14/06/2023
This is sadly happening all over the country - to the point that I no longer trust an initial diagnosis.
Inspired by a tragedy that happened one of her own dogs, Linda Bach has taken it upon herself to petition the Welsh government, imploring them to slow down the corporate buy-out of independent Welsh veterinary practices. Like many of us, she's worried that overall such a move may not be in the interest of pet health.
What a legend. Some of us talk, others walk.
"This event came out of simple frustration at seeing the havoc a few private shareholder companies have reeked on our veterinary profession. From there, it has snowballed with so many passionate but despondent professionals, animal rescues and campaign groups all getting on board. It's been my privilege to give them all a platform. I am proud of my Welsh Parliament for leading the way and deeply humbled that they listened to a small voice of an ordinary broken-hearted woman".
Thankfully, there are such people out there doing such things on our behalf.
We have never fed more drugs or magic kibble and yet chronic disease in pets continues to spiral. As veterinary costs continue to spiral, pet insurance subscriptions are plummeting. The inevitable result is many pets are not going to get the care they need.
Remember how Mars Inc, the biggest purchaser of vet clinics in the world, wants to treat your dog for itch:
"Banfield’s Pet Ware manual makes for interesting reading. In one example, explaining how the software is used to prescribe treatment, the book shows a checklist of therapies for a dog with atopic dermatitis or itchy skin. Doctors are encouraged to recommend a biopsy, analgesics, topical medications, antibiotics, a therapeutic dietary supplement, an allergy diet, and a flea control package. They’re required to recommend antihistamines, shampoos, serum allergy testing, lab work, a skin diagnostic package, and anti-inflammatories. It’s a treatment course that might run $900 for symptoms that, in a best-case scenario, indicate something as prosaic as fleas. In bold print, the manual reminds doctors: “you cannot change items that were initially marked REQUIRED. They must remain REQUIRED”.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-05/when-big-business-happens-to-your-pet
Not all corporate-owned vets are bad, of course. Some allow the previous vet to stay on. After all, a profitable business is all the shareholders demand. Clearly, in light of how Mars chooses to do it, how such businesses get that money is of less importance to them.
Still, on the balance of things, please try support independent vets when and where you can or all that we'll have left is Ronald Mc Donald schools of "health".
[The image is taken from the front cover of her petition - revenue generating units. Ooohh that made me mad 🤬].
