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Filipinos love their pets, and demand for vet services did not听wane听all throughout the pandemic, said Richard P. Encomienda, a veterinarian from the Vets in Practice hospital.听听听
In this听B-Side听episode, he talks to reporter Patricia Mirasol听about his life as a vet,听and听imparts听advice for people considering getting a pet.听
It is important to consider both your lifestyle and financial situation when deciding to become a pet owner, Mr.听Encomienda said.听
鈥淎s long as the pet is alive, it鈥檚 your responsibility, your commitment, to keep it healthy and happy,鈥澨he said.听鈥淩esearch on the breed. Some breeds need to be outside more often, like Labradors or retrievers. If you get a smaller breed, they can be let out once a day.鈥澨听
A dog鈥檚 lifespan is听, although there is variability among breeds and sizes. A cat鈥檚 lifespan, meanwhile,听.听听
听than cats in the Philippines.听
Big dogs听require two 20-kilogram sacks of听dog food听a month, with midrange brands costing P6000-10,000 per month for that amount of food.听听
鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 include yearly vaccines; that would be around P1500. Plus, if you include heartworm prevention, [then you would need to shell out more],鈥 Mr. Encomienda added.听
Topics related to animals and pets were听among the top five Facebook and Instagram Reels (or short-form videos) in the Philippines听for the first three quarters of 2022,听according to Meta.听
Despite the costs of being a fur parent, demand for vet services did not abate during the first series of lockdowns in 2020, Mr. Encomienda told 大象传媒.听听听
鈥淏usiness was stable,鈥 he said. 鈥淧eople just walked in [pre-COVID-19], but the pandemic forced us to set up appointments.鈥澨听
Recorded remotely on January 11, 2023.
