My Pet World: Bonding with your veterinarian is good for your pet’s health

What do pet owners want from their veterinarians? According to a 2014 survey, they disdain medical jargon they don’t understand, want tests results and expect full transparency regarding their pets’ care.

“In other words, pet owners want to be treated as partners,” said American Animal Hospital Assn. CEO Michael Cavanaugh at a State of the Industry meeting March 13 during the group’s conference in Tampa, Fla.

The survey polled just over 1,000 pet owners, and was conducted by IDEXX, a diagnostic provider and innovator in veterinary medicine.

Nearly every owner surveyed suggested that their bond with their veterinary practice was paramount (93 percent). In reality, people don’t bond with practices per se, but with people — the veterinarians and veterinary technicians on staff.

Technology has dramatically changed veterinary medicine over the past few decades. These days, pretty much anything a medical doctor can do for you, your veterinarian can do for your pet. For example, if your doctor detects a heart irregularity in you, the next step is often an ultrasound. Dogs and cats can also develop heart disease, and the same ultrasound equipment can also be used them.

Another example is after-care for knee or shoulder surgery. Today, rehabilitation is considered the standard of care for people, and increasing this is true for pets.

Yet another innovation is the use of specialists. These days, it’s not just the general veterinarian down the street who may care for your pet. An array of specialists can be consulted, including but not limited to experts in cardiology, neurology, dentistry, oncology, behavior and internal medicine. Some veterinarians are even specifically trained to treat birds and lizards.

Without doubt, people want the best for their pets. Several studies confirm that over 90 percent of pet owners consider their pets members of the family.

Still, it turns out that what people seek most from their veterinarians is the same as it’s always been: professional service from someone who is caring, friendly, trustworthy, kind and compassionate.

“Veterinarians continue to hold a very special place in the medical community,” Cavanaugh said. “It really is about trust, and all those other good words.”

Ultimately, it’s the pets who win when clients like and trust their vets and vet techs. The IDEXX survey also showed that when pet owners are bonded to practices, they’re more likely to do all they can — within budget — for a pet.

In fact, if a practice is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Assn., 44 percent of those surveyed indicated they would even pay more for pet care because of the level of care their animals were likely to get.

In fact, only about 15 percent of practices in the U.S. are AAHA accredited. To be accredited, hospitals must pass about 900 standards of veterinary excellence. Once these standards were explained to those taking the survey, just over half said they’d drive farther to find an accredited facility, and 81 percent suggested they saw the value in an accredited practice.

One problem with this survey is that it was somewhat skewed because most pet owners interviewed regularly visit a veterinarian. Despite industry efforts, regular preventive care visits continue to decline. According to a 2012 study from Bayer Animal Health, here are some reasons for the drop in visits:

1) Dr. Google: In an effort to save time and money, many pet owners are alternatively seeking pet care advice from the Internet. Pet websites enjoy tons of traffic, and 39 percent of pet owners will go there before their veterinarian. However, according to the IDEXX study, when a trusted veterinarian recommends appropriate sites, pet owners are less likely to go online to double-check the veterinarian.

2) Sticker shock: Just over half of all clients suggest the price of a vet visit is often higher than expected. Others feel veterinarians focus on making money over caring for the pet, sometimes by promoting unnecessary vaccines or procedures. It’s no surprise, though, when pet owners trust their veterinarian, they’re more likely to accept pricing.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Assn., dog visits to the vet have slipped 21 percent since 2001, and cat visits have taken a free fall, dropping 30 percent. As a result, preventable illness in pets is on the rise, which is frustrating for veterinarians. Obviously, they can’t help pets they’re not seeing.

“It’s really very simple: If we can get people to see veterinarians once or twice a year, pets would be healthier and living longer, and overall pet owners could actually save money,” said Cavanagh.

STEVE DALE hosts the nationally syndicated “Steve Dale’s Pet World” and “The Pet Minute” and is a contributing editor to USA Weekend. Send questions to petworld@stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state or visit https://www.stevedalepetworld.com.