There are a few ways to get your pet questions answered!
Consult Your Vet
The very best place to get your questions answered about your pet is from a vet who has examined your pet and knows your pet’s history. Some vets require you to bring your pet in for an exam to get any questions answered, but there are some vets who offer other ways to address your concerns.
There are vets who are licensed to offer phone consultations, as well as online consultations. Most of the rules surrounding this service require that your pet has been examined by that vet within a specific period of time for them to be able to prescribe medication or course of treatment.
It is always the best choice to talk to the vet, or vets, who are most familiar with your pet as a first choice to ask a vet questions about the care of your pet. If this isn’t a choice you have in your area, then there are other choices to try. Always watch out for emergent problems, and get your pet checked by a vet if you are unsure about what to do with a pet that isn’t acting right, or looks sick to you.
Consult The Internet
The internet, of course, offers a lot of useful information about animals and problems that can affect animals. Although this isn’t the best place to look, especially if your knowledge of the physiological processes that animals go through is limited, it can offer some help.
Try to find a source online that you trust. There are many websites that are more preoccupied with peddling unfounded remedies or treatments for pets than they are for offering realistic and useful information to pet owners. Always remember that the buyer needs to beware, especially when a website is trying to sell a remedy for your pet that has not been proven by any accredited medical agency to work or to effectively treat a health issue.
YouTube and other video services offer lots of people who have information about taking care of pets to potentially help you along. Once again, be careful of Charlatans or people who are selling “medicines” or remedies that do not necessarily seem to be well studied or proven to work.
Online Vet Services
After Covid, by necessity, temporarily closed down many veterinary clinics for hands-on service, many online vet services “blew up” to a degree. These services can’t diagnose your pet’s problem online, with no exam, but can help you find answers about many issues such as behavioral issues, dietary problems or questions, issues with new pets or family members in the household, and more.
These services are especially helpful in aiding those who have exotic pets and may not be able to find a specialist for their pet nearby. If you have unusual pets that might need specialized care, such as fish, reptiles, larger animals like goats or pigs, or any other pet that falls out of the normal clientele of your local veterinarians, online vets might become a very useful service to help you understand your pet better, and make sure they are getting everything they need to be healthy and well adjusted to their environment.
Online vet services have licensed veterinarians and veterinary techs who are specifically trained to answer questions that you might have about your pet.
If your pet is ill or needs help in any way, make an appointment with your vet or take them to an emergency pet clinic as soon as you can. If there is clearly something wrong that is causing your pet pain, unable to eat or drink or anything else that could threaten your pet’s well-being, it is essential to get your pet treated ASAP.
