Essentially Dogs: 8 Questions to Evaluate Your Vet

Here are 8 critical questions that a veterinarian should know the appropriate answers to. Most traditional vets won’t pass the test. This is a frightening thought which has inspired me to create this website.

Is your vet keeping up with veterinary studies and understand them as well? How knowledgeable is your vet? How progressive is your vet? Is your vet capable of providing the best care for your dog? How ethical is your vet?

How does your vet score?

Vaccines

1. What is the difference between the 1-year rabies vaccine and the 3-year rabies vaccine?

Acceptable Answer: They are identical – only the print on the label is different

Unacceptable Answers:
	I don’t know
	I think they are the same
	I need to check on that
	The amount of time they remain effective

Explanation:
The study that was initially performed for rabies occurred within the time frame of one year. Therefore, only the results for that single year could be documented. Since they conducted the testing for 3 years (as Ronald Schultz and Jean Dodds facilitated), the results indicated adequate protection. Schultz and Dodds are leaders of the Rabies Challenge Fund which paid for that now shooting for a 5-year rabies testing to prove that the antibodies survive for five years. Their aim is to carry out those studies until they cut through the red tape of the pharmaceutical companies and the regulators to establish CORRECT standards for the rabies vaccination.

2. Do you follow and practice the vaccination protocols based on Ron Schultz’s & Jean Dodds’ work?

Acceptable Answer: Yes

Unacceptable Answers:
	Any Variation of a “No” Answer
	Who are they?
	Evading the question

Explanation:
They are two scientists who are the top authorities on veterinary immunology. An ethical vet should follow those protocols. The best information comes from the top veterinary immunologists Dr. Ronald Schultz and Dr. Jean Dodds. Please read my article Are Dog Vaccines Really Safe? for critical information about vaccines. It is thanks to their research that we now have the “3 year” label on the rabies vaccines. They are working on increasing it to a “5 year” vaccine. I used quotations because the contents of the bottles are identical.

3. Do you encourage titers rather than continuing to give annual vaccinations?

Acceptable Answer: Yes

Unacceptable Answers:
	Any Variation of a “No” Answer
	No because titers don’t indicate immunity
	No because only vaccination ensures immunity
	No because it is very expensive for my patients

Explanation:

Vaccines do not guarantee 100% immunity. They merely jumpstart the immune system so that it is familiar with the illness or disease so that it could fight it if need be. In fact, over-vaccinating leads to many issues. Over-vaccinating cripples the immune system. Schultz and Dodds have found that vaccine antibodies remain effective for many years after the initial puppy shots. Vaccines only cost vets a couple of dollars, but the markup is astronomical. Not only do you need to pay for the appointment for the shots, you also need to pay for the vaccine itself. Bottom-line = profit for vets as many dogs suffer later on due to irresponsible practices. When disease result, the vets make even more money.

4. Do you use thimerosal-free (mercury-free) vaccines?

Acceptable Answer: Yes

Unacceptable Answers:
	Any Variation of a “No” Answer
	I’m not sure
	Evading the question
	All vaccines are completely safe

Explanation:

A vet should know what he/she is ordering. That should be an autopilot ordering process for them. If they do not carry any vaccines that are thimerosal-free, it is a sign that cutting corners is a priority over the health and wellbeing of the patient. Quality of care should be the priority.

To see more about vaccines read my article Are Dog Vaccines REALLY Safe. I have included a wonderful video interview of Dr. Karen Becker’s interview with Dr. Ronald Schultz.

Canine Diet & Nutrition

5. Do you believe that the ultimate form of food that is most appropriately suited for the canine species is a correctly balanced raw diet as a first option?

Acceptable Answer: Yes

Unacceptable Answers:
	Any Variation of a “No” Answer
	No – Raw diets are dangerous
	No – Salmonella can be very dangerous to your dog’s health

Explanation:
Traditional vets do not have any nutritional background. Could the reason be that those commercial food manufacturers are funding the veterinary programs? Hmmm. Dogs are not biologically designed to eat the food that people buy from the market. They are animals. They require a diet that addresses their biological needs in a form that is acceptable for their species. Dogs are carnivores which means that they primarily consume meat, bone, organs of other animals. In the wild, they eat raw. All those vitamins added to pet food are there because the “food” itself is rendered void of nutrition. Tons of supplements are required to “balance” the nutrients. Please read more about food in my article What’s REALLY in Dog Food.

With regard to salmonella, according to the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, “Surveys have disclosed that over 20% of the dogs in a population may be infected (with salmonella). Non-clinical salmonellosis occurs in most cases.” In other words, not only do many dogs have naturally occurring salmonella in their systems, but the salmonella does not affect their health. You can read my article Salmonella: What’s the Truth?

6. Do you treat pets using prescription diets from Hills or other veterinary food companies? If so, do you use products that contain ingredients sourced from China?

