"I'm not argumentative"

"I'm worried about my cat" says Mrs. Contradictory. "He's been occasionally vomiting and is just not eating as much as normal. He's lost about a pound in the last 2 weeks... I'm really concerned that he might have kidney disease, or diabetes, or liver problems." Yes, those are all things to be concerned with, given Sylvester's history... So lets run some bloodwork and see what's going on, ok? "Yes, absolutely. I want to do whatever you feel is needed to make Sylvester feel better."

... so we draw the blood ... and I recommend some symptomatic care for Sylvester to make him feel better. Nothing too involved, given that he's stable and I want to know the results of his bloodwork before we nail down a treatment / management plan. I offer some SQ Fluids (a pocket of fluids placed under the skin that is slowly absorbed - it helps keep the patient hydrated despite his decreased water intake) - an injection for nausea - and some appetite stimulant pills (that are given once every 3 days). Does this sound like a good plan to you? Well, before I can get those words out of my mouth, Mrs. Contradictory is cutting me off. "No, I will not do any fluids. Or injections. Or medications. When Sylvester was here last month, that guy Doctor gave us some eye meds - it was easy, and simple. Then at the recheck exam, that other lady Doctor gave us a medicine to give by mouth - and that was a nightmare. So I am not doing any medications this time." Ok, but I can give injections and you won't have to do anything... and Sylvester will feel better until we find out what is wrong. "No. I will not do it. I'm NOT being argumentative, I am just refusing complex treatment." Ohhhh-kaaay. Then we will do the bloodwork and nothing else. "Yes, that is what I want. Bloodwork only. I really want him to feel better."

So I get the bloodwork back... no major issues with diabetes, renal failure, etc. So I call Mrs. Contradictory - and again I recommend some symptomatic care... thinking she will refuse. Surprisingly, she willingly agrees to make another trip to the clinic for basically the same treatment I offered in the first place - and she is very thankful for my phone-call and treatment recommendations. Sometimes I just don't understand.

blatent lies

Does it ever amaze you how comfortable people are with lying? I mean, lying with the knowledge that they will be caught in their lie. It happens so often. I'm sure veterinary medicine isn't the only field where people do this... but unfortunately, it IS a field where people can get away with it on a fairly regular basis. People are afraid they'll 'look bad' if they tell the truth... don't they realize they look even worse when they are caught in their lies?

Example #1 - a typical scenario... Rex comes in with vomiting & diarrhea of 3 days duration. Has Rex had any unusual food? Gotten into the cat food? Eaten scraps out of the trash? Been fed any people food? "No. Absolutely not. We don't give Rex ANY table food." Any toxin, chemical, poison exposure? "Nope. None of that in our house, and he hasn't been anywhere else." Ok... well, lets start talking about other causes. Wait - it appears Rex is going to give us a fresh stool sample for analysis. Aaannndd... yes, he's going to demonstrate the vomiting as well. Hhhmm.... is that pork bones, green beans, and partially digested bologna? "Yes, he wasn't feeling well and he wouldn't eat his dogfood, so I gave him what we had for supper - plus a little bologna because he just LOVES bologna. Its so cute how he will sit and beg for bologna!" Hhhmmm... I thought he NEVER gets any people food? "Well, nothing that WE wouldn't eat, doc." *sigh* I'm fighting a losing battle here... Maybe I can't convince Rex's family that their feeding table food has directly contributed to his nausea / diarrhea. Maybe there is no point in trying... but my line of thought? If you're going to feed it, you'd better be willing to own up to it!

Example #2 - a family comes into the clinic, knowing that payment is due upon receipt of services... they approve an estimate, sign a form saying that they will pay in full, or that they will pay 1/3 down and make payments on the rest... they are given chances to ask questions... to clarify any misunderstandings they may have... and yet, when the time comes to pay, they 'forgot' their checkbook, or 'didn't know' that their credit card was maxed out... they say "I have $200 to pay today" and then 'realize' they only brought $50 with them. I understand that they have good intentions... they want the best for their pet. They want to do everything, but don't have the money to pay for it. But do people go into the grocery store and try to get $200 of groceries for $50? Do they think they can go to the bank and request a loan, simply on the good-faith-promise that "I'm good for it - I swear - I'll pay it off the Friday after the first Monday of December, because thats when I get my disability check, and my car will be paid off by then, and...."

*sigh* When did people drop all sense of honesty, trustworthiness, and responsibility?