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!
Thanks for this excellent essay. While our vet is fairly “mainstream”, he knows our concerns about vaccination. So I was quite relieved when at our recent wellness check for our 14+ yo dog, he said he couldn’t see any reason to give him his rabies vaccine. Every vet needs a conspiracy theorist client like me😂
This is a thinking vet! YEAH. I'd let all your friends in the area, dog park meetings, anyone in earshot with a dog that this guy deserves more business. Just as valuable to reward good behavior like this as it is to fire those who lack common sense and the ability to think outside the box.
Yes! I will say that I think some vets (and doctors) have had an awakening these past few years, while others have further entrenched themselves. As you say, it’s wise to shop around before committing to a vet!
Funny, this is exactly how I feel about medical doctors for humans as well!
Great nutrition is the foundation of good health. Learn about that and practice it and you will find your pets need a vet very little. There are many remedies and herbs that are useful for pets as well and their humans!
Books galore to help you learn although there is nothing quite like Dr Falconers wisdom.
I have a 17yr old cat that lives indoors. I notified my vet that we are no longer doing vaccines a few years back. He understood but then said you should at least do rabies to protect yourself. (My naive self of four years ago probably would've went along with it.) I thought what scam artists! This cat has been inside for years wth is he going to get rabies from? After subjected him to this nonsense for years I'm lucky he's still around.
Hello Dr. Falconer and fellow Vital Animal Packers,
This is a link to the summary of findings from the multi-year Rabies Vaccine Challenge. It's very interesting reading and I would love to hear Dr. F's reaction. The number of subject dogs was relatively small (you'll understand when you read what they were up against 😥) but it seems clear that the IMRAB-TF 3-year Merck vaccine was still highly effective at about 6.5 years (80%), but it waned significantly after 7 years (50%), and by 8 years its effectiveness was only 20%. Still lots of unknowns and variables, and the need for more research is clear. What will it take for the guidelines to be relaxed to dosing 6 years vs 3, and for the titre test levels to be found that would reliably allow for complete revaccination exemption??
I think the key is, if titers have fallen, specifically for rabies, did those animals still withstand challenge with the live virus? Not sure they studied that, though Schultz has long recognized the memory B cells as lasting a lifetime, able to raise a titer rapidly when needed.
As their study design was intracranial challenge, I'm not sure that's enough of a mimic of Nature to be a fair measure of immunity.
The biggest value to their work, it seems to me, was showing efficacy lasts probably at least twice the 3 year mark, so owners can take comfort in that. Getting vets on board, let alone changing "laws" will be a slower road.
Had this happen with a young new vet in December. Just wanted blood work up for my 2 elderly dogs one with cushings. I said no we are not vaccinating...stand your ground....who cares if she got upset
I voted with my wallet recently when my vet was going to charge me $600+ to spay my cat. Went to a "low cost" clinic and it was less than $100. They were very professional and she recovered just fine. These are criminals preying upon unsuspecting customers.
My rule-following friend (she's proud of that identity) recently got a note from her town office reminding her that it was time again (annually) to re-register her dogs with the town office. That meant paying a small fee and obtaining a licensing dog tag--something she could only do after showing proof of getting yet ANOTHER rabies shot for her two dogs.
She complied, no questions asked.
What she didn't take into account is that there is NO need to register her dogs or to seek re-vaccination for the animals. Why? Because they NEVER go outside except to empty their bowels in a small fenced yard. They don't go on walks (poor things) or ever venture past the enclosure. They are a NOT a threat to anyone or anything.
But my rule-following friend didn't question the illogic of reregistering or revaccinating. She believes that "rules are made for a reason" and that's reason enough for her.
Needless to say, my respect for her continues to decrease. She's the same owner who feeds her dogs the SAME kibble day in and day out--with no other alternatives. She figures the dog food manufacturers must know what they're doing (they're doing good, she thinks!) and that they have her dogs' best interest in mind. She's the same friend who's been Covid vaccinated at least 3 times.
There's just no getting around it: she nuts. And because of that, I feel wholly sorry for her animals. At this point, I have no desire to be in her company. She's outsourced her brain to Big Pharma, Big Vet, and Big (though small, local) Government.
You are so right big pharma are only interested in money from the vets,not your wee🐕👏👏👏🐦🦊 animals.They will live longer,and they have an immune system to.
The only route I know would be to study homeopathy (the chronic prescribing part, so critical but so time consuming to teach/learn) for humans, and then quietly let it be known that animals are your prime interest. You may not be able to advertise for animal care, depending on the state. Most vet orgs have strict rules against "laymen" practicing on animals.
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! ❤
Unbelievable behavior, and in an ER setting as well! Glad you stood your ground!
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!
Thanks for this excellent essay. While our vet is fairly “mainstream”, he knows our concerns about vaccination. So I was quite relieved when at our recent wellness check for our 14+ yo dog, he said he couldn’t see any reason to give him his rabies vaccine. Every vet needs a conspiracy theorist client like me😂
This is a thinking vet! YEAH. I'd let all your friends in the area, dog park meetings, anyone in earshot with a dog that this guy deserves more business. Just as valuable to reward good behavior like this as it is to fire those who lack common sense and the ability to think outside the box.
