One session that I had the privilege to sit in on at BlogPaws but many of you did not spoke about how to find accurate information on the web to help care for your pets. I wanted to share this information with all of you because I think it is so important that we all know where we can can turn when we need help.
You just returned from the Vet and you received the news that your pet has been diagnosed with a medical condition. Where can you turn to find answers for yourself to help make your pet better or at least to manage the disease or illness?
Here are 4 places on the web to turn to when you need help:
- Type in the name of the issue and then Veterinary College or Veterinary School – Seeking out information here will most likely land you on the most up to date research about the illness or disease you are looking for. It will also weed out websites only interested in selling you their “snake oil” cure.
- Type in the name of the issue and then .edu .org or .gov – This search should also help you find the latest information about the issue and might help you find an organization that specifically deals with the issue your pet has just been diagnosed with.
- National Breed Specific Websites are a great source of information about genetic issues your pet is prone to. Many breeds will fund their own research into the diseases in order to better understand them and how to eliminate them in their breed. You will also be able to find some sort of contact information for others who are dealing with the same thing.
- Disease Specific Online Forum – You will find others who are dealing with the same disease or illness here. The people here will be able to tell you what worked for them if there is a specialist in your area or at least a vet who has successfully worked with this illness or disease for you to consult. They can tell you what tests need to be performed in order to be certain of the diagnosis or to finally find a diagnosis. They know what you are going through and will be able to help you and your pet live a better life while getting things under control and help you create a new normal in your life.
Not every vet can be an expert or even well versed in each disease. Ask for a second opinion or ask if there is a specialist in your area who can work with you and your vet on care for your pet. Don’t be scared to speak up and advocate for your pet just make sure the information you are getting is based in science, studies, and testing and not put out by some miracle cure company.
Edited:
Here is another place for accurate information about your Pet’s Health http://www.veterinarypartner.com/ one of our readers who is a Veterinarian herself has recommended this site and says that she tells her clients to visit if they have questions.
Sounds good. The Vet School has good advice
Benny & Lily
Great post. Nicely written and full of sound advice.
Another great source of accurate information is Veterinary Partner. It also is written by veterinarians and features a huge database of diseases, medications, behavioral information and a lot more. I send a lot of my pet parents there when I know they're going to be looking for information online.
I would keep in mind that not all forums are created equal. They are great for support and some are wonderful for obtaining information also. But know who the advice is coming from and what their qualifications for offering advice are.
Thanks for this post, Felissa. There's a lot of misinformation on the web and it's important for people to be able to find accurate up-to-date information when it comes to pet care.
Thank you so much for another good source of information. I am going to go ahead and add it to the post. Thanks for the comment.