Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Chevy · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 13

First off, I"m not a vet - i'm a small pet owner.

However, i've met enough vets in my 'hometown' to come across cynical vets who've been too long at their job.

They're good vets - but the reality is that Malaysian pet owners are so darn clueless about keeping pets that it's hard for a vet not to turn cynical. There have been situations where if I were a vet, I wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry because of the owners' actions or to cry because of what the animal has gone through at the owners hands.

To 'educate' our new Msian vets out there, what can the senior vets on this forum advise when coming across crazy situations over the years?

Thanks.
Chevy

Dr HanMRCVS · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 557 Location: Johor Bahru

do not over work or over stress yourself! stress and lethargy do lead to weariness and make you not enjoy doing something you've dedicated your life to.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Keep a pet or two... then you'll know how it feels being on the "other end".

Quote: There have been situations where if I were a vet, I wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry because of the owners' actions or to cry because of what the animal has gone through at the owners hands.
I still do feel that way too, sometimes...

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 463 Location: Puchong,Selangor

I try to look at the funny side of things....nothing much one can do about the current situation. Just remember that the very act of sending the pet to the vet is a good improvement in awareness. Small step foreward is still better then standing still.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 463 Location: Puchong,Selangor

I wanted to be a vet coz i dont want to deal with people if i can (there is nothing worong about being antisocial, look at me i seem to be doing ok....i think). Now, in my line of work dealing with people is one of the most important aspect of the job. Face it, most vets are able to treat animals and diagnose and so on. but how well you do in our line of work (small animal) depends on the quality of service you offer (we are in the service industry). And man, if you arn't careful, one will turn into a cynical vet in a matter of years. When that happens there is no turning back. there is no more fun in your job. So just loving animals alone is not enough to be a vet...sadly

Thake this incident:

Dr: Dont give anything else to your dog but this food for 3 weeks.
Owner: I give bread in the morining can?
Dr: Afraid not madam, just this food.
Owner: Rice?what about rice, My fifi loves rice.
Dr: Better not, just the current kibbles
Owner: My fifi loves apples...
Dr: nope, not a good idea.
Owner: HOw about somthing bland like creamcrackers or cornflakes
Dr: %#$*&^......
I did not hear the rest of the dialog coz i was too bz rolling on the floor in the other room having fits form laughter suppression.

If it is kind of hard to not get a bit ticked if u see 2 or 10 of these a day. I just learn to laugh. As a vet one must not just treat the animals but the owners too. Take things in stride and smile if u can...if not laugh. Vets tend to live longer that way.

Chevy · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 13

I hear ya... trying to look at the funny side of things is a way of coping..

Years ago, I did volunteer a few days a week during the school holidays.
Was appalled at the following situation:

Woman comes in with puppy and maid. Complains her puppy smells - so (get this!) she has been telling her maid to bathe the puppy up to 3-4 times a day to wash away the smell. She wants vet to make the puppy stink less.

Vet tells her - aiya madam, that is the smell of a puppy. You cannot wash away a puppy smell.
Woman looks very dissatisfied.Purses her lips and tries to argue with vet. Vet then says 'use this dog shampoo' BUT doesn't tell the woman to STOP bathing the puppy 3-4 x a day.:( Woman looks slightly satisfied since she's been given her 'fix'.
Maid looks timid while holding puppy- puppy looking around very nervously and it was SO damn tiny.
Ugh..

I can only imagine that the SILLY woman went back home - asked the maid to bathe the puppy again- until it no longer smelled.
I wonder how long it took before the puppy fell sick cos it was bathed too many times.
Grrr.. unfortunately I could not laugh at the situation. :p Ignorance is one thing, but i reckon the vet should have straighten her out about the disadvantages of bathing an animal so many times in a day..

Do vets cross the line if they tell the owner what they shouldn't do and what they should do?

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

It always depends on how it is being told to the client. Vets should at least try to correct the situation, but then again, it depends on the type of people we meet. Like this woman for example, if you correct her, would she even listen? She'd probably think that this is a "bad" vet, and will find another that can treat her pup. Perhaps there's another way around this type of problem, e.g. to give a mild shampoo and advice the maid not to bathe it so many times. :)

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

For me, I'll try to voice out even at the end my advise is not taken. However, how you put it in your words is important. Correcting the situation is the goal, communication skill is the process.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 463 Location: Puchong,Selangor

"Correcting the situation is the goal, communication skill is the process."

Right on dude, right on.

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Selangor

Make it very clear to the owner what is ideal/proper, what is practical and what is optional. And make it REAL clear its up to the owner choice coz they are paying for the service / medicine. And whatever will happen is up to the pet plus all the external factors, where got gurantee one.

Then don get too stress up about not able to correct the pet's condition. forget about it and focus on good clients