44 secrets your veterinarian won’t tell you

“Some people worry that paying for pet insurance will be a waste if they don’t use it. But when you renew your fire insurance on your house, do you say, ‘Damn, my house didn’t burn down last year—I wasted all that money’?” — Phil Zeltzman, veterinarian.

“If we wanted to go into it for the money, we’d have become human doctors.” — Oscar Chavez, veterinarian.

Can you guess these dog breeds from their puppy pictures?

“Most vets put themselves through 8 to 12 years of university and have huge student debts. We love animals and want to help them. Most of us start our day early, finish late, and are available for emergencies.” — Phil Zeltzman, veterinarian

“Obesity will hurt their health and decrease their life span. Instead, give affection. Pet them, brush them, love them, and walk them.” — Bernadine Cruz, veterinarian

“I once saw a dog who was fed a home-cooked diet of chicken breast and vegetables for a year, and his bones became so weak that his jaw broke. If you would like to cook for your pet, find a veterinary nutritionist who can help guide you, or check out balanceit.com.” —Monica Revel, veterinarian

“That’s especially true with many foods that come in those little gourmet pouches or cans. You pay $3 a package, and it’s basically just junk food with little nutritional value. Do some research, and have your vet read the ingredients list with you.” — veterinarian

“If your vet believes it’s a safe and effective alternative, you can get it from a human pharmacy and pay ten times less than you’d pay for the animal version. But recognise that there are legitimate reasons why the generic might not be appropriate for your pet.” —Patty Khuly, veterinarian

“Unless your vet says it’s OK. One paracetamol will likely kill a cat.” —Amber Andersen, veterinarian

Here are 12 dangerous mistakes cat owners should never make.

“Yes, dog whisperer Cesar Millan has turned some aggressive dogs around, but – please – don’t train your dog that way. Using aggressive tactics can cause serious behaviour problems and may not be effective.” — veterinarian

“A lot of pet medications are available at human pharmacies for lower prices than we charge. Supermarkets also have a list of veterinary medicines for $4 per one-month dose. These are medicines that you would pay $20 or $30 for at your vet.”— MeiMei Welker, veterinarian