I was recently asked, “What are you grateful for?”
Well shoot, what am I not grateful for? I am blessed with a healthy family and people and pets who love me. The rest is gravy (to start throwing in Thanksgiving puns.)
But I think the question was more specific to veterinary stuff, so let me start with telling a story:
When one of my dogs was diagnosed with melanoma, I did what any good general practitioner would do and bundled her off in the car to the specialist. In our area, we are fortunate to have not one but several veterinary oncologists, including one who specializes in radiation oncology (which is the treatment of choice for this type of cancer.)
We sat in the exam room and he outlined the course of treatment: it was intensive, involving multiple anesthesias, and fairly expensive. It is the sort of thing most owners probably cannot or would not do due to the expense and time involved. I understand that, and I respect that. It is not for everyone.
We also talked about other things, our families and careers and all that stuff you talk about when you are chatting with someone with whom you have a lot in common. “I’ve stopped telling strangers what I do for a living,” he said.
“Why?” I asked, figuring it was the same reason I don’t: too many people pumping me for free advice.
“Because I’ve had several people tell me I wasted my career on pets,” he responded. I sat there open-mouthed, wondering if that was a joke. It wasn’t.
“When I told a woman at my daughter’s school that I was a veterinary radiation oncologist, she actually got angry,” he said. “She said to me, how could you waste all your time and effort on that when there are so many children out there with cancer that you could be helping instead?”
As if there was a vast shortage of MDs entering the field.
The underlying implication, of course, is that until all humans are healthy and happy, well, pets just have to deal. And we all know what the chances are of that happening.
I hope and pray I NEVER need the services of a pediatric radiation oncologist. But if I do, I am fortunate in knowing there are out there, accessible and ready to help.
Had this good vet gone into med school instead, there would be no radiation oncologist for me to take Mulan to. They are an uncommon breed.
Veterinarians have long been the red-headed stepchild of the medical field, enduring the never ending question of “Why didn’t you become a real doctor” on a regular basis. Getting soundly chastised for the choice, however, was a new one to me.
So on this day, I say I am grateful for those who have devoted themselves to the veterinary specialties, those who put in 18 hour days 7 days a week and bust their rears doing cutting edge research and make themselves available to provide the absolute best care to our pets and in turn get told they wasted their life by sanctimonious PTA parents.
I assure you, good doctor, as not only a colleague but a client- your time was not wasted. Thank you.
ETA: I didn’t write this to ask for recognition on my behalf- you all always make me feel loved. 🙂 I really just wanted to single out the specialists who live their lives to go above and beyond for those ‘extra special’ clients like me who would do anything to help their beloved family member, even if the rest of the world thinks we’re nuts.
Dr. V. – let me be one of the first to say that you did NOT waste yourself or your talent being an animal doctor! I know I’m not alone when I say that even from afar, you are appreciated!
I am also way more picky about my pet’s doctor(s) than I am my doctor. We have been to several, including intern students at Iowa State University when we had a special problem with our first cocker. All treated our friends with the care they deserved, and several cried with us when there was nothing more to do. Not everyone can do it – its a really hard mix of compassion and distance, and I tip my hat to anyone who does it well. Dr. V, you do it exceptionally well!
I have such respect for Dr’s in the animal field, they are vastly underpaid (Especially when I cringe at the amount of debt you have to go into just to get through school) The fact that someone would be so disrespectful as to say that to someone who has put years through school to help animals, totally floors me. Yes, helping kids is important, but hey, helping animals is important to help too.
We need to stop thinking that helping is an “either/or” proposition. Each of us uses our talents to do good things in our own way. It’s not as if there is only enough love, talent, and energy to go around and we need to make sure it’s not “used up” on something “less worthy.”
And I think being a vet GP or an animal oncologist IS helping people–by helping those we love.
Absolutely.
I think the best response to Mrs. ‘why aren’t you helping the children’ is “Why aren’t YOU a pediatric oncologist then?”
’cause I bet she isn’t.
Amen!
Ditto!
I am very thankful that there are people who go through many years of studies to become vets. Our vet has helped us out many times with her veterinary care and advice. She makes house calls and is a good friend.
Dear Dr. V.,
As a browndog who has had his share of medical problems, let me tell you, I am glad there are vets out there as well as Human doctors to keep my Humans healthy.
I’m also thankful that my Humans cared enough to find caring vets. I’m also thankful that you not only care for your patients, dogs and Human family, but care enough to share your knowledge with us four leggers and our Humans through this column.
Hawk aka BrownDog
Wow. I will never ever understand or relate to people that believe that our beloved pets are “just animals.” I cannot fathom that mindset when I know I would do anything in my power (and tried to) to save a pet. Why shouldn’t animals have the same access to care as humans? Whose to say that some mind blowing break in research couldn’t lead to helping out humans too?
I’ve always believed vets have it much harder than “real doctors.” Their patients can’t talk, they have to figure out what’s going on with their patients through a series of trials. They can’t say “Oh my ear hurts.” or “I think I’m running a fever.” They can just be there, feeling badly, hoping that someone helps them.
And that’s why vets rock.
see, what the chastising woman doesn’t realise is that a great number of medical breakthroughs in human cardiac surgery, oncology and many other fields were discovered and practised on animals before being used on humans. that veterinary radiation oncologist might just find a “better” way to give a treatment that can also be applied to children.
Dr V, I’m BrownDog’s Human Momma and I’ll give you a specific treatment helping millions of everyday folks in this USA today…next time throw this one at the doubter…in the 80’s hubby and I had performance horses in Canada. One of them had a problem and our vet there was the same as treating the Canadian equestrian team. He was helping to put a new joint therapy through the Canada’s equivalent of our FDA. He used it on our horse as part of the experimental treatment. It was fantastic…today that is the Hyaluronic Acid that is injected in Humans with hip and knee problems.
Something you use today that is animal use only may very well be saving humans tomorrow from pain or helping them to live a longer productive life.
What was it we said as kids “a pox on that woman!”? (guess I just gave my age away…y’all are probably too young to even know what a “pox” is. 🙂
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Brown Dog’s Momma