1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, Welcome to The Houndation's podcast. I'm your host, 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,319 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson, and this show is all about finding a 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: veterinarian or a vet clinic that is a good fit 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: for you and your dog. There's definitely one thing for certain. 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: When you go pick up a little eight week old 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: fur ball and bring it home, You'll have to make 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: several visits to a vet clinic over that pup's lifetime. 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: There's no way around it. And if you're lucky, those 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: visits will be for just like routine checkups and vaccinations 10 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: and the across the board care we give our dogs. 11 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: If you're unlucky, which happens a lot, you'll have to 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,959 Speaker 1: bring your dog in for a more serious issue. This 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: is when a relationship with a good vet that you 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,319 Speaker 1: trust can be huge, and that's not a simple thing 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: to come by, or at least it's not as simple 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 1: as some people think. It's also what this episode is 17 00:00:51,360 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: all about. When I was fresh out of and completely 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: rudderless in life, I ended up working at this little 19 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: restaurant in Rochester, Minnesota. It was kind of a high 20 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: end place with live music most nights and very limited seeding. 21 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: And as with any job, when you start it. I 22 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: didn't really know anyone or feel much like I belonged 23 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: there for a while, but as it often goes, I 24 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: started to get to know the cooks, and then the bartenders, 25 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: and then some of the weight staff, and many of 26 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: the waitresses were how do I put this, really really hot. 27 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: One was just a level above the rest, which was 28 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: saying something, and she did not have a whole lot 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: of time for us back of the house staff. So 30 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: it was a surprise to me when she strolled back 31 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: to chat with me one day, just for the hell 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: of it. Now, I'm not proud of this, and I 33 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: really don't even want to tell you guys this, but 34 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: I was twenty four at the time, and well, it 35 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: was very nice that she had warmed up to me 36 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: a little bit, so much so that when she left, 37 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: I did a little fist pump move over my head 38 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: while congratulating myself for being the kind of guy she 39 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: would casually talk to for five minutes. But above my 40 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: head was a vent with galvanized steel around it, and 41 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: I punched that steel just right so that before I 42 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: even looked at my hand, I knew I was headed 43 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: to the er. Since it was a work injury, the 44 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: details of which I might have fudged just a little 45 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: bit when I explained them to my boss. I went 46 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: down the road to get stitched up. Two interesting things 47 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: happened during that experience, the first of which was when 48 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: the nurse injected the painkiller into my hand. I thought 49 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: I saw it just kind of all run out of 50 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: the cut. When she started stitching me up, I wasn't 51 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: numb at all. And let me tell you, in the movies, 52 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: when someone does that without painkillers and they remain stoic, 53 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: I'm a little suspect because it hurt a lot, so 54 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: much so that when she asked me what was wrong, 55 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: I told her, and then she gave me an injection 56 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: that actually worked. The other thing that happened there was 57 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: that a doctor who looked at my chart got a 58 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: very surprised look on his face and asked me if 59 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: I had insurance. I didn't, so he said, i'll tell 60 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: you what, I'm going to make an appointment for you, 61 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: and we will just keep it between us. I didn't 62 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: really understand what was going on, but my blood pressure 63 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: was insanely high, and he figured it probably would kill me, 64 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: or at least be real bad for me. He also 65 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: knew that I couldn't afford what he wanted to do, 66 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: so he essentially just snuck me in to give me 67 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: a few tests. I remember returning to that hospital and 68 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: walking down the hall with him, and at one point 69 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: he looked at another worker and said, nothing to see here, 70 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: look away. At the end of that visit, which I'll 71 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: admit made me think I might actually be dying, he said, 72 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: you have white coat hypertension, which is a doctor joke 73 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: about people who get very nervous and stressed out when 74 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: they're in their doctor's office, which raises their blood pressure 75 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: a lot. Now, when they sit long enough and settle down, 76 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: they tend to have a much better reading when the 77 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: old cuff titens up around their bicep. I honestly think 78 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever 79 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: done for me, and I would have told him that 80 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: when I went back to get those stitches out, But 81 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: as it so happens to young, drunken morons like I 82 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: was back then, I didn't have to go back because 83 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: I blew all of the stitches out when I punched 84 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: a guy at a housewarming party. Yes not a house party, 85 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: a housewarming party, so I just glued and taped it 86 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: