Dr. Primm's Warm and Fuzzies

It was my pleasure to contribute to February 2014 Woman's Day "Ask A Vet" column and now I am thrilled to tell you that I will be doing a regular "Ask The Vet" column online for Boomeon.
http://www.boomeon.com/groups/lifestyle-pets-ask-the-vet

I love these opportunities to spread the word about how to keep pets healthy the right way!  It would mean a lot to me for you, my regular followers and clients, to jump start this project with your participation.  Please log in and comment!

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When you are looking to find a new veterinarian, you can become overwhelmed by the choices. Since the regular pet owner cannot really see all the inner workings, it often seems like all of the choices are comparable.  But this may not be the case.  Here are some guidelines to help you know the right questions to ask and how to pick the best pet health partner for you.

When you go into the facility, do you feel welcome? Is the staff friendly?  I took my cat to a veterinary facility recently as a pet owner and not a veterinarian.  The vet that was seeing patients that day is a friend of mine, but I have not been to the facility before so the staff there did not immediately recognize me.  It was such a valuable experience for me. The staff member at the front desk was on the phone.  He did not acknowledge my presence until he concluded his phone call. I think I would have felt more welcome had I been greeted when I came in.  There were staff members bustling around, but no one really spoke to me. We have a bell on our door and I hear people enter.  My staff always greets everyone (often by name since we are small and know everyone), but I know that it's not always possible in a large facility. Since I saw what it felt like to not be greeted, I will make sure that we double our efforts at my hospital!

Are they recommended by someone you trust?  Ideally, ask friends who have pets and love them like you do which facility they recommend.  If you don't know anyone yet, look at online reviews.  Do remember that the reviews may not be accurate, good or bad. But I always cringe when I see bad ones and take them with a grain of salt, especially if the others are all good.  Sadly, there are always people out there that want to create negativism.  But if someone (or several people) took the time to rave about a facility, your chances are better.  Make sure that you read all the reviews and take an objective look at what is said.  For example, if the review bashes the vet for recommending testing or suggesting referral, then you should think that this vet was trying to suggest all the best care for the animal and the owner could have some bitterness because of sticker shock or guilt.  It is our job to recommend the gold standard of care and if it is not possible, then help you prioritize what you can afford.  If someone says that their pet died at a facility, do remember that death is a part of life and animals' life spans are not like ours. Someone may be venting their grief.  By the same token, some of the positive reviews could be employees or friends.  I am the most touched personally when a review is given by an owner who did lose a pet and they know we did our best.  I love the "Thank You" reviews (and cards and letters). They mean a lot to me and my staff.  Sadness can build up on us sometimes and it is nice to know that people appreciate us even in unhappy outcomes.

Ask if they have an in-house lab and other diagnostics.  I love my in-house lab! It is and was expensive but there is no substitute for a 20 min turnaround time when I need to know the answers.  I am always extremely frustrated by human facilities' long turnaround times.  I can do most necessary labs and radiology in my facility and I can have at least preliminary answers very fast.  I like that. I can run clotting tests and chemistry panels on the same day of outpatient surgery so I know the animal's status right then before I go to surgery.  There are still tests that require sending to a big off site lab, but I love my lab too and if you are a person who does not like to wait, ask about the diagnostics at the animal clinic you are considering.

Does it smell fresh? We have accidents sometimes, as does every hospital, but odors can indicate lack of cleanliness. If the hospital smells like a wet dog every time you enter, it might not be the place for you. Animals are tuned into scents and just the smell of other animals passing by might be enough to frighten your pet, but just think...if you can smell it, it is overpowering to your pet!

Do you feel a genuine concern for you and your pet? Listen to your heart.  Do you feel good about a place or person? Are they right for you? Did your concerns get answered? Are they available for you to ask questions even after you leave? Not every vet is right for every pet owner. It doesn't make them a bad vet or you a bad owner if you just do not feel rapport with someone.  The value of that camaraderie cannot be emphasized enough.  This person is going to be your life raft when your pet is sick.  These people will hold your hand as you make life changing choices. They will be with you in good times and bad. The staff will help you wade through all the misinformation about what your pet needs.

LOVE 'EM or LEAVE 'EM.  Your pet's health may depend on your choice.

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My husband and I love to watch The Big Bang Theory on TV and Sheldon went to the grocery store with Penny. He was berating her for her purchase of a multivitamin, saying that all she would get was "expensive urine".  Does he have a point?

As our population ages and our knowledge grows, more and more people are taking vitamins and supplements and giving them to their pets.  But are they necessary?

Most commercially available pet foods are balanced for all stages of life for pets and do not require supplementation, at least not for survival.  Is survival enough? Not to me, it isn't. I want more from my life and for my pets.

There are areas where I think we can do a little better for our pets.  I suggest premium prescription diets for many of my patients because they already contain some substances that are thought to be beneficial in certain disease conditions.

If I find on examination that a pet has a high likelihood of developing osteoarthritis, for example, I might suggest joint supplements.  I saw a Great Dane mix today with very poor rear leg conformation and I suggested joint supplements for her.  Her owner elected to try a prescription diet with additives already present so she could minimize the mixing and remembering and because our diets are palatability guaranteed.  In her case, the supplements (if given the way I suggest) won't hurt and might help, so it was a gamble she is willing to take.

Beware, joint supplements designed for human patients may or may not be beneficial for pets. Also noteworthy is the fact that supplements or "neutroceuticals" are not regulated by the FDA and can be an area where a consumer could be taken advantage of.  It seems that there are always fads and trends that wax and wane on the internet.  These types of things have been around since the traveling "snake oil" peddlers in olden days.   Ask your vet if he or she has seen legitimate studies for the supplement you are considering. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Your veterinary team is an excellent resource to help you wade through the info.

Do I think that some supplements are like lighting piles of money on fire? Yes. Do I think that there are charlatans and snake oil salesmen that will capitalize on our love of our pets? Yes.  Do I think that there is a place for certain supplements? Yes

The answer lies in the partnership with your veterinary team.  It is my job to read all the studies and sort through all the information to be able to help my clients find the perfect balance between reality and hope. The supplements that we carry and recommend have already passed my own personal standards evaluation.  I do give select supplements to my pets. I do take select supplements myself, but I tailor these choices to personal needs and I balance cost and safety with the potential benefit.   Feel free to comment about your experiences or ask me about mine.

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Since Applebrook has a Facebook page and many of our clients follow it and post to it, we decided to ASK for pet photos to use in our promotional materials.  We thought that local pets and those pets we know would make the materials even more special (and you just never know who might show up in a book!)There was such a great response that we then sent out a newsletter calling for pet photos.  More photos came in! So here is the final call out for those not on our Facebook page, Twitter feed, Google+ or email mailing list. Email us your pet's photos and we will enter you into a drawing for a gift certificate to Nooga Paws natural pet market. 
Here are the links for social media too.

https://www.facebook.com/applebrookanimal
https://twitter.com/DrKathrynPrimm
https://plus.google.com/u/0/106123390571429985259/posts

For email, you can send photos to thevet@applebrookanimal.com.  Deadline for this one is January 31, so hurry!

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Many times pets are blamed for the presence of illness in children. There are cases in which this could be true and it is important to ask your veterinarian and your pediatrician if you should be concerned about zoonotic (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people).
Trust me, vets have a lot of training in this area, since part of our job is to protect public health. It is even included in the Veterinary Oath that we all take as we enter the profession:
Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
If your child has Strep throat, it is not very likely that you need to test your pets. Always talk to your physician and do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian because he or she is an excellent resource for everyone's health and safety. We can all work together for continued good health...for everyone.

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