Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • 5 Ways Technology Makes Your Business Efficient
    • The Journey from Tech Side Project to Return on Investment
    • Top 3 Best Tech Advancements to Help You De-Stress
    • Advancements in Car Technologies Affecting Infrastructure Development
    • David Marcus Talks about the Blurred Lines in Cybersecurity
    • Audi and the Massive Automotive Changes Between 2025 and 2030
    • How to Deploy Managed IT Services in a Mixed Mac and Windows Environment
    • 5 Tech Developments That Have Revolutionized Investing
    TechSpective
    • RSS
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • News & Analysis
      Featured
      March 6, 20211

      Fixing The World One Person At A Time: Cisco Networking Academy

      Recent
      April 9, 2021

      CISO Panel Discussion Weighs in on Cybersecurity in the Digital Age

      April 2, 2021

      FTC vs. Qualcomm: Did Apple Illegally Influence The FTC?

      April 2, 2021

      A Look at Microsoft Mesh

    • Business
      Featured
      March 6, 20211

      Fixing The World One Person At A Time: Cisco Networking Academy

      Recent
      April 21, 2021

      5 Ways Technology Makes Your Business Efficient

      April 21, 2021

      The Journey from Tech Side Project to Return on Investment

      April 19, 2021

      How to Deploy Managed IT Services in a Mixed Mac and Windows Environment

    • Security
      Featured
      March 7, 20211

      Pandemic Unmasks Vulnerability to Automated Bot Attacks

      Recent
      April 13, 2021

      Shashi Prakash Chats about Cryptocurrency and NFT Fraud

      March 30, 2021

      Exploiting Embedded Linux Devices Through the JTAG Interface

      March 28, 2021

      Zero Trust for Data

    • Microsoft
      Featured
      September 12, 20201

      The Microsoft Surface Duo: The Communications Device for Those That Think Different

      Recent
      September 12, 2020

      The Microsoft Surface Duo: The Communications Device for Those That Think Different

      July 13, 2020

      Learning from the Microsoft Store Failure

      May 15, 2020

      The Microsoft Surface Earbuds: How Many Ways Can You Say “Awesome!”?

    • Podcasts
    • Technology
      Featured
      March 1, 20212

      Could Home Study Be Better for Education? Using Technology to Craft a Better Tomorrow

      Recent
      April 21, 2021

      Top 3 Best Tech Advancements to Help You De-Stress

      April 20, 2021

      Advancements in Car Technologies Affecting Infrastructure Development

      April 19, 2021

      Audi and the Massive Automotive Changes Between 2025 and 2030

    • Reviews
      Featured
      March 4, 20210

      Dell’s UltraSharp 40 – Improving Work and Workplaces with Monitor Innovations

      Recent
      8.0
      March 29, 2021

      Review: Peril Protect

      10.0
      March 15, 2021

      Review: Tesla Puddle Lights

      9.0
      March 13, 2021

      Review: Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro

    TechSpective
    You are at:Home»Technology»Household»3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use the Internet to Diagnose Your Pet
    veterinarian
    Image from Pixabay

    3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use the Internet to Diagnose Your Pet

    1
    By Jordan Bradley on October 2, 2017 Household, Internet

    In​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​information​ ​and​ ​with​ ​Google​ ​at​ ​our​ ​fingertips, ​​many​ ​of​ ​us​ ​opt​ ​out​ ​of​ ​taking our​ ​pets​ ​to​ ​the​ ​vet​ ​at​ ​the​ ​first​ ​sign​ ​of​ ​an​ ​illness.​ ​When​ ​all​ ​the​ ​knowledge​ ​and​ ​wisdom​ ​of​ ​the world​ ​is​ ​at​ ​the click of a mouse button,​ ​why​ ​not​ ​type​ ​in​ ​a​ ​handful​ ​of​ ​keywords​ ​and​ ​answer​ ​your​ ​worries​ ​from the​ ​comfort​ ​of​ ​your​ ​couch?

    Ask.Vet,​ ​an​ ​online​ ​service​ ​that​ ​allows​ ​you​ ​to​ ​text​ ​in​ ​your​ ​concerns​ ​to​ ​a​ “virtual​ ​vet” ​​for quick​ ​answers​ ​to​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​healthcare​ ​questions, ​​explains​ ​that​ ​75 percent​ ​of​ ​people​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​turn to​ ​the​ ​internet​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​price​ ​and​ ​inconvenience​ ​of​ ​going​ ​in​ ​person,​ ​and​ ​21 percent​ ​only​ ​go​ ​for emergency​ ​situations.

