Veterinarian guilty of "disgraceful conduct" for not euthanising a cat on request

NEWS AND COMMENT: This is a rather disturbing and at the same time interesting story. I think, my sympathies lie with the veterinarian and not with the adjudicating panel who found her guilty of 'disgraceful conduct'.

The vet's name is Dr. Janine Parody. She was employed as a veterinary clinic and was described as an excellent veterinarian. She had 10 years experience at the time.

Dr. Janine Parody. Image: Facebook.

A woman involved in cat rescue it seems came to the veterinary clinic where she worked and asked Dr. Parody to euthanise a youngish male cat (8-months old) named Shadow who had an MRSA infection, was thin and had facial injuries. It appears that the cat was a street cat and had been injured and contracted the infection while leading a very difficult life.

The cat rescuer arranged for Dr. Parody to euthanise shallow on December 20, 2021.

At the time Dr. Parody was stressed and had euthanised a few cats that day already. She made the point, as other veterinarians have made, that euthanising pets is stressful and it leaves its mark. She said that you tend to take euthanasia home with you.

It was during the Covid-19 pandemic and these factors put together drove her to disregard her client's instructions to euthanise Shallow and she sedated him instead I guess to give the impression that she had euthanised him. The client went home and Dr. Paoli took Shadow home with the intention of treating him at home.

She sterilised him and removed his microchip and put a new one in. We don't know whether the one she put in contained her details or not. But she did say that she had no intention of adopting Shadow. It should be said that at the time Shadow had no owner because he was a rescue cat and had simply been rescued and brought to the clinic.

And therefore if she did intend to keep the cat she can't be accused of stealing or attempting to steal.

Anyway, after two months, Shallow's condition had not improved and Dr. Parody decided to put him to sleep at that time and owned up to what she had done to her client. Her client was shocked and elated and agreed to pay the £480 cost of treatment that Dr. Parody had administered.

The matter was investigated and Dr. Parody resigned her position at the clinic. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons tribunal found Dr. Parody guilty of disgraceful conduct and issued her with a reprimand.

At the hearing she said the following:

"I understand that my decision not to euthanise Shadow and instead to treat him without the consent of Ms SM was wrong.

"It was a decision I made on a very, very busy and stressful day and when I thought the cat had no owner but I fully appreciate that was no excuse.

"Once I had made that one decision, I did not revisit my decision but simply continued to treat the cat as best I could at an extremely stressful time.

"I accept that as a result of my decision and actions that the lady who had brought the cat in and who I now know was SM, was misled into thinking that it had been put to sleep and this is something I very much regret.

"My actions with regard to this cat all snowballed from my decision to treat the cat on 20 December and not put him to sleep.

"I know I should not have done this but because the cat was young and the condition curable, I felt that I was acting with the welfare of the cat at the centre of my decisions."

Comment: it's hard to know exactly what was in the mind of Dr. Parody at the time that she took this course of action. My gut feeling is that she in fact did want to adopt the cat because she did, after all, change the microchip. It doesn't really change the outcome although her motivations are important.

As you can see, she found Shadow to be a happy cat in her consulting room. I should think that he was probably an attractive cat to but I don't know. This vet has a heart. This is what makes her a good veterinarian. Euthanasia is always difficult both for the client and for the veterinarian. It should only happen after a good consultation with a good veterinarian and the timing of euthanasia is critical. It should not be delayed because the cat's owner doesn't want to relinquish their cat and say goodbye to them and likewise it should not be conducted to soon for obvious reasons.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

"My cat got a double dose of Benadryl. Will she be okay?"

Question in title asked on Quora. Here is the answer. 

Benadryl, which is the brand name for the medication diphenhydramine, can be safe for cats in certain situations, but it is important to consult with your veterinarian before giving it to your cat. Benadryl can be helpful for allergic reactions, such as hives or swelling, and can also be used to help with motion sickness or anxiety.

