Talk to your vet before adopting (article)

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Article

 

 

Quote

 

Vet Dr Anne Fawcett says talk to your vet before deciding on adopting a pet

If YOU’RE considering adopting a pet, think about seeing your vet before you get your animal. It might seem like a strange notion, but preparation has many benefits.

When they learned that only 5 per cent of pet owners asked a vet before they adopted a pet, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals in the UK began a campaign to promote “pre-purchase” consultations. The concept is taking hold in Australia.
 

Your vet is well-placed to discuss the specific lifestyle, behaviour and needs of different species and breeds of animal. They can advise you about common conditions seen in the animal you intend to buy, and how these are best avoided.

They can advise you about routine healthcare requirements. For example, vaccination schedules vary according to species but also lifestyle. Indoor cats may require different vaccinations than those with outdoor access.

A pre-purchase examination is an opportunity for you and your vet to have a discussion about specific requirements, potential costs, and strategies.

When selecting a breed, think about how it will fit into your home and how you will meet its specific needs. This will ensure you get the best out of your relationship with your future pet.

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.

 

 

[Scottsmum]

Interesting. I had an independent vet check done on Scottie.

[PossumCorner]

But you'd already semi-decided on him hadn't you Scottsmum?  Just needed the non-aligned vet's confirmation that all was well: or a heads up on any existing/potential problem.

 

The article seems to taking it a step back, saying ask a vet's advice before committing to the species of animal let alone a particular breed or individual.

 

Maybe I'm reading too much into it. 

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I think it would depend of what vet they spoke to.  ;) Fact; some vets don't like rescue dogs at all and that's from experience. And there's the over servicing we hear of.

 

But I hope the idea takes off in a good way, there's unchecked homes getting unmatched dogs, getting set up to fail ... and some groups aren't even heartworm testing. The simplest and cheapest of tests!

I'd give a free consult with our vet if someone asked for one but so far nobody has felt the need because our check, vetwork and notes are thorough. Especially for the seniors.
Most people just get the files transferred to their own vet.

 

Perhaps it would be good for pound dogs too. I just can't see how it would work if the pound doesn't let them out? @Scottsmum was Scottie a poundie when you took him to the vet? 

Edited July 4, 2017 by Powerlegs

[juice]

Money grabber, and the vets she is from is just that.

vets know  nothing about dog behaviour, they will push their own food, vaccs, the list is endless. 

i dont see how it can be objective when they are a business.

[Rascalmyshadow]

I wouldn't trust a vets advice on adopting a dog, most of them haven't a clue about behaviour, handling or the needs of different breeds, would be better off speaking to a behaviourist.

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@juice @Rascalmyshadow pretty much what I was thinking it will end up being unfortunately. 

 

It does have the potential to be really good but also to be a complete waste of time and money. Not to mention, I don't think a rescuer would let go of their dog for the day while it's taken to an unknown vet on a 'pre-purchase exam'. 

[Scottsmum]

15 hours ago, PossumCorner said:

But you'd already semi-decided on him hadn't you Scottsmum?  Just needed the non-aligned vet's confirmation that all was well: or a heads up on any existing/potential problem.

 

The article seems to taking it a step back, saying ask a vet's advice before committing to the species of animal let alone a particular breed or individual.

 

Maybe I'm reading too much into it. 

It's tough. He was on trial,  but Im an experienced enough owner to (semi) know what I was getting & knew the vet extremely well. She'd have died of shock if Id walked in with anything other than a foxie.  

 

Can't say for sure but dont know that a vet would be the first place I'd go for adoption advice but If I walked in with a giant mastiff type I knew nothing about id listen to the advice given (hypothetically course).

 

Saw this the other day: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=840359176133482&substory_index=0&id=468943616608375

 

And it raises a good point which I think is the crux here too... is your vet/GP the right one to give you this advice?  I suppose the flip side is, if not, who? 

[Scottsmum]

4 hours ago, Powerlegs said:

 

 

Perhaps it would be good for pound dogs too. I just can't see how it would work if the pound doesn't let them out? @Scottsmum was Scottie a poundie when you took him to the vet? 

He was "on trial" in theory we could have returned him & had we found something very serious we'd have discussed probably returning him. Eg. He'd not been HW tested during his stay in the shelter & we weren't prepared at that time to take on a HW dog. (Harsh but true). 

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

When I was dog shopping - I don't think there were any vets that would have known enough about my lifestyle to say what kind of dog would fit.   And my choice was based on a long history of sharing homes with that particular kind of dog...

