7 Things Pet Owners Do That Drive Veterinarians Crazy!

Dr. Jen at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic is one of the most compassionate loving people that I know.  She and her volunteers give endless amounts of time and energy to the welfare and well being of the animals that they care for.  I have never once heard her or any of the volunteers complain.  But apparently there are some things that we, the pet owners do, that really tick off our vets.  Here are 7 of them!

1) Answer Or Talk On Our Cell Phones

There is nothing more annoying and disrespectful than answering a phone call while your vet is delivering her state-of-your-pet’s-health address?

2) Bringing The Kids Along

Very young or badly behaved children are an unnecessary liability in a veterinary environment. It’s hard enough to keep pets safe let alone kids.  Vets say there is one exception to this rule, and that is if it is an emergency situation.

3) Let Their Dogs Run Around

A vet office is not a dog park.  Retractable leashes should remain in the shortest, locked position for the duration of your visit.

4) Carry Their Cat In To The Office

Why some owners insist upon bringing their cats to the vet hospital without carriers, is another thing that irks any number of vets.  Carriers are for the animals safety.   Cats are more comfortable in uncertain environments when they’re enclosed.

5) Deny, Deny, Deny

It drives vets crazy.  No, my pet is not fat. No, my pet’s teeth are not rotting. No, he’s too old for surgery. No, her claws are not too long. It’s exasperating!  You came there for medical advice, to get it from someone you trust.  If you don't trust them and don't want to listen, it's time to change vets.

6) Refuse To Pay

It happens more often than you’d think. Pet owners agree to hospitalization and procedures  and later they refuse to pay. Sometimes they say that they forgot their checkbooks. Other times they claim to have misunderstood the payment policy, even though there’s a sign in almost every veterinary hospital in the United States explaining that payment is expected when services are rendered. One client  canceled her American Express payment after they saved her anemic cat’s life with a blood transfusion.

7) Don't Follow Through

There’s no shame in admitting that you can’t medicate your difficult cat or trim your dog's toenails. Veterinarians are pet owners, too.  They understand why you might not be able to manage these not so simple tasks.

But you’ve got to let the vet know if you can’t, don’t or won’t do what they say.

Make your next visit an easier one for everyone involved and follow these simple suggestions.