The Myth of the Quick Fix in Veterinary Medicine: Why There’s Not Always a Magic Injection
The Myth of the Quick Fix in Veterinary Medicine: Why There’s Not Always a Magic Injection
Written by Alessandro Didiano (doctor in veterinary medicine, MRCVS)
Disclaimer: This article is personally written by me, a licensed veterinarian with more than a decade of clinical experience. It’s for general information only and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
Yesterday, a lady brought in her 4-year-old Poodle. The dog had two days of diarrhea, a little blood in the stool, but was otherwise happy, eating, drinking, and bouncing around.
The physical examination was completely normal. No dehydration. No fever. Nothing worrying.
I recommended canine probiotics, as well as a bland diet for a couple of days, advising to come back in case of no improvement. The owner wasn’t impressed. She wanted an injection to “stop the diarrhea.” But here’s the thing: there is no such injection.
Then she asked for antibiotics. I politely replied that in these cases antibiotics are not indicated, not needed and not appropriate. They can even be harmful for the dog by disrupting the intestinal microbiota.
Suddenly the room grew tense. The client clearly wasn't happy and I could feel the frustration rising in me (vets are human too, after all). I offered a second opinion with a colleague, who confirmed my plan. She left saying she didn’t know why she should pay, since we hadn’t “fixed the dog.”
This isn’t really a story about a dog with diarrhea. It’s about the widespread misconception in both human and veterinary medicine: the belief that every problem has a quick, easy fix. A shot. A pill. Something instant and dramatic.
Why We Crave the “Magic Jab”
We live in an age of immediacy. Groceries in 15 minutes, streaming films in seconds, scrolling through 10 potential people to date in a minute. So it’s no wonder people expect the same with healthcare, whether for themselves or their pets.
But medicine doesn’t work like Amazon Prime. Sometimes, the right treatment looks underwhelming: rest, fluids, a good sleep and time. Sometimes, it’s monitoring rather than medicating.
The Problem With “Doing Something”
Clients often want to see us do something noteworthy. An injection, a prescription, a box of pills. It feels tangible, like value for money.
But the truth is that giving unnecessary medication isn’t good medicine. It’s theatre. It may satisfy the owner in the short term, but it can be unhelpful (or even harmful) for the animal.
A bland diet and probiotics may sound boring compared to a needle. But boring is often what actually works in medicine, both human and veterinary.
Why Vets Push Back
When vets say “no” to antibiotics or injections, it’s not because we are dismissive. It’s because our duty is to help the animal, not to hand out placebos or quick fixes to make owners feel better.
Sometimes, doing the right thing looks like “not doing much.” That can be frustrating for owners. It can be awkward in the consulting room. But it’s the truth.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about pets. In my opinion, it’s a cultural problem. We’ve been conditioned to believe there’s always a shortcut: a miracle diet for weight loss, a cream that claims to erase wrinkles in a week, a magic tablet that promises instant energy and focus. But real health doesn’t play by those rules. Biology doesn’t bend to impatience, no matter how much we wish it would.
Veterinary medicine isn’t about magic injections. It’s about science, patience, and making decisions in the best interest of the patient, even if it doesn’t feel dramatic enough.
Next time you leave the vet without a prescription in hand, don’t assume nothing was done. Sometimes, the best medicine is the one that wasn’t prescribed.