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The Daily Mail yesterday published a 'shocking exposé' which portrays the veterinary profession as one that 'puts pets through painful and unnecessary treatments to fleece their trusting owners'
The story is based on an interview with ex-vet Matthew Watkinson to promote his new book: 'On The Destiny Of Species'.
In the interview, Mr Watkinson claims the veterinary profession is to blame for much of the animal suffering in the UK, and that 'money - not the welfare of the animal - is often at the forefront of the vet's mind'.
In the interview, Mr Watkinson
The RCVS issued a swift response, which you can read here.
Later in the day, Mr Watkinson appeared on Radio 5 Live opposite ex BVA President, Nicky Paull. The interview can be heard for the next 6 days on BBC iplayer here.
It is not yet clear the degree to which the Daily Mail might have sensationalised Mr Watkinson's interview. In his blog, he claims it did, but defiantly defends his main argument that the profession is fighting natural selection, and thereby harming animal welfare.
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He must be speaking from personal experience, because no one I know has ever done that.
Aww thats how we should be doing it, we can give up hacking animals open for no good reason now!
Thank you for giving the clients faith in us Mr Watkinson.
Does anyone actually have time to google every clients address before they come in?? Surely we have better things to be doing ..... treating animals for example!
I am shocked! Matthew was a one of my tutors last year at college! He only lasted a few months though and as far as I am aware, he was 'advised to resign' due to issues he had with the welfare of the farm animals at the college. I actually had a lot of respect for him then but this has totally changed my opinion of him!
wonder if the RCVS have seen that?
not as innocent as he makes out is he??
Sal, I have just clicked on your link, OMG!!! his ace in the pack would be the controversy regarding vets!!!
Not to make a big issue of it but should they even be publishing such a story if the write up on line has a grammatical error? makes them look abit silly. I agrees with the comments from other members above and really think that some people should look at the what will happen to others before trying to beef themselves up to sell a book.
www.bubblecow.co.uk/.../would-you-sack-your-agent-to-self-publish
Daily Mail are no angels but I get the feeling most of the hype in the article was generated by non other than Mr Watkinson - as I have written elsewhere 5 years to qualify and another 8 in practice - so it took him a whole 13 years to take the moral high ground. Presumably he is now living on the proceeds of his life as a veterinary surgeon so wasnt averse to making a profit from the pet owning public when he was in practice?
As a QuaIified and Registered Veterinary Nurse, I have never seen clinical decisions influenced by financial gain in the veterinary practice. Owners are advised of the options, regardless of cost and the owner will then make an informed decision.
With regards to the cost of booster vaccinations, I wish we could get vaccines for "pence" however they are not as cheap as this and the fee includes a full clinical examination to check for abnormalities and to discover the 'normal' for certain patients, so that should a problem occur we have records of previous visits.
Veterinary Medication may be available cheaper online, but this is due to bulk stock being purchased, I'm sure your local corner shop is more expensive than Tesco's or Asda?
Sadly, there are bad apples in every profession, but that does not give anyone the right to tar every vet with the same brush.
I think it's interesting that the author has a book to sell, nice timing of such an article...