Your Guide to Getting Pet Advice Online

In this day and age, we use the internet for everything from reading movie reviews to finding pet health advice.

The internet has revolutionized our lives in so many ways. Do you have a hankering for a pizza? Look up your local pizza joint online and submit your order! Are you looking for a gift for a loved one out of town? Order it online and have it sent directly to their house! It seems like there’s nothing the internet can’t do, but when your pet is sick or injured, looking up pet health advice online isn’t always your best option.

Why do people look up pet health advice on the internet in the first place?

Many of the people who have come to our veterinary clinic in Levittown and told us that they looked up information online have been embarrassed or ashamed, because many people know that the internet is not always the best place to find accurate information. But if it’s not super reliable, why do people use the internet so much to look up health advice for their pets in the first place? Here are a few of the most common reasons:

• To find general information – Many pet owners will look to the internet for general information about what their pet might be going through. This can be a great, proactive step towards providing better care for your pet; just make sure that you don’t put the knowledge you’ve gained online over the knowledge your veterinarian provides.
• Because of financial issues – It’s no secret that trekking your pet to the veterinary clinic can get pricey, so when a pet owner is going through a difficult time financially, they will often look for advice on DIY veterinary care online. However, for many health issues, there is no DIY fix, and you could actually make the problem worse if you don’t take your pet to the vet. Plus, even if you think you can’t afford the care that your pet needs, it’s always worth it to at least ask your veterinarian about the financial options available to you. Chances are, you have more options than you think.
• To find a second opinion – If a homeowner doesn’t agree with or isn’t quite sure about what their veterinarian is telling them, they might look online for a second opinion. However, every animal is different, and even if you read an anecdote online about a pet with the exact same symptoms or diagnosis, it doesn’t mean that that information applies to your pet.

Is it ever okay to look up health advice online for your pet?

In general, looking up health advice on the internet online can be counterproductive, but there are some circumstances when it can be beneficial. However, some websites are more trustworthy than others, and not all of the information online will be accurate or, even if it is accurate, it might not be applicable to your situation. In our next blog, our veterinary clinic in Levittown will be going over a few simple guidelines for looking up pet health advice online, so please stay tuned to learn more.

As you can tell, looking up pet health advice online is not always the best idea. Don’t risk finding bad advice when your pet is sick or injured. Instead, turn to East Meadow Veterinary Center. Contact us today to learn more.

Many people look up health advice online for their pets, but there are many things you should keep in mind while doing so.

Most people are well aware of the fact that what they read online isn’t always the most accurate or reliable, but it doesn’t stop them from looking up health advice online for their pets. In our last blog, we examined why people look up information on the internet about their pet’s health, even though they know that it’s not always the best source. We also talked about how having the information you need can help you take better care of your pet, and much of that information is available online. Because it can be beneficial to look up pet health information online, our veterinary clinic in North Bellmore has created a list of the most important things to consider to help you weed out the good information from the bad.

What to consider when looking up pet health advice online.

• • The source – Where did the information you found come from? If your answer is PetMD or the ASPCA, chances are, you can probably trust it to be accurate information. However, if you got the information from a personal blog or another less-established source, it’s important to double check with your veterinarian before acting on any of the advice you find. In fact, this should be done regardless of the source you are using.
  • Your own knowledge – When it comes to medical information regarding your pet, it’s not always easy for the average pet owner to understand all of the ins and outs of what they are reading. Even slight confusion can lead to making the wrong decision for your pet, so always assess your ability to comprehend the information you are reading before acting on it.
  • Your pet – Not two pets are exactly alike, and a treatment that worked for one pet won’t always work for another pet. The opposite is also true. Just because you read a horror story about how another pet reacted to a treatment doesn’t mean that your pet will react the same way.
  • Your ability to describe your pet’s symptoms – The information you are able to find on the internet will only be as reliable as your ability to recognize and search for the symptoms your pet is experiencing. If you accidentally search for the wrong symptoms or treatments, you won’t possibly be able to find accurate information regarding your pet’s health.

What to keep in mind when you do find information online.

As we mentioned earlier, there are many good sources out there to find pet health advice or information, but that doesn’t automatically give you the know-how or expertise to treat your pet on your own. Even reliable advice does not replace a veterinary examination, so it’s always best to turn to your veterinarian when your pet needs care.

Instead of guessing at what’s best for your pet using the advice you read online, turn to our veterinary clinic in North Bellmore. We pride ourselves in treating the pets in our care as our own. Schedule your appointment today.