    Before​ ​you​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​skip​ ​the​ ​drive​ ​and​ ​pull​ ​out​ ​your​ ​smart​​phone, ​​here are a few​ ​things to​ ​think​ ​about​ ​before​ ​going​ ​to​ ​Google​ ​for​ ​the​ ​answers.

    1. You’re​ ​not​ ​a​ ​veterinarian

    Most​ ​of​ ​us​ ​probably​ ​didn’t​ ​go​ ​to​ ​veterinary​ ​school,​ ​so​ ​what​ ​makes​ ​us​ ​qualified​ ​to diagnose​ ​our​ ​pets?​ ​While​ ​the​ ​information​ ​is​ ​definitely​ ​out​ ​there​ ​on​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the millions​ ​of​ ​websites​ ​that​ ​make​ ​up​ ​the​ ​internet,​ ​the​ ​chances​ ​of​ ​you​ ​finding​ ​the correct​ ​one—​even ​when​ ​you​ ​know​ ​what​ ​you’re​ ​looking​ ​for—​are ​slim.​ ​Add​ ​in​ ​a severe​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​experience​ ​to​ ​the​ ​mix​ ​and​ ​sorting​ ​through​ ​all​ ​the​ ​possible​ ​options from​ ​a​ ​Google​ ​search​ ​is​ ​nearly​ ​impossible.

    ​Veterinary​ ​School​ ​is​ ​a​ ​long​ ​hard​ ​four​ ​years—after ​another​ ​equally​-​as​-​taxing​ ​four years​ ​of​ ​pre-veterinary​ ​school​—for ​a​ ​reason. ​​There’s​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​information, ​​and​ ​a​ ​lot of​ ​practice​ ​that​ ​comes​ ​before​ ​calling​ ​yourself​ ​a​ ​veterinarian. ​​Much​ ​more​ ​than most​ ​can​ ​absorb​ ​from​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​hours​ ​surfing​ ​the​ ​web. It’s much more likely that you will pick the​ ​wrong​ ​diagnosis​ ​for​ ​your​ ​furry​ ​friend​.

    2. Time​ ​is​ ​of​ ​the​ ​essence—​for ‘​Spot’​ ​and​ ​your​ ​wallet

    With​ ​the​ ​average​ visit to ​a​ ​vet​ clinic​ ​ranging​ ​between​ ​$35-$145​ ​just​ ​to walk​ ​in​ ​the​ ​door, ​​it’s​ ​understandable​ ​that​ ​people​ ​are​ ​hesitant​ ​to​ ​go​ ​when there​ ​might​ ​be​ ​nothing​ ​wrong. ​​But​, ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​any​ ​form​ ​of​ ​medicine, ​​the sooner​ ​you​ ​treat​ ​the​ ​better—and ​the​ ​less​ ​it​ ​will​ ​cost​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end.

    With​ ​so​ ​many​ ​illnesses​ ​sharing​ ​so​ ​many​ ​of​ ​their​ ​symptoms​ ​it’s​ ​impossible​ ​for​ ​the average​ ​pet​ ​owner​ ​to​ ​distinguish​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​their​ ​pet​ ​being​ ​tired​ ​from heart​ ​disease​ ​and​ ​organ​ ​failure​ ​versus​ ​if​ ​Spot​ ​is​ ​simply​ ​getting​ ​old.​ ​In one​ ​of these​ ​examples​ ​it is​ ​perfectly fine ​to​ ​stay​ ​home​ ​and​ ​wait. It ​costs​ ​nothing and​ there ​isn’t​ ​actually​ ​a​ ​problem​. The​ ​other​ ​is​ a ​worst​-​case​ ​scenario​ ​where every​ ​second​ ​counts​ ​for​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​pet​ ​and​ ​you won’t​ ​care​ ​how​ empty you ​wallet​ ​looks when​ ​you’re​ ​done​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​both​ ​of​ ​you​ ​get​ ​to​ ​go​ ​home.

