THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GET A DOG

Working in the veterinary industry has taught me many things. It has taught me lots of valuable nursing skills but has also taught me that some owners can have some very interesting questions. This post is sort of inspired by the last book I read (see previous post) as it includes past experiences and questions that have been asked. It is not to offend anyone so please don't take any of this too seriously.

One of the most common questions I have heard being asked is about male dogs. Some owners will call us up or bring their dogs in because they have found a lump on it's chest and want it checking out. This seems like a very sensible thing to do until you realise that the lump is actually just a nipple. Believe it or not but dogs have nipples as well as bitches. Does your boyfriend/ husband not have nipples?

Source: www.pinterest.co.uk

One of the most popular breeds at the moment that I see in practice is the cockapoo (cocker spaniel X poodle). These dogs come in many shapes and sizes depending on which type of poodle they are bred from. When registering a patient we will ask for some details from the owner including the breed. Fair enough if your reply is "He's a cockapoo", it's quicker than saying cocker spaniel X toy/ miniature/ standard poodle, but some owners like to through the word "purebred" in there somewhere. If it's not registered with the Kennel Club, it's a cross breed.

Source: www.instagram.com *

When scrolling though a veterinary page on Facebook one day I came across a very interesting post. Now this was a post from America so I had no idea this was even a thing people did as we don't do it in the UK. An owner had taken their dog to their vet and had him castrated but instead of just leaving the sac empty, they had prosthetic testicles put in instead. Who knew you could get fake balls for your dog?! I will put the link below so you can see for yourself what they look like.

www.neuticles.com

Before you get a dog however you need to do your research. You need to now a bit about the breed you are getting and what healthcare they need. We always recommend staying on top of your dogs vaccinations, and their flea and worm treatment, the same goes for cats. This can be very costly and some owners don't realise that. The industry as a whole is very costly, whether it's a consultation fee or medication to treat your ill pet. Unfortunately we can't do much about this and it is often the nurses and the receptionist who get the complaints about the prices. Please remember you are free to make a complaint but often the people you speak to can't change it so try not to take your frustration out on them. Oh and Frontline doesn't work so please get flea and worm treatment from a vet.

Another thing we recommend is insurance. Operations can be so expensive when the patient needs overnight care or to be put on a drip so insurance is a wonderful thing to be able to have to cover these surprise costs. I guarantee if your pet is going to get ill or injured it will be at the end of the month when money is tight. They like to do that.

Source: housepawsin-homevet.com

So there are some tips for new dog owners as well as some things I've come across that will hopefully make you smile. I have been in practice now for over a year and am loving it, even with the tough day or two. I am learning lots and am well on my way to becoming an RVN which is the main thing.

And don't forget to smile! x

#vet #veterinary #nurse #SVN #lifestyle #life