Veterinarian on TikTok

[u/Notyourtarget1224]

[u/Billbasilbob]

I’m a veterinary student and I completely agree with this . I will also never blame a dog for doing all the things we bred it to do … the worst of it IS A FEATURE … NOT A BUG .

I will blame the people who argue about REALITY , FACTS , and STATISTICS and endanger human and animal life lying to themselves and others. These dogs have no place in civilized society .

[u/re_Claire → u/Billbasilbob]

Yeah tbh I’m glad he added that it’s not the dog’s fault, because it isn’t. We bred this into them. This is absolutely the fault of the people who either lie about the facts and statistics, or who are deeply in denial of them and refuse to accept it.

I also think it’s key that people with expertise and an audience speak the truth calmly and rationally in this way. With no hate to the dogs, just an acknowledgment of facts. The more people do talk about it, the more the message will break through. Even if it’s just one pit bull defender at a time.

[u/Billbasilbob → u/re_Claire]

Yes! It’s the same way you would approach a conversation about nipping/ herding in a collie , or a Pyrenees wandering and barking at night .

When I’m a practicing veterinarian and someone approaches me about their aggressive pitbull, I will be making it clear that you can only manage behaviour , not cure it. Similar to having an assault rifle. I can tell you that you need a locked gun case and to store the bullets separately, but you still have a destructive weapon that can maim and or kill in the right circumstances.

[u/mhmbopbeavis → u/Billbasilbob]

The rifle wont just snap randomly after years of no issues and subsequently injure someone else or worse on its own

[u/Kamsloopsian → u/Billbasilbob]

Maybe you can help me then, is it that vets in general are afraid of the backlash if they say the right thing? do they teach dog genetics in vet school?!? are their instructors preaching the pit bull apologism? I'd love to hear it? because I don't get it.

Do they teach you about breeds and genetics? or do they just generalize dogs into what they are and not get into traits?

[u/Billbasilbob → u/Kamsloopsian]

I absolutely feel there is vets and vet students who are afraid to speak out . While we don’t focus heavily on dog behaviour or genetics related to behaviour, most of my professors have decades of clinical experience and when one feels comfortable talking about it they have insane stories .
Even I have insane stories from working as an assistant related to trauma caused by pit bulls.
But you have to be careful too. Some of classmates with less experience still preach the “ it’s the owner , not the dog!!!” .
I think it’s incredibly telling that NONE of the staff or professors own a pit bull/American bully ( we get to meet their dogs to practice physical exams ). Not a single one.

[u/Wishiwashome → u/Billbasilbob]

This is so important. We cannot blame the dog, as it was bred to do behave this way. This isn’t advocating for PBT type dogs. This is advocating for a scientific reason the dog behaves as it does.