shut and went on with my dumb life. But that 87 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: doctor taught me something about the medical profession, and I 88 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: think it applies to the world of animal medicine too. 89 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: While everyone who theoretically goes through the process of becoming 90 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: a doctor of veterinary medicine will be a consummate professional, 91 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that every vet will be a good 92 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: fit for you and your dog. And I'm going to 93 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: get into that, but first I want to break down 94 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 1: a few things about becoming a veterinarian. If you think 95 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: any average person can get into VET school and finish it, 96 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: you are super wrong. The academic requirements to get accepted 97 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: into a program vary a lot by the school, but 98 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: they really aren't taken see students in if you get 99 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: my drift, GPA and gr score. Requirements to get in 100 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: weed out a lot of folks who probably just don't 101 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: have the mental horsepower to do the job, which is 102 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: a good thing. The cost of VET school is another issue. Again, 103 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: this varies a hell of a lot by school and 104 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: whether you're attending an in state or out of state university, 105 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: but it's very likely to graduate, wait and come away 106 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: with student loan debt in the six figure territory. It 107 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: generally takes eight years of education as well, which means 108 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: that VET school that often puts people into real debt 109 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: comes after four years of undergraduate studies, which, if you 110 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: haven't been paying attention, are also rarely offered for free 111 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 1: from universities. Now imagine studying something you know, not even 112 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: for eight years, because you know, the undergraduate programs can 113 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: have you in interpretive dance classes in badminton, but for 114 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: at least you know beyond the non major related courses. 115 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: Four dedicated years of study. Add in the reality that 116 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: you can't be a dummy and get there, and the 117 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: standards for your performance are going to be real high. 118 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: The amount of time studying has to be insane, and 119 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: the amount of knowledge that they have to cram into 120 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: their brains is a heavy heavy lift. Now imagine going 121 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: through that stress for years and years, working your way 122 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: through some tough shit. And then you start your job 123 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: and someone who hasn't spent a single second learning the 124 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: things you've dedicated your life to learning tells you they 125 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: know better about their dog. That's something I want to 126 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: drive home here with this podcast. You don't want to 127 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: find a vet who gives up and tells you what 128 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: you want to hear. You want to find one that 129 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: you trust who will give it to you straight about 130 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: how to best care for your dog. Let me frame 131 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: this up another way. Recently, my mother in law, who 132 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: is probably about twenty five percent totally nuts by my 133 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: non scientific calculations, took our local YMCA up on a 134 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: recruitment offer. They were selling memberships for like a dollar 135 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: a month to the end of the year or something 136 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: like that, which was music to her ears. They also 137 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: threw in a free personal trainer consultation. Now, when I 138 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: asked her how it went, she said she didn't really 139 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: like the guy. Now, keep in mind, I know that 140 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: trainer fairly well because I work out there a lot. 141 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: He's a good trainer, a good dude in general. But 142 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: I don't think my mother in law was interested in 143 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: getting actual advice on how to get into shape. And 144 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: I think the trainer knew that the moment she walked in. 145 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: Essentially they were a bad match because she wasn't interested 146 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: in his expertise. She knew what she wanted out of 147 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: the deal, and that was that when it comes to 148 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: taking your dog in You have to be able to 149 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: trust the professionals. There's no way around it. They care 150 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: about your dog cells and they need to be able 151 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: to communicate with you. How best to go about that. Now, 152 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: this is where things get a little wonky. We often 153 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: look at vet clinics like they are all the same, 154 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: and so we shop around for the cheapest option or 155 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: the option that will allow us to get in on 156 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: short notice, because most clinics are very, very busy. The 157 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: COVID boom of pets is still going strong, even if 158 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: it might have died down some, but there's also just 159 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: a shortage of veterinarians out there. It's a supply and 160 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: demand situation going on here, and the reality is that 161 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: not only is it expensive to become a vet, it's 162 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: crazy expensive to fill up a clinic with the tools 163 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: and the machines and staff necessary to meet the needs 164 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: of a variety of clients. There's no dollar general type 165 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: of vet clinics out there, and if there were, you 166 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: probably wouldn't want to bring your dog to them. Now. 167 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: While vet visits aren't cheap, you're just likely to pay 168 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: the going market rate for everything from routine checkups to 169 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: dental cleanings to wound treatment to emergency surgery. If cost 170 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: is an issue, and it likely is for most of us, 171 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: the best way to keep them down is to keep 172 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: our dogs healthy and active and at a good weight. 