However, it can also be toxic to cats if not given correctly. Cats can get diphenhydramine poisoning from ingesting too much Benadryl or from ingesting Benadryl that contains other ingredients, such as decongestants or pain relievers, which can be toxic to cats.

Here are some of the signs of diphenhydramine poisoning in cats:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of coordination
• Seizures
• Coma

If you think your cat has ingested Benadryl or is experiencing any of the signs of diphenhydramine poisoning, it is important to take them to the veterinarian immediately.

Important: Never give your cat Benadryl without first consulting with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on whether Benadryl is right for your cat and, if so, the correct dosage.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Veterinarian struck off for possessing bestiality videos

NEWS AND COMMENT: Bestiality videos are obviously pornographic videos. This 29-year-old veterinarian, Oliver Lown, was found to be in possession of videos and images involving bestiality. The man was trained as a veterinarian in Hungary. He had never practised veterinary medicine in the UK, as I understand it. Police officers seized a number of items including laptops, hard drives and DVDs belonging to Lown containing the pornography.

RELATED: 4 U.S. states where bestiality is not a crime.

The items were analysed and bestiality videos and images found. Oliver Lown first appeared in South-East Suffolk Magistrate's Court (Ipswich) on January 15 where he was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison. The sentence started when he returned to court early in February as reported on 9 February.

On his return to court, his solicitor said that he had committed a possession offence and not a distribution offence and the quantity of material was quite low. The defendant also disclosed to the court that he had been sentenced to a conditional discharge for a previous offence and that he had been struck off by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Lown was given credit for his admission and entering a guilty plea but apparently he lacked remorse according to the reports. The images and videos were classed of extreme pornography by the judge under the law and he was sentenced to 24 weeks for each of the offences.

Comment: it is the first time that I have read a story about a veterinarian in the UK being convicted and punished for the possession of bestiality videos which is why I am reporting the news here.

It was first reported in the news media in early February.

Source: East Anglian Daily Times. Link to article.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

How do you know it is the right time to euthanize your chronically sick elderly cat?

Basic rule: do what it right for your cat not what is right for you (hanging on). It is one of the toughest decisions that you'll have to make. Perhaps the toughest and it can be emotional agony. You'll need the advice of a good, experienced veterinarian (10 years qualified). That is essential I feel. Here are some more pointers.

As a cat owner, making the decision to euthanize a chronically sick elderly cat is incredibly difficult. It’s essential to consider your cat’s well-being and quality of life. Here are some factors to help guide your decision:

1. Quality of Life Assessment:

   • Pain and Discomfort: Evaluate whether your cat is experiencing chronic pain or discomfort. Signs include changes in appetite, mobility, grooming habits, and overall behavior.
   • Joy and Engagement: Consider whether your cat still enjoys activities they used to love. Are they engaged with their environment, or have they withdrawn?
   • Hygiene and Self-Care: Observe if your cat can maintain proper hygiene, groom themselves, and use the litter box effectively.

2. Consult with Your Veterinarian:

   • Regularly consult with your vet about your cat’s health. They can provide insights into your cat’s condition, prognosis, and potential treatment options.
   • Discuss your cat’s quality of life and any pain management strategies.

3. Mobility and Independence:

   • Cats thrive on independence. If your cat’s mobility is severely compromised, affecting their ability to move, jump, or access essential resources, it may be time to consider euthanasia.

4. Appetite and Weight Loss:

   • Significant weight loss or refusal to eat can indicate underlying health issues. Malnutrition and dehydration can impact your cat’s overall well-being.

5. Chronic Illness Progression:

   • If your cat’s chronic illness is progressively worsening despite medical interventions, it’s crucial to assess their overall comfort.

6. Personal Considerations:

   • Reflect on your emotional and financial capacity to care for your cat. Balancing your cat’s needs with your own well-being is essential.

