Vet practitioners and corporations clash over pet health as rabies risks and commercial control spark outcry
By willowt // 2025-06-26
Copy
 
  • Veterinarians warn rabies vaccines cause severe harm, including cancer, seizures and behavioral changes in pets.
  • Private equity firms like JAB and Mars control thousands of U.S. veterinary clinics, raising concerns about profit-driven care.
  • Mandatory annual rabies shots persist despite studies showing long-term immunity, with potential link to chronic diseases.
  • Over-vaccination risks escalate as corporate practices push more services to boost profits.
  • Advocates demand titer testing, legislative reforms and consumer vigilance to protect pets.
A growing chorus of veterinarians, researchers and pet owners is sounding the alarm over mounting risks tied to rabies vaccinations and the rapid consolidation of the veterinary industry by private equity firms. Experts warn that outdated vaccine mandates, profit motives and corporate consolidation are exacerbating health crises among pets, from autoimmune disorders to potentially fatal reactions.

Rabies vaccinations: A public health crossroads

Dr. Marcie Fallek, a holistic veterinarian and critic of conventional practices, asserts that vaccines — particularly the rabies shot — are harming pets at alarming rates. “Over 70% of what I treat is vaccine injury, and the rabies vaccine is among the worst,” she told Stateline. Fallek argues that the one-size-fits-all dosing regimen, where a 3-pound Chihuahua receives the same injection as a 150-pound Mastiff, floods small animals’ systems with neurotoxic aluminum and adjuvants, triggering severe side effects. Patricia Jordan, DVM, a leading advocate for pet health, lists 65 documented ways rabies vaccines harm pets, ranging from immediate allergic shock to chronic autoimmune diseases. Conditions like fibrosarcomas (cancerous tumors at injection sites), epilepsy and behavioral abnormalities — such as uncontrollable aggression and obsessive tail-chasing — often arise months or years after vaccination. Despite studies showing rabies vaccines confer immunity for up to seven years, most states mandate annual or triennial shots, with some clinics overprescribing for profit. Dr. Fallek links modern pet diseases to corporate greed. “Big Pharma has manipulated vaccination schedules to push revenue-driven timelines. We’re giving dogs four or more shots in a single visit, knowing this creates systemic inflammation,” she said.

Critics fear lower standards, higher costs

The veterinary industry’s corporate takeover has intensified backlash. Private equity-owned chains, such as National Veterinary Associates (JAB Consumer Partners) and Banfield Pet Hospitals (Mars, Incorporated), now dominate much of U.S. pet care. Critics allege these firms prioritize shareholder returns over animal welfare, citing pressures to maximize revenue per patient. Melissa Ezell, a Huntsville, Alabama, veterinarian, described drastic changes after her clinic was acquired by JAB in 2020. “Managers demanded higher daily profit targets. Pets underwent unnecessary tests or procedures, and staff were pushed to work exhausted shifts,” she said. In 2023, she left the chain for a privately owned practice. Mars, the global candy giant behind brands like M&Ms, owns 3,000 U.S. veterinary clinics and 50% of pet food market share, raising concerns over conflicts of interest. Dr. Fallek accuses Mars of using its food divisions to sell overpriced, grain-heavy diets that inflame existing vaccine-induced health issues. Private equity’s clout has also fueled clinic closures. In 2023, Thrive Pet Healthcare (TSG Consumer Partners) shut Rochester, New York’s sole 24/7 emergency clinic following staff unionization attempts. Advocates argue mergers stifle competition, hiking prices while slashing access to specialized care.

A path forward: Titer tests, transparency and advocacy

Experts urge reforms to align pet care with medical science rather than profit. Dr. Fallek and others advocate for mandatory blood titer tests, which determine existing rabies immunity and could reduce unwarranted shots. Currently, only a few states accept titer results to bypass vaccination. “We know rabies immunity lasts years — mandating shots every three years is outdated,” said Dr. Jordan. She and Dr. Fallek also call for independent oversight of vaccine safety studies and lobby against corporate influence in regulatory decisions. Consumers can mitigate risks by choosing holistic practices, avoiding over-vaccination and selecting species-appropriate diets. “Vets should be healers, not salespeople,” said Ezell. “Let’s return to the principles of caring for pets’ lifelong well-being—not just a receipt every six months.”

The perfect storm for pet health

Post-pandemic pet ownership surges and a $147 billion pet industry have drawn private equity firms and corporate giants like Blackstone, which recently acquired dog-walking platform Rover.com. Simultaneously, advancements in vaccine research have lagged behind hardline mandates. Meanwhile, the FDA’s failure to require routine neurotoxin labeling in animal and human vaccines continues to stoke fears. The FTC’s recent targeting of JAB’s anticompetitive mergers in veterinary chains highlights growing regulatory scrutiny, but advocates say more state-level laws restricting corporate ownership — like those in New York and Iowa — are needed to safeguard pets and practitioners.

A battle for trust and transparency

As pets become more integral to American households, the debate over their health hinges on ethics and evidence. While vocal veterinarians and data from holistic medicine spotlight risks of over-vaccination, corporate consolidations risk reshaping care to favor profits over compassion. For now, advocacy, vigilance and science remain the best weapons against a system increasingly tilted toward the boardroom—and away from the animal. Sources for this article include: X.com DogsNaturallyMagazine.com Stateline.org
Copy