This week: the phobias surrounding medication
Medication is probably the most important tool in the treatment of illnesses. Without them there is surprisingly little a medical practitioner can do.
I am often asked if I do house calls and in most situations my initial response is to get the client to bring the animal to the clinic instead, as my arsenal of medication is too large to bring with me on a house call.
Murphy's Law applies to us vets as well and the drug I need to use is the drug I didn't bring on the house call. Without all the modern pharmaceuticals on hand, all I could do in the treatment of many diseases would be primitive indeed.
But there is an alarming increase in what is call medication phobia. During consultation it is difficult enough to arrive at a diagnosis and then respond by using an effective treatment. It is downright frustrating if I have to battle a client's unwillingness to use the medication as well. It happens quite often. I understand that there is a general wish of most clients to minimise medication as it can be costly and some drugs are not absolutely necessary.
In some cases the client is very forthright and directly asks if it is OK not to take medication. As there is always a rational reason why a particular drug is prescribed, I am more than willing to explain the need and if any of the medication is optional. The client is an important part of the decision-making process and if they want conservative therapy then it is my job to explain the benefits and risks involved so they can make an informed decision.
There are some clients who don't even ask why a drug is prescribed and simply refuse the drug at the reception desk and leave. To these clients my advice is to communicate more closely with the vet or doctor so a treatment regime can be suited to your idea of treatment next time.