Remember that euthanasia is a selfless act of love, allowing your cat to pass peacefully and without suffering. Consult with your veterinarian, consider your cat’s comfort, and trust your instincts. It’s a heart breaking decision, but prioritizing your cat’s well-being is paramount. 🐾

Regrets cat owners might have on the death of their cat

As a cat owner, grieving the loss of a beloved feline companion can be a deeply emotional experience. Here are some common feelings and considerations that cat owners may encounter when their cat passes away:

1. Relief and Guilt: If your cat had been suffering from illness or pain, you might feel a sense of relief that their suffering has ended. However, this relief can sometimes be followed by guilt or shame for feeling relieved.

2. Loneliness and Isolation: Losing a cat can leave you feeling alone and misunderstood. Others may not fully grasp the depth of your grief, but it’s essential to recognize that your feelings are valid and unique.

3. No Set Time Limit for Grief: Grieving is a personal process, and there’s no fixed timetable for how long it should last. Everyone copes differently, and it’s okay to take the time you need to heal.

4. Helping Your Surviving Cat Grieve:

   • Stick to Routine: Cats thrive on routine, so maintaining familiar schedules can help your surviving cat adjust to the change.
   • Avoid Excessive Attention: While it’s natural to want to comfort your remaining cat, sudden increases in attention can be stressful. Balance your interactions.
   • Introducing a New Pet: Be cautious about introducing another pet too soon. Cats need time to adjust, and their needs should be considered during this period.

5. Understanding Your Cat’s Perspective:

   • Awareness of Another Cat’s Condition: There’s no conclusive evidence that cats are aware when their feline friend is dying. Some cats may show distress or sadness, while others may appear indifferent.
   • Showing the Deceased Cat’s Body: If the cause of death doesn’t pose a risk of infection, you can show your surviving cat the body. However, there’s no guarantee that this aids the grieving process for your cat.

Remember that grieving is a natural part of losing a cherished pet. Be patient with yourself and allow your emotions to unfold as you honour the memory of your beloved cat. 🐾

Sources: Multiple sources from the internet all guided and verified as correct by personal experience including veterinary websites and the Blue Cross.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Dedicated veterinarian walks 3 miles through snow to treat a seriously ill cat

NEWS AND COMMENT: The American news media, yesterday, reported on the actions of a dedicated female veterinarian in Birmingham, Alabama.

P.S. Take a look at the frontage of the clinic in the photograph below and you will see two separated front doors, one for cats and one for dogs. Clearly, in this clinic they separate these animals in order to keep the peace and to provide a calmer environment for both while they are waiting to be seen. A great idea and it's a recommendation by veterinarians who are specialists in treating cats.

Image: MikeB from images taken from the clinic's website.

Blueberry, a five-year-old cat was brought to the Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic in Birmingham, last week. Her owners had noticed that she was feeling unwell with an unknown illness. At the time, weather conditions were severe as I understand it with snow on the ground. It was icy and inhospitable.

Blueberry stayed at the clinic over the weekend but Dr Nicole Martin was at that time unable to diagnose the illness. On Tuesday Blueberry deteriorated.

Two vet techs arrived at the clinic through the snow to check up on Blueberry. They took X-rays and these were sent, I believe, over the Internet to Dr Martin. At this stage, I believe, Dr Martin was at home 3 miles from the clinic and was doing her work remotely at this instance.

Dr Martin realised that she had to go to the clinic through frigid conditions and along icy roadways. She believed that there was "no other option other than to walk". It was clearly unsafe to drive.

She discussed the matter with other members of the staff at the clinic and as she was the closest to the clinic it was decided that she would walk from her home to care for Blueberry.

As she hiked over those three icy miles to the clinic she thought about saving Blueberry's life.

She said: "We’ve been with her for days at this point, realizing how much we loved her and, once we saw the X-rays of what was making her sick, it was just in time we all got together to help save her life."

The story ends there as reported by 12WSFA. Like me, I expect that you want to know what happens next but you won't know because I don't know. 

