I was thrilled to join the Kuddly family because this forum gives pet owners access to credible information that is specific to their pet and their circumstances. Kuddly is an easy and reliable way to obtain information directly from a knowledgable veterinarian without an office visit!
Many people think they can find answers to all of their pet questions with a quick Google (or Bing etc), which is true. The difference is Kuddly provides credible information – no trying to figure out good information versus bad, and most importantly, through Kuddly, you can get an answer tailored for you and your pet. I find Kuddly that provides a huge benefit to me as well. Every owner should have the ability to get answers to their questions, medical or otherwise, and most questions don’t require a visit to the veterinarian’s office.
The most important thing owners should know about pet health is that they are the best advocates for their pet’s health and are responsible for making decision that best suits their pet’s needs. Veterinarians are a valuable source of information and expertise and can also provide guidance for pet owners during this process. Ultimately, it’s up to each pet owner to decide what the best option is for their pet and their circumstances. This still means a high quality of care and compassion; just that pet owners need to be an active participant in the decision-making process and should never be afraid to ask questions to a vet – I love when owners ask questions and if I don’t know the answer, I will find out!
A few helpful tips for pet parents using Kuddly
- Fill in the pet’s information as completely as possible, including age (actual or estimated), breed, and sex.
- Let us know how long the problem has been going on. This can make a huge difference in what recommendations are made.
- Include whether your pet is spayed or neutered.
- Think specific – pretend you are describing the problem to your significant other, mom, or a friend. Try to anticipate the questions they would ask. For example, for a question about swollen toes, mention if the toes are next to each other, or on different legs (and which legs). This can greatly improve the advice and suggestions you receive from the veterinarian.
- The page with additional health information can also be very important; if your pet has additional health information, please list them.
- Finally, remember that a veterinarian cannot prescribe drugs or diagnose a specific problem without examining your pet. This is something that is out of our hands – the State Veterinary Medical Boards can revoke a vet’s license to practice if this rule is violate (i.e. he/she is no longer able to practice veterinary medicine)!
- Most vets want to hear how your pet is doing – we all really care! Kuddly doesn’t allow you to update a vet without paying for another question, BUT you can always get around this by reviewing their response to your question and providing an update on your pet. We always love to hear if we’ve helped or ways we can improve!
-Barbara Jones, DVM MPH DACVPM
