What is Petco and the other box stores doing wrong?

I just got back from Petco where I purchased cat litter and I have to share my encounter with you.

I was waiting on line at the check out counter when I overheard a staff member showing a customer Advantage II which is a flea control product.

The customer didn't understand the difference between Advantage and Advantage II. I winced when I heard the staff member inform the customer that she didn't know the difference (an F grade on training and educating your staff for Petco) either. The employee also stated that she didn't know why Petco didn't carry Advantage any longer and the only other product that the customer could buy was Frontline Plus if she didn't feel comfortable buying the Advantage II. At this point I'm near apoplectic....my pet peeve is misinformation being spread around. The only thing worse is when individuals aren't trained properly with critical information.

My blood was boiling at that point so I jumped in and educated (hopefully) not only the customer but the staff member that Advantage is no longer made and the difference between Advantage and Advantage II was that there is an insect growth regulator (IGR) in Advantage II.
The customer was interested in learning more and I answered a few questions for her (yes, doing the employees job). Meanwhile, the staff member simply walked away not terribly concerned that she didn't know much about her store and it's products.

You might be saying to yourself "Monique...chill out. Not a big deal."
Well it is a big deal and for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, Petco drops the ball big time. If you are in the pet industry, you damn well better guarantee that your employees can answer questions regarding any of your products, particularly when your pets safety is at risk. I don't care if these are high school kids working part time, you need to properly train them. Petco is not doing anyone any good by having employees going through the motions.


Secondly, this is a perfect example as to why you should buy directly from a veterinarian. And not just any veterinarian, because not all vets are created equal. Find an AAHA certified hospital. Their standards are higher than most. Only 15% of hospitals are certified and it is voluntary (which should tell you something).

Yes, and I've heard it a million times before. "Vets are so expensive..." Well, yeah, because you're getting someone who understands the products and your pet, not a "well, maybe you can try this one..." response. You get what you pay for. Factor in that some over the counter meds can be lethal if given improperly and you'll understand why this lights my hair on fire.

We see it at the hospital. Someone bought a product at a big box store and didn't realize they bought a product intended for a dog rather than a cat and the next thing they know, their cat is critically ill because a sales person didn't inquire who is the intended recipient of the product. Or here's another example we've seen. Someone will buy (again one of the big box stores) a dog product that is toxic to a cat (in other words, there are products that shouldn't be used in mixed pet households). And predictably their cat grooms their dog and becomes violently ill due to ingesting said product.

I wish I could say this is infrequent but it is not. We see and hear it all too frequently.

Again, let me reiterate where Petco is dropping the ball. They aren't educating their staff so they can educate their customers. And that begins the cycle of misinformation. That customer will then tell a friend "Oh...just go to Petco and save....blah blah blah" Customers assume that the employees at big box stores have been trained, know what they are talking about and are passionate about the four legged ones. I have yet to meet one of these models. Petco needs to get serious about caring for our furkids just as much as we do. If not, they are simply another greedy corporation interested only in their bottom line.

And lest you think that I'm flogging Petco out of some personal bias, I am not. We hear the horror stories regarding similar scenarios from online stores, Pet Smart, Petmeds, Pet Supermarket, etc....
Stay informed everyone and Keep Wagging!

We all CAN get along

We can learn so much from our 4 legged friends if we simply open ourselves to the lessons that they show us everyday. In this case, a beautiful little bulldog is interested in the cows and the cows are equally curious. I'm not saying that all animals get along all the time - in fact, they frequently kill each other but that is beside the point. I'm saying that when you see this you realize that even though everyone has differences, its possible to get along. I'm not going to use the word "tolerance" because that implies there is something flawed about someone - its just a matter of accepting each other for who and what we are. Even if it doesn't fit our idea of what normal is.

Enjoy and Keep Wagging everyone!

Monique

Pain Management for our Companion Animals

Pain management has changed drastically in my 21 years in the veterinary industry. I remember just giving an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) injection and that was it. Pain was not a huge concern in the overall care for our companion animals.  The perception for far too long has been that they "don't feel pain" like people or that certain elective procedures were "minor" or likely to cause only minimal discomfort. What research and observations over the years has come to prove is that our patients do perceive pain much the same as humans.  These magnificent beings have instinctive behaviors that cause them to hide their pain from outward observation (think about nature - the strong survive and the weak or injured become breakfast) so we must think proactively when it comes to pain management.  To put it simply, if a surgical event would be painful for a human, then we should expect a similar level of pain to occur in our pets too.

We now control pain and discomfort starting before the patient is even put under anesthesia. Once they are unconscious we give them different pain medication during their surgical procedure so that their body does not feel or react to the pain that is being inflicted on them and it allows the pet to have a pain free recovery once they are awake.

There are so many different levels of pain and we can take care of all of them now.

Many veterinary hospitals still treat our companion animals the way we did 20 years ago. It is up to you to ask questions. Ask what kind of pain management will be used for your pet.

From dentals, to spays, to neuters to removing a foreign object from your pet's stomach, all of these procedures cause different levels of pain. But don't think for a moment that a "routine spay" doesn't need pain management. That is an abdominal surgery where muscle must be cut into. Imagine how painful that can be!

When your pet goes home after having surgery (with oral pain medications), he/she should have an appetite the next day, they shouldn't be hunched over in pain, and they shouldn't be lethargic. If they are, their pain has not been managed properly.

For more information on how far pain management has come read this article called Pain Management for Pets at www.healthypet.com.

Keep your pets healthy, pain free and make sure they always Keep Wagging!

Monique and the Nose Prints Family

Pet Food Recall

Proctor and Gamble own the Iams company which also makes Eukanuba. Unfortunately, many of their diets have been recalled. See below....


Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has expanded a recent voluntary recall of certain specialized dry pet foods due to a risk of contamination with Salmonella. The foods recalled include Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas, Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Eukanuba Pure, and Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin with "best by" dates between July 1, 2010 and December 1, 2010. All UPC codes are included in the recall.

These products are all made at the same facility. There is a risk of contamination in some of the foods made in this facility, so out of an excess of caution, P&G is recalling all the products made at this facility.

Consumers who have purchased the foods listed should discard them immediately. Note that people handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Salmonella can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. It can on rare occasions also result in arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting any of these symptoms after having contact with one of the recalled products should consult a healthcare provider immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may suffer from decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain, as well as diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. If your pet has consumed any of the recalled products and exhibits these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

For further information or a product replacement or refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823.


Keep your pets safe and Keep Wagging!


Monique and the Nose Prints family