But I am 99% sure that Dr Martin managed to remove what appears to have been a blockage in her digestive tract and that Blueberry is doing fine. Let's hope I am right.

Comment: I love dedicated vets 👍. 

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Narcissistic veterinarian with an inferiority complex over his small phallus stabbed his girlfriend

Hodgkinson and Fioletti photograph I believe that this image is in the public domain at this time.

Alberto Fioletti, 31, had, it was claimed in his criminal trial, developed a narcissistic personality disorder. His defence barrister, as I understand it, claimed that he slept with many women to "validate" himself". And he had an inferiority complex because of his "small penis".

His state of mind contributed, it seems, to his behaviour when he stabbed his girlfriend six times in the chest and once in the back with a kitchen knife.

The murder occurred on May 5 last year after an argument. His then girlfriend, Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, a veterinary nurse, kicked Fioletti out of her flat in Bournemouth, Dorset.

The pair had met on a dating app and then started their relationship in October 2022.

They were both employed in veterinary practices. After the argument Fioletti told Hodgkinson: "I hope you're happy with yourself. You're gonna have a death on your hands now."

Fioletti admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He denied murder but was found guilty of murder after a three-week trial.

Stephanie Hodgkinson's mother collected her granddaughter shortly before Stephanie was murdered. The grandmother, Sally Lloyd, said that, "I am tortured by the fact that as we played in the park, Stephanie's life was taken".

Fioletti's defence KC (King's Counsel - a top barrister) said that Fioletti had a severe personality disorder which affected his culpability and that he had been on suicide watch when on remand waiting for his trial.

The judge, Susan Evans KC, sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 15 years. She said to him that, "The damage you have done is immeasurable."

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Neglect your cat or dog's allergies long enough and you can be convicted of a crime

This is a story about a dog but it could be about a cat. It is also a story about a not untypical pet health problem namely allergies through allergens in the air or in what they eat. So were talking about a typical cat or dog caregiving situation. 

And in this story which comes from Australia, a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) worker (usually mining) and his wife failed to deal with their dog's allergies to the extent where the dog lost a lot of hair and had raised lumps and thickened, cracked and flaking skin. The dog had also developed an ear infection which was possibly associated with the allergy.

We don't know what kind of allergen caused the allergy but they are difficult to deal with and this dog required veterinary treatment at an early stage and perhaps ongoing veterinary treatment. But she was found in the backyard which was covered in faeces because the wife didn't like clearing up faeces.

The neglect was reported to the RSPCA of Western Australia probably by a neighbour. The couple were taken to court where they pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an animal from suffering harm. They were convicted therefore of animal cruelty and fined AU$2500 each and banned from owning any pets except for the three cats that they already had in their care.

The dog concerned, Ella, was taken off them and has been rehabilitated and rehomed. She is described as a sweetheart and everybody loved her at the RSPCA. It is hard to think about her suffering as occurred simply through a careless approach to pet caregiving and their lack of funding to deal with veterinary treatment.

The owner agreed that she had suffered with allergies her whole life. He appears to have excused himself to a certain extent by saying that the veterinary bills would have been too expensive.

Comment: what do we learn from this little story? Firstly, you got to have the money to do a good job of cat or dog caregiving. You cannot do it without sufficient funding. And that issue needs to be dealt with before you adopt a pet. It requires some seriously hard questions and answers by the person who wants to adopt a pet.

Secondly, simple neglect which might not feel like anything severe by the cat or dog owner but which becomes severe over a long period of time can be described as criminal behaviour. It'll be a sliding scale from minor neglect which would not be criminal to long-term neglect which can be and often is criminal.

Pet owners should realise that. It's a slippery slope perhaps. But there's no need to embark on that slippery slope. If a cat or dog owner faces the problem and deals with it honestly in admitting that they don't have the will or the money to care for their dog or cat properly then they should rehome the animal as soon as possible. 

