Working at LazyPaw Animal Hospitals is always fun and interesting, but not just because of how much we love animals. Every once in awhile also get to hear and see some wild behavior from the people who belong to our patients!
We’ve covered “petiquette” before, from how to politely introduce yourself to animals to the best ways to do Emily Post proud at the public park or dog park. Today, we’re bringing petiquette into our very own waiting area to address common conversations our staff can’t help but overhear from time to time.
Is he gonna die?
First rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t say something to a stranger in a hospital emergency room, don’t say it at the vet’s office. If an animal is old, sick, or injured, both the animal and their parent are extremely stressed out. If you must say something to either of them, make it positive. It’s nice to say you hope she feels better, or to point out a positive trait in the animal (“Your cat has such beautiful eyes.”). But never ask how long they have to live. It’s not your business, and you’re only pointing out a terrible situation.
Wow. That’s a huge lump.
Sometimes people who are in for regular wellness checkups may forget they are in an animal hospital. Our animal surgeons treat a variety of illnesses and issues, and some animals we see have difficult conditions that are easy to spot at a glance. Blurting the obvious is just as rude as looking at a stranger and saying, “Wow. You’re in a wheelchair,” or telling a cancer patient, “Wow. You’re bald.”
Eeeew. Gross!
Children may be excused (then ideally, corrected) for gawking at medical issues, but adults should not be as exempt. Veterinarians handle plenty of animal dental visits, animal vaccinations and regular wellness checkups, but sometimes part of our job is working with creatures who are sick or injured. Voicing your opinion of an animal’s state isn’t very compassionate. Some conditions may not be easy to look at, but we are here to help every animal we serve.