There's a market for fake veterinary clinics whose "doctors" try to rip off gullible clients. They offer unnecessary tests, surgeries, and medications that could easily harm your pet. How can you spot a dishonest veterinarian?
The doctor suggests treatment with homeopathic medicines
It's worth starting with the fact that homeopathy's status in modern medicine is, to put it mildly, questionable. People who report positive results from homeopathic treatments are most often experiencing a placebo effect. And in principle, there's nothing wrong with this as long as proven medications and treatments are not abandoned.
So why is homeopathy dangerous for animals? If such medications are used in addition to traditional treatment, there's nothing wrong with it, other than the extra expense.
However, serious medical research has yet to demonstrate the effectiveness of homeopathy in animals. Moreover, if this method is the primary treatment, it can create significant problems.
If a veterinarian offers you such medications, you can safely refuse further treatment from this disreputable doctor. This phony doctor may not be prescribing such treatment out of malice, but why expose your pet to unnecessary risk? Consult a qualified specialist.
Veterinary services at home
The owners who received veterinary services "at home" were overwhelmingly dissatisfied.
The harsh truth is that clinics that insist on offering such services are mostly fraudulent. There are exceptions, but, as they say, they only prove the rule.
The main problem is that these days, virtually anyone can open a veterinary clinic. The business has been loosely regulated since 2005, when licenses for veterinary services were abolished. Therefore, no certificates or other credentials can guarantee a veterinarian's qualifications.
It's quite easy to fall for scam veterinarians at clinics found online these days. If you're persistently offered a home visit instead of a clinic visit, be wary. Of course, scammers will create a positive impression and the appearance of qualified treatment. But then they'll likely offer you exorbitantly priced additional services, even though they actually cost much less. It's not that difficult to influence an owner who's deeply concerned about their pet—in difficult times, many people don't analyze things well.
If you're offered a "house call," it's likely there's no real veterinary clinic at the address you've provided, and you're dealing with a scammer. In any case, ask for a veterinary degree; this will at least help weed out fake doctors. Check out the doctors, because your pet's health depends on it.
The doctor believes that dry food is the cause of all the troubles.
It's clear that an animal's nutrition has a profound impact on its well-being. A balanced and properly selected diet will truly help maintain your pet's health.
If your veterinarian tries to convince you that dry food is the main problem with your pet's health, you should be wary. Of course, if such food makes up 100% of the diet, it can lead to kidney problems such as obstruction, sand, and stones.
But dry food isn't an absolute evil and certainly can't be the cause of all illnesses. It's highly likely that the "veterinarian" making such claims about dry food isn't qualified.
Advises to euthanize the pet without examining it
Euthanasia is an extreme measure in veterinary medicine when a pet truly cannot be helped and the owners want to spare the animal from suffering.
If an animal becomes ill, in most cases, there's always something you can do to resolve the problem. A good veterinarian always tries to find the most effective treatment. Surgery, and especially euthanasia, isn't always the best solution, and qualified veterinarians understand this.
When a doctor offers you to quickly and inexpensively euthanize an animal (sometimes right at home), you can safely refuse such services.
Making such a difficult decision requires a thorough examination. Only when nothing truly can be done should one resort to extreme measures. "Veterinarians" who cynically suggest simply euthanizing an animal often lack the necessary qualifications; their primary goal is to make a quick buck.
Always vet the specialist you're entrusting your pet to. The best way to find a truly good doctor is through recommendations from friends and acquaintances. Online clinic reviews are often fake, so don't rely too heavily on them. Choose one trusted specialist who has a proven track record and can care for your pet for a long time. And of course, when something happens to your pet, stay calm and collected.