They should surrender the animal ideally to an adopter of their choosing through a private arrangement as long as I know for sure that the other person is going to be a good cat or dog caregiver or through a shelter which should be of good quality and where euthanasia is a genuine last resort.

The bottom line is that this couple could have rehomed their dog years ago which would have avoided the pain and suffering she experienced. It would have also avoided their conviction for criminal behaviour and lastly, it would have eased their conscience if they have one for causing this cruelty. It required an honest self-appraisal.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Woman who loves cats adopted a rescue cat and learned to hate him

This is a story on social media which tells us that it is possible to love cats in general, to want to adopt a cat and then finally adopt a cat after a long wait when you have your own property but thereafter to learn to hate the cat that you adopted. 

It's a sad story and it is possible sometimes for this to happen. Cat owners need to do a reality check and accept it when they feel that they can no longer live with their cat. That doesn't mean abandoning your cat but it might mean rehoming your cat to the best of your ability because that is part of the obligation of a caregiver.

In this instance, the woman said that she waited for the right one to adopt. She wanted an older cat who would be happy living indoors because she lived on the second floor of a house conversion in a one-bedroom flat without direct access to a garden. In short, she adopted a cat to be a full-time indoor cats.

But she found that her elderly male cat screamed at 3 AM in the morning until 6 AM in the morning every night. She had no idea why this was happening. She took her cat to the vet who gave him arthritis injections because they thought that he was suffering from arthritis causing pain. He obviously wasn't. Because the screaming continued.

She got to the point where she couldn't function any more at work because she couldn't sleep properly and she learned to hate him and sought advice on the Internet.

In follow-up posts she said that on third visit to a veterinarian they diagnosed megacolon. And because her cat suffered from megacolon, they decided that it was the reason why he was screaming during the night. I doubt that. 

That might have been one reason but the thing is this: the symptoms of megacolon of very specific and quite apparent and the lady never mentions these symptoms which are: straining to defecate, weight loss, lethargy, vomiting and anorexia i.e. a lack of appetite. And a painful abdomen as well as dehydration and depression.

I would have thought she would have had picked up these symptoms if they truly were present and that her cat was indeed suffering from megacolon. He might have been but I think the more likely reason why he was screaming at night was because this cat, historically, was an indoor/outdoor cat with free access to the outside unsupervised. Keeping him indoors full-time drove him nuts. He screamed at the top of his voice as a consequence. He was asking to be let out.

But the lady couldn't do it because she lived on the second floor and there was no access to the outside. The answer would have been to rehome the him but almost all of the very many people who advised didn't advise this. 

In the end she decided to euthanise her cat because the operation to fix the megacolon was going to be too expensive and perhaps too difficult. And the outcome was uncertain. She said that she he had five good months with her as the vet had administered medications for the megacolon and Feliway to calm him. I don't think the five months were that good. The Feliway indicates that he was agitated by being kept indoors.

I feel a little bit queasy about the story because, as mentioned, I think the underlying and genuine reason why this cat was screaming is because he wanted to be outside, to hunt at night, to roam freely as he had done before. I am guessing but the story indicates that.

To keep cats indoors full-time is a good thing sometimes because it protects wildlife and protects the cat from risk of injury and more severe harm. But sometimes cat caregivers have to accept that their cat is an indoor/outdoor cat. They have to accept that their cat is going to live a risky life relative to being an indoor life. 

People normally keep their cats indoors full-time for their own peace of mind primarily and the secondary reason is to keep their cat safe. I think people need to free up that thought and sometimes, just sometimes, they have to allow their cat to take life risks and decide that what happens is going to happen come what may.

If she decided that and found a way to allow her cat to go outside at night he might be alive today.

