Recently, we ordered an old Leerburg DVD as a part of our on-going in-service training. I come from an education backgrounded and I am autistic. If I can't study it, get certified or a degree in it, I feel anxious that I will fall short of being a good breeder or doing good things for you and the pups.
Since I can't get a degree in canine whelping, I keep with what I've learned to do to improve my skills and education: find the outstanding, credible leaders in the field and ask, read, study their experience. I am on a never ending path toward learning more and improving my skills and the breed.
Unfortunately, many vets do the minimum to keep up their license after vet school. In this environment of vet shortages and minimumally educated vets, I seek out vets who "get" what I am doing and I go to specialists who understand niche breeding questions. Like me, many breeders travel 1-2 hours for the right vet for their needs. Many breeders use 3-4 different.
My primary care vet is 90 min away, very busy like most vets are, and treats us like we are his family. I appreciate him for my routine needs. I also appreciate that he is honest with me: he runs a busy clinic and doesn't see a lot of whelping mothers. He advises me to see a reproductive vet and other specialists when it's out of his routine experience. I value his honesty and acceptance that I will seek the help of other vets.
To view the Leerburg training DVD, I actually had to purchase a DVD player! It's has recently fallen out of date with technology but is full of insights and starting points for further education. Ed and Cindy Frawley, owners of Leerburg Kennels and training, have 50+ years of experience and keep up-to-date.
It's obvious, I didn't need the DVD after going to their website. They have an online university and tons of free articles, ebooks and even produce a podcast. They try to answer any of your canine questions and keep the answers available to benefit everyone. They are true lifelong learners and educators - in the same spirit of the Bouvier afficionado I am striving to become for you and our amazing breed.
Below is a Leerburg article about the human fallibility of veterinary clinics. When I find the investigative article cited here (10 vets, 1 dog, 10 different opinions), I'll post a direct link. Ed Frawley is very respectful, experienced, educated, and delicate about telling a negative truth and a sending a warning about a small percentage of vets. He's also very accurately describing how veterinary science is a medical art. Arts are interpretive and speculative.
Medical arts, and using the human to interpret what you can't see, test or ask the patient about its body, connects nicely to the AKC live cast this week: How AI Can Assist Veterinarians. AI looks at x-rays without prejudice for the breed, the owner, or any back stories. It can be less fallible in some ways, if we trust it; and in other ways, we need the human touch. You will never get away from having a thinking, educated, experienced person (verterinarian) even as our woods increasingly partners with AI.
The human factor: you and your vet and the relationship you have with your Bouvier, the relationship you have with your veterinarian(s) is crucial. You must be the critical thinking, self-educated, experienced piece in the puzzle as your pup's best advocate. Just because the person has the medical degree, does not mean they know your specific Bouvier or situation.
Fire vets. Put vets onto teams based on their special skills and length of experience. You are the leader of your pack and the quarterback on your team. Don't be passive. Your wallet, your time, your emotions and your Bouvier count on you to get involved and learn what might be best to do when, to create your own list of options and priorities for your Bouvier.
At the end of the day, every vet clinic needs to make a profit. You are a consumer: know your options and choose wisely.
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