrust, but it's something I think about, as it seems to happen a lot with vets!
How do you make a suggestion to a highly trained professional without it sounding like you don't respect his/her advice?
This may look like a contrived thread but I promise you it's general and aimed at everyone and no-one
The amount of times I've read of advise to ask the vet for this or that, and it's great advice, but what if the vet doesn't agree? It's an awkward one I think.
How should we handle it if we don't agree with our vets?
For example if we learn on here that a certain med works really well in comparison to another, but they prescribe the lesser of the two, or if we read the signs and symptoms of an illness but the vet is dismissive.
I guess the simple answer is to change vet, but it's not always that easy.
I would hate to argue with a vet's diagnosis or prescription - afterall they really do know so much more than I about animal health issues, and I would hate to sound like I was trying to say "I know best", but how would you suggest to your vet that you would like to try this or that, without sounding like a know-it-all?
And I do appreciate too that just because we have read of similar symptoms on a forum it doesn't mean it automatically applies to your own pig, so perhaps what the vets says really is right in your pig's case, and I know you should show a level of trust in what your vet says - and yet many of us have gone away wondering if the treatment given is not quite appropriate, and wished they (the vet) had done something else.
I was pondering this too when I took Snowball to the vet, but as it turned out I happened to be happy with what the vet did and confident in her abilities, so I didn't feel in that position of mistrust, but it's something I think about, as it seems to happen a lot with vets!
How do you make a suggestion to a highly trained professional without it sounding like you don't respect his/her advice?
This may look like a contrived thread but I promise you it's general and aimed at everyone and no-one
The amount of times I've read of advise to ask the vet for this or that, and it's great advice, but what if the vet doesn't agree? It's an awkward one I think.