Huge rise in rip-off veterinary bills in the UK due to equity fund buyouts of independent vets

Huge rise in rip-off veterinary bills in the UK due to equity fund buyouts of independent vets. Image: MikeB

NEWS AND OPINION - UK: There are a number of reasons why veterinary bills have increased quite shockingly recently. But the primary reason is this: the independent veterinarians i.e. those veterinary clinics owned by the partners who are also veterinarians, have been bought up by corporate businesses owned by equity funds.

Young cat and vet. This picture is here for illustrative purposes only. Image: Pixabay.

It is equity funds who ultimately own British veterinarians in large numbers. And they bought them up because they saw an opportunity in the market.

They believed that the independent veterinarians were under-charging. They believed that they could dramatically up their charging rates and turn a huge profit. They saw an opportunity to exploit the veterinary market in the UK. 

It was an old-fashioned business. It suited the British citizen because British citizens like the old-fashioned ways. They were more honest and modest in their monetary aspirations. They weren't exploitative.

The charges were reasonable. And let's not forget that veterinarians provide a private health service. The British are used to the National Health Service which is free at the point of delivery.

If the charges suddenly rise dramatically as they have, they will be shocked and they are.

So, the first reason for the huge rises in veterinary fees is because corporate enterprises have bought up thousands of veterinary clinics and turned them into conglomerates; moneymaking businesses.

The second reason is that more and more people are turning to health insurance and this may be because the prices are going up. It's a kind of self-serving situation, an upward spiral.

Research by Tesco Bank suggests that more than half of pet owners in the UK now have pet health insurance.

Now, when a veterinarian knows that their work is going to be paid for by an insurance company, they feel that they can charge more. Once again, this is a self-serving, upward spiral in costs.

But the bottom line is that big business has got their teeth into the old-fashioned veterinary clinic and your typical cat-owning customer can own longer expect a charming veterinarian who is a partner in his own business charging you modest fees for a consultation and not seeking ways to rip you off.

Because when big business wants to make money out of any clinics they more or less have to rip you off. They will suggest procedures and operations which might not be necessary or borderline necessary.

One of the big providers of veterinary services in the UK is IVC. It is owned by private equity and operates more than a thousand practices.

Up to September 2021, in that year, they had revenues of £885 million which represents a 33% increase on the previous year. And there was an operating profit of £150 million.

One of the brands that IVC operates is Parkview Vets in south-east London. They charge £56.82 p for a consultation and £125 for a same day appointment. The cost of a spaying operation on a female dog varies between £390 and £590. They say that they provide a gold standard service. They should do at that price.

It is the same picture elsewhere. One lady, Abeer Alaydi, 28, adopted a kitten. She named him Charcoal. Charcoal became ill so she took him to a local veterinarian who charged £47 for an initial consultation.

The vet asked her some questions. Charcoal had been eating badly and was lethargic. She confirmed that Charcoal had not eaten a foreign body. The veterinarian suggested an x-ray and some blood tests.

The bill for those two simple procedures amounted to £700. She was shocked and said:

"I was shocked. I had no idea vets cost that much. I felt like I was being exploited. They could have run an external examination or offered him some food to see if it was a blockage or a loss of appetite, but I felt like they wanted to go for the most expensive option. As a first-time pet owner, I was worried and felt responsible for the well-being of my kitten. However, they are experienced vets and should be able to tell when something is serious enough to call for an x-ray. I feel I was emotionally manipulated to agree to any suggestions they offered."

She felt that she was exploited and, to me, the charges look high to put it mildly. I'm not used to these prices either. But what is behind it is ultimately greed because equity funds only buy businesses to exploit them, to squeeze out as much profit as they can from them and to do so ruthlessly.

The Competition and Markets Authority is actively monitoring competition in the veterinary industry. They are receiving complaints about higher prices or lower quality services because too many vets in a similar area are under the control of the same business. This is stifling competition.

This is a very bad development for British cat and dog owners. Watch this space. What is happening is that some cat and dog owners are going abroad to countries like Turkey or France where they can obtain prices which are much reduced to those in Britain. They go on a holiday and have their cattle dog checked out and treated at the same time. A consultation in France costs £30 compared to more than twice that at £70 in the UK. Rip-off Britain is at it again.

