We all love our pets and I am no exception to the many writers, bloggers and pets professionals out
there who love to share their experiences with others. However, it is important for us all to remember
that our
advice might be taken as absolute and then generalized to cover all circumstances.
There will always be readers who will take your advice as 100% undisputable,
and you don't want to steer them in a direction that would not be best for their specific pets.
For example,
a writer may have had a bad experience with the drug Rimadyl when treating one of their pets for arthritis.
In this writer's attempt to seek revenge on Rimadyl and/or to warn others of the potential risk and side effects, they
may forget that there will be dogs out there that Rimadyl could benefit greatly.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advising
the writer not write the article, just write it in such a way that readers are reminded that there will
be times when the drug can be very beneficial and that they should always visit with
their veterinarian
regarding
their specific case before any treatment or medication decision is reached.
Another example, a writer may have a dog with hip dysplasia, an ailment whose surgical remedy
can cost up to $12,000. Once a reader hears this, they may think this is a standard fee and
they may instantly decide that they cannot afford
to treat their pet for hip dysplasia and consequently not pursue
any surgical treatment options at all.
However, treatment requirements can vary greatly from situation to situation and it may be that
there could have been a surgical procedure for
their specific pet that would have cost a lot less.
Veterinarian's advice, skills and fees will also vary greatly by case.
The writer's vet's fee may have been unusually high.
Once again, were not against sharing particular experiences, advice and/or knowledge with others.
It is important for individuals to know all sides to any particular health issue affecting their pet.
Hearing other's experiences can also be very comforting and helpful when seeking knowledge or making decisions.
However, we think it is always good to
encourage readers to check several sources and/or to visit with their specific veterinarian
regarding potential risks and their overall specific case before making any major decisions.
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Remind readers that your particular experience may not be the case
with all dogs, cats or other pets. In addition, make sure the information on the
disease or medication in question comes from very reliable sources and that
it is shared by several experts as opposed to just one.
Then, when you write about it, use words like "Some experts believe ... "
"A few authorities on the subject say ..." This lets readers know that there might
be a differing opinion and that maybe they should visit with
their specific veterinarian regarding their specific pet.
We encourage all you writers out there to continue sharing yours and your pets experience with
the world, just remember that what you share may have an impact on a pets life
& we
want it to be for good rather than bad.
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