Pawcurious: With Veterinarian and Author Dr. V

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Poker Face

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I hear all sorts of stuff at work. Some of it is funny: “Hey doc, my dog caught me and my wife….uh….well, anyway, is he scarred for life?”

Some of it is sad, like listening to a lonely elderly person tell me about the life of their cat, their constant companion and solace, as the cat is being put to sleep.

Some of it is downright weird, like the woman who pulled her top down to ask me to look at a mole (I demurred.)

All of this has to be met with the same expressionless face. That’s not my forte, to be honest. I have to work at maintaining a neutral expression, though the year after college I spent working for a urologist conducting the clinical trials for Viagra sure did help in that regard. My point is, it’s a learned skill, and anyone can do it with practice. I think I’m pretty decent at it, usually.

Today, though, was a challenge.

We had a client bring in a Lhasa puppy for limping. At 5 months old, this dog already had severe patellar luxations (ie, the kneecaps were slipping out of place); with his difficulty walking, surgery was a foregone necessity.

“Maybe we can fix those at his neuter,” I suggested.

The owner was affronted. “I’m not neutering him,” she said, as if he were the most spectacular specimen of robust health instead of a young pup waddling like an old man.

Then she declined pain medications. “I can’t afford it,” she said. “I have fifteen pets at home.”

I looked at her record, and sure enough, she has been in at various points in the last couple of years with a variety of pets with ailments minor to serious, none worked up, none treated other than a few cursory medications. Always, she says she can’t afford it.

I have a lot of sympathy for people in this economy who are finding veterinary care difficult to afford. I get that, I really do. I want to help. But I have much less sympathy for someone who can’t afford the care their pets need turning around and getting two new puppies that also won’t get the care they need, then getting mad at me for suggesting that care. I have sympathy for the dog. Pity for the dog. For the owner, frustration. Lots of frustration.

I thought I put on my typical neutral face as I listed for her the reasons a neuter would be important, as well as the pain her dog was in and would continue to be in without treatment. I thought I did this in a fairly clinical manner while still conveying care and sympathy for the pet, who after all didn’t ask to be adopted by this person. I don’t know enough to say whether or not she is a hoarder, but the situation is crummy, to say the least.

I convinced her to take home the pain medication. Then when she was checking out, she said she didn’t want to see me any more because I insulted her dog by insinuating that he should not procreate. Oh well. I can’t say I will miss managing that particular situation.

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Comments

  1. I love the “I can’t afford that!” people who have recently acquired a new dog, especially when they get angry like it’s somehow my fault they made a bad decision. Bonus points if the thing they can’t afford is a DAPP series. Enjoy your parvo. Been seeing a rash of those lately.

    Also fun are the people who refuse to spay/neuter because “I have to make back the money I spent!” Mmmhmmmm, good luck with that.

  2. Idiot! There’s no way he should be a stud-in fact, neuter him and spay her for being stupid. If he’s limping so badly at 5 mos., arthritis will set in in the not-too-distant future and his already miserable existence will be even worse. If you can’t afford the surgery, put him down. (She’d never turn him over to a rescue group who would take care of him.) She’s got that dog-in-the-manger attitude. We took this boy in a few weeks ago: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14442200 The owners wouldn’t turn him over to rescue so we sent in a ringer who got him out and brought him to us. Another case of an early-twenties couple, kids in diapers, and 2 small dogs that they won’t take proper care of. Picture that pom (he’s kind of big for a pom, maybe 12 – 15 lbs) living outside in cold, snowy Michigan. Whew, better dial it back! Kind of early to be getting all worked up over idiots!

  3. I’m not sure what the protocol is, but are you able to report here to the local humane society or ASPCA for investigation of potential neglect? It almost sounds like she’s running a puppy mill. I know human doctor’s are supposed to report potential child abuse/neglect to Social Services. I wasn’t sure if there’s something similar for animals?

    • We are mandated reporters for suspected *child* abuse, but not animal abuse. Weird, isn’t it? The problem is in our area, the fact that they sought a vet in the first place fulfills their minimum requirement for care, so animal control would do nothing. (This varies by jurisdiction.)

  4. Just another reason why I love dogs more than most people. Stupid pet owners. Can’t afford the vet? Can’t afford the pet.

  5. I have a really hard time with people who play the “I can’t afford it!” card but they can somehow manage to get their hands on designer animals who cost $$. Usually, these designer animals need extra veterinary care, and yet they don’t really factor that decision in. Totally irresponsible of this woman. Is there anywhere you can report her so that she’s not allowed to adopt anymore?

    • The few times I have reported someone, it’s never ended well, and usually the pet suffers for having an owner who no longer trusts any vet.

  6. My dog WILL have food and health care before I do. Idiots who keep animals and can’t/won’t/don’t take care of them? Gahhhhhhhhhh! Drives me crazy it does.

    I’ve been keeping a close eye on “kevin” re: Prancer. The Vet said Prancer is doing ok, just ketting old, and to tell “kevin” to get lost. It ain’t time.
    I hope “kevin” didn’t take my not letting him have Prancer just yet, out on your Fantasy Barbie! 😉

  9. I like the person who told me we shouldn’t neuter our male kitten because that would be “taking away his manhood.” I adore our “fur babies” and thoroughly enjoy lots of silliness with them, but even I knew it would (at the most absurd interpretation of the procedure) be taking away “his cat-hood.” Which is a very good thing. He is a fully feline healthy 10 year old cat with many years ahead.

    • Yes, if by taking away their manhood you mean, “taking away their tendency to fight and get FIV and abscesses and get run over by cars.” lol!