El Paso pet owners are the best! They are willing to go above and beyond and research any problems their pets present. We promote client education and admire our client’s devotion to educating themselves. After all, you know your pet better than anyone else and can spot a problem right away.
If you know your pet is acting out of the norm we recommend bringing them in as soon as possible. Dr. Google often leads you down the wrong path and to the most extreme diagnoses. There is no substitute for a full physical exam by a veterinarian. Our staff would be more than happy to see your pet and find a solution. For example, your pet has had severe itching. Dr. Google diagnoses your pet with food allergies. You go to the local pet store and purchase a variety of different foods to try. A month later you have spent hundreds of dollars in dog food and your pet is still itching. You finally give in and schedule an appointment and realize it isn’t a food allergy at all and then you have to spend more money on medication.
Most common signs your pet needs to see a vet:
- Change in appetite
- Increased urination
- Blood in urine
- Coughing
- Increased thirst
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Weight loss or gain
- Stiffness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loose stool
- Blood in stool
- Lethargic
There is a lot of great information out there that can be very useful. On the flipside there are a lot of websites out there that have inaccurate and bias information. Beware of what websites you are using. Avoid any site that is selling something. Their information may be bias to work in their favor. We recommend using the veterinary topics link from our homepage, our blog, American Veterinary Medicine Association www.avma.org, American Animal Hospital Association www.aahanet.org, and any veterinary college website.
While conducting your research there are a lot of factors to consider. We recommend consulting Dr. Google after your pet has been diagnosed by our certified veterinarians. This way you are staring your research on the correct topic. Always follow up with your vet to ensure the information you have received is accurate. Remember that this is what they have dedicated their lives to.
Present any questions or concerns you have after your research is done. We would much rather talk over what you have found than have it affect your pet by miscommunication or miseducation. Our veterinarians are more than happy to work with you as a team to make sure your pet is getting the absolute best care possible. In the end we are all working towards the same thing, giving your pet the best care possible.
By Monique Conway, Director of Public Contact 9/3/2014