There are days in practice when you give everything you’ve got—your knowledge, your time, even your patience. Kanina, habang nasa consultation ako, a client kept asking about flea and tick preventatives. Brand after brand, difference after difference. I answered each question carefully, even laid out the actual products on the table so he could see the options.
But while I was explaining, I noticed his eyes would drift to his phone. At first, I brushed it off—maybe may kausap lang. But as the questions went on, I realized he was browsing, comparing, and even chatting with someone.
Then came the sting: after all that effort, after being the “consultant” who gave him the right product choice, he pressed checkout on Lazada.
It felt like I was the showroom, but not the store.
Like I was the one he “hugot” answers from—yet not the one he trusted enough to support.
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And that’s the painful truth many vets face today. We pour out expertise shaped by years of training and experience. We guide pet parents to the safest, most effective options. But in the end, some see us only as a “step” in their online purchase journey.
This isn’t just about sales. It’s about respect for the profession.
Because behind every product we recommend is accountability. If something goes wrong with that Lazada purchase, will the seller explain side effects? Will the app stand beside them in an emergency? No. It will still circle back to us—the vets.
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To my fellow veterinarians: don’t lose heart.
So to my fellow veterinarians: don’t lose heart. Every time we educate, we plant seeds of trust, even if not everyone chooses to honor it right away. Some will realize the difference only when they truly need us.
And to clients: supporting your vet isn’t just buying from them. It’s choosing to value the guidance, care, and responsibility they shoulder for your pet’s health.
The best preventative isn’t just what you buy—it’s who you trust.
Because in the end, the best preventative isn’t just what you buy—it’s who you trust to stand with you when your pet’s life is on the line.
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Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
