Every time I save a life, every time I fix a patient, that makes everything worth it

Every time I save a life, every time I fix a patient, that makes everything worth it
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“I love it when a client says, ‘I wish my doctor would treat me as nice as you treat my pets.’” — Phil Zeltzman, veterinarian.

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We don’t want your pets to be in pain

We don’t want your pets to be in pain
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“A lot of veterinarians have told me matter-of-factly that they still don’t use painkillers for procedures that we know are painful. They think that dogs and cats don’t need it or that feeling pain after surgery is good because it keeps them from moving around too much. But research has shown that pets who are in less pain heal faster, sleep better, and don’t move around as much.” — Dennis Leon, veterinarian

You must register your dogs

You must register your dogs
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“At a veterinary meeting I attended, it came to light that more than half the vets there had not registered their dogs, which is required by local law.” — Patty Khuly, veterinarian.

I know she shouldn’t have it, but…

I know she shouldn’t have it, but…
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“You should never give pets chocolate, because it’s toxic to most of them. But my cat is obsessed with it and is all over me when I’m eating it, so sometimes I give her a sliver. Just an itsy-bitsy, tiny one.” — veterinarian.

Here are some other edible treats you should avoid giving to your pet.

Every time we help a pet, we help a person

Every time we help a pet, we help a person
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“The classic example is the 80-year-old grandma who has nothing in life but her cat. She’s a widow with very limited social contact, and the cat is what connects her to life. So when we help her cat, she’s really the one we’re helping.” — Phil Zeltzman, veterinarian

When people surrender their pets because they can’t afford their problems, I often end up with them

When people surrender their pets because they can’t afford their problems, I often end up with them
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“I’ve got a three-legged cat, a one-eyed cat, three dogs that required major surgeries, one goat, and 11 chickens.”— Patty Khuly, veterinarian

We’ll do things for free

We’ll do things for free
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“Sometimes we do things for free, just because we want to help the pet.” — Sandy Willis, veterinarian and an internal medicine consultant.

New staff or training students sometimes practice injections or catheter placements on your pet

New staff or training students sometimes practice injections or catheter placements on your pet
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“If you’d rather not allow your pet to be used this way, make sure you say something beforehand.” — Oscar Chavez, veterinarian

I’ll let you in on the secret of no-kill shelters…

I’ll let you in on the secret of no-kill shelters…
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“We had a contract with our local animal protection society that stated we’d euthanise the animals in their care that needed to be put down. One Sunday, they sent us 72 cats to put down. By the end, we were all emotionally devastated.” — Jessica Stout-Harris

We rarely can help with behavioural issues

We rarely can help with behavioural issues
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“Behaviour issues are the No. 1 cause of pet re-homing, euthanasia, and death. Yet, because it’s not medical, most of us don’t learn much about that in veterinary school.” —Oscar Chavez, veterinarian.

Owning a dog is a big responsibility – here are some common mistakes.

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