Articles

I Annoyed Big Pharma

Last updated on December 5, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 53 Comments

And Now They’re Playing Dirty

Hacked! When I first wrote about this very popular drug that shuts down part of your dog’s immune system, Apoquel had already been on the market for several months. It was actually scarce, as demand exceeded supply, and people were buying any size they could and either cutting the tablets or adding tablets together to make it fit their individual dog.

And oh! The promise: stopped itching within hours!

It was expensive, prescription-only and, as I shortly came to find out, quite dangerous.

Hence my post, which I titled Apoquel:Dog Miracle Drug with a Dark Side

That article pretty quickly climbed to the top of the search results for people looking to find more information by typing Apoquel into their Google search field. In fact, the only pieces that ranked higher (and therefore showed higher on the first page of results) were the propaganda pieces put out by the makers of Apoquel, the multi-billion dollar Big Pharma corp Zoetis, who had recently gobbled up Pfizer, the drug’s original designer.

That’s When My Website Went Dark

[Read more…] about I Annoyed Big Pharma

WHY is My Animal Sick? ASK!

Last updated on December 5, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 26 Comments

Don’t Settle for a “Diagnosis”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been noticing a ton of allergy testing services out there for your pets. In fact, this article is prompted by a “case report” from NutriScan, a service that tests your dog’s or cat’s saliva to learn about what food sensitivities could be causing him to have itchiness or other immune problems.

An email came with the enticing subject line: “NutriScan case study: It was not a cinch.”

What was the tough problem that must have surely been “solved?”

A young Aussie Shepherd named Cinch had been through the vet gamut, trying to fix his “severe diarrhea” which started at 18 months of age. He’s now 2.5 years old.

[My mind is now engaged: WHY does a young dog have severe diarrhea for a year? Isn’t that odd? How many dogs his age do you know who’ve been battling diarrhea for a year?] [Read more…] about WHY is My Animal Sick? ASK!

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 August 18, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 246 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 November 24, 2019 By Will Falconer, DVM 514 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.