Exit Search

    Infographic

    X
    This is a cart update message
    • Canada
    • USA & International
    Try our Healthy Dog Tool to Keep Your Dog Healthy. Try Now
    Supplements
    PeterDobias.com / Blog / stories & news

    Why giving is worth not giving up

    By Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

    Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM has 30 years of experience as a veterinarian. His love of dogs and passion for natural healing and nutrition led him to writing, teaching and helping people create health naturally, without drugs, chemicals and processed food.

    The unexpected gains of giving back

    Last night we had a couple of friends over for dinner (don't worry, we are allowed small groups in the area I'm in), and our conversation led me to share with them a situation from my work life. While I no longer have a veterinary clinic, I am frequently asked for help by friends and acquaintances. The part I really enjoy is that I make the decision not to charge for my professional advice, and offer my help for free now - thanks to my current work structure. However, not charging for my knowledge and services comes with certain challenges.

    Border collie Pax and a friend laying together on the sidewalk

    On one occasion, a yoga classmate asked me for help with her young dog, let’s call her Bella, who had a troubling history of very aggravating skin problems. After taking Bella’s medical history, examining her, and spending a couple of hours with her family, I proposed a treatment plan, suggested feeding a raw diet instead of kibble, as well as the Fab 4 essentials. I asked Bella’s “dog parents” for patience as I knew that her situation would require several weeks before there would be any signs of improvement. 

    Sadly, in less than a week, Bella’s owners (a busy couple who ran and owned a few restaurants in the area), asked their original vet for a prescription of steroids (prednisone), because they felt they needed a quick fix. 

    I was disappointed but knew that Bella's care was in her guardians' hands, but I also wondered if it was the right decision to provide my services for free. Was my advice taken for granted? 

    A few weeks later, I had a meal in one of the restaurants Bella’s “parents” owned. They were happy to see me and greeted me with enthusiasm. My party and I ordered, and they let me pay the full bill. Just business as usual. 

    I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed and taken advantage of. Rationally, I knew I shouldn’t have had any expectations, but feeling disappointed is only human. They also never let me know what happened to Bella, and I hope that she is okay. 

    My experience brought up one question: How do we solve the dilemma of giving? Do we forget about it, and live a self-centered and self-indulgent life? Of course not!


    It appears to me that we have two choices:

    1. To give to friends and others, and continue to practice the very difficult art of non-attachment. We can also be more mindful in deciding who we give to. 

    2. As an alternative of giving to individuals, we can choose to give to a group or a cause. If you choose right, they will likely thank you for your time, expertise, or financial contribution. I have always felt super appreciated by you, our community, and also by my team, so it may work for you and others, too.  

    It also happens that when we give to a group or a cause, and put our own benefits aside, rewards come in many unexpected ways. 

    For example, about a year ago, I came up with the idea of eliminating bubble wrap and other plastic from all our product shipments, which was used to prevent the glass jars from breaking. One of our team members, Leah, took on the challenge and came up with the great idea of cardboard eco-sleeves. They were more costly than bubble wrap, and their use impacted our bottom line, but the change was needed in order to adhere to our values.

    In the end, the eco-sleeves have been a huge success, and many people were thrilled to see this change. In addition, the rate of product breakage has gone down dramatically and the eco-sleeves have paid for themselves by reducing losses! Nice, isn't it?!   

    Giving not only feels good but it also proves to be a good business practice. Look at Elon Musk! He risked his wealth to change the world for the better and he hasn’t done badly in the process.

    It seems that at the end of the day, good karma really does work! 

    Take care, and give your dog a hug for me!

    Featured products related to this article

    Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM has 30 years of experience as a veterinarian. He graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 in the Czech Republic and obtained the Canadian Certificate of Qualification in 1995. He is currently licensed in the European Union, and his unique approach to healing and nutrition helps holistically minded dog lovers worldwide.

    Dr. Dobias strongly believes that disease prevention, natural nutrition and supplements, the right exercise and a drug free approach to medicine can add years to your dog's life.

    As a formulator of his all-natural vitamin and supplement line and co-inventor of natural, chemical free flea and tick control, FleaHex® and TickHex®, his unique healing system and products currently hold the highest independent five star customer rating. For more information click here.

    Any general recommendations that Dr. Dobias makes are not a substitute for the appropriate veterinary care and are for informational and educational purposes only.

    Join our Pack I hope you enjoy reading this blog article. If you want to know when a new article is published, join our pack now!

    By clicking "Continue" or continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We also use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience on our website. You can find out more about the cookies we use and learn how to manage them here. Feel free to check out our policies anytime for more information.

    Continue
    X