Question

Mr. and Mrs. Kline bring in their daughter’s ferret, “Mikey,” a 6-year-old NM that has been showing some signs of not eating well and being very lethargic. The Kline’s are concerned that the ferret may not survive. Nicole, the veterinary assis- tant, is getting a weight on the animal and noting its listless appearance.

“How long has ‘Mikey’ not been feeling well?” she asks the Kline’s. “He has been sick for 2-3 days”, they answer. “Well, Dr. Dawson will be in shortly to examine him. I am certain he will be fine. Ferrets rarely get sick so I am sure he just has a cold.” As Nicole leaves the exam, the Kline’s start discussing how they were under the impression that ferrets did have several health problems to be concerned about. They are now confused about the information that they have previously been given.

1. What was done incorrectly in this situation?
2. How would you have handled the situation?
3. What is the ideal way to handle a situation that you may not be familiar with?

Answer 1

1) Nicole, the veterinary assistant, made a mistake by assuring the Klines before the physician had even inspected the ferret. She also stated that ferrets are rarely sick, which is not fully correct.

2) I would have handled the situation by recognizing Kline's worries and told them that the ferret would need to be examined by a veterinarian to ascertain the source of its ailments. I would refrain from making any firm statements regarding the ferret's health until a formal diagnosis is made. If the Klines had any questions or concerns regarding ferret health, I would offer to direct them to reliable sources of information or to have the veterinarian speak with them about it.

3) The best method to cope with a problem you are unfamiliar with is to recognize your limitations and seek advice from a more experienced people or credible sources of information. It is critical to refrain from making firm comments or assumptions until you have a clearer knowledge of the issue. Furthermore, it is critical to be honest and clear with clients about your degree of competence, and to enlist the assistance of a more experienced employee if necessary.