Dazed and Confused

by Danny Jo Seymore
(Heber Springs,Arkansas,United States)

The more I read about dog kibble the more I look for an alternative.Are we slowly killing our dogs with kibble? Kibble is so easy,just pour some in a bowl.Commercial dog and cat food in the U.S. is about a 14 billion dollar a year business. Is it true that most vets only get about 2 weeks training on nutrition? Is it true that the rich companies that manufacture dog food contribute large amounts of money to schools and vets to promote their dog food? Is it true some vets are afraid to speak against commercial dog food and to say that most vaccinations are good for life? Finally all 27 vet schools in North America are in the process of doing away with yearly boosters.Doctors Schultz and Dodd,both renowned pet vaccination experts,have been trying to get this done for 10 years or more.Sorry I got on a rant.I respect you and your opinion very much.This is not in any way talking about you or the thousands of vets that really care and love animals.I guess we are all learning more everyday new things about nutrition and vaccinations.I do know without vaccinations we would all suffer severely,but I dont think we can take the pharmacutical companies word about vaccinations without independent testing.Isnt that kinda like letting the fox guard the hen house? I will value your answers and thoughts Dr. Per. Thank you in advance.

My Comment:

Hi Danny

You are raising very important questions.

Regarding vaccinations it is kind of the same problem as during the last “swine flu epidemic” where it since has been discussed the role of WHO and there link to the vaccine industry.

Might no be a problem but it is important to have the full insight.
Otherwise, human nature is towards being skeptic if something might be wrong.

This is true for both vaccinations and dog food

My opinion regarding vaccinations is based on my personally experiences.
I have seen more Parvo and Distemper than many of my colleges in Sweden, being the result of not giving any vaccinations in a area.

Vaccinations is needed, but adjustment is always needed as well as time changes.
It is not a question of “do” or “NOT do” vaccinations.

Life is more complicated than this.

You have different vaccination needs is different populations and this is actual a science on its own.
So - as the risk of getting the disease is getting lower and lower, the vaccination regime should change as well and “less vaccination” is needed.

But, unless the disease is totally eradicated from the earth, you can not stop completely administering the vaccine. Some kind of maintenance level is needed.

Is this a fixed and static level? No. This is changing as well all the time!!

Information and education of dog owners is very important. Everybody should know WHY vaccinations are done as they are.

Dog food and dog nutrition is complex as well.

Is commercial dog food “all good” or it is “all bad” - of cause not!

One question you can ask a vet or nutritional advisor is “Why are you saying.......” and judge their answer.

Is it based on a careful mind-full decision or not?

Few people in life follow this principle and most just “follow along the crowd”

All the best

Per Schonbeck