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[matt819]

40. The issue goes beyond homeopathy

Hey, FirstLight, bet you didn't expect the outrage from the anti-homeopathy crowd.

I'm not going to touch the issue of the homeopathy.

First of all, this move will not affect anything, anyone, anywhere. Most vets operate conventional practices, and won't even consider homeopathic remedies. And for vets who do recommend homeopathic remedies - there's one in my town - you can just head on over to the nearest health food store or online and buy what's recommended. I suppose the vets who do believe in these remedies are free to offer them directly, though it may affect their membership in this group, or even their certification as vets. That'll be their decision.

So, take a deep breath. You won't be affected by this.

The larger issue, from my perspective, is vets offering conventional medication at all. I usually take what's recommended, pay the price, and move on. In fact, I'm heading over the vet right now for stuff for my 18-year-old dog. But I suspect that if I were to check online, I'd find the prices were cheaper. When I suggested this once to my vet, she said that "you can't really be sure about the legitimacy of these drugs or their sell-by dates." Well, gosh, I said, I'm glad you mentioned that. Frankly, that's a lot easier than making a fuss and risking a decade-long relationship with this practice with almost a dozen creatures. But I know - I just know - that I'm paying more than I should if I could buy online or, for that matter, from the local CVS.

In other words, this is nothing more than a play to protect its members' bottom lines. Sure, there may be some legitimate concerns about homeopathic or other alternative remedies, but this is, above all, about money.