Random Veterinarians Share Clear Signs When They Know Someone Is A Good Parent To Their Pet (27 items)

• (#1) A Loving Dad

  From Redditor u/ammabarnes:

  I'll never forget (as an assistant) a big biker dude (tats, glasses, beard, sour expression the whole thing!) Kneeling down besides his cat who was getting his temperature checked, cupping its head in his hands and whispering "Oh baby, I know... Oh my little flower petal, I wouldn't like that too... Don't cry, it will be over soon"

  And I absolutely melted for him!

  Dude was scary to look at before that but after that I saw a whole different kind of person.
• (#2) Trust Is Important

  From Redditor u/DramaBrat:

  I’ll never forget when a vet complimented my pet parenting abilities.

  I have a very anxious cat, who obviously hated going to the vet. He would meow and hiss and tensed up whenever they touched him. I’m sure he wasn’t the meanest cat they’d ever dealt with, but he was clearly scared and unhappy.

  I don’t think I did anything special that day, I just stood with him, petting him as they checked his temperature and gave him shots. I scratched his head and pet his back. Normal cat owner things.

  While doing the check up, the vet turns to me and so casually says. “You’re so good with him, he trusts you so much.”

  This was over five years ago and it still makes my heart warm.
• (#3) It's Hard To Let Go

  From Redditor u/Royal-Light:

  Not a vet but a vet tech. Maybe a controversial one, but being ready to let go when the time comes. We see it all the time; pet parents who are too scared to say goodbye and keep paying for expensive treatments which can make a pet live longer, but doesn’t improve their quality of life. I’m 100% behind putting up a fight and doing anything you can to save a pet’s life, but living in pain is very hard and a lot to ask of an animal who can’t accurately describe their pain to you.

  If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that some people love by hanging on, and others love by letting go. It’s hard, but it’s usually the right thing to do.
• (#4) Sometimes They Just Don't Know

  From Redditor u/Codeegirl:

  Vet assistant here.

  We had this big biker cone in with his Bassett Hound. Overweight but not bad. Happy other than "walking funny."

  The Dr did the exam and the dog's nails were so long they curled down and back into the pads. Poor guy must have been in SO much pain.

  I was seeing red... Yes he brought him in but my GOD how could he have left it that long!!!

  I was in the room with the vet when they were showing the owner the injuries and telling him it would require sedation to trim the nails and clean the wounds.

  This big burly guy started SOBBING. He said that the dog mostly rode with him on his bike, in front of him on a lambskin covering the gas tank of the bike. He would carry him everywhere not on the bike.

  It really hit me then that there was nothing but love for the dog, just not enough education for the human.
• (#5) Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

  From Redditor u/Penguin-chan:

  Don't let appearances fool you. When I was a tech, I had a client come in with a dog who was sick with parvo. He had holes all over his clothes, basically looking homeless. Made an estimate for him and assumed he wouldn't pay for treatment (I've had so many clients do this and didn't help we were located at the "poor" side of town). To my surprise, he signed the estimate, left a deposit, dog stayed with us for a week and got better, and he came in every day to visit and pay. That made me happy and realized that not all people are turds towards their pets.
• (#6) Chatterboxes

  From Redditor u/releasethekaren:

  My vet said she could tell that we talk to our cat cus he’s very talkative. Both of our cats are chatter boxes
• (#7) Simple As That

  From Redditor u/SuperSlickZ:

  Not a vet but my vet mentioned once that he can tell by the condition of their coat. He said that my dog was well loved, cared for and petted often due to the smooth coat. Miss that doggy so much.
• (#8) When They Love Their Owners

  From Redditor u/Protest_Random_Crits:

  Even tho i would make an injection to the pet and it doesn't cry and instead looks at the owner,this means that he trusts the owner and is happy with the owner.He thinks that after they head back home,his owner will pat him and love him,so he will be calm because he thinks his owner will help him get along with the pain.
• (#9) See It From Their Point Of View

  From Redditor u/cloud_watcher:

  The biggest thing is really do you think of things from your pets point of view. I don't care if you look up things on the internet and ask about them. You should. There are lots of different ways for pets to die/be euthanized and we do recommend a "hospice" idea that makes their end as comfortable as possible and that a lot depends on the pet and you and the pet's condition. (Maybe they'd like to be outside, for example.)

