Comments on: Why is the veterinary profession scared of the Internet?

By: Barbara Saunders

Barbara Saunders — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:20:49 +0000

I believe the Internet scares people who are hooked on the social power. The demon Internet represents people’s ability to research the dictates of doctors, find out that other folks have similar complaints about a corporation’s products, and dig into what a nonprofit is actually doing with donations rather than allowing these entities to hide behind a cloak of authority.

There have always been, and will always be, people who question authorities based on non-credible information. There have always been, and will always be, people who raise legitimate questions. The Internet’s sin is pushing the culture in a democratic direction.

By: Dr Patty Khuly

Dr Patty Khuly — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:28:14 +0000

At the risk of tossing my profession under the bus a little…

…on the peer-reviewed papers…could it be that no one likes to think they’re not doing as good a job as they could be?

I know most vets don’t keep up with the more science-y journals…many prefer to read the digested stuff instead. There’s nothing wrong with that but it still irks some to be “outshined” by their clients.

“So you think you’re a vet, now that you read the journals?” I wouldn’t be surprised at that reaction. No, it’s not right…but it’s understandable to some extent.

By: slt

slt — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:20:09 +0000

Janeen! You made me spew my Willard Water all over the keyboard. You can laugh now but when I’m still alive and kicking at 147, I’ll show you…

By: Janeen

Janeen — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:38:35 +0000

VIN rocks — but I’ve gone into my vet’s clinic with VIN articles on vaccinations or seizures and gotten the same stink eye that the doofus who brings in a missive on Willard Water from the Whole Dog Journal gets…

(wanders off looking confused and humming “One of These Things is not Like the Other…)

By: Barbara A. Albright

Barbara A. Albright — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:23:06 +0000

Same comment I posted on Dolittler “very, very sad, indeed” . I would be wary of the veternarians preaching this type of mantra to the clients. The fear is based on dessiminating truthful information, which infortunately is not easily had at every clinic. I feel that the real danger in pet medicine is the information that is “withheld” from the client to make reasonable & informed decisions, and yes, some may just put a “crimp” into the future monies to be derived.

Perfect example is my experience, though extreme: “Pocket’s Story from NH” —-link attached to my name….

By: stylepup

stylepup — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:12:16 +0000

Great piece. I will never understand why so many vets look at the internet as something to be feared rather than something to be embraced - yes, pet owners do need to be careful about where they are getting there information, but I think it is great that we are taking the initiative and doing research to protect our pets on our own.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:09:22 +0000

The reason the veterinary profession has been “ahead of the curve” can be spelled out in three words:

Veterinary. Information. Network.

VIN is a completely independent online service by veterinarians and for veterinarians. There’s just nothing else like it. And the reason for its crusty independence and honesty is it’s co-founder, prominent cardiologist Dr. Paul Pion.

Of course, y’all ought to know (in case you don’t already) that both Christie and I have worked for VIN. (We met and became friends WHILE working for VIN, and in fact Christie took over my job there when I left.) Neither of us work for Paul currently, but we’re still members of the extended VIN “family.”

I’m just flat-out in awe of what he has built for the veterinary community.

By: Joy

Joy — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:30:03 +0000

There’s an April, 2008 article in the JAVMA about a survey of veterinarians called the ‘Digital Clinic Study’ which, was conducted during the 2007 Western Veterinary Conference.

“The Digital Clinic Study has given us fascinating new insights into how impactful the digital age is on the veterinary profession,” said Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA executive vice president, in response to the survey. “It is exciting to see that, in many ways, veterinarians are ahead of the curve when it comes to using this new technology.”

The study revealed that about 88 percent of veterinarians said “the Internet enhances their access to the latest science and research. About 64 percent said the Internet makes their work and practice more efficient, and 61 percent said the Internet helps them provide better care for animals. The respondents turned to Web sites for information on professional and medical matters ranging from veterinary associations to animal genetics.”

—————-
..but then again, JAVMA published this information on the Internet…..

By: Lis

Lis — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:13:05 +0000

Personally, I’m fascinated by the fact that they didn’t say the internet information was “bad.” Or “incorrect.” Or “inaccurate.” They said unconstructive.

There are possible interpretations for that that would certainly explain why a vet telling you something in the clinic is a Good Thing, while the same vet telling you the same thing on her blog is a Bad Thing.

By: Janeen

Janeen — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:10:55 +0000

IMO there are two sides to the story. There is a lot of crazy, crappy information on the net and, unfortunately there is also a depressingly large number of people who are simply not capable of differentiating between crap and fertilizer. There are also a number of well-known dog magazines who publish crap as science; and a lot of their junk science gets spread around the web (and vet clinics) as gospel.

That said, I’ve also experienced the cross-eyed look from my own vet when I showed up with peer-reviewed articles on issues I wanted to discuss. She’s also convinced that I’m going to kill my dogs with that wacky raw diet. I put up with her eye rolls and sighs because she does listen when I push politely and I like every other thing about their clinic.