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Originally Posted by AllDogBoots  I'm seeing so many threads lately from members who have questions and are seeking advice regarding medical & basic health issues regarding their dogs, which I think is fantastic. The amount of information I have personally learned since I've been a forum member is astonishing, although I take everything learned with a grain of salt.
I'm seeing members dishing out advice that flat out goes against what the dog's veterinarian recommends. Literally, I see people say "no your vet is wrong" or "your vet is not doing the right tests", etc. The vet may say to try a certain food, while someone else may say "no, chicken is no good".
Without actually seeing the dog's symptoms is it possible to really give a clear diagnosis online? I think that advice is priceless, but I also think that the folks asking questions may be getting confused by so many contradictions. I see so many new people come home from the vet, post their information and after seeing the replies they now say "gosh I'm so confused and don't know what to do". Shouldn't the vet's advice generally be followed?
While I think sharing information and stories is a huge asset to this forum, i'm not so sure that clinically diagnosing is. I've never had a major issue with a veterinarian in a negative way and perhaps I'm lucky. I really have a great relationship with my vet and do trust them. Maybe I would feel differently if I've had a horrific experience.
Thanks for letting me post. |
Great post. I think while we can suggest things, we shouldn't scare the person to death, or second-guess the vet. First of all, the vet makes his decisions based on all the symptoms, and tests for most likely illnesses as well as most time critical. Vets also take clients budgets into consideration, and don't do every test possible in the beginning, for as we know, many dog's symptoms, clear up overnight on their own. We don't always know what the OP has told the vet, and we don't always know what the vet has really told the OP. Sometimesm people hear one or two words, and may even misunderstand the vet's explanation, so I'm always disappointed when members criticize the vet because we don't even know what the vet said.
That said, I think everyone should take the time to find a vet in whom they have confidence, it's one of the most important relationships you'll have in your life. When your dog has been properly diagnosed, I think YT can be extremely valuable in getting tips from other members whose dogs have the same problem.