Do you wonder why episodes on reality shows where the cast “tells all” are so popular? People love the dish, the truth, the real details about what actually goes on behind the scenes. The same is true about many aspects of our lives. People love finding out what their friends are really thinking or what their doctors really say. Veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly, DVM took a survey from her top veterinarian friends and colleagues to find out what “little white lies” they most often tell to their clients. Here is the scoop below:
Top Fibs & White Lies You Are Likely To Hear From the Vet
“Your pet is not fat.” You may be worried that Fluffy is getting on the chunkier side, but your vet just sloughs it off, blaming his breed, stature, coat thickness, or even his “build.” Though there is no specific reason why your vet would have anything to gain (pun intended) from this white lie, it is still worth doing the pet-weight check or getting a second opinion. If the fib is pitched in this way “you might want to cut down on portion control” you should ask what he means by that. Get details, specifics and find out how you can protect your pet from the wealth of health problems that accompany obesity.
“We use muzzles for most dogs, as a standard precaution.” That might be true. But usually it just means the vet is really concerned about your dog when it comes to the welfare of him and his staff, but also the other animals in the office. You might swear up and down that your Pit Bull is just as sweet as an angel, but someone in the profession of dealing with dogs knows that when canines are stressed, in a new environment, and might be resistant to unfamiliar handlers, even a nice dog might lash out. Your dog’s behavior, or even the BREED might have something to do with why the vet asked you to muzzle your pup before the visit. Likely as not, saying this is just the “standard precaution” just means he doesn’t want to hurt your feelings or suggest that your dog behaves badly.
“Your pet smells just fine.” Again, maybe that is true. But you should always dig a little deeper. The vet might not want to offend you by suggesting or implying that you are not giving your pet the proper care, or bathing him/grooming him frequently enough. After all, they do want to keep their clients, and the best way to do that is to avoid offending them. If you know that Buddy is an odorous pup, or that the stench has been getting worse, don’t accept the compliment. Let the vet know that is nice of him, but you are actually concerned the animal might have an infection, or a skin disease, etc. A vet will be able to tell you plenty about your dog or cat’s general health based on the appearance, scent and condition of the pup’s coat. For a better diagnostic, save the bath time for after the checkup!
(Another fib vets tell pet owners is that “most cats and dogs get mats in their fur.” This is not true about animals that are bathed and groomed regularly! This is just an example of them trying to spare your feelings make you feel like guilty about any negligence you might be showing your pet’s coat. Make a mental note that it’s time to be more intentional about working out the knots in your cat or dog’s coat if you hear this fib.)
“Oh I don’t mind excreting anal glands; I do it all the time!” Part of a vet’s job is anal sac expression, which involves a hands-on task at your pet’s rear end. It is an unpleasant, stinky job, and no would-be-vet dreams of this as part of their ideal day at the clinic. However, it is something that is important for your pet’s health. If you hear that your vet doesn’t mind this aspect of his job, he is probably just being polite. Pass the hand-sanitizer, please!
“You forgot your credit card? No problem!” Unfortunately, something that happens frequently in the medical profession is that people will forget they owe their doctors, dentists and vets money, requiring the office to have to follow up with an invoice. Don’t be “that guy.” This shows a frustrating lack of regard for the services you and your pet receive. Bring your wallet, or a back-up check book to make sure they get paid on time.