Yes! I will say that I think some vets (and doctors) have had an awakening these past few years, while others have further entrenched themselves. As you say, it’s wise to shop around before committing to a vet!
Funny, this is exactly how I feel about medical doctors for humans as well!
Great nutrition is the foundation of good health. Learn about that and practice it and you will find your pets need a vet very little. There are many remedies and herbs that are useful for pets as well and their humans!
Books galore to help you learn although there is nothing quite like Dr Falconers wisdom.
Like vets, human doctors get so little real nutritional education! So backwards and we need to support ALL types of doctors who DO.
I have a 17yr old cat that lives indoors. I notified my vet that we are no longer doing vaccines a few years back. He understood but then said you should at least do rabies to protect yourself. (My naive self of four years ago probably would've went along with it.) I thought what scam artists! This cat has been inside for years wth is he going to get rabies from? After subjected him to this nonsense for years I'm lucky he's still around.
I’ve heard this one: “Well, a rabid bat could fly down your chimney, and bite your cat!”
Come on!!!! 🤣
I’m pleased that you have this Substack, Will. Thanks!
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rabies-vaccine-challenge-fund-results/#ROADBLOCKS
Hello Dr. Falconer and fellow Vital Animal Packers,
This is a link to the summary of findings from the multi-year Rabies Vaccine Challenge. It's very interesting reading and I would love to hear Dr. F's reaction. The number of subject dogs was relatively small (you'll understand when you read what they were up against 😥) but it seems clear that the IMRAB-TF 3-year Merck vaccine was still highly effective at about 6.5 years (80%), but it waned significantly after 7 years (50%), and by 8 years its effectiveness was only 20%. Still lots of unknowns and variables, and the need for more research is clear. What will it take for the guidelines to be relaxed to dosing 6 years vs 3, and for the titre test levels to be found that would reliably allow for complete revaccination exemption??
I think the key is, if titers have fallen, specifically for rabies, did those animals still withstand challenge with the live virus? Not sure they studied that, though Schultz has long recognized the memory B cells as lasting a lifetime, able to raise a titer rapidly when needed.
As their study design was intracranial challenge, I'm not sure that's enough of a mimic of Nature to be a fair measure of immunity.
The biggest value to their work, it seems to me, was showing efficacy lasts probably at least twice the 3 year mark, so owners can take comfort in that. Getting vets on board, let alone changing "laws" will be a slower road.
Had this happen with a young new vet in December. Just wanted blood work up for my 2 elderly dogs one with cushings. I said no we are not vaccinating...stand your ground....who cares if she got upset
I voted with my wallet recently when my vet was going to charge me $600+ to spay my cat. Went to a "low cost" clinic and it was less than $100. They were very professional and she recovered just fine. These are criminals preying upon unsuspecting customers.
Thank you for this important, empowering article!
My rule-following friend (she's proud of that identity) recently got a note from her town office reminding her that it was time again (annually) to re-register her dogs with the town office. That meant paying a small fee and obtaining a licensing dog tag--something she could only do after showing proof of getting yet ANOTHER rabies shot for her two dogs.
She complied, no questions asked.
What she didn't take into account is that there is NO need to register her dogs or to seek re-vaccination for the animals. Why? Because they NEVER go outside except to empty their bowels in a small fenced yard. They don't go on walks (poor things) or ever venture past the enclosure. They are a NOT a threat to anyone or anything.
But my rule-following friend didn't question the illogic of reregistering or revaccinating. She believes that "rules are made for a reason" and that's reason enough for her.
Needless to say, my respect for her continues to decrease. She's the same owner who feeds her dogs the SAME kibble day in and day out--with no other alternatives. She figures the dog food manufacturers must know what they're doing (they're doing good, she thinks!) and that they have her dogs' best interest in mind. She's the same friend who's been Covid vaccinated at least 3 times.
There's just no getting around it: she nuts. And because of that, I feel wholly sorry for her animals. At this point, I have no desire to be in her company. She's outsourced her brain to Big Pharma, Big Vet, and Big (though small, local) Government.
This makes me sad. Have patience and educate graciously when the opportunity presents itself.
Hi Will. In view of your experiences in Hawaii, and your experiences with big pharma, you might want to connect with A Midwestern Doctor. Maybe collaborate on a podcast or video .. https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/lahaina-updates-and-mauis-battle
I’ve read him but wasn’t aware of a Maui connection. Interestingly, we’re both Midwesterners.
You are so right big pharma are only interested in money from the vets,not your wee🐕👏👏👏🐦🦊 animals.They will live longer,and they have an immune system to.
The only route I know would be to study homeopathy (the chronic prescribing part, so critical but so time consuming to teach/learn) for humans, and then quietly let it be known that animals are your prime interest. You may not be able to advertise for animal care, depending on the state. Most vet orgs have strict rules against "laymen" practicing on animals.