OUTSIDE of my trip to the veterinarian with Piper to get a fatty lump checked I haven't been to the vet with my dogs for a number of years.
I don't do regular yearly check-ups, mainly because I am quite confident in my degree of knowledge regarding canine health care. I don't fall into the hypochondriac category with my own health and run to
my doctor for every ache, pain or runny nose and that carries over toward my dogs as well.
I also don't vaccinate my dogs yearly (yes, that is a can of worms you just heard being opened). In fact, they haven't been vaccinated since they were puppies. Again, this is my choice as a result of research and information I have gathered regarding yearly vaccinations for our dogs.
Now before people (veterinarians) start getting hot under the collar regarding this last statement, I am not advocating that people no longer vaccinate their dogs. I am simply stating that it is a personal choice that I have made after nearly 20 years of research on the subject. I have come to the conclusion that yearly vaccinations are not in the best interest of my dogs' health because of my personal view of health care.
For the most part, annual veterinary visits are an essential part of maintaining your dog's overall health, especially if you know as much about your dog's health as you do about the time space continuum of a solar starburst. (I don't really know if there is such a thing. I just made it up. But you get my drift.)
Annual veterinary care allows a veterinarian to gauge your dog's overall health from year to year and catch small problems before they turn into big ones.
I find yearly veterinary visits impractical when they are simply used as a way to get a dog into the clinic to vaccinate it - again - as well as promote a variety of treatments such as flea repellents, heart worm medication, parasite control or a select brand of dog food.
In the Dec. 5 issue of the online Natural Dogs Magazine, the topic of annual veterinary visits was presented and the holistic and naturopathic veterinarians contributing to the article seemed to agree that it is unnecessary.
"We can conclude with a great deal of confidence that if the annual veterinary visit results in revaccination and toxic chemicals for heartworms, fleas and intestinal worms, it is certainly not going to benefit the health of your dog," states the article.
Veterinarian Patricia Jordan went on to say, "If the primary reason for that 'postcard' is to come in and get vaccinations, which is primarily what does go on, vaccinations that are unsafe and unnecessary will lead to vaccine-induced diseases which vets then treat with drugs for the dysfunctional or dysregulated immune system they made with the unsafe and unnecessary vaccines! The vets make even more disease, giving even more vaccines, and selling even more synthetic chemicals (drugs) and toxic drugs and chemicals for topical application."
What they are saying is dogs that annually go to the veterinarian for this 'routine' form of canine health care will find themselves going to the veterinarian more often.
Wow - I'm glad I am just the messenger of that statement!
Regardless of the controversy, the primary issue is whether there is any value in an annual veterinary exam. The answer to this question really depends on the dog and the owner. Given the fact that veterinary visits are not inexpensive, some owners may not have the money available for annual exams, especially when they include expensive treatments which may not be necessary.
The time spent at an annual vet exam may be put to better use by the owner learning how to proactively care for their dog's health as they age and ways to improve their dog's overall well being such as learning about supplements or spending any extra money on better quality food.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com
