Book Revew: Vet Confidential
If you are reading this blog, you are probably more concerned than the average pet owner about your dog's health. OK, stop everything and buy this book. Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health
Pet Owners:
You will learn how to select a veterinarian, when you need to take it upon yourself to get better health care for your dog (or cat), how to decide which vaccines your pet needs, about natural treatments, and even about what to expect when it's time to say goodbye to your pet. I didn't expect to learn terribly much about dog health, because I'm married to a veterinarian and very interested in veterinary medicine. However, I did learn quite a bit about cat health. I suspect that most of you are well above average in your knowledge about your dog or cat's health. You will learn more.
The book is fairly easy to read. I suspect the target market is folks with above average intelligence, but it doesn't assume you understand organic chemistry. So it doesn't make you feel like you are reading a child's story, and it doesn't read like a text book.
For instance, one section tells you about a procedure or operation you pet might need. It gives an overview of the procedure, when a pet would need it, tells you who should preform it, and what the risks are. It's well laid out, and ensures you will hang onto the book for years as a reference.
The Cons:
Some of the information in the book is outdated already. One question, for instance, the author suggests you ask is "Do you have a PVC centrifuge?" The problem is there are far easier more accurate and faster instruments such as the Idexx Laser Cyte Hematology Analyzer.
Dr. Murray doesn't give a scale, everything is yes or no -- good or bad. For instance, she recommends either Isofourene or Sevofourene gas be used. That's OK, but a vet who uses the more expensive Sevo is doing so because it's better for your pet. Injectable anesthesia is bad, Iso is good, and Sevo is better.
The author is a specialist in New York City. She has a bias towards specialists, and some of the work she recommends having be done by a specialist is well within the capabilities of a general practitioner (or some general practitioners). The level of care she recommends your primary veterinarian should provide is likely easy to find in New York. You can get very close to it in York County, Maine, but if you are in Fort Kent, there is only one veterinarian (she's good, but limited by the number of patients she has and how much they are willing to spend).
For Veterinarians:
You need to read this book because your patients are reading it. You ought to keep an open mind about your practice while reading it. This is one woman's opinion, but it is a well-formed opinion. You should be able to either meet the standards recommended, or have an answer for your client as to why you do not. You may think of easy ways to improve your practice. Your staff needs to be able to answer the questions she recommends be asked of the staff on the telephone.
Consider any client with this book in hand a very good one, not a threat. They have an above average level of interest in their pets' health and are likely to spend more money on preventive health care.
Pet Owners:
You will learn how to select a veterinarian, when you need to take it upon yourself to get better health care for your dog (or cat), how to decide which vaccines your pet needs, about natural treatments, and even about what to expect when it's time to say goodbye to your pet. I didn't expect to learn terribly much about dog health, because I'm married to a veterinarian and very interested in veterinary medicine. However, I did learn quite a bit about cat health. I suspect that most of you are well above average in your knowledge about your dog or cat's health. You will learn more.
The book is fairly easy to read. I suspect the target market is folks with above average intelligence, but it doesn't assume you understand organic chemistry. So it doesn't make you feel like you are reading a child's story, and it doesn't read like a text book.
For instance, one section tells you about a procedure or operation you pet might need. It gives an overview of the procedure, when a pet would need it, tells you who should preform it, and what the risks are. It's well laid out, and ensures you will hang onto the book for years as a reference.
The Cons:
Some of the information in the book is outdated already. One question, for instance, the author suggests you ask is "Do you have a PVC centrifuge?" The problem is there are far easier more accurate and faster instruments such as the Idexx Laser Cyte Hematology Analyzer.
Dr. Murray doesn't give a scale, everything is yes or no -- good or bad. For instance, she recommends either Isofourene or Sevofourene gas be used. That's OK, but a vet who uses the more expensive Sevo is doing so because it's better for your pet. Injectable anesthesia is bad, Iso is good, and Sevo is better.
The author is a specialist in New York City. She has a bias towards specialists, and some of the work she recommends having be done by a specialist is well within the capabilities of a general practitioner (or some general practitioners). The level of care she recommends your primary veterinarian should provide is likely easy to find in New York. You can get very close to it in York County, Maine, but if you are in Fort Kent, there is only one veterinarian (she's good, but limited by the number of patients she has and how much they are willing to spend).
For Veterinarians:
You need to read this book because your patients are reading it. You ought to keep an open mind about your practice while reading it. This is one woman's opinion, but it is a well-formed opinion. You should be able to either meet the standards recommended, or have an answer for your client as to why you do not. You may think of easy ways to improve your practice. Your staff needs to be able to answer the questions she recommends be asked of the staff on the telephone.
Consider any client with this book in hand a very good one, not a threat. They have an above average level of interest in their pets' health and are likely to spend more money on preventive health care.
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