Rant about vet's lack of understanding of science!

[OoohLovelySlippers]

Hi all,

I have a near 18yr old cat with hyperthyroidism and kidney disease.

I weigh her every day or two. I've noticed daily fluctuations but a general downward trend in the last month.

I emailed in all the readings to the vets today and one of the vets emailed back "only weigh her once a week and then we will get a more accurate picture".

Eh sorry - WHAT?! How can FEWER readings give a more accurate result? Ok then vet, you pick a day of the week and only count those readings then. Surely to goodness you take a rolling average? Is it not basic science that the MORE readings you have, the more accurate a picture you can form?

This is not like weight watchers who advise you not to weigh yourself every day, only once a week. So you don't get obsessed with the scales. My cat is singularly disinterested in what her weight is!

There are several vets at this practice and I've been happy with them but if this muppet doesn't have a basic grasp of science, I'm really concerned.

Grateful for anyone's thoughts?

Surely once a week or seven times a week - the trend is going to be the same either way?

I don't know about science, but I'm not sure what the benefit is in weighing her everyday either.

I'm not a vet. But honestly, I think this is vet shorthand for "in the nicest possible way, step away from the cat scales, once a week will be fine" rather than a scientific position paper.

There's nothing to stop you weighing the cat every other day and sending the vet the mid weight, for example.

It doesn’t benefit to weight her daily as as you said the weight fluctuates daily. Same as with humans morning vs night. It’s just pointless daya collecting once per week is enough for an accurate reading

*mid weight for that week

Once a week gives an accurate view of any trend without getting bogged down in the minutiae of daily fluctuations. My vet recommended the same for my 21 year old moggy, once a week preferably on the same day at the same time, for a couple of months. Gives you a clear view of an upward or downward trend, which is what they need. A rolling average isn't necessary.

Because it says in the book that cats should be weighed once a week, so that's what you're being told, without any extra thinking going on.

You can do the thinking, weigh the cat as often as you like, hand in the once a week figure so the compute doesn't say no.

Thanks everyone. God it's hard isn't it! When you know things are only going in one direction and the inevitable is on its way.

sorry to hear about your cat, it’s so hard when our pets get old. I don’t wish to be unkind but what are you expecting the vet to with your detailed information? I think the vet is probably trying to discourage you from over focusing on her weight on a daily basis as it isn’t really useful information - once a week as fine - or not at all if you are making sure she isn’t in pain.

You only need to weigh her once a week to get a gradual trend. You also need to consider your cat’s feelings as well. A lot of cats don’t like being weighed.

Thanks. The cat doesn't mind being weighed. I put a treat on the scales and she gets on happily.

It's not more accurate, it's just less effort, although it takes longer then to get a good trend line, as you have fewer data points.

Personally I weigh myself every day (at the same time) because I know the scales fluctuate up and down, and this way I don't spend a week horrified that I've put on weight, when really it's just that I'm better hydrated that morning than normal... same for the cat.

We would only weigh out high risk paediatric patients twice weekly. It's about the general trend, not the daily fluctuations.

OK.. but, at the risk of being pedantic, you still have daily fluctuations if you weigh weekly - you just take longer to see them as you have fewer datapoints.

if you can fluctuate 1kg up or down daily for example, and you weigh weekly, then that weekly figure can fluctuate 1kg up or down, and if you need 10 measurements to really see a trend, you're waiting 10 weeks to see that trend.

If you weigh daily, then you have the same +/- 1kg fluctuation, but more datapoints, so you get that trend faster.

The vet is correct so calm down with the rant. A small difference in daily weight can be a full bladder/bowel v and empty bladder/bowel. I personally would suggest monthly weigh ins.

I think it’s the vets way of telling you that you’re being OTT and it’s easier for them if they’re not inundated with 30 readings. The general trend will still be seen so is good enough.

The vet will be aware that some owners can be obsessive/hard work and think their pet is the only one they’re dealing with. They probably don’t want to deal with that.

Sorry to hear that your cat hasn’t been well, OP. It’s always very stressful when they get older and you are trying to manage multiple conditions.

In the kindest possible way, I think you are being a little harsh calling the vet a “muppet”. I don’t think it’s anything to do with not grasping science, more that it is unnecessary to take daily weight readings as you will be looking for a general trend. Of course, daily weighings will do no harm if your cat likes the attention and snacks, but many cats would not appreciate that, so they are probably politely telling you that you don’t need to do it every day.

OK thanks all, I will calm down!
Just as well I never had a human child otherwise I would have been "that" parent!