Today, we have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. All we have to do is jump on the World Wide Web, type in a search, and hundreds of websites pop up. But are they all reputable? What are their sources?
Every day we hear pet owners say they saw this or that on the internet. While there is some good information out there, most of the times the information pet owners are finding is not from reputable sources. It may be someone’s personal opinion or story. Or it may be the view from someone who read something else and posted on the topic. The more translations that occur from source to source, the more errors that occur, giving false or misleading information.
So who should pet owners turn to for information on pet care? Number one should be their veterinarian! Veterinarians have completed 4 years of veterinary school. Some vets have been in practice only a few years, others for more than 15 or 20 years. At Suburban, we have registered technicians who have completed 2 years of schooling. The support staff of Suburban has much experience in pet care both at home and in the veterinary clinic. Most veterinary hospitals employ more than one veterinarian, so there is often times a colleague to consult with. Also, it is required every 2 years for veterinarians and technicians to complete 30 hours and 10 hours (respectively) of continuing education to renew their license. That is a wealth of knowledge! So before you believe what you read on the internet, or what you were told from whom you purchased your new pet, talk with your veterinarian, the expert on pet care.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion. Most veterinarians understand that in some cases, certain information or diagnoses is hard to accept and won’t be offended if you want a second opinion. Some veterinarians may manage or treat different illnesses differently. If you’re concerned about your pet, or just think maybe you could be doing more to help your pet, feel free to seek out a second opinion. Be sure to take all pertinent records with you, including radiographs and bloodwork results, if you take your pet to a different practice.
Now, that being said, there are some excellent websites out there with accurate information. We have several listed on our links page of our website. Here are a few that we often refer to:
American Animal Hospital Association www.healthypet.com
American Association of Feline Practitioners www.afp.org
American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org/reference
Companion Animal Parasite Council www.capc.org
Catalyst Council http://catalystcouncil.org
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior www.avsabonline.org
American
American Heartworm Society www.heartwormsociety.org
OSU College of Vet Med Indoor Pet Initiative http://indoorpet.osu.edu/
American Humane Association http://www.americanhumane.org
Please remember that while there is virtually everything you’d ever want to know on the web, not all of it is accurate, reliable information. Anything you research or find on the internet be sure to print it out and bring to your veterinarian for advice. Remember, 4 years of schooling and 15-20+ years of experience beats a few lines in an article on the web!