People are far more likely to take better care of their pets than themselves. This is based on the idea that for the most part, we are designed to be the kinder, gentler, more loving, and compassionate life form on this planet.
While our compassion for our fellow man may have faded, our relationship with our pets continues to grow. Many of us will sacrifice all to benefit those in our lives who love us unconditionally. When someone is on the down and out, the last morsels of food, will be given to your pet(s).
If your pet requires a special diet or medication, you are more likely to see to your pet’s needs before your own.
When your pet is in need of life-saving treatment, procedure, or surgery, you may find yourself pulling out your credit card, taking out a loan, visiting the local pawn shop, selling off personal belongings, anything that you might do for anyone else that you love dearly.
If given the choice between socializing with friends, family, or even keeping your job or giving up your pet, the vast majority would choose the pet over almost anything else, even one’s spouse.
Your Animals Are Healthier Than You
There is a very peculiar trend that you might not notice that is taking place in veterinary sciences, which results in better treatment of your animals and pets than you get. And it all starts with the basic diet. If you look at the nutritional label of your pet food and compare it to the nutritional label on a box of cereal or even baby formula, you may be shocked to realize that
Your Pet Has a Better Diet Than You
Most of us don’t pay much attention to what we eat, and for the vast majority of us, those who shop at supermarkets and frequent restaurants or fast food establishments, there’s not much nutritional value in the food items we have access to.
But pet food companies are putting forth the effort to see that our animals have access to the best nutrients to support good health and long life.
Your Pets Get Better Health Care
Health care for animals is quite different than you might see in medical care for humans. Veterinarians whose patients are primarily livestock are tasked with keeping the animals they’re responsible for as healthy as possible for as long as possible for as little as possible to see that the owners receive a good return on their investment.
So, there is a huge emphasis on preventative care for animals (which includes an improved diet, including vitamins and minerals) because an expensive surgery is not practical for livestock (though it might be a more viable option for your pet).
This is in sharp contrast to your doctor, who was taught in medical school to sell prescriptions and recommend expensive procedures and surgeries. This is not a practical approach for a veterinarian.
For example, you might go to your doctor and your recommended treatment for a painful hip may include a prescription medication to relieve the pain and a surgical approach including hip replacement, which would be covered by your health care insurance. While the veterinarian would be tasked with finding alternative (inexpensive) methods to repair and rebuild the hip function of his or her patient.
I gravitate to health care professionals who are more akin to the practices of the veterinarian, like natural and homeopathic preventive care, but also have a cooperative MD who understands my perspective on taking the lead on my own healthy maintenance.
Unfortunately, even with the best of care, our pets, who we can care for as deeply (or more deeply according to recent studies) than our fellow humans, have a more limited lifespan.
And while you may sacrifice all for your favorite dog or cat, a friend of mine who works for the State to follow up with the elderly who have become incommunicado says that it makes a difference if you pass away in your home with a cat or a dog. He says that if your pet is a dog, there is a high likelihood that your dog will die also from starvation. Ahh… man’s best friend.
Your cat, on the other hand, might be more prone to survive, at your expense.
Do we care?
We don’t really, because we love our pets more than anything or anyone else and are far more likely to take better care of their pets than ourselves.