173 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: Prevention really is the best medicine. This goes for keeping 174 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: your dog generally healthy, but also even before that, when 175 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: you're shopping around for a litter of pups and the 176 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: health checks that go into certain bloodlines, the less you 177 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: do on that end, the more likely you are to 178 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 1: spend on the back end with allergy tests and blood 179 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: work and anything and everything related to genetic issues that 180 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: slip into so so breeding. That's why when folks complain 181 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: about how expensive some puppies are, I cringe a little, 182 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: because with certain bloodlines, you're paying up at the front end, 183 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: so you won't have to pay more through the dog's 184 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 1: life and potentially suffer through some issues that could have 185 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: been avoided on the back end. Okay, so now all 186 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: that is out of the way, I want to talk 187 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: about how you know you've found the right vet for you. First, 188 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: make sure they don't hate you as a person. I 189 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: joke about that kind of but honestly, we had a 190 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: clinic in our area that I used to take my 191 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: Golden Retriever to that we often saw. Seemed to really 192 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: dislike hunting and hunters, and she wasn't overly shy about it. 193 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: When I got my next puppy, which was a female 194 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: black lab, one of the first things that Vet did 195 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: was lecture me on how it's not fair to a 196 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: dog to only have one dog, since they are social 197 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: pack animals and they do much better with at least 198 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: another four legged companion. I was like, Lady, I have 199 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: of twin babies at home. Are you really suggesting? I 200 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: doubled down on puppies too, and she was she didn't 201 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: understand my lifestyle, what my dogs really live for, and 202 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: it just wasn't a good fit. I shopped around and 203 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 1: ended up at another clinic, where the very first conversation 204 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: I had with Vet was about how much her labs 205 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: love to hunt and how much she loves to hunt 206 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: with them. Now, on the surface, that seems like a 207 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: great match, but maybe the reality of why isn't fully evident. Yes, 208 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: it's nice to work with someone who doesn't hate what 209 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: you do for your hobbies, but having access to a 210 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: professional who understands what your dogs go through on any 211 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: given year is super important. Think about it like this, 212 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: I live in an area with insane ticks. I mean 213 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: just ridiculous amounts of ticks, to the point where there 214 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: isn't a treatment out there yet that will one hundred 215 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: percent for sure keep my dogs from getting some kind 216 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: of tickborn disease. It's just a numbers game, and high 217 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: exposure is the reality for us here, even when you 218 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: try your best to mitigate it. A veterinarian who is 219 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: familiar with that will be able to cater care to 220 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: a dog that is going to be exposed to a 221 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: lot of ticks. They'll understand what that means, and that's important. 222 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: They'll also be able to recommend I don't know, food 223 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: choices you know better considering at least they know what 224 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: hardcore sporting dogs need in their diet and specifically what 225 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: kind of dog you have and what it might need 226 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: in its diet. They can recommend supplements, you know, treatments 227 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: for minor injuries, joint issues, recovery issues, whatever. Having access 228 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: to a vet that understands your life and your dog's 229 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 1: life better is a huge plus. They can not only 230 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: help you better when something goes wrong, but help you 231 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: look into the crystal ball and generally anticipate what might 232 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: go wrong, and that's huge. This also helps with the 233 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: right dialogue. We want to be able to ask questions 234 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: without feeling like an idiot and talk through issues with 235 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: your dog without fear of justjudg A good vet will 236 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: facilitate that every step of the way. But again, that 237 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 1: doesn't mean you won't hear something you don't like about 238 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: how you handle your dog, especially if you're honest about everything, 239 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: which you should be. We look at our dogs as 240 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: a reflection of ourselves, but they are individuals that deserve 241 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: good treatment, and sometimes we think we give them that, 242 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: but we really don't. This is probably most easily understood 243 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: in the food department. We all love to give our 244 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: dogs treats, sometimes table scraps, but just because it makes 245 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: us feel good for a few seconds, and our dogs 246 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: clearly want that, it's often not a great idea. Now, 247 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: if you like to do that, but your vet says 248 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: your dog could stand to lose five or ten pounds, 249 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: then the extra calories have to stop, even if you 250 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: don't want to hear that. And honesty flowing both ways 251 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: