My Dog Gets Better Health Care Than I Do
What doctors can learn from veterinarians
I was just joking with a friend that maybe we should pretend to be animals the next time we need medical care. As someone with a poorly understood genetic condition, I’ve been treated with suspicion and doubt more times than I can count.
I come armed with test results and specialist notes to prove that my symptoms are real. In some cases, I see a rapid shift in temperament when I hand over imaging results and lab reports.
It’s clear that they’re more receptive to offering care when I can provide quantifiable proof that there’s a problem. However, this creates a cyclical issue where it can be challenging to get testing in the first place if providers are hesitant to believe you’re experiencing pain, fatigue, or discomfort.
I find this attitude baffling, and I’m even more frustrated when I compare these experiences to veterinary medicine.
Unfortunately, my senior dog is grappling with an unusual presentation of cancer. The type he has is common on limbs or in the mouth, but it’s rare to find it in internal organs.
But even before he was gravely ill, I never encountered skepticism when I brought him into the vet. If I said he was in pain, they believed me. If I said he threw up…