  But if people think from their pets point of view, and if they spend a lot of time with them, it's a good sign. For example, if someone asks "Will my puppy get bored in their crate all day while I'm at work?" (Yes.) I feel a lot better about them than if they say, "He peed in his crate again!" without thinking "maybe he couldn't wait that long." If people go on walks with them, describe activities they like, have games with them, just ENJOY each other, that's a sign there is a real relationship there, and not just some random being lurking around your house that you're not paying attention to.

  I don't mind if you treat your dog like a "person." I don't even know what that means. Should you respect them? Yes. Think about their happiness (which you are solely responsible for)? Yes. If you have in your mind that your pet, like you, gets bored, needs exercise, needs attention, likes to have fun, doesn't like feeling itchy or sick or lonely, and you are attentive to those things and getting help when necessary, that's all good
• (#10) Admit Your Mistakes

  From Redditor u/Counting_the_cats:

  Vet nurse here! It’s so simple but...admitting you were wrong, or simply telling the truth even if you fear it’ll get you in trouble. Cut your cat with scissors while trying to removed a matted clump? Don’t lie to us and say he must’ve gotten stuck under a fence, just tell us you made a mistake so we don’t have to attempt to check for other injuries on your agitated, long-haired cat. Dog drooling excessively and clearly high as a kite? Just tell us it ate your pot brownie, it’s fine, we aren’t the police and we need to know ASAP that your dog has ingested a chocolate product more-so than the weed.

  We have seen it ALL, and we won’t judge you. Even if you’ve been neglecting your pet/caring for them improperly, TELL US THAT, and tell us that you’re sorry and really want to change. It means we can set you on the right path and give you a chance to change and help your pet rather than having to consider contacting the authorities.
• (#11) Call As Much As You Want

  From Redditor u/ktmot9023:

  My sphynx cat had a blockage 2 weeks ago and i called every 3 hours to check on him, i said "im so sorry for being annoying" she said "no we love when owners over call, that shows how much you care" that was the first time he was away from home for 5 nights, our dogs and children really struggled with it too. Hes a part of our tribe 
• (#12) Good Owners Check

  From Redditor u/VaultDweller135Vet assistant here. Good owners usually do the following.

  Pay for recommend tests and meds when the pet is sick.

  Have a well groomed and clean yorkie, shih tzu, cocker spaniel, ect

  Stay up to date on preventative care, like vaccines and flea and heartworm prevention.

  Follow the doctors diet advice (not feeding grain free, uneducated raw diets, or s*** kibble).

  Stay with their pet when it is euthanized. No animal should die without their beloved owner around.
• (#13) A Wake Up Call

  From Redditor u/mama_meows:

  My old vet had always been very eager to compliment my dad's pet parenting, and when my dad switched to a new vet, it was a shock to him to be completely told off. His puppy was about 25lbs overweight (french bulldog, so this was a huge issue) and the vet had to threaten him with animal control to get him to finally realize that yes, overfeeding your animal, especially junk food, is still abuse. They just love you for it.

  She's now at the appropriate weight and this get keeps him in line regarding some of his spoiling habits.
• (#14) Owners Who Care

  From Redditor u/Nokichi:

  I’m a surgeon for both small animals and people, but if the pet has a good vibe and the owner stays in the room, talks to the pet, ect, it’s a good sign. Like ppl who don’t care, usually leave the room and just ask “how much is the bill”
• (#15) It's All In The Effort

  From Redditor u/misssy:

  Small animal veterinarian here.

  A willingness to listen to, and gasp maybe even follow, the recommendations I make for care, especially for routine things like vaccines, individualized dietary needs, or preventative health. I can tell when owners think they know more than I do and don't bother trying to inform and educate some who are stuck in their ways...e.g. that feeding raw meat is superior to cooked, that vaccines do more harm than good, or that Dogsnaturally.com is a reputable source of information. I love when my owners want to talk about health matters - if you have an open mind, I am a wealth of information!

  Putting in the effort at home to care for your pet. Dogs and cats are not house ornaments. Both require socialization, interaction, some grooming, and attention. Not every pet is happy to come to see me, and I understand that, but if you don't pay attention to whether or not your pet is eating (or even what they are eating), never know what their stool looks like, and don't know what medications they are on, it makes my job a lot harder. Knowing these answers to the questions I ask shows you care!

