pets are (usually) *not* humans, and it matters

[aineotter]

An article on how MD's can be some of the worst vet clients everAnd I can add one more anecdote to the list. I have a neighbor who's an ER doctor. SHe had a rabbit, who developed an itchy, alopecic area (lost fur). She asked me what it might be, and I suggested that it might be a fungal infection (like ringworm). I offerend to do a skin scraping

Comments

[djinnthespazz]

Ugh. Some dog owners are the worst. Their 'babies' are little people, and they will treat PERCEIVED issues with human meds, like, oh, the coworker's wife that gave their puppy one of the human pain meds. Not aspirin, but Motrin, or Advil or something.

Dog was fine, in the end, but they had a good scare.
I suspect that one will do something stupid again.

Gah. People.

[aineotter]

Pain meds are the *worst*, too. Tylenol can kill dogs and cats, and while you can give aspirin, the dose is not the same, even accounting for the difference in body weight (cats are especially sensitive). Plus it really isn't the best drug for pain, and the newer NSAIDs are very species-specific. Ones that are good in one species may be ineffective and/or dangerous in another.
I'll never understand why most human drugs are dosed per person, rather than per pound, anyway. My 98 lb mom is given the same dose of, say ibuprofen, as my 375 lb cousin; how does that make sense?

[djinnthespazz]

"rather than per pound"

Seriously good question.

But that also parallels the fact that for ages, drugs where only tested on men, because females had those wonky cycles that messed up the results... oh, wait...

[krysturtle]

Working at PetSmart I see a lot of this as well. I'll show a Pet Parent something for their pet and they'll ask if they can just use the human equivilant because it's cheaper. I try to explain to them that there is a dog/cat version for a reason. Never give your pet people medicine unless told to by your vet.

I truely believe that everyone should have to pass a test and get a license to own a pet. I see too many people come in who have no clue how to care for their pet.

[inked_freak]

AMEN, and all that stuff! Between people meds in both species, giving the rottweiler pill to the chihuahua, and dog flea product accidentally, or worse, on purpose, given half strength on cats, i want to scream regularly!