Just A Vet Selling Supplements? Here’s My Honest Response
Am I Just Selling Pet Supplements?
Yes, Veterinary Secrets sells supplements.
Yes, those supplements generate money.
And yes, if you choose to buy one of our products, it financially helps our company.
That is the honest answer.
But no, I do not believe that makes the natural pet health information I share automatically false, dishonest, or only about selling products.
There is a fine line when I talk about natural remedies and also offer some of my own products. I understand why some people ask questions. I think it is fair to ask.
So let’s talk about it openly.
The concerns I keep hearing are usually these:
- “Dr. Jones only shares this information to sell supplements.”
- “He is no longer licensed, so you should not trust him.”
- “There is no scientific evidence behind these natural remedies.”
- “Holistic remedies are not proven like conventional drugs.”
These are reasonable things to discuss.
So here is my honest response.
Veterinary Secrets: Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
Why Do People Say I Am “Just Selling Supplements”?
Some people have said that because Veterinary Secrets has supplements, the information I share must mainly be about selling them.
We do have a range of products, including things like:
And yes, these products help support the business.
Veterinary Secrets is not the teeny little operation it once was.
When this started, it was basically two people:
Me and my brother Michael.
Michael is the other half of the business. He keeps things going. He is the operations person, the tech person, and the one behind much of what happens. I am the person you see on camera, sharing information and talking to pet parents.
Over the last 10 years, we have grown from a team of two to more than 10 people.
I am grateful for that.
But growth does not mean the information is suddenly fake.
It means more pet parents are looking for natural pet health options.
Do Supplements Financially Help Veterinary Secrets?
Yes.
If you buy one of our supplements, that helps us financially.
I am not going to pretend otherwise.
For example, if I talk about alternatives to conventional pain medications, such as Metacam or other NSAIDs, and I discuss CBD, and you choose to purchase our CBD, then yes, that helps us.
But I am not saying we are the only company in North America, or the world, that makes CBD.
I would still talk about CBD even if we did not have a CBD product.
Why?
Because CBD may offer a range of health benefits for dogs and cats, and many pet parents are already using it.
The choice to buy our product, buy another company’s product, or buy nothing at all is completely yours.
How Do I Decide What to Share?
When I share a product, supplement, or remedy, I want three things to be true.
| What I Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| I believe in what I am saying | I need to be comfortable standing behind the information |
| There is some basis in science or research | Even if it is not always a large gold-standard clinical trial |
| Pet parents have used it successfully | Real-world experience matters, especially with simple home remedies |
Sometimes there are studies on individual ingredients.
Sometimes there are studies on ingredient combinations.
Sometimes there are many pet parents who have used a remedy and seen it work in their own dogs and cats.
That matters to me.
Do I Only Talk About Products We Sell?
No.
This is one of the biggest reasons I do not think the “he only talks to sell supplements” argument is fair.
If you follow Veterinary Secrets on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or other social channels, you know I talk about a wide range of natural pet health topics.
Many of them have nothing to do with any product we sell.
I have discussed home remedies and alternative treatments such as:
- Propolis as a natural antibacterial
- Manuka for recurring dog ear infections
- Activated charcoal for poisoning
- Green tea and apple cider vinegar for recurring dog ear infections
- Many other kitchen remedies and home treatments
There are hundreds of remedies I have shared that do not relate to any Veterinary Secrets product.
So could someone still say, “This guy talks about natural health because he has products to sell”?
Sure.
Do I think that is a fair summary of what I do?
No, I do not.
Why Talk About Supplements at All?
Because many pet parents are looking for options.
They may have a dog with chronic pain and worry about long-term NSAID use.
They may have a cat with recurring issues.
They may have a dog with allergies, anxiety, gut problems, or mobility concerns.
Sometimes conventional medication is needed.
Sometimes a natural option may help.
Sometimes a supplement may support the body in a useful way.
And sometimes a simple home remedy is enough.
My goal is to give you information so you can make a better decision for your dog or cat.
Not to force you to buy anything.
Why Am I No Longer Licensed to Practice in a Clinic?
This is another concern that comes up.
Yes, it is true.
I am no longer licensed to practice veterinary medicine in a veterinary clinic.
But I was not forced to leave veterinary medicine.
I chose to resign.
I have talked about this many times in other videos, and there is a much longer story behind it. But the short version is this:
If I had not resigned, I would not be able to do what I do now.
I would not be able to freely share natural pet health and wellness information in this way.
Licensed practicing veterinarians in Canada work under very tight regulations. There are many rules about what can and cannot be said publicly.
That makes it very difficult to speak openly about some natural or controversial pet health topics.
Looking back, that period of my life was traumatic.
It was definitely not the best financial decision at the time.
But I am glad I did it.
Because now I can talk to you directly about natural pet health, home remedies, holistic options, and topics I could not freely discuss before.
Does Not Being Licensed Mean I Have No Experience?
No.
Leaving clinical practice does not erase years of experience.
It also does not mean I stopped caring about dogs, cats, and the people who love them.
What changed is where I practice and how I share information.
I am no longer working in a veterinary clinic.
I am sharing natural pet health education online through Veterinary Secrets.
That is different.
But it is not the same thing as having no background, no experience, or no reason to speak.
What About Scientific Evidence?
This is a fair question.
Do all holistic remedies have large, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies behind them?
No.
Many do not.
The gold standard of science is a rigorous double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
That is expensive.
It is time-consuming.
And for many natural remedies, nobody is going to fund that type of research.
Why?
Because you cannot patent green tea.
You cannot patent apple cider vinegar.
