Idiopathic Issues

As a veterinarian, you will frequently find yourself helping clients through difficult decisions. 

• Is it time to euthanize my pet?
• Should I pursue this expensive treatment for my pet?
• Which treatment approach is best for my pet’s disease? 

These are just a few examples, but you will likely see many others.

Clients faced with difficult decisions will often ask for your help and support. Even though the decision is fundamentally theirs, your words and actions can help them arrive at a decision that they can be at peace with.

At its heart, veterinary medicine is a customer-focused business. Animals can’t drive themselves to the veterinary clinic for care; therefore, we must appeal to their owners to ensure that our patients receive the level of care that they need. 

In the name of client service, all members of the veterinary team are expected to tolerate a wide variety of client requests and behaviors. Sometimes, however, these requests or behaviors cross the line from merely annoying to downright hostile or abusive. 

What options does a veterinarian have in that case? Is it actually possible to fire a client?

Fortunately, it is!

Firing a client is a very rare occurrence, but it is an option in extreme cases.

You know what surprised me most when I first became a practicing veterinarian? The number of challenging client interactions I experienced. 

I had this idea in my mind that I would be helping people’s pets and they would appreciate my efforts. Unfortunately, as I soon learned, that isn’t always the case!

Veterinary clinics are emotional places. Even seemingly mild medical issues, like a torn toenail or a cat’s diarrhea, can trigger significant emotional responses in clients. Add in the additional stress caused by unanticipated expenses and this can create a recipe for challenging, confrontational interactions. 

Ultimately, your ability to handle these difficult interactions is just as valuable as your medical knowledge. Here are some tips that will help!

Have you ever heard of Delusional Parasitosis? It isn't very common, but is a very real issue that you may come across in vet practice. 

This is a human disease or syndrome, where an owner believes that they or their pets are infested with a parasite or organism that isn't there.

I have to hand it to the students at Iowa State University! 

The SAVMA leadership put on one of the best symposiums that we have had the pleasure of attending.   After attending a large veterinary conference the previous week, it was such a breath of fresh air to be around “our people” again.