[107barney]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I greatly agree in part with what you are saying, and I understand your thought process. I usually don't like trying new medicines until they have been fully investigated and tested. I am using Nexgard now, and that was tough for me, because it hasn't been out for a while. I like to look at long term therapies to see side-effects and long-term efficacy of a treatment. I would not consider myself paranoid in any way , and I'm generally very trusting--maybe too trusting--, but I have been told of instances where the drug companies have paid off the FDA to keep side effects hushed up. It might be only one instance, but who really know? I know that sounds crazy, but it was told to me by a well respected pathologist. Some of these Chinese herbal remedies have been around 5000 years.

Bottom line, I really try trust my vet; I really love him. He's kind to animals, really gets down to connect to animals, and he treats them with dignity. With one of my Rainbow Bridge babies, Kiwi, we went to see him every six weeks. She ran in to see him smiling. I met so many people there whose animals were helped. Herbs or any medicine were never pushed. Since he develops the formulas himself, I feel more comfortable. This doesn't replace Western medicine; it complements it.

These kinds of "testimonials" are what draws people to engage in all kinds of "complimentary" avenues. I take issue with it because those who are perched in Westhamptom or other very wealthy communities charge a lot of money for their "approaches." I feel some border on having an ethical problem and question the morality of taking someone's money because you know they are desperate and clinging to some hope that probably no longer exists. Often times the customers are not able to afford these greatly overpriced services. I wouldn't pay a vet who mixed up a formula in his basement and wanted to give it to my dog no more than I would feed a kibble made up in someone's cement mixer out in their garage or commercial raw food made by someone's relatives. Anyway, this thread was about the uselessness of titers but I'm glad it's branching into other things that are an unaffordable waste of money that lack science.