Dr. Chris Bern
21 Years Experience
Cartersville, GA
Male, 49
I have been a practicing veterinarian since 1997, but have been in and around the profession since 1984. I am a general practitioner and see most pet species, from dogs and cats to parrots and snakes. In my job I do everything from routine vaccinations to complex surgeries and difficult medical cases. Becoming a vet takes hard work and dedication but can be very rewarding.
Here in the US it's less than 1% of clients. Pet insurance is also very different than human insurance. With pet insurance the client actually pays for the medical bill themselves and then is reimbursed a certain amount based on their policy. Vets actually never deal directly with the insurance companies, so it's pretty easy for us.
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This may sound trite or callous, but it's not intended as such. When something like this happens you should call your vet, not go to the internet. It may not be anything serious, but there is no way someone online can properly diagnose a pet. You will need to have a vet examine your dog and then determine if there is a real concern. I know people want to save money and that there is a ton of information on the Web, but the health of your pet is worth at least an office visit.
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Horses are surprisingly delicate creatures. Their legs carry a lot of weight on a surprisingly small surface area. In essence they are putting all of their weight on their middle finger. Sure, the bone is wide, but it ends up being a lot of pressure. When they injure their leg sufficiently the can't heal well and often can't even walk. While a dog or cat can do very well with only three legs, a horse can't. Many injuries that can be fixed in pets with surgery and casts simply won't heal in horses, and they can't get around with a severely damaged leg. So it's not just a matter of them not being able to race anymore....it's a matter of them not being able to move and thrive. Thankfully veterinary medicine has come a long way in treating bone injuries in horses and things that were once fatal can now be treated. However, there are still many injuries where it's more humane to euthanize the horse.
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Without watching him myself this is purely speculation. Sometimes it is the noise of the wheels, which is different from the sound of running or walking. It can also be the motion of the wheels themselves. This is different than legs and can trigger a different response.
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Wow, that's a very profound question! An excellent one, though. And one in all my years I've never been asked. It may be anticlimactic, but euthanizing animals has not made me really think about my own mortality. As much as I love my pets and consider them part of our family, I don't see human death and animal death in the same way. Due to my own religious views I see the two very differently. So to me an animal's death doesn't compare to a human's. I eat meat, and the death and consumption of those animals doesn't bother me at all. I will say that euthanizing pets has helped me deal with human grief in a way that I never expected. I have to perform this service almost every week, and everyone grieves and lets go of their pets differently. Though it doesn't make me reflect on my own death, it does make me think about how people react to death. And any evolution of my own beliefs have happened outside of the field of veterinary medicine. I don't have the same beliefs I did growing up or even in vet school, but that has to do with experiences unrelated to my profession. Great question, Brian! Since you brought it up, I probably will think more about it!
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I'm not an expert, so it depends on the problem. However, I do enjoy seeing "exotic" pets and have better than average knowledge and skills in this area (compared to most general practitioners I know). I will see just about any animal that is commonly kept as a household pet, with certain exceptions. I won't see primates because I don't have the proper handling equipment and they're difficult to handle. I won't see venomous pets because of the potential for serious harm. I don't have the expertise and equipment to see fish. And I'll admit a mild arachnophobia so I won't see invertebrates. It can actually be hard to find a vet who will see exotic pets, so call around if you have a snake that needs to be seen.
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Many, many times! In fact, on average I'll have an aggressive pet virtually every day, and it's frequent that we'll have more than one in a day. Part of the hazards of working in this profession is the very real threat of personal injury from aggressive animals. Thankfully most injuries are minor, but I've been bit and scratched more times than I can count.
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