is huge, and it becomes an even bigger issue when 252 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: you notice something is wrong with your dog. Remember it 253 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: doesn't do you or your dog any good to lie 254 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: to the vet, and they don't want you to. So 255 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: if you love to eat edibles and watch sci fi 256 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: movies at night while drinking chocolate milk and eating cheetos, 257 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 1: and then one morning you realize that your dog ate 258 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: your whole stash, don't make up some story or hide 259 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: the details from your vet. Or maybe you suspect that 260 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: your golden retriever ate another pair of your wife's underwear 261 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: and you were just hoping that Jesus would take the 262 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: wheel and push that chunk of fabric through your dog's 263 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: digestive track, so it ends up in a steaming pile 264 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: in your yard instead of getting caught somewhere between its 265 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: mouth and its ass, which requires you to go in 266 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: and explain that you have a dog that is just 267 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: really drawn to that sort of thing and maybe might 268 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: have ingested your bride's grundy undies and now you're not sure, 269 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: so please help. Or maybe your dog has been just 270 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 1: a little off for three days and you're not sure why, 271 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: but you also just didn't think it was serious enough 272 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: to bring him in right away don't lie and say 273 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: the symptoms just started. They need all the information you 274 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: can give them to make the best choices for your dog. Hell, 275 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: maybe you weren't paying attention and you were tossing a 276 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: dummy off the dock at the lake and you threw 277 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: it in such a way that your dog jumped right 278 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: onto a big boulder or something. We do dumb stuff. 279 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: We make mistakes with our pets, and sometimes they get 280 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: injuries because of it. But you gotta be honest about 281 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: it because it'll help your vet make better treatment decisions. Now, 282 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: another thing I want to say about this before I 283 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: wrap this podcast up is that you should know whether 284 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: your chosen vet clinic has emergency hours or not. I've 285 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: talked about this before, but it's really important to understand 286 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: where you can take your dog when the shit hits 287 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: the fan and it's midnight on a Tuesday. This goes 288 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: for when you're at home and just notice that something 289 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: is way off about your dog, but is also a 290 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: must for over the road trips where things can happen 291 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: a long ways from your home ground. Hell, you might 292 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: just realize that over the road trip stress this is 293 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: too much for your dog to handle and that's super common, 294 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: and maybe that leads to a volume of diarrhea that 295 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: would have to be measured in buckets. Some reason you 296 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: needed to measure it at all. Tell your vet about that, 297 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: because they might have a good recommendation for a treatment 298 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: or some advice on how to mitigate that stress and 299 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: keep your dogs just a little bit more healthy in 300 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: those situations. They are a resource to help you help 301 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: your dog, not just someone who gives them expensive shots 302 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: once a year and is there at your beck and 303 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: call when things go wrong. It should be a team effort, 304 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: it really should, and that might require you to find 305 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: a vet who understands your situation really well, and it 306 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: will definitely require you to be open and honest with them. 307 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: That's hard sometimes, but it's for your dog, and when 308 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: something goes really wrong, you're going to want it to 309 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: go right as quickly as possible. So think about that, 310 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: and then think about coming back next week, because I'm 311 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: going to talk about something that a lot of us 312 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: deal with our dogs, which is just how to get 313 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: them safely to handle cold weather, cold water, snow, whatever, ice. 314 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: It's all about winter and dogs on next week's show. 315 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: That's it for this week. I'm Tony Peterson. This has 316 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: been The Houndation's podcast as always. Thank you so much 317 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: for listening and for all your support. If you need 318 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: some more hunting content you just haven't got your fill 319 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: out of this show or cal shows, you can head 320 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: to the mediater dot com and you can find a 321 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: whole bunch of podcasts. There's several on the meat Eater 322 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: main feed. Now you can check out the Media to 323 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: Radio podcast. You can check out trivia. Or maybe you 324 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: need something a little bit different and you're just interested 325 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: in some history, or you're interested in some really really 326 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: good storytelling. You can check out Clay's Bear Grease podcast, 327 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: which is great, or Brent Reeves This Country Life, which 328 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: is just done so well. That guy can tell a 329 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: story like no one can. So maybe you need to 330 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: go check those out. Maybe you just need an article, 331 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: a recipe, want to watch a film with yours truly, 332 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: or somebody else hunting something. The mediater dot com has 333 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: you covered. Again. Thank you so much for your support.