Articles

Duration of Immunity and Rabies Vaccination

Last updated on February 20, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 219 Comments

Understand This Well and Avoid This Disease

This heartbreaking story comes from a Vital Animal Pack member:

My lab mix, 12 yesterday, developed laryngeal paralysis and the resulting hind quarter weakness and lameness over the last 2 years… I believe the rabies vaccines may be a contributing factor… my county requires yearly vacs although Texas A&M recommends every 3 years (which more aligns with the period the vaccine is supposed to be “good” for).” [Ed: emphasis mine.]

…because we travelled I felt at least the rabies had to be kept current…The last was in 2012..and sadly he is not mobile to travel and is now dragging his hind end.”

[Update] Apoquel: Dog Miracle Drug With a Dark Side

Last updated on March 24, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 467 Comments

Part One: A New Wonder Drug for Itchy Dogs?

When you have a crazily itchy dog or cat, everybody suffers. Patients in this state often keep you up at night and drive you crazy during the day dealing with the mad itch.

Scratching, biting, losing hair, skin red and inflamed, these guys often stink, ooze sticky moisture from their skin, and many can’t get comfortable long enough to take a decent nap, let alone sleep the night through.

Talk about a pain for you and your loved ones!

At the base of wildly itchy animals is the immune system, which is working overtime, but malfunctioning.

“Dysregulated” is a term used in the scientific papers.

(We have to insert a wink here because immune system dysregulation is entirely a manmade disease. More on that later.)

Interestingly, most look right past that important manmade point and seek to “fix” the itchy beast with powerful drugs.

Enter the latest anti-inflammatory drug to make a splash in the veterinary market: Apoquel (oclacitinib).

And lest you think I’m recommending it, you’ll want to read on for the details about why an abundance of caution is recommended before you plunk down your hard-earned money and start your dog down a potentially dangerous path.

On The Importance of Thinking Different

Last updated on October 7, 2018 By Will Falconer, DVM 9 Comments

The Value of Making a Ruckus

Thinking different isn’t always easy. But it can be ever so valuable.

A personal story surfaced recently in the midst of opening a course to new students. The memories helped me to remember that, when the going is a bit rocky, the ground is set for change that can have a wide positive impact.

And, we have a choice: to shake things up, challenge the status quo, or keep our mouths shut and stay within the established norm.

I’ll relate my 11th hour mind shift in a bit, to see if perhaps you’ll be inspired to shift your own mind. My 180 turned out to have saved a whole lot of suffering and expense for pets and their people, though I had no idea till years later.

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of human kind as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing at all.

— Helen Keller [Read more…] about On The Importance of Thinking Different

Itchy Skin Update: Still #1 Dog Disease

Last updated on September 2, 2018 By Will Falconer, DVM 79 Comments

Summer’s Here. Itchy Skin Ramps Up (Again).

Itchy skin prompted the most visits of dogs to veterinarians in 2012 and again in 2017.

The 2012 count was true for the prior decade so, as of 2018, this man-made disease has been your most common plague for over 15 years!

The more recent data from Pets Best Insurance add to the “surprising” news from DVM magazine five years earlier.

[Updated] Are You Making These 7 Dangerous Mistakes With Titers?

Last updated on January 28, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 104 Comments

Use Titer Testing Wisely. Save Money and Serious Illness

Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m worried about your understanding of titer testing. There have been a whole lot of comments on Facebook and elsewhere where I’m seeing I need to help you get more clarity.

Clearly, you are interested in this idea. Bravo!

But you really need to be smart about this if titers are going to serve you.

Misunderstanding them could cost you money.

Or worse: your animal’s health. That’s what brings me here. [Read more…] about [Updated] Are You Making These 7 Dangerous Mistakes With Titers?

Understand This Well and Avoid This Disease

Part One: A New Wonder Drug for Itchy Dogs?

The Value of Making a Ruckus

Summer’s Here. Itchy Skin Ramps Up (Again).

Use Titer Testing Wisely. Save Money and Serious Illness

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