Veterinary medicine is a profession that’s rife with ethical dilemmas. Whether it’s a sick pet whose owner cannot afford treatment, or a client who declines monitoring for a life-or-death medication, you will be faced with tough decisions on a regular basis.
It’s always been interesting to me how differently individuals in the general public view our profession. I’ve had people tell me, “it is a beautiful profession” to “that’s got to be one of the hardest jobs.” I wonder if maybe veterinary medicine lies somewhere in between or in a combination of these two statements. Personally, I believe our profession can be both incredibly rewarding and profoundly difficult.
Topics: Suicide, Mental Health
In your vet school, have you heard the phrase, “cats are not small dogs?” This is a great statement to remember because they are very different for a variety of reasons including but not limited to physiology, behavior, disease processes and drug metabolism.
Topics: Dirofilaria immitis
In a perfect world, every dog with heartworms would be treated according to the American Heartworm Society’s recommended protocol: doxycycline and a macrocyclic lactone, followed by three injections of melarsomine (adulticide).
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and the cost of heartworm treatment leads many clients to consider alternatives.