You cannot patent a simple kitchen remedy that pet parents can make at home.
Big pharmaceutical companies have little financial reason to spend huge money studying something they cannot own.
That does not automatically mean the remedy does not work.
It means the level of research may be different.
Do Some Natural Products Have Research Behind Them?
Yes.
For example, I mentioned a flea and tick collar using cedarwood oil.
Does cedarwood oil have some research behind it as a flea and tick repellent?
Yes.
Does it have the same level of gold-standard clinical trial evidence as a major pharmaceutical product?
No.
The same type of discussion can apply to other holistic products, such as:
- Colloidal silver
- Propolis
- Colostrum
- Cedarwood oil
- Green tea
- Apple cider vinegar
- CBD
- Curcumin
Some have research.
Some have ingredient-level support.
Some have real-world use from pet parents.
Not everything has the same level of proof.
That is the honest answer.
Does Lack of Large Studies Mean a Remedy Does Not Work?
No.
A lack of large clinical studies does not automatically mean something does not work.
It means we need to be honest about the level of evidence.
For many kitchen remedies, we may not have gold-standard studies.
But if I see thousands of pet parents using a remedy and reporting that it helps, I am going to talk about it.
For example, recurring dog ear infections.
Many pet parents have used green tea and apple cider vinegar and found it especially effective.
Will you see a massive drug-company-funded study on green tea and apple cider vinegar for recurring dog ear infections?
Probably not.
There is not much money in proving that a pet parent can use inexpensive kitchen ingredients.
But when I see the same remedy helping many dogs, I believe it is worth sharing.
What About 95% Curcumin for Pain Relief?
Some people say there is no research behind claims that 95% curcumin can help with pain relief in dogs or cats.
I understand the concern.
When I talk about something like 95% curcumin, I want to be fair.
I am not saying it replaces every medication.
I am not saying it is the only option.
I am not saying every dog or cat will respond the same way.
But I do believe certain natural ingredients can provide real benefits, and many pet parents are looking for safer support options, especially when conventional medications may have side effects.
Conventional Medications Have Pros and Cons Too
It is easy to criticize natural remedies for not having enough evidence.
But conventional medications also come with concerns.
For example, NSAIDs such as Metacam can help with pain, but they can also have side effects.
That does not mean they are never useful.
It means pet parents deserve to understand both sides.
A reasonable discussion should include:
- What conventional medication can do
- What side effects may happen
- What natural alternatives may help
- What evidence exists
- What real pet parents are seeing
- When veterinary care is needed
This is not about “natural good, conventional bad.”
That is too simplistic.
This is about options.
How I See the Role of Home Remedies
Home remedies can be valuable when used sensibly.
They are often:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to access
- Practical for mild issues
- Useful for early support
- Helpful when pet parents cannot immediately get care
- Worth knowing about
But they also have limits.
A home remedy is not a replacement for emergency care.
A supplement is not a magic cure.
And if your pet is seriously ill, you need professional help.
That has always been my position.
What I Believe Is Fair
I think it is fair to ask questions.
It is fair to ask:
- Does Dr. Jones sell supplements?
- Does he benefit financially?
- What evidence supports the remedy?
- Is this safe for my pet?
- Are there side effects?
- Is this condition serious enough for veterinary care?
Those are good questions.
What I do not think is fair is reducing years of education, experience, pet parent stories, and shared home remedies down to:
“He is just selling supplements.”
That is not the full picture.
What About People Making These Criticisms?
When someone makes a strong criticism, I also think it is fair to ask:
What is their motive?
Are they trying to be controversial to get attention?
Are they trying to get more followers and likes?
Are they aligned with a larger conventional company?
Are they trying to create doubt around holistic pet health voices online?
I do not know every person’s motive.
But I do think motive matters.
We are all free to choose what we watch and who we trust.
If what I share does not sit well with you, that is okay.
You do not have to watch.
But if you are interested in natural home remedies and holistic pet health, I am glad you are here.
Why I Still Share This Information
I share this information because many pet parents want it.
Many people feel they only get one option.
A medication.
A prescription food.
A procedure.
And sometimes those are needed.
But sometimes there are other ways to support your pet.
Sometimes there is a home remedy that may help.
Sometimes a supplement can be useful.
Sometimes you can reduce discomfort, support the body, or improve quality of life with simple tools.
That is why I keep sharing.
Final Thoughts
So, am I just a vet selling supplements?
No.
I am someone who shares natural pet health information, home remedies, and supplement options for pet parents who want them.
Do we sell supplements?
Yes.
Do those supplements help support Veterinary Secrets?
Yes.
Do I still talk about hundreds of remedies and options that have nothing to do with our products?
Also yes.
I chose to leave clinical veterinary practice so I could speak more freely about holistic pet health.
That choice was not easy.
It was not the best financial decision at the time.
But I am glad I made it.
And I will keep sharing what I believe can help your dogs and cats, while being honest that not every natural remedy has a gold-standard study behind it.
Sometimes we have research.
Sometimes we have ingredient science.
Sometimes we have years of clinical experience.
Sometimes we have thousands of pet parents saying, “This helped my dog.”
I think all of that matters.
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P.S. If you are skeptical, I understand.
You should ask questions.
You should think critically.
You should not buy something just because I mention it.
But please also know this:
Many of the remedies I share are simple home options that no company can patent.
Green tea.
Apple cider vinegar.
Activated charcoal.
Propolis.
Colostrum.
These are not all about selling a bottle.
They are about giving pet parents options.
And if you see me driving around in my dented RAV4, you may think, “Hmm, maybe this guy really should raise his prices.”