I want to share interesting, insightful, and novel ideas relating to:
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your dog or cat’s health
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your relationship with your animal
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your relationship with your veterinarian
Veterinary Wisdom
I just want to thank you for everything you do for us. It is so wonderful to have you as a resource and I wanted you to know how important you are to me and to my dogs! You’ve impacted not just Lexi, Maddie and me, but my whole client “pack.” I pass on your wisdom all the time and for that, my clients are also very grateful. The ripples continue to broaden! Cindy A.
read more“How can I tell if my pet is suffering?”
This question is very important to people with very sick animals or pets facing the end of their lives. Get help answering this question. It may not be what you think.
read moreThe Qi of Dogs and Cats… Cultivating Life Force for Health
Learn why letting your dog off leash in the woods is a positive impact on her health.
read moreWhat test, vaccine, or medication does your dog or cat really need?
What do you really need for your animal to be healthy? In my 12 years of rural, mixed animal practice, I have heard something like the following many times: “When we were growing up, we did not give our animals any vaccines, they just ate our leftover’s,… AND THEY LIVED TO BE 20 YEARS OLD!” On one hand, I have not checked the validity of these statements and in contrast, modern pet care offers many benefits, including immunizations and the convenience of bagged pet food. On the other hand, there are so many vaccines offered now, that can be given at excessively high rates, that one can get lost. In addition, large corporations produce most of the pet foods. Their job is to satisfy shareholders by maximizing profit, not to get lost in their passion for animal health. So, where is the balance? Well, it depends on your personal philosophy, resources, your pet’s history and lifestyle, and more. In summary, always ask questions to try to understand what is best for your pet (or you for that matter.) It is hard today to gather all the information on everything we are exposed to. For example, any single commercial pet food may have greater than 50 ingredients in it. There is too much information to sort through all of it. However, there are specialists that can help sort through the data. In this time of information overload, employ the help of an expert to help you decide what is right for you and your pet. Never opt in blindly or because you “should” do something. (See my last blog article, “I Should”) If you want a good laugh about this topic, also watch the video in my blog article, “The Completely Honest...
read more“I Should”
Do any of these phrases sound familiar?:
– “I should give that vaccine to my pet.” (even though it doesn’t feel quite right to me)
– “I should do that test or give that medicine.” (even though I cant afford it and don’t even really want to)
– “I should prepare a home-made diet for my pet.” (even though I don’t have time for it)
Please don’t do that to yourself. Do not react from a place of guilt or fear. I invite you to respond from a place of compassion.
You are not a bad pet owner, if you don’t feel called to do what your vet or the media tells you to do…
read more“The Completely Honest Veterinarian”
I try not to take myself to seriously, so I laughed at the following video, called “The Completely Honest Veterinarian”. It is short and totally worth your time, if you have chosen to read this blog article. It also resonates with feelings I have had from experiences in veterinary medicine. I love being a veterinarian. My profession is well respected and mostly adored by the public. I am grateful to be able to offer a unique and intimate service to animal owners. I am grateful for the work done by the AVMA to advance the veterinary profession. We are, in general, a very trusted profession. However, at least two or three times a month, I hear something like, “I can never get out of the vet’s office for less than $200.” I believe there is dissatisfaction brewing in the public with the general veterinary experience. In addition to hearing such comments from pet owners, I have seen and experienced the tension that economics injects into the exam room. Veterinarians are under more and more pressure to produce income. In addition, associate salaries are often based on commission. The more that pet owner’s spend in the hospital, the more money they take home each month. It is a good method for a veterinarian to encourage optimal healthcare, but it can also produce tension, when a client is watching their budget. In 2002, Mark Opperman was the featured speaker in a two-week business course that I took in vet school. I loved the course and bought into it. Mr. Opperman teaches veterinary practice management techniques and philosophy. His goal is to increase income for veterinary hospitals. We vets often need help with that goal, because we can be tender-hearted, people-pleasers, who do not want to “put anyone out” with expensive veterinary bills. It is a recipe for a struggling veterinary hospital. However, client-hospital economics can and often do tilt unhealthily in the other direction too. In my opinion, clients are sometimes encouraged to purchase diagnostics, procedures, and wellness care that is not commensurate with their own values in pet ownership. The veterinarian is here to serve the client’s needs for their pet. It is our job to investigate that need and educate them about their choices. It is not our job to judge them for what they choose to do or not to do. It is not our job to persuade them to do what we think their animal needs. We simply inform and provide. There must be a balance point that successfully supports our own financial health and gives the public what they want in veterinary care – no more and no less. I believe that the focus in my profession on increasing income is having a negative impact on the public’s trust of us. I have no doubt that we are losing some of the public’s trust. The video may feel abrasive to many vets or even pet owners. However, it does two things for me: 1) It helps me to not take myself or profession to seriously and, 2) It validates the tension that I feel towards the often high value placed on increasing the “average client transaction” in the exam room. If one cannot laugh at the video, it is worth taking some time to ask why. Is that person protecting a part of their behavior that they feel...
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“The results were astounding”
Mick is a retired detection dog with the North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team. In August of 2012 Mick was fine one day and the next morning came up very weak in the hind end, unable to make a turn without his hind end collapsing. I immediately put a call in to Perrin to arrange an appointment for Mick. Mick had seen Perrin on several occasions prior to this episode for geriatric support via chiropractic adjustments, but this was very different. When Mick and I got to Perrin he observed Mick, did a head to toe exam and suggested acupuncture in addition to the chiropractic adjustment, which we did. With the insertion of the first needle I could tell Mick was feeling relief and in a calm place knowing innately that Perrin was helping him. In the time we were in Perrin’s office Mick went from a dog that had to have his hind end lifted into the back of our station wagon, to a dog that jumped into the back of the car like he used to. The results were astounding. Perrin suggested three sessions, first one was on Friday and the next two Monday and Wednesday. Each time the improvement was astounding. After continuing with the exercises that Perrin suggested, Mick continued to improve. Today we visit Perrin every two months for chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture to insure his continued comfort and well being. Not only is Perrin skilled in the art of both chiropractics and acupuncture it is his essence and calm demeanor that enhance his gift as a doctor of veterinary medicine. Perrin is mindful of the whole picture including the economic aspect and will work within those guidelines to create a plan that will help the animal. Thank you Perrin for all you do! Melisa...
read moreSaying goodbye to Taos
I have been meaning to thank you for what you did for Taos and our family. We have had family visiting since you were here, which kept us very busy and distracted from our heartache. Now that we have our quiet time back I can reflect and tell you I am grateful for your kindness, quietness and professionalism when it was needed the most. I sincerely appreciate your enabling us to give Taos the most peaceful way out. Although it was an extremely difficult decision, you made it easier on us and we will always remember you for that. Suzanne...
read moreSensible, reasonable veterinarian
I am so grateful to you for all your support and constancy over the last two weeks. You helped me find my footing when the world was spinning – when words from other professionals reverberated with fear and drama. You honored my word that we could not afford exploratory surgery. You stood with us, and your presence reminded me what is important to our family – trusting the dog and the process. …Once I moved past the reactive emotions of, “Just do it, whatever the cost.”…, I felt a lot better. …It feels like your approach as a vet, is to offer a steadier, saner, more trusting alternative.” Cecelia...
read moreContact
I offer house calls in Floyd, VA and phone consultations world-wide. perrinheartway@gmail.com
phone: (540) 818-7004