Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2014

Dogs have evolved a lot from their wolf days. For millennia we’ve teamed up with domesticated canines to hunt, protect, herd and more. Although that partnership remains intact today, “man’s best friend” now finds himself much more of a loyal, lovable companion than a working sidekick.

Dogs have certainly become highly dependent on their human owners. But in Japan, it’s dog owners themselves who seem to be ever more dependent on their pets for comfort, companionship and adoration. When it comes to pets, the principle seems to be “The cuter, the more adoring.” Unfortunately, this trend has also led to pet shops offering much younger animals for sale. This is concerning because dogs are being sold so young that they haven’t been sufficiently weaned from their mothers, which can lead to health and habit issues for new owners.

Japanese people spend an enormous amount of time and money pampering their pets. It’s not unusual to see a fashion parade of dogs out for a stroll wearing all kinds of quaint but expensive clothing and jewelry, while some owners go as far as to wheel their four-legged friends along in prams. Animal clinics and grooming centers play important roles in ensuring Japanese pets are provided the best possible attention, and owners will consult veterinarians and animal nurses on a large range of issues that go far beyond the treatment of diseases, including nutrition, training and lifestyle.

Advances in veterinary medicine have led to an expanding array of choices in pet treatment and disease screening. There have also been dramatic changes in the prevalence of diseases that were once common causes of pet deaths. Due to advancements in technology and pet food production, pets are living much longer lives.

Having more options available gives us an increased possibility of finding solutions to pet health problems. But this can also lead to hard decisions. As many choices as there may be, sometimes there is no correct answer to choosing the right form of treatment for your pet. State-of-the-art treatment may extend life, but it can be invasive, expensive, or lower the pet’s quality of life overall, leading to difficult ethical decisions.

Choosing the “right” treatment for your pet in a life-or-death health crisis can be extremely difficult. For any decision that will seriously affect your pet’s quality of life, consent from all members of the family is a must. In order for everybody involved to understand all the options, good communication (what clinics call “informed consent”) with your family vet and the clinic staff is essential. Miscommunication, or failure to fully understand what both parties are trying to achieve, may lead to a string of problems, the most crushing of which is regret and heartache for the family. Choosing a clinic with a vet who really knows what he or she is talking about and nurses who have the ability to work as the bridge between vets and their clients (both the pet and their owners) is essential. Good chemistry between the owner and the staff is also very important.

Unfortunately, finding a clinic that offers consultation in a language other than Japanese can be a challenge in Tokyo. But choosing a suitable clinic and taking the time to take your dog for a check-up when he or she is healthy is beneficial in the long run. Chatting with the staff and letting the doctor know what kind of lifestyle your pet has can help you reach decisions about treatment, while building trust and a good relationship with your family vet can be the key to saving your loved one’s life.

Also please note that May to November is the high-risk period for dogs to contract and die of heart worm. We recommend you have your dog tested and vaccinated before the season begins.