Dog Owners
By thedogshrink
@thedogshrink (1266)
United States
December 29, 2007 5:45am CST
Well I am walking someone's new puppy while they are working. Problem is this person is totally inexperienced, and really concerned about doing things right -- but has gotten incorrect advice, from his vet of all places!
How can I tactfully tell him his vet is wrong -- I've already given my opinion and all my year experience, but you know a vet outweighs almost everyone. This vet told him to feed the pup 1.5 cups of dry food daily, and was indifferent to how many feedings, or really to any of that -- she didn't have much opinion. I had to point out to him that whatever amount was "right" last week is "Wrong" this week, simply because the pup is growing so fast. That much the owner "got", but 1.5 cups daily is like a THIRD of what the bag suggests, and the food is a "super-premium" which tends to advise a lesser amount of food than a grocery store brand. Also, the pup gets water only 3-4 times a day.
Any ideas of how to show him, tactfully, that the vet is not giving him standard advice? I'm usually good at persuading owners, but having just moved here, I am essentially "starting over", so I don't have local references to give him.
3 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
29 Dec 07
Well, you don't say the age or breed of the dog nor how active it is. My pup eats many times the recommended amount but she is very active being a Collie. In any case refer her to veterinary advice on line, which should be to feed at least 3 times daily till 6 months and pups should have puppy food.
all the best urban
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
29 Dec 07
I hadn't thought of vet advice online -- that's a good idea.
I have always found that most vets, especially newer ones, don't know as much about behavior, training, feeding/diet, etc, because that is not really what they were trained in.
But this vet is just too far out there. And unfortunately, she seemed very kind, caring, and knowledgeable to this owner.
But also he has been studying and doing lots of research, but unfortunately all of it using Boxer books/magazines. In my experience, most of the time "breed" books are not that great, having very outdated or misleading advice, since they are usually written by someone hired for the purpose or someone who has bred that breed for a long time and has become very set in their ways....
@kiyori (1)
•
29 Dec 07
having a dog should mean you're intuitively attatched to him, especially if it's a puppy. i remember when one of my tenants bought a puppy because he was cute but when it grew up just chained him outside in the hot sun to suffer. It just goes to show you shouldn't go in for something if you cant look after it.
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
29 Dec 07
I agree. That would be hard for me to deal with if I were a landlord. I'd have to step in...
This person is really caring, but he is just not able to choose the best advice of all the advice he hears. And I can understand why he would lean towards what the vet says, esp on feeding, but she is just plain wrong. The bag of food suggests a pup in the same age and weight range eat between 3.25 cups and 4 cups daily -- quite a huge difference over 1.5 cups daily that the vet said.
@northwoods (86)
• United States
29 Dec 07
What a difficult situation. The breed and the age of the dog are important. I remember when we first got our lab; only a couple months old, and whenever we put down a bowl of water for her, she would drink the entire thing! (She was to the vet; Not a health issue) she just thought she had to drink it all. she grew out of it. She would also eat all the food, everytime it was put out. She did not have to compete with any other dogs either. Funny behavior that she grew out of. Perhaps if you pointed out what the bag says?? Good luck, and I wish you the best!
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
29 Dec 07
Glad your pup grew out of it. I have seen a lot of pups and adult dogs drink and eat like crazy because they had NOT had free access prior to their new home. Either in their litter they were always getting pushed aside, or they were strays or mistreated/neglected. Some of them never outgrow it, always seeming to worry they won't ever get any more food/water, but others adjust once they see the supplies keep coming! the problem with this pup is that he is so young and you know, dumb the way young pups are. He gets distracted easily, even if he is thirsty, and then the next time water is made available he will drink 2-3 small bowlsful, because he "forgot" to drink much last time....
