There’s definitely resistance to and attacks on pet vaccination among the antivax crowd. An article on one of the prominent woo sites (Mercola) includes the claim that puppies get autism from vaccines, and that unspecified major “behavioral changes” occur within months of pets being immunized (not sure how these unspecified changes occurring months later can be blamed on vaccines, but similar “logic” is applied to changes in humans).
I’ve also seen resistance to what rational people would think essential - rabies vaccine (when it comes to rabies shots for humans exposed to a possibly or definitely rabid animal, I’ve yet to see an antivaxer say they’d refuse the shot - but they do engage in semantic dodging (terming rabies vaccine prophylaxis a “treatment”, not a vaccine).
There’s a surprising (and depressing) number of “holistic” vets who inflict homeopathy, chiropractic etc. on pets, so there’s money to be made from gullible pet owners. Some vets advocate homeopathic vaccines, so you can protect your beasts with expensive holy water.
Sorry for the hijack, but if you have a dog that you train or compete in athletic events, like flyball or agility, or the protection sports, the same kinds of injuries affect them as do human athletes. Some people are seriously competitive, and keeping their dogs in top physical shape and pain and injury free are important.
I’ve never been to a chiropractor, but when he was injured, my dog went.
and why yearly physical exams? It’s been known for decades that yearly “wellness exams” for asymptomatic people do not improve their health. Can’t think of any reason why this wouldn’t apply to dogs and cats as well.
I knew a guy who was a pet therapist (he also did therapy WITH pets, like taking them to retirement homes, and he trained companion animals for people with PTSD), but he did actual therapy for pets, which sounded like such bullshit, until I had a discussion with him about it. He would go to someone’s house where a pet was having a behavior problem, like peeing on the rug, figure out what fucked thing the owner was doing to cause it, and then explain to the person that their pet was “special,” and needed its litter box changed twice a week, because it was “special,” unlike most cats who really could go three months between litter changes, and wasn’t this owner wonderful for taking on the needs of a special animal.
I mean, if you tell them they’re an ignorant asshole, and anybody with an ounce of sense knows you can’t let a litter box go for months, and can’t they effing smell that? That just makes them more determined to continue their fucked behavior, and not want to pay Sean. When he strokes their ego, and calls them wonderful, they go to work taking care of their special needs pet, basking in the glow of their fake halo. And tell all their friends to hire Sean.
Yeah, it was a little bit of a scam, but not the scam it seems at first blush, and animals did genuinely benefit. I didn’t personally have a problem with him making a living tricking jerks into caring for their pets properly.
What nearwildheaven said, especially as they get older. Plus, in the case of bloodwork (if done, I think this is more recommended for older dogs and cats), it can help establish a baseline for the animal as well as early detection of some issues (diabetes, renal disease, liver disease). Also remember that a veterinarian is a one-in-all doctor. I may not go to an internist, but I do check my vision and go clean my teeth annually (and if my teeth, sometimes twice a year, depending on insurance). A physical exam would also allow the vet to look at the eyes and check the mouth, offer treatment, and counsel before issues get more serious (overweight for example).
Also animals tend to hide their health better than people. They may have something going on, and won’t show clinical signs until later. Unlike humans, they cannot say what is wrong with them (hence clinical signs instead of symptoms). So even if they look OK in the outside, they may have something simmering that could require intervention, or at least early management. Detecting those could improve the quality and quantity of life.
Where I live they can take your dog away from you if you don’t have your dog licensed and the basic vaccinations. It’s kind of funny that the law is stricter about dogs than children.
My dog has autism. He is almost completely nonverbal. The only word he knows how to say is “woof,” and he repeats it loudly and incessantly. I think he is self-stimming. He can’t read, and can only understand simple, monosyllabic instructions. I’m not sure he’ll ever be able to care for himself… He can’t operate a can opener or a faucet, and really hates taking baths.
He also gets really irritated whenever he encounters something “new” to him, like a cat. When a cat shows up, he just has one of his autistic meltdowns and runs around shouting, “Woof! Woof!”
Cats must all be autistic, too. They love to stuff themselves into tiny cardboard boxes and other right quarters, which are obviously ersatz hug machines.
I’d actually heard that quote years ago and thought it was hysterical (I have a kid with autism and the humor was especially welcome).
I know nothing about antivaxxers and pet immunizations, but it wouldn’t surprise me. There’s quite an industry of vegetarians denying their cats / dogs meat based on their own principles :rolleyes: - which isn’t idea for Fido but could be downright tragic for Mister Whiskerpoo :(.
