A Veterinary Rant

Up until now, I have tried to keep my posts educational, non-opinionated, and free of controversy. But... all good things must come to an end. I need to ventilate about one of my pet peeves, breeders that think they are veterinarians.

Now, when I started practicing, I was more easily intimidated by breeders. I mean, they would say things like my breed can't do X, or my breed needs Y. They would tell the people that they sold to puppies to that they had been breeding all their lives and veterinarians don't really know anything about (fill in the blank for the breed). I was a baby vet, never mind that I had been in school for longer than most of these breeders had been in business, but it can be difficult to convince a new pet owner that the wizened old breeder that sold them Fluffy the maltipoodoodle has had no medical training and is talking out of a hole other than their mouths. So for years I would just nod and let it drop.

Now there is a new axe to grind. I have been practicing medicine for 25 years, the last 21 as a small animal veterinarian on Long Island and I know what I am talking about most of the time. If not, I refer to a specialist that will cover the rest of the time. My Ivy League education and years of experience should count for something.

That is why I am starting to loose it every time a new puppy owner comes in and tells me that their breeder said the dog can't have a leptospirosis vaccine or it will explode or something. I know that historically, this vaccine has caused more reactions than other vaccines. But hey, every vaccine that I ever got caused at least some reaction. Ever had a painless tetanus shot? Also, in our area, leptospirosis is a real problem, made worse by the wet summer that we have had. We have had several cases of lepto this year. I know dogs that have died of leptospirosis. Oh yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Breeder, it is contagious to people as well. So let's not vaccinate these dogs and let them bring a disease into the homes of these nice people that you sold this puppy to and make everyone sick. You know I only recommend these vaccines to make money anyway, or so I've been told.

So people, pick a veterinarian you trust and follow his or her recommendations. Get your information from a reliable source that has done some research, or read some research, or at least knows what they are talking about. Don't just take my word for it, here is what the CDC says about leptospirosis. They have some idea of what they are talking about, unless you think they are part of the greater government conspiracy to over vaccinate your dog. Your veterinarian is also a good source of information. They spent at least 8 years in school learning to take care of your pet and untold hours of continuing education since graduation honing their knowledge. The years that they have spent practicing have not been for naught, they actually have learned something over the years. If you don't trust your veterinarian and think that he or she is an idiot because the breeder told you so, find a different veterinarian, or a different breeder, or you will get what you deserve in the end. Unfortunately, your pet may be the one to suffer along the way.

Keith Niesenbuam, VMD
http://www.thevetschoice.com/