Why turning to ‘Dr. Google’ may be problematic for your pets

More people are turning to social media to self-diagnose their pets. Dr Marie Holowaychuk, a veterinary critical care specialist, has more on the risks.

People have been known to trust “Dr. Google” for health advice from time-to-time, but more people are turning to social media to find advice for their own pets.

“We know that veterinary costs are a concern for a lot of pet owners, so it makes sense that people would look to those free resources online,” said veterinarian critical care specialist Dr. Marie Holowaychuk on CTV Your Morning Edmonton.

“There are a lot of free hacks and advice that can be distributed there,” she added. “When it gets shared a lot and there’s a lot of traction, it feels like a trusted source and we’re seeing people follow potentially harmful information.”

Holowaychuk warns that following misinformation from an online source can have a serious impact on animals. She’s experienced her own situations with pet owners who delayed bringing their pets in to get proper veterinary care and the animals have progressed worse than they were previously.

“It’s distressing for us as veterinary professionals because we wish they had come in sooner, so that we had the opportunity to treat them before it became more of an emergency.”

By more pet owners trusting online sources, there’s also the possibility of creating new issues that may conflict with previous health concerns. Holowaychuk is hoping to send a message to all pet owners who may be thinking of delaying their vet appointments in the future.

“Social media is a great tool for awareness, but probably not diagnosis. Sometimes, just a quick phone call can help prevent a small issue from becoming something more serious.”

The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association is recommended for trusted health advice for pet owners.