The Tails of Truth Podcast:

Is Your Vet Recommending Tests You Don't Need?

In this episode of Tails of Truth, Dr. Angie Krause and JoJo ask whether veterinarians are recommending tests and treatments pets don't need, and how pet parents can tell the difference. Topics include yearly fecal testing, heartworm testing before prevention, flea and tick coverage during Colorado's cold months, why estimates rarely offer tiers of care anymore, and the growing distrust between pet parents and the veterinary industry. Dr. Angie also explains how she navigates these conversations with her own clients and what she believes a good vet relationship should look like.

Key Takeaways

  • Dr. Angie has not personally seen private practices selling unnecessary test/vaccine packages, but acknowledges some clinics do it
  • A more litigious culture may be pushing some vets toward defensive over testing, particularly in emergency medicine
  • Dr. Angie questions the value of yearly fecal tests in low risk populations and does not require year round flea, tick, and heartworm prevention unless a pet travels or the household needs the routine
  • A heartworm test before starting prevention is mainly a concern for pets coming from high risk regions (the South); in Boulder's climate and history it's less critical
  • 81% of vets say they often offer an alternative plan when cost is a barrier, but 73% of clients say they're not offered one, a communication gap 
  • Tiered treatment options ("start here, then here") seem to be disappearing, especially at corporate clinics, replaced by single upfront estimates
  • Vet experience and individual risk tolerance both affect how many diagnostics get recommended
  • Dr. Angie encourages clients to ask "do I really need this" and says she wants shared decision making, not blind compliance
  • Cost is often the real driver behind what looks like distrust, and financial conversations are normal and okay to have
  • Building a relationship with a vet who will have honest, individualized conversations is presented as the real solution, more than any specific test or protocol
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Sound Bites

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  • "I don't wanna gaslight people and tell them this isn't happening. Sometimes it is happening."  — Dr. Angie

  • "There's an overarching story that veterinarians are greedy. And veterinary medicine is greedy."  — JoJo

  • "I want you to know there's a lot of dogs walking around and we know they have a heart murmur and they haven't had an echocardiogram yet."  — Dr. Angie

  • "So trust your vet."  — Dr. Angie

  • "It does feel like a unnecessary reach for money, which makes the industry feel distrusting."  — JoJo

  •  "I think those consults are great for second opinions."  — JoJo

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