    3. You​ ​can’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​conversation​ ​with​ ​Google

    Any​ ​time​ ​you​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​doctor​ ​they​ ​ask​ ​you​ ​a​ ​multitude​ ​of​ ​questions. ​​Some​ ​seem relevant, ​​others​ ​not​ ​so​ ​much. ​​They​ ​get​ ​your​ ​weight, ​​they​ ​measure​ ​your​ ​height, take​ ​multiple​ ​vital​ ​signs​ ​and​ ​compare​ ​those​ ​to​ ​your​ ​last​ ​visit. ​​The​ ​process​ ​is​ ​far more​ ​complex​ ​than​ ​simply​ ​asking​ ​a​ ​single​ ​question​ ​and​ ​walking​ ​out​ ​cured. ​​Why wouldn’t​ ​the​ ​same​ ​be​ ​true​ ​​ ​for​ ​your​ ​animals. ​​Part​ ​of​ ​any​ ​vet​ ​visit​ ​is​ ​a​ ​conversation between​ ​you​ ​and​ ​the​ ​veterinarian. ​​The vet needs to know how your pet has​ ​been​ ​eating, ​​your pet’s ​energy​ ​level since​ ​you​ ​started​ ​noticing​ ​symptoms, ​​etc.​ ​The​ ​list​ ​goes​ ​on​ ​and​ ​on.

    On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​discourse​ ​with​ ​Google​ ​when​ ​searching​ ​why​ ​Spot has​ ​seemed​ ​extra​ ​tired​ ​as​ ​of​ ​late.​ ​The​ ​internet​ ​can’t​ ​ask​ ​how​ ​long​ ​the​ ​problem has​ ​been​ ​going​ ​on,​ ​or​ ​tell​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​your​ ​pet​ ​has​ ​gained​ ​or​ ​lost​ ​an​ ​unusual amount​ ​of​ ​weight,​ ​or​ ​compare​ ​their​ ​health​ ​with​ ​your​ ​last​ ​visit.​ ​Instead,​ ​only knowing​ ​that​ ​he’s​ ​been​ ​tired,​ ​Google​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​a​ ​website​ ​with​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​diseases that​ ​have​ ​that​ ​one​ ​symptom​ ​on​ ​their​ ​list,​ ​which​ ​leads​ ​us​ ​to​ ​the​ ​first​ ​two​ ​points.

    In​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​the​ ​best​ ​thing​ ​you​ ​can​ ​do​ ​if​ ​you​ ​think​ ​that​ ​Spot​ ​is​ ​sick,​ ​is​ ​go​ ​seek​ ​professional advice.​ ​To​ ​spare​ ​yourself​ ​wasted​ ​time,​ ​money​ ​and​ ​potentially​ ​the​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​your family,​ ​it’s​ ​best​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​using​ ​the​ ​internet​ ​to​ ​find​ ​quick​ ​fixes​ ​and​ ​advice​ ​and​ ​seek guidance from a professional veterinarian ​for​ ​the​ ​proper​ ​care​ ​and​ ​answers.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleReview: Smarter Coffee 2.0
    Next Article Review: BASU eAlarm
    Jordan Bradley

    Jordan Bradley grew up surrounded by technology and has a passion for helping others understand how to get the most out of it.

    Related Posts

    David Marcus Talks about the Blurred Lines in Cybersecurity

    Gina Carano and the Need for Social Media Protection

    Hurricane Protection Technologies to Keep You Safe

    Comments are closed.

    Site Sponsors
    Qualys
    Intel
    Adobe
    PopSpective
    Coffee and Politics
    DevOps.com
    • Technology
    • Popular
    • Top Reviews
    April 21, 2021

    Top 3 Best Tech Advancements to Help You De-Stress

    April 20, 2021

    Advancements in Car Technologies Affecting Infrastructure Development

    April 19, 2021

    Audi and the Massive Automotive Changes Between 2025 and 2030

    9.0
    July 14, 2016

    Review: Lenovo Yoga 900S

    9.5
    March 2, 2015

    Review: Asus Zenbook UX305 ultrabook

    8.0
    February 9, 2015

    Review: Burg 12 smartwatch

    9.7
    November 16, 2018

    Review: BlackVue DR900S-2CH Vehicle Dash Cam

    9.5
    September 2, 2015

    Review: Microsoft Band

    May 27, 2014

    Protect your family photos with ScanMyPhotos

    PopSpective
    Popular Posts
    9.0
    July 14, 2016

    Review: Lenovo Yoga 900S

    9.5
    March 2, 2015

    Review: Asus Zenbook UX305 ultrabook

    8.0
    February 9, 2015

    Review: Burg 12 smartwatch

    Adobe
    Coffee and Politics
    Adobe
    Adobe
    About

    TechSpective covers technology trends and breaking news in a meaningful way that brings value to the story, and provides you with information that is relevant to you. We offer in-depth reporting and long-form feature stories, as well as breaking news coverage, product reviews, and community content in plain English terms, and with a unique perspective on technology.

    Adobe
    © 2020 Xpective, Inc.
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.