I think it might be a good idea for a complete newbie to dogs - the forums often get a bunch of questions - after the puppy has been obtained - that should have been asked and answered before the puppy was chosen.   Eg how much does it cost to own a dog. 

 

By the way - the article - vet seems Sydney based but one of the photos - looks like Adelaide person.  Weird.  Like they just picked some random photos to go with that article.

dog star daily has a good section for pre and post getting a dog info...
http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/ch-1-you-get-your-puppy

 

http://www.dogstardaily.com/taxonomy/term/182

Edited July 4, 2017 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[Jumabaar]

I offer this type of service to my clients- looking at breeds, structure and temperament and giving advice on puppies/rescues being appropriate for their chosen dog sport.

 

I see so many people ending up with dogs that are just not appropriate for them. By the time I see them after the fact they are already in love and we have to have some pretty extreme conversations about their ability to meet their dogs needs. It absolutely sucks to be the vet in this situation and it would be amazing if the profession could be seen proactively to guide people to make appropriate decisions for the owner and the animal in question. 

Edited July 4, 2017 by Jumabaar

[Scrappi&Monty]

Hmm yes. Not to sure.

Personally I'd never bother, but I am of course not a first time puppy owner. I know what dog behaviours I like/can deal with and which to avoid so therefore if I ever want another dog I'd just ask the breeder if I was thinking about a breed I didn't know much about yet, or ask the rescue about a particular dog.

 

Tbh I love my vet, but I only go for health things, since of course that's her speciality. 

So I probably wouldn't ask a vet's advice on buying a pet to be honest. Bit of a waste of money (unless you're just popping in or going for an appointment already.) 

 

I suppose it's much better for newbies to do this than blindly purchase a $5000 "designer" breed that turns out to be a naughty, shedding, sickly dog that grows much bigger than expected...! 

I'd definitely encourage people who are thinking about getting their first dog to talk to all kinds of professionals; dog trainers, animal behaviourists, breeders, vets, pet shop people, dog savvy neighbours & friends, rescue groups/foster carers, vet nurses, and people at dog shows (like the dog lover's show or something)

Edited July 4, 2017 by Scrappi&Monty

[PossumCorner]

I'm a bit surprised at the almost vet-bashing.  And yes I was somewhat suss about the article, and yes business is business.

 

But surely a behaviourist is just as much a 'business' as a vet surgery.  I've paid for some useless negative advice from a behaviourist, but that's no reason to generalise that they are all useless in one area or another.

 

Dolers have the luxury of advice and information from an amazing range of trainers, behaviourists, breeders, vets, showies, rescue groups, with broad experience from new puppy to palliative care for oldies.  People have joined to ask about the issues that the OP article raises, and probably receive more well thought out opinions to consider than a consultation with a single professional could cover.        

[Rascalmyshadow]

It's not vet bashing when it's true, most vets are just gp's, they understand medicine and surgery, that's what makes them money and they don't extend their knowledge beyond that. 

They listen to the drug companies and promote whatever they are told to whether it's vaccines, foods, flea products etc without any of their own research or hands on experience, again because it makes them money.

Way too many vets treat problems but are not interested in finding the cause, why because it makes them money.

I know vets that have bought their designer dogs from puppy farms and happily tell clients how wonderful the dog is.

 

Ive worked with vets that automatically muzzle certain breeds before they will look them over, why because they can't read the dogs body language well enough.

 

Sorry if I sound bitter but I have seen enough of the industry and so far only two vets I would 100% trust  with their knowledge and ability so I don't believe over all they are the right people to give out any advice on purchasing a dog except maybe the costs involved in the upkeep.

 

I wouldn't trust all behaviourists either but a good one is more likely to understand certain behavioural traits especially if someone is looking at adopting a rescue dog.

 

Really for anyone new to dogs to get the necessary info they need to research multiple areas.

[juice]

I think its a great idea to have somewhere to go before you buy a dog to get advice, but vets are not the place. You wouldn't ask a doctor how to bring up your child.

Vets have too much invested in food and vaccines etc to give an honest opinion. almost every vet i have ever been too, has told me feeding raw is bad and then tries to push their brand.

Most still insist on yearly vaccs,even though research says otherwise now.

Its like puppy pre schools run by vet nurses, how are they qualified in behaviour? good excuse to get pups into the surgery and cement more business thats all.

