Articles

Who’s Got the Reins?

Last updated on May 16, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 18 Comments

Your Pet’s Healthcare: A Hopeless Runaway?

When that massive chestnut horse stretched out his neck, grabbed the bit and ran full out over the hill with me, I knew I’d been bested. His added buck when we were back on level ground only added to my angry defeated state.

No one but you knows your animal as deeply as you do.

When something is wrong, you know it. You don’t need a blood test to tell you she’s off.

And no one but you is as deeply committed to keeping her healthy.

So, do you give the reins of your pet healthcare away to experts in white coats?

And fume and feel defeated when things go wrong? [Read more…] about Who’s Got the Reins?

Duration of Immunity and Rabies Vaccination

Last updated on May 2, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 224 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 472 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