Almost any medical decision has a chance of working—including doing nothing. Sometimes, doing nothing is reasonable, especially for minor issues that have a good chance of resolving on their own. But “doing nothing” also carries the highest risk. My job isn’t to eliminate risk entirely—that’s impossible—but to help pet parents understand what the risks are and how to reduce or eliminate them when possible.
Here’s how I frame it:
- I explain what the “bad outcome” might look like.
- I explain how different treatments or diagnostics might reduce that risk and by what amount.
- I provide the cost of veterinary care for each option.
- Use an e-collar (“cone of shame”) to prevent licking and chewing.
- Clean and disinfect the wound.
- Start antibiotics (oral, topical, or both).
- Surgically close the wound.
Why I Approach Medicine This Way
Here in Vero Beach, we see a mix of longtime locals and newer residents who’ve chosen to make this community home. Because every client comes in with a different background, set of beliefs, and life circumstances that shape how they approach their pet’s care. I can’t assume what matters most to them—whether it’s minimizing cost, avoiding potentially unnecessary medication, preventing suffering at all costs, or simply having peace of mind that they’ve “done everything.”
Instead of guessing, I lay out a “menu” of risks and risk-mitigation strategies, and then help them choose the option that feels right for them and their pet. For some, the peace of mind that comes with a more definitive option outweighs the cost. For others, a conservative approach fits best. Both are valid as long as the decision is informed (and nobody calls afterwards to yell at me).
Proactive vs. Reactive
It’s also important to recognize that earlier, smaller interventions usually prevent bigger problems later. Cleaning and monitoring a wound today is almost always cheaper and less invasive than waiting for an abscess to form that needs surgery tomorrow. Proactive risk management helps preserve not only a pet’s quality of life, but also a family’s ability to make choices before things spiral into an emergency.
Diminishing Returns
One reason human healthcare costs have skyrocketed is that we’ve become incredibly good at minimizing risk. The more we reduce risk, the harder—and more expensive—it becomes to squeeze out even a small additional improvement.
Think about the cost of washing your hands with soap compared to the cost of developing a new antibiotic for resistant bacteria. Handwashing is cheap, easy, and incredibly effective. Developing a novel antibiotic takes years of research and millions of dollars, often for a relatively small reduction in risk at the population level.
So Where Does That Leave Veterinary Medicine?
In veterinary medicine, we’re often working within financial constraints. The real question becomes: What’s the best we can do, within the limits we have?
That’s where risk management comes back in. I can’t predict the future, and I can’t account for every variable that might come into play. But I can predict the odds with reasonable accuracy. I can help families weigh risk, cost, and quality of life together. And I can give them the information they need to make a decision that isn’t just logical—it feels right to them.
At the end of the day, that’s what veterinary medicine is: not eliminating risk, but helping people make the best possible choices for their pets with the knowledge, resources, and values they bring to the table.
And in your pet’s case, the choice you make today—whether that’s scheduling a check-up, saying yes to that test, or treating something early—could be the difference between a quick fix and a crisis. Don’t wait for luck to decide how the story plays out. Stack the odds in your pet’s favor: Make an appointment to have your pet seen at Mermaid Vet Hospital, weigh the risks together with us, and choose the path that keeps them healthy and safe.