Social media is great! You can get all your dog questions answered – usually in just a couple of hours! How accurate, or reliable those answers are is another question.

Use it as a resource

We belong to lots and lots of dog groups on social media and off. Groups about different breeds, behavior, training, dog sports, rescue, feeding dogs, dog illnesses, etc. There’s probably a group for any dog interest you have. One of our favorites is a group that just posts pictures of puppies. It’s not really useful, but it does make us smile.

How you use those groups is what matters. All too often we see someone post a picture of something nasty going on with their dog and asking the group what to do. The right answer is always “call your veterinarian!”

Social media best practices

On the other hand, if your dog has already been diagnosed by a veterinary professional, it’s a good idea to seek out others on social media going through the same thing. There are other people trying to regulate their dog’s diabetes. Or pancreatitis. Dogs in mobility carts have several groups devoted to their care.

It can be a terrific relief to know you’re not alone. That if your dog is having a particular issue, there are other people going through the same thing. And some have managed to get through it and can share their successful methods for dealing with it.

If your dog has a particular allergy, or tummy trouble, somebody out there in internet-land has the same problem. Even if they haven’t resolved it, you can connect with someone who knows what you’re going through.

Helpful resources

We’re not saying that when Jane Doe from Erewhon suggests a diet supplement that you dash out and get it. What we are saying is that, if it works for Jane Doe’s dog, it may be worth checking out. If you think it may be a good idea, print out a copy of the ingredients and ask your vet next time you see her. 

A great idea in social media groups is to ask for recommendations. If you need a good groomer, ask in your local neighborhood groups. Most groomers these days are booked far in advance, so start asking at least a month before your dog needs an appointment. When you get some ideas, check out the reviews, read what other customers say. 

Word of mouth

In the olden days before the internet, the resources we had available were almost entirely local. There was no way to connect with people across the country and discuss a common interest. People relied on the advice of their friends, neighbors, and relatives to find the resources needed for everything. 

While there is lots of nonsense on social media, there’s also a lot of good. We’ve seen people find lost dogs,  network to connect suddenly-orphaned pups to a nursing surrogate mom, share triumphs and tragedies with other like-minded dog people. If you have dog questions, there are answers at your fingertips.