Acceptable Answer: No

Unacceptable Answer:
	Yes Note: The vet will likely assure you that no products are sourced from China, but the truth is not so. I called Hills and they told me that they did in fact have ingredients that were sourced from China. Either the vet is lying or never took the time to do the research. SHAME!!!

Explanation:
An alarming number of canned and dry food (including prescription food) contains ingredients sourced from China. Call the manufacturer to find out (I did). When you call the company, they are required to tell you factual information. Alarms go off when there is a list of more than 5 supplements on the dog food ingredient label. Sometimes you can count 20 or more supplements that are added. If a dog requires a prescription diet, why can’t the doctor create a diet that is biologically appropriate for the dog? So when a vet recommends food, he or she should be aware of its contents especially since China has such a bad reputation when it comes to dog products. Now basic law regarding labeling dictates that a manufacturer is required to specify the location of the manufacturing plant where the product was made. Companies are NOT required to specify the source of its ingredients. It behooves the vet to know exactly what he/she is recommending. Either the vet does not know or the vet doesn’t care to divulge such information. Either scenario is a disgrace.

Another point about prescription diets (Hills Science Diet…) is that the vets prescribing them are treating disease a method that brings a “food” source that is unnatural to the biological needs to carnivorous animals. Interestingly, research that has promoted this methodology is often flawed. Kidney disease is often treated using Hills Science Diet. That prescription diet is formulated using a tiny amount of protein. It is believed by these vets that the dramatic decrease in protein is the best treatment. The fact is that this treatment was researched using rats. Rats are not as dependent upon protein as dogs are. Rats are omnivorous NOT carnivorous. To learn more about this please read Feeding the Kidney Patient: The Low-Protein Diet Myth by Dr. William Falconer.

Personally, I have eczema. Actually, I don’t HAVE eczema. I am PRONE to eczema. At times I’ve have bad breakouts. I have been to some of the best dermatologists in New York. I have tried steroidal and non-steroidal creams and other prescriptions. Not one doctor told me that juicing veggies and taking a good probiotic supplement would prevent it and that applying coconut oil would relieve it. The juicing and probiotics made the symptoms of eczema disappear within days and attacked the problem AT THE SOURCE as opposed to making the symptoms disappear until the next breakout. The coconut oil helped to moisturize and soothe. A holistic or integrative doctor has that additional training to understand how to best treat the issue.

Education & Breadth of Knowledge

7. Have you studied veterinary nutrition or holistic therapies outside of the standard veterinary certification program?

Acceptable Answers:
	Yes
	I did further study of holistic therapies and animal nutrition.
	I am affiliated with ACAN – American Council of Animal Naturopathy
	I am affiliated with AHVMA – American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

Unacceptable Answers:
	Any Variation of a “No” Answer
	No – Nutrition is not critical to treatment
	No – Veterinary school provides adequate education in nutrition

Explanation:

Traditional veterinary programs MIGHT include a class in general nutrition. In order to study species appropriate nutrition, further study (beyond a general veterinary program) is needed. Nutrition requires training that is without the biases of those who fund veterinary programs. Most veterinary programs are funded by the enormous pet food and pharmaceutical corporations so providing extensive nutritional education would be a conflict of interest.

Ticks & Fleas

8. What type of tick and flea products do you prefer?

Acceptable Answer: We prefer to suggest pesticide-free alternatives for tick and flea prevention

Unacceptable Answer:
	We routinely suggest on-spot treatments (Frontline…), flea collars, and prescriptions

Explanation:

Ticks and fleas can be repelled without pesticides (yes… I used the word “pesticides”). The EPA defines the ingredients in those on-spot treatments as pesticides. Basically, if you need to avoid contact or wash your hands immediately, it is a sign that it is unsafe for your dog. My little Beverly (aka Bevi) had a seizure after applying one of those treatments. There are MANY dangers in on-spot, medicated collars, and prescriptions. Most traditional vets don’t know about natural tick and flea protection. They don’t have any knowledge of pesticide-free protection. To read more about ticks and fleas read my article Natural Flea & Tick Repellent.

I had an interesting experience when I accompanied a friend to see her vet. The vet wanted to give her dog a heartworm prescription to begin right away. I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut – what else is new. Here’s a little information first before I tell you what I said to the vet. Heartworm is transferred via infected mosquitos. It was a freezing January afternoon in New York when the vet said that the dog needs to begin the heartworm prescription treatment. I told the vet, “Isn’t heartworm transferred through mosquitoes that are infected?” She replied, “Yes, but it’s just a good idea to make sure.” I sarcastically responded, “It is the dead of Winter! Ain’t no mosquitoes around right now.” When my friend’s bill was ready she was called to the front desk to pay. She was given the heartworm prescription and was told that the vet wants her to start on it as soon as possible. This vet was clearly taking advantage.

Disc Education

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Essentially Dogs

Friday, April 17, 2015

8 Questions to Evaluate Your Vet

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