In our continuing quest to find safe, effective ways to keep and improve our pets healthy, we are taking a different look because of today’s economy. As I’ve read in several news stories and have seen on TV, pet owners by the thousands are abandoning or eliminating their loving pets as they can no longer afford the high price of veterinary care. Let’s look at what’s happening.
I remember as a kid growing up in a cold, snowy, windy city in western New York, yes, it’s Buffalo, and having pets all my life. Back in the ‘60’s, dogs were mostly relegated to the back yard and cats, being as independent as they were, came and went as they pleased. Our usual contact with our vet was the arrival of a new puppy or kitten, who we took for a physical exam, a puppy shot, and maybe, if the test indicated, a worming. Our next visit to the vet was usually because our beloved pet decided to bite the tires of a moving car, tried to make friends with a porcupine, or ate “something” indescribable.
Our pets’ did not have annual or bi-annual checkups, multiple vaccines, or for that matter, pet food. Dogs and cats ate our food, real food! Mom fixed us eggs for breakfast, always perfect, yolks intact, never broken. Was mom always that perfect? Why do you think your pet had such a perfectly shiny coat? Gee, what happened to all those imperfect eggs mom messed up? “Fido” was right there to help YOUR MOM, and was all so pleased to do so. Those broken yokes provided the fatty acids your dog or cat needed to build that healthy skin and coat to survive those New York, New England, and Midwest winters.
Now back to our question, is your veterinarian advising and prescribing for your pets’ optimal health or for their personal gain?
Let’s look at the facts. Vaccination is a multi-billion dollar industry. Let’s look at just one. Canine Distemper is the dog version of measles in us. I ask clients daily how many measles vaccines have they had in their life. Most say one, a few say none. If one is good enough for us, then why do our professional Veterinarians give the average canine (dog) as many as ten (10) in their first year of life? Over a ten year life span, with recommendations of twice a year boosters, which by the way do not booster or add to immunity, your pet will have thirty (30) sets of vaccinations! The fact is the vet and the pharmaceutical company sold you a lot of product for a lot of profit with little or no documented value to your pet.
Now, as a question to ask your vet, why do they use the same size vaccine on a 2 lb. Maltese and Yorkie as they do on a 40 lb. Rottweiler puppy. They may tell you that the antigen won’t cause a problem. I ask you, but what about the chemical carriers such as Aluminum, Mercury, and the other preservatives in the vaccine? It just seems to me, if I inject my puppy with 2cc of vaccine that contains Mercury, a known toxin, the effect on my precious 2lb. Maltese will be far greater than on the next patient with the 40lb. Rottweiler.
Why would your vet do this? Is it because they believe the sales presentation from the drug company? Or are they looking after your interest as a pet owner and that of your pet?
I once offered a product line to a prominent vet in our area a whole food, with a natural health benefit to YOUR pet, only to be turned down only because it was not prescription. Further discussion revealed that his PROFESSIONAL advice for my newly acquired puppy, for its optimal care for me was to go to a major pet chain, buy what the 16 year old kid in the dog department suggested and if problems arise, come see this vet to “cure” the problems.
Is this a Professional answer or a business decision based on a need to produce a good income?
We hear these kinds of questions and problems every day! We ask pet owners why you are subjecting your trusting pet to someone that you really know so little about.