  Being willing to actually come see me and put in some effort when your pet is sick. Look, I'm sorry, guys. Medical care costs money. Treating your pet for free takes money away from the hospital and the people who work there. Veterinarians aren't rich, and most clinics operate on thin margins. That being said, I will do everything I can to help within your individual limits, even if it's not the best approach medically. Yes, sometimes that means in the worst cases, euthanasia for a problem that is too costly to fix but would cause nothing but pain suffering if left untreated. I understand we all have limits, and you can be a great caregiver without endless disposable income. But if you expect me to magically fix your ailing pet with no exam, no diagnostics, and get angry that we have to charge for these things to keep our doors open, you lose sympathy in my eyes.

  In short, look after your pets' health, put in the effort to care for them, and try to listen to your doctor.

  One additional edit: If a pet is at a healthy weight. Granted, that is not a guarantee that a pet has a great owner, nor is an owner of an overweight pet necessarily bad, but an ideal weight usually means that the owner is willing to put in the effort to keep a pet healthy!
• (#16) Makes It Sound So Simple

  From Redditor u/GalacticWolf87:

  Good weight, clean coat, brings in for regular vaccine (even if it's an indoor pet or "doesn't leave the house"), nails aren't too long, can answer basic questions about patients history "eating normal? Attitude normal? Drinking okay? Peeing/pooping okay?". Brings in for annual exams, has all puppies vaccines by age 1 at least (pets need vaccines every 1-3 years). Spayed and/or neutered if it's a mutt and the pet isn't intended to be breed by a breeder who is knowledgeable. Doesn't come in "concerned" about their pet and wants to know what's wrong but refuses to do any diagnostics.

  Well socialized, owners correct bad behavior.

  Vet tech.
• (#17) Know Your Pet

  From Redditor u/katea805:

  Not a vet. Used to be animal control.

  You know your pet. That sounds so easy but you’d be shocked how many people have no idea what normal and not normal for their own pet.

  “Does he normally walk like that?”

  “I have no idea”

  Not really the answer you should be going for. On the other side I’ve had owners respond with “nope. Totally unusual which is why I took him to the vet yesterday and they prescribed these. They think it’s arthritis”. All while shoving pill bottles at me.
• (#18) Take Advantage Of A Good Vet

  From Redditor u/Justapassingvet:

  Veterinarian here. One of the biggest things that people forget is that well-cared-for pets come in for an annual visit. I am happy to discuss the merits or drawbacks of each diet, vaccine, treat, shampoo, training trick, etc. with you, all of which can vary from pet to pet. I work with each case to determine what is needed for each critter. To me , a good pet parent comes to me with questions, listens to what I have to offer, and integrates that into their knowledge to decide what is best for their pet.
• (#19) Follow Instructions

  From Redditor u/J_C_Wizard49:

  My dad, who’s a vet for 20 years, says “When the animal’s a healthy weight and isn’t scared of the worker”

  My mom, who’s a vet for 20 years says “it’s usually never one thing that determines it”

  As someone who did grunt work in a vet, I say when they dont feed the animal before surgery just like we tell them not to

  When you’re the one cleaning the throw up form dogs that get anesthesia and are the night before, that’s what I love the most. Following the professional’s instructions
• (#20) Tell Tale Sign

  From Redditor u/foodfighter:

  On the flip side, a person is generally a bad pet owner if, when frightened in the vet office, their pet goes to a staff member for comfort and reassurance instead of to their owner.
• (#21) The Subtleties

  From Redditor u/im_phoebe:

  They listen to you and don't argue with you about something they heard from somewhere They keep their pet clean They follow diet plan And I can see someone with their pet and instantly know whether they love their pet or not.. it's all in the behavior, eyes and gestures
• (#22) It's Not A Human Baby

  From Redditor u/coturnixxx:

  They listen to you, instead of trying to convince you that what they read on google is true

  They can answer all your questions about what the pet eats/where it sleeps/what it does during the day

  They don't try to humanize their pet by treating it like a baby. They understand first and foremost that it's a dog/cat, not a person
• (#23) Cover Your Bases And Bring Food

  From Redditor u/fangs211:

