Collaboration with Clients Enhances the Human Animal Bond

I remember a pet parent who brought in her dog suffering from itchy skin. This poor woman was beside herself because her dog was awake, scratching all night long.

Both of them couldn’t have been more unhappy. After a thorough exam, the veterinarian prescribed shampoo and some soothing wipes. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. It turned out that not only did the pet parent have mobility issues, but her dog absolutely hated baths and anything rubbed on his skin.

This situation taught me a valuable lesson. Not every solution works for every human and their beloved pet. In treating the skin issue, we should have involved the client in the decision to make sure the solution didn’t affect the bond she had with her pet. The client’s difficulty lifting her pet into the tub, followed by a battle to bathe and rinse him, led to a very unhappy experience for everyone involved. Ultimately, by involving the entire family, we came up with ways to treat this dog’s skin issues that didn’t involve baths.

It’s so important to make your pet’s health decisions a team effort. We understand that when your pet is in pain, you are in pain, which affects your bond. We also understand that not every solution works for everyone.

We look forward to developing a relationship with you and your pet and strengthening the bond you have with them.