Question....from a vet

[Muse84]

I'm curious....I see a lot of topics on here where people are asking for veterinary advice. As a vet, I find it a bit disheartening when they also make it clear that their animal is currently under treatment. I don't mean the threads where people ask for support from others who have been the same, that's completely understandable, I mean those with very specific questions. (And sometimes the answers are VERY questionable! I have to take myself off to another page ) I'm not criticising at all, I'm just keen to know: do you ask medical questions here because you feel that your vet is inaccessible, or that you won't get an answer? Or did you try to ask and not get enough support? Or do you value the answers you get as much as your vet advice? I'd love to find out as I really hope the owners of my patients come to me with questions... I'm always happy to help

I don't think us posters necessarily doubt the veterinary advice we're given for our cats. I think we just want to share, compare notes and seek reassurance. I haven't felt the need to ask on here for medical advice from posters, because I'm very happy with the vet I take my cats to, however, I have responded to posters if one of my cats has suffered from whatever they're posting about and most posters tend to suggest taking the cat to a vet anyway.

It's good to have you here.

I don't post about my cat on here, but given how our vet rushes thru appointments, it doesn't surprise me that people may ask follow up questions here. My cat is fierce with strangers - we are always booted out quicksmart.

Also, our cat has a rare condition that took a good year (and lots of expense) to diagnose. So if I saw similar symptoms being described here, I would jump in to share our story and hopefully save someone's cat a camera up the nose!!

Our vets are lovely, but fail to explain things in full and I do ask a lot of questions and still come away missing information.

For example after our bitch was spayed, it would have been useful to know that she'd likely have some pain when trying to poo as they'd cut the stomach muscles. I'd no idea, not had kids or a cesarean etc. Poor dog lept and squealed like she'd been stabbed, and I didn't understand why to begin with.

I would post to ask for shared experiences. Our cat is so well known by our vet and I trust her knowledge and expertise. I have learnt a hell of a lot about feline medicine in the last two or so years but not anywhere near all the training vets do!
Some human doctors are better at explaining things than others and are better with people, the same applies to vets (actually all professions).

Muse after many, many years as a vet I think there is a massive combination of things, some vets are just not great at communication, some clients you have a better rapport with, some clients are so very shocked when you talk them about the news that they barely take in what you say, these are just a few of the likely scenarios.

I ask for reassurance. My vet is lovely but there's been a couple of times recently when she has suggested things that I don't feel are in Harry's best interests and it's good to get people's opinions and support.

To be fair people also post about their own physical and psychological health problems.

Yeah, there's a huge amount of doctor & health professional distrust here.

Thanks for all of your replies- it's all good to know

I've moved a few times so had several vets. I've generally found them excellent at medicine, but somewhat lacking when it comes to dietary advice. To be honest, I get my dietary advice from my own research and internet forums, including this one. I'm a PhD not a medical doctor but have access to veterinary journals and understand most methodologies. I rescued a young cat (about 8 months) who was postpartum and testing positive for panleuc, giardia, and the coronavirus. The medical treatment she had from the vet was first class, but the only thing that cured her bowels completely and long term was a grain free raw diet, whereas my vet wanted her on selective protein kibbles. That said, in all matters to do with medicine, first aid, wound care etc, I will always defer to a vet.

The vet we get most often in our surgery is a dog person. It's better when I get the cat person vet. You can tell a dog person vet.

In human medicine we know people forget something like 80% of verbal information very quickly after leaving a clinic & I'd imagine it's similar in vetinary practice. So they come on for reassurance.

If we're giving bad advice then tell us. Don't leave a thread when you know better.

Lonecat corrected me recently & I didn't mind, she knows better.

I've also found vets diet advice shocking too. I have a cereal intolerant cat with reasonably frequent uti, every time he gets one they advise a urinary diet. It's got cereals in it. I had to tease it out of them that he can try amitryptiline if he gets another one & honestly it was like pulling teeth. I wasn't happy at all with the vets airy "oh just bring him in every time he gets one" before I found cystease because it's treating the symptoms but not the cause which is his highly strung Bengal nature.

Other than that I really like my vets practice and drive 25 miles out of my way to see them.

I lose all perspective when my cats ill though, especially when he does he's dying duck act for 4 days & the vet can't find a cause & then all of a sudden he's over it & bouncing around like Tigger on espresso.

I have had various animal (large and small) over the years and asked for advice/ opinions on various websites over the years re: animal health.

I think part of it is to share the experience, partly to get opinions and advice from people who's pets have gone through similar.

Sometimes it's because you feel like the vet is just doing test after test or advising expensive treatments that aren't working and all the while it's costing you a small fortune and your pet is still suffering.

Last example is the various call out vet charges, blood tests, antibiotics, food supplements and a 3 day stay in vet hospital for my horse. We still don't have an answer for what was wrong with him. He was up and down for weeks and now appears to be fine - got better on his own after we decided to stop the various medicines suggested by the vets. (My bank balance in the other hand isn't fine)

My vet, who I'm otherwise happy with, wants me to have Harry's unstable jaw fixed so I can syringe Pronefra for his kidney problems into his mouth twice a day. I don't think it's in his best interests as he's taking a different kidney med, just not the preferred one.

I've asked for loads of advice on here, mainly for guidance so I can try and make the best decisions for Harry.