Dr. Morris has a great phrase. "It's not my job to watch your money, but it is my job to help you spend it the most wisely." When you bring your pet to us you are asking for our professional opinion. Like many things in life there are many tiers of care. There is the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevy Impala, and the Toyota Yaris. There is the "your pet will die without" package, the "your pet strongly needs" package, and the "it would be really nice if you could" package.
Let's start with the mandatory list. If your pet is suffering it must be stopped. Hopefully this can be done with medication or surgery. If your pet is not eating or dramatically losing weight we must find out why. If we use medication sometimes we must perform periodic blood work to monitor the effects of the medications. If your pet is bleeding it must be stopped. These types of emergencies are always at the top of the list to be dealt with. Sure there are many more examples. It is our job to bring things to your attention that you may be to close to see.
Then there are the middle ground necessaries. Heartworm prevention, dental care, blood work, and other preventive measures can fit in this category. Your vet staff can help you decide which products and services are vital to keep you pet healthy. It is our job to help prioritize which items your pet needs the fastest.
It is our job to help you to point out the best care for you pets; we are their advocate for health. When we work together both you and the pet win.
Chris
