Dr Marcus, known as The Friendly Vet on TikTok, regularly posts videos on social media to his 28.3k followers to educate on the best practices for pet care and safety.
And in a recent video, he highlighted five things he would never do with his own Labrador, Charlie, after witnessing people’s experiences at the animal hospital he works for.
With Charlie on his lap, he kicked off with a biggie: “Number one, we’re not going to any dog parks. Can he catch a tennis ball? Maybe. But you know what he can catch there? Parvo virus, giardia, these hands [paws] from another dog. Way too many bite wounds that I’m healing or stitching up in the hospital for me to take my chances there”.
He’s also well against bully sticks and dog bones: “Either foreign bodies or a fractured tooth, either way, I don’t want to do emergency surgery on my dog,” he explained, suggesting dental sticks as a safer alternative.
And walking his dog without a leash? Never. “All it takes is one squirrel, one tennis ball – now he is in the middle of the streets of Oakland and he gets hit by a car”, he explained.
He added: “Number four, stopping any of his long-term medications, preventatives, or vaccines. It’s way easier to prevent a disease than it is to treat it.”
The vet also mentioned that he would never allow his dog to ‘free feed’, as he feels it’s incredibly important to manage a dog’s food intake. “As much as he would love to eat everything all day every day, I like to control how much he eats and keep him on a consistent schedule,” Dr Marcus shared.
“And also, it allows me to see if he has a decrease in appetite, which can be a huge marker for underlying disease.”
It’s crucial to remember that each dog is unique and requires specific care for a healthy and joyful life. Always conduct thorough research to determine the best lifestyle adjustments for your dog, and consult with your vet for any concerns.