INTERNET ANIMAL ADVICE SITES MAY BE LESS THAN “PURR-FECT”!
Finding Internet sites that provide accurate information about pets is a challenge!
By Dr. Wesley Borgman
According to pet industry sources, owners will spend more than $36 billion dollars on their animals in the coming year. Savvy business owners have turned to the Internet to expand their reach and many of these sites provide behavioral and, occasionally, even medical advice. How secure should pet owners feel in heeding this information?
Animal “experts” abound across society and on the huge pipeline of information known as the Internet. Recent years have seen an increase in websites devoted to animal behavioral problems, pet pharmacies, breeder sites, and blogs and message boards all dedicated to our pets. Owners can learn from pet psychics and dog trainers, but these owners should also be cautious in applying the advice and wisdom found on these sites.
One critical area to avoid is when websites advise owners to medicate their pets without consulting their family veterinarian. Many of these sites give dosage information and even misspell herbal remedies that could lead to problems for pets.
Another area of concern is when kind-hearted, well-meaning people post information that is clinically wrong. They will site one or two people who agree with them and make that the heart of their website. They don’t mention the thousand of veterinarians that disagree with the statements and many times the quotes posted are out of context with a larger discussion.
For example, some sites talk about vaccinations in a negative light. While there is research out there that vaccines should be customized for each pet and over vaccination is not recommended, there are many reasons that vaccines are critical. Rabies is deadly to humans and pets. There have been several cases of rabid animals attacking people because of irresponsible owners who broke the law in not protecting their pets and the public. Distemper and parvo vaccines save pets lives. We have witnessed and felt the sadness pet owners deal with as they watch their pets suffer an avoidable and agonizing death because they did not get them vaccinated or boostered when needed.
For more than 150 years, veterinarians have been schooled and trained to understand the workings of your pet’s genetics, environment, and nutrition. Their education includes dealing not only with how these things interact, but how they will affect the physical and emotional health of your pet. The true animal “experts” will always have a D.V.M. or V.M.D. after their name.
For pet owners who are Internet savvy and who want to find the best information about their pets, the first place to start is the website of your family veterinarian. He or she knows your pet best and will be prepared to discuss your concerns for your pet’s health and well being. He or she can also discuss how your pet’s condition can affect your family’s overall health.
Dr. Wesley F. Borgman is the owner and veterinarian at the Seminole Animal Hospital serving Lake Mary, Heathrow, & Sanford pets. He can be reached at 407-330-PETS (7387).
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