  Vet tech here. My answer is... the basic preventative care! Microchipped, neutered, flea prevention and dental cleaning. I also work in a shelter... so many intact dogs with no form of ID. What's the point of putting a collar on your dog if it doesn't have tags? Big whoop, this dog has an owner but who? Amazon sells dog tags for as low as $4. Paired with $1 collar form 99 cent store and you're good. If you don't like clinky tags (there are slider tags that go on the collar so no noise)/pet hates things around their neck, get your pet microchipped. Low cost clinics sometimes do microchipping for $20. Don't eat fast food for a week or two and get that done. After seeing the prevalent irresponsible owners, it's hard to feel bad for you when you don't take the preventative steps to have your pet come back to you if it gets lost. It's as cheap as $5. Big bonus points if pet has both form of ID since some people don't think to check microchips when they find a dog.
  And neuter your dogs. From my experience, fixed animal owners are much more aware and caring for their pet vs the intact owner who is indifferent about what happens or they prefer macho-ness over their pet's health. And flea prevention - owners that are aware of what those little bloodsucking monsters can do and willing to take measure to keep their fur friend pest free. Did you know, most skin issues on dogs/cats are flea related? By having your pet on a reliable monthly flea prevention, it'll help reduce skin issues. AND DENTAL CLEANING. You brush your teeth twice a day (I should hope), why not your pet? Sooo many people are surprised their pet is friendlier/happier after dentals and think it's just from being woozy but a few weeks later, your pet is still happy??? I would be cranky if I had chronic toothaches and totally outgoing after the pain is gone. CURRENT vaccines also good. Puppy shots that expired 5 years ago are useless at this point.

  Not exactly good pet owner in terms of pet care but owners who bring office staff food/snacks as a thank you... MMMM YEES. Had a client that brought us lunch food (burritos, sandwiches) every day her dog was hospitalized. I definitely spent my lunch time petting and comforting her pet and giving it that extra TLC instead of driving out to get food during my hour break. We waivered her exam fees and reduced the hospitalization cost on the down low so the cost of food was pretty much even. An extra $20-40 for donuts or burgers and we go the extra mile AND we're more likely to remember you/your pet on future visits.
• (#24) Chonky Boys Are Not Cute

  From Redditor u/marriedtoicarus:

  I’m a long time dog trainer and vet tech/assistant.

  Good pet parents keep their dog at a healthy weight. Obese pets are not cute, they are incredibly unhealthy. Dogs are dogs, not people, you don’t have to feed them when they “act hungry” and just because they could eat more doesn’t mean they should.

  Most pets I see these days (especially corgis and goldens, popular dogs du jour) are wildly overweight. It is much better for a dog to be too skinny than for him to be even a little overweight. People who listen when I tell them their pet could lose a few pounds - those are good pet parents.

  For reference, dogs should have palpable ribs and hips covered with a thin (roughly <1cm thick) fat pad AND a noticeable abdominal tuck. Some dogs will have visible ribs and hips at a healthy weight, namely sight hounds and some working dogs.
• (#25) A Baseline Guidebook

  From Redditor u/puzzler30:

  Vet tech/nurse here! Good owners:

  insure their pets

  teach dogs basic manners - your labrador isn't going to learn this itself!

  Exercise them and play with them regularly

  seek veterinary treatment before the condition becomes an issue

  Don't shout or hit their pets to "assert dominance"

  Don't treat them as money-making machines (from experience, some breeders are the absolute worst pet owners)
• (#26) Teach Manners

  From Redditor u/omgponiesallday:

  Large animal veterinarian here (primarily horses):

  The biggest one is whether your horse is able to be safely handled. If a horse is sick or injured, but I cannot get close enough to get a temperature, or it tries to strike or crush me when I need to draw blood/give meds, it puts me in a really difficult, dangerous situation. I'm not willing to risk my life and limb (and livelihood) because someone didn't put in the time and effort to teach their horse manners. Now, there are horses that are anxious with a vet, and of course fear/pain can trigger some reactive behaviors. I have patients who are known to be naughty, and the owners are aware of it, so they offer to do things like twitch the horse for me, and they don't argue when I insist upon sedation. Those are the good ones. The frustrating owners are the ones who hate sedation because they "hate seeing their baby like that" and are "afraid they'll fall over." Yet want me to suture up a laceration on the back leg of a horse that is actively trying to kick me.

  Sigh
• (#27) Let The Vet Do Their Job

  From Redditor u/jonathonpkelly:

  The best type of owner listens to our advice and when we suggest an animal needs to be admitted for a procedure they don’t quibble and let us get on with our job. I treat every animal as if it was my own and I understand it will be strange/scary for them but if they need fluids or surgery I just want to get it done and get them home to you

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