The problem here is that there are pet passport issues to contend with and of course after-care issues as well. It's impossible to deliver proper after-care if you are living in Britain and the operation took place in Turkey.

Wives should not tell husbands to take their cat or dog to the veterinarian (the surprising reason)

The TikTok video below on Ben the Vet's TikTok page is very short but very clear! Ben has used a TikTok facility called "duet". This is when you take the TikTok video of one person and put a video of yourself next to it in a split screen effect. I presume you can also comment on the video but this is impossible when, as is the case in this example, the female delivers a rant about not letting your husband take your pet to the vet!

But Ben does not disagree with her. The point that the lady is making - and I presume she is either a veterinarian or a vet tech - is that when wives tell husbands to take the family cat or dog to the vet without being emotionally engaged and/or without full knowledge of what is going on, they are unhelpful to the veterinarian in diagnosing the illness.

Without knowing more, I have a feeling that this advice mainly applies to domestic cats and not dogs. It is fairly common knowledge that the husband will be more invested in the family dog than the family cat. And it works both ways because the wife is much more likely to be invested in the caregiving of the domestic cat. They may also be equally involved in dog caregiving but it might be fair to say that the 'man of the house' - to use a classic old-fashioned term - is the person in charge of the dog. Is that fair comment?

RELATED: Disgruntled pet owners disillusioned with private equity-owned veterinary practices in UK.

Wives should not tell husbands to take their cat or dog to the veterinarian. And Ben the Vet on TikTok does not disagree! Screenshot.

And the presumption here is that veterinarians like to receive decent input from the patient's owner in the consultation room. They need to ask questions of the owner to hear the history of the disease sometimes.  The backstory and lead up to the current symptoms. This allows them to better understand the presented health problem.

I have always said that a cat caregiver who knows a little bit about cat health can be useful to a veterinarian. It also allows the caregiver to keep an eye on what's going on in a knowledgeable way.

Not all professionals are good at their job. Not all veterinarians are good veterinarians. An intelligent cat caregiver of long-standing who has read up about the domestic cat's behaviour and health may know almost as much as a recently qualified veterinarian.

You don't want to get into an argument with a veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment but you do want to provide useful input to speed things up and improve the accuracy of the diagnosis and therefore the treatment.

Bathroom is dangerous for dogs and cats says veterinarian

I think this veterinarian has made an extreme statement but I understand where they are coming from. They specifically issued a warning to dog owners about their pets entering the bathroom. But they also add that it applies to cats as well. They said dogs should be banned from bathrooms.

The reason is that dogs tend to, or they might, drink water from the toilet bowl which is water that might be contaminated to a certain extent both from the faeces of their owner and from the chemicals used to clean the bowl. I have seen cats drink water from the toilet bowl probably because they were neglected and no water was left out for them.

Veterinarian says that dogs and cats shouldn't go in the bathroom because it's too dangerous. Image: MikeB

Fair point but that problem can be resolved by keeping the toilet seat down which I think is a better solution because domestic cats like to be in the bathroom particularly when their owner is in the bathroom on the toilet! This is because of the smell they produce which cats find reassuring but which people don't like. The problem there is that a lot of people don't keep the bathroom seat closed. Simple!

RELATED: Many articles on 'toxic to cats'.

Also, sometimes people store bathroom cleaning products in a careless way which might allow dogs to have access to them. A lot of cleaning products are dangerous to pets because they contain chemicals which are toxic. That issue applies to many chemicals in many cleaning substances anywhere in the home including of course in the kitchen.

There are, perhaps surprisingly, a large number of toxic chemicals in household products in homes where there are companion animals. More should be done by the manufacturers to make these products less toxic but of course in doing that they would become less effective and therefore the manufacturers won't entertain that thought.