[Scrappi&Monty]

I'm sort of on both sides. Definitely not wanting to bash vets!! It's a profession I'm really interested in. 

 

As RMS was saying, that "vets do it all for money", well I suppose some do. They don't typically get paid a whole lot... (vets are 26th on the list of how much they earn, they get paid less than social workers etc. Even though they are typically just as qualified as dentists & doctors.) 

As Juice said, yes some unfortunately do try to push their views... even if they're outdated. My vet still does annual vaccines (unless asked not to), and she sells Royal Canin Vet & Science Diet. 

I disagree with all that. I only go to her because she's local and lovely and I've been to her since we adopted Scrappi.

 

As PC said, trainers & behaviourists & breeders etc are all as much as a business as vets. 

You just have to see if you trust them or not, if they're just trying to make $$$. 

 

IMO, if you were a newbie, I'd reccomend asking a WIDE RANGE of different professionals & dog lovers, and do a load of your own research. That way you get many different perspectives and can make up your own mind. 

[juice]

I remember years ago when i first came here i wanted a chocolate lab, my ex wanted a dally, i asked our vet and he told me not to touch a lab as they had lots of health problems unlike dallys who didn't . ( he omitted to tell me they were the only breed prone to stone formation which mine had twice).

I think its very difficult to know what breed might suit you. My old neighbours bought a Cav pup from a petshop, they worked full time so after a month or so they went back to the petshop and bought a Cocker pup, chaos ensued because although the breeds looked similar as i tried to point out to them cockers are gundogs! It barked allday and i had to mention it, and it was trashing the place and hard to walk as it barked at everything. thankfully they moved!

[Rascalmyshadow]

3 hours ago, Scrappi&Monty said:

I'm sort of on both sides. Definitely not wanting to bash vets!! It's a profession I'm really interested in. 

 

As RMS was saying, that "vets do it all for money", well I suppose some do. They don't typically get paid a whole lot... (vets are 26th on the list of how much they earn, they get paid less than social workers etc. Even though they are typically just as qualified as dentists & doctors.) 

As Juice said, yes some unfortunately do try to push their views... even if they're outdated. My vet still does annual vaccines (unless asked not to), and she sells Royal Canin Vet & Science Diet. 

I disagree with all that. I only go to her because she's local and lovely and I've been to her since we adopted Scrappi.

 

As PC said, trainers & behaviourists & breeders etc are all as much as a business as vets. 

You just have to see if you trust them or not, if they're just trying to make $$$. 

 

IMO, if you were a newbie, I'd reccomend asking a WIDE RANGE of different professionals & dog lovers, and do a load of your own research. That way you get many different perspectives and can make up your own mind. 

Funny you say vets don't get paid a lot, maybe not if they work for someone else but all the vets I know that own/partners in their own practice drive very expensive cars, live in the richer suburbs, send their kids to private schools and seem to go on plenty of fancy holidays.

 

Vets are good for medical advice, behaviourists are good for problems/issues, breeders are good for specific breed advice, groomers are good for maintenance/handling advice no one group can advise on everything and no one group has 100% reliable people either, its a matter of doing as much research as possible through out all these groups as well as doing lots of reading, eventually common denominators start to show up and that's usually a good place to start.

[RuralPug]

9 hours ago, Rascalmyshadow said:

Funny you say vets don't get paid a lot, maybe not if they work for someone else but all the vets I know that own/partners in their own practice drive very expensive cars, live in the richer suburbs, send their kids to private schools and seem to go on plenty of fancy holidays.

Yep, I know a few that have become partners in their clinics and reap all those benefits. I also know that they didn't walk into those partnerships straight out of vet school - the ones I know slogged along at low wages for 15-20 years (getting more quals in their own time during that slog) before they reached senior and then partnership level.

So I figure they've earned it.

It is true, however, that specialists usually are able to charge more than generalists (same as with specialist doctors and surgeon vs your family GP) and there are greedy people in the industry who will recommend unnecessary procedures just as money spinners. Bad apples in every barrel, unfortunately.

 

[Dogsfevr]

WE encourage all our puppy buyers to get there new puppy vet checked within the first 48 hrs,vets are open 7 days a week so it should be something any new owner should do .

 

AS to talking before getting a pet yeah right ,Some vets are some of the biggest puppy farmers out there,some vets support pet shops chains,some vets are totally clueless when it comes to breed knowledge being a vet doesn't equate to knowing pet ownership

Edited July 7, 2017 by Dogsfevr