Vote with Your Wallet!
Pay only those vets who meet your needs
I recently got this disturbing comment from a reader:
Am I wrong for feeling frustrated? I was just refused a check-up service at my vet for my elderly 19 yr old dachshund. I say check-up because he was already seen for an ear infection and ingrown nail issue. I was scheduled for a check-up to reevaluate his original issues, but was now told if he doesn't have his rabies shot he can not been seen. I was like he is 19 years old, at this point every day is a blessing. I just want to keep him comfortable but don't feel these vaccinations that are required should be needed at his age. Am I wrong?
I suggested this vet be fired. Roxy (not her real name) clearly needs a vet willing to think outside the box a bit, right?
Why should she pay someone for holding her 19 year old hostage like this?
No way.
The Illogic of this Vet (or is it greed?)
1. This dog is ill!
Here’s what it says, right on every vaccine label: “Only for Use in Healthy (dogs, cats, ferrets commonly)”
Vaccination of a sick animal is therefore malpractice.
Sickness of any kind is a clear vaccine waiver!
(And if you’re a pregnant woman, ask any doctor of old about vaccinations. Big clear NOPE. They knew.)
2. What did he miss about DOI (duration of immunity)?
Vet immunologists have been writing about this for decades.
Top among them, Ronald Schultz, Ph.D., U of Wisconsin, who wrote in Current Veterinary Therapy way back in 1992:
Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal.”
3. Seniors!
Let’s face it, most animals this old are already well immune (see #2).
And realistically, how many seniors are out wrestling skunks or raccoons?
They should be given an automatic pass on the “rules” or “guidelines” around re-vaccination.
(Yes, I’m well aware there are “laws” around rabies in most states. No need to remind me. You may want to explore my free Rabies Short Course for a discussion on the disease and the crooked “law” origins that came to be rubber stamped throughout the land)
I can’t tell you how many seniors I’ve seen start circling the drain or dying after an unnecessary rabies vaccine, given because “the law.”
Well, I can start actually. Here’s a case from Texas whose owner had the best of intentions in following the vet’s recommendations. As you’ll see, all that good intention didn’t save his dog…
Who you gonna call?
Remember, where you spend your money is a vote.
By paying a vet for bad advice or risky rule following, you’re giving him a pass to keep doing what he’s doing.
But you need some veterinary help from time to time.
Here are some thoughts:
1. Explore holistic vets
Beware though, that’s a catchall phrase that’s been corrupted since it became sexy back when I was still wet behind the ears as a vet.
I learned first hand about a “holistic” colleague during my homeopathic training that caused my head to spin!
2. Homeopathic vets
Generally, they are a better bet, especially if you search with the parameters I laid out in this video.
But even then, I’ve found a few “bad actors” among colleagues who passed my sieve. Still wanted vaccines and/or heartworm pesticides of my Vital Animal Alpha students.
Ask Hard Questions!
Ultimately, you’ll want to carefully interview anyone you’re thinking of hiring, no matter the title they’ve adopted.
Ask hard questions like:
“I’ll not be vaccinating my pet going forward. Will you still provide services under those circumstances?”
“That includes letting her rabies ‘due’ dates lapse. Can you support my stance?”
A common veterinary ploy around that last one:
We have to protect our staff!
Your retort (please, please…):
“So, do you think my dog is rabid because she’s a year overdue on her rabies shots? She looks and acts pretty normal since her due date passed…”
“I’m feeding raw food. Do you or your staff have any issues with that?”
I’ve heard of a few practices that actually gloved and masked in the exam room to examine a wildly healthy, sparkling eyed raw fed dog!
“I’ll need a letter now and again (for boarding, etc) waiving my animal from some misguided “up to date on shots” policies. Since you are trained, and must know more about DOI than a groomer, can you write a letter for their files?”
Bottom Line: Fire but Hire Carefully
I wish I could tell you every holistic vet would be willing to meet all your needs.
Ditto for my homeopathic colleagues.
But, for whatever reason, (fear of authorities, greed, ignorance?) some are just stuck in certain places. Blinders tightly bound onto faces.
If that’s obvious in the first 5-10’ of your interview/email, no need to go further.
Just wish them well (or not) and be on your way to your next interviewee.
Remember: it’s you paying for their services.
Doesn’t it make sense that you’d choose someone willing and able to work with you and your needs before you shell out your hard earned moolah?
Yes indeed, it does.
Use your vote wisely. Open your wallet only when you are comfortable with the services you’ll be receiving.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve found yourself in the thick of similar nonsense being pushed on you. And what you’ve done about it (or are fixin’ to do…).
I can't tell you how many times I brought my pittie in for ear infections and had the vets push every 💉 they could. I even had a tech bring out what looked exactly like a big restaurant menu of all the shots she could get and why they are so wonderful. I also almost got thrown out of an emergency clinic because I said (when asked) that my dog was on natural HW prevention. After I explained the emergency (!) that my dog was having (not related to HW symptoms in any way), the vet circled back to HW and was literally shaking and screaming at me that there are no alternatives to the conventional Rx preventatives. All while my dog was suffering in front of her. I essentially told her to treat my dog or I was leaving. Unfortunately with the emergency clinics there aren't many choices in my area and I have to be a bit forceful at times. Anyway, I wanted to thank you, because so much of what I now know I owe to you and your emails/articles. Please keep up the excellent work! ❤
My dog had a fever with upper respiratory issues over a long holiday weekend. I treated her naturally to keep the fever down (with homeopathy, honey/elderberry, colloidal silver) until Monday when I took her to a substitute vet for the first time because our vet was still out of town. My dog has been exclusively raw fed since 8 weeks old and is 6 years old now. When the vet and her assistant entered the exam room to meet us for the first time, they had gloves and masks on stating that they might be at risk since I noted my dog was raw fed on the intake paperwork. I was so shocked at their absolute lack of understanding about raw feeding! In an attempt to give them positive info, I stated that I buy my raw food from an FDA approved large raw dog food company (they sell bulk meats and some pre-ground mixes following the 80/10/10 approach to raw feeding) and that this meat is just as safe as what they buy in the grocery store. This info had no effect on them. I stayed for the exam only because I was very worried about my dog at this point (turns out she did have serious pneumonia and we quickly got her to an animal hospital for treatment soon after this appointment). Suffice it to say, I will NEVER return to this vet or recommend this vet! In the 7 years I've been raw feeding my dogs and cat I have handled their raw food daily (mostly without gloves unless the weather is really cold) and I've never had an issue. I wash my hands and sanitize sometimes with white vinegar after feeding them. Ignorance leads to so much fear, but the unwillingness to have an open mind and learn beyond what we've been taught is even worse!