Veterinary Disconnect

[SpringerLover]

Our rehab vet and I were discussing the common disconnect among veterinary professionals. Maybe it's just prevalent in our area but I don't think so... I was given no additional directions or instructions from weeks 2 to 6 in Bailey's recovery from her major surgery (tendon cut-reattach surgery). Thankfully I know better, from experience with our rehab vet as well as working in a clinic. We both shuddered to think of what a "regular" person might let happen, unknowingly, to a recovering dog.

The specialist we saw for the surgery was amazing, she's a highly recommended surgeon but... she told me nothing about what to do from weeks 2 until 6 when Bailey's then supposed to be "recovered."

I find the same happens in many other situations and I wonder why vets have such an issue referring to a specialist, or maybe it's something different than that and we couldn't think of it!

[Southpaw]

I don't know about that situation specifically, but coming from general practice I think there are a lot of things that just become "common sense" to us and we forget that it's not so common sense to everyone else? There would be many times where I would explain something to a client... or think I'm explaining it... and then they ask me a question and all I can think is OMG why would I not think to address that in the first place? So if the client doesn't ask the question then they're totally missing out.

[SpringerLover]

And maybe the surgeon just assumed I'd know enough to set up the appointment but I was honestly NOT expecting to need Dr. Julia during recovery... it was never explained like that to me. The only indication I got, and acted on, was when we changed her bandage and I saw how weak/sore her leg was loaded up with pain meds one week post surgery.

We did a fair number of tightrope cruciate surgeries... and gave the owners a little booklet for rehab/recovery. That's what rehab vets specialize in--making recovery as smooth as possible and helping the surgery be as effective as possible!

I see it in behavior cases (though, to be fair, a lot of that is client unwillingness due to cost), rehab cases, and in nutrition (although, I certainly wouldn't be referring anyone to the University here for nutrition).

[GlassOnion]

I don't know about that situation specifically, but coming from general practice I think there are a lot of things that just become "common sense" to us and we forget that it's not so common sense to everyone else?

This. It surprises me some of the questions people ask or when I'm explaining things the things they'll get hung up on. You try to explain it in layman terms but it's like speaking two different languages at times.

About a week ago I was explaining a pneumothorax to my mom and she didn't know that the thoracic cavity was under negative pressure. That kind of blew my mind until I considered her last biology class was probably 40 years ago.