Dr Andrew Jones Controversy: What Really Happened and Why I Resigned
What Really Happened and Why I Chose to Walk Away
I was recently interviewed for a podcast called The Pet Disruptors, hosted by Clayton Payne. Clayton has spent decades in the pet industry and has interviewed many thoughtful people doing important work for animals.
He wanted to know my story.
How did I go from being a young farm kid who loved animals, to becoming a veterinarian, owning a veterinary practice, developing my surgical skills, and then leaving practice entirely to become what I am now: an online veterinarian sharing natural pet health information?
Fair question.
So I did what many people do now. I searched myself online.
I typed in Dr. Andrew Jones controversy and looked at what AI had summarized about my past.
Some of it was accurate.
Some of it was not.
And I think it is worth clearing up.
What AI Got Right
Yes, I was a practicing veterinarian in British Columbia.
Yes, I criticized some conventional veterinary practices.
Yes, I promoted holistic and integrative pet health care.
Yes, I published a book called Veterinary Secrets.
And yes, the College of Veterinarians of BC had serious issues with my marketing, my public communication, and the way I spoke about conventional veterinary care.
They claimed I was self-laudatory and disparaging toward other veterinarians.
That part is true.
What AI Got Wrong
One claim that came up was that I made false claims about my products.
That is not true.
There was never any finding by the Veterinary College that I made false claims about products.
And here is the obvious point: when I resigned in 2010, we did not even have products to make claims about.
What I did have was a book, newsletters, and public education about natural remedies.
I discussed things like ginger for car sickness, honey for coughs, natural allergy support, and many other remedies that I believed pet parents deserved to know about.
Apparently, that was a problem.
The Ginger Root Example
One example that still stands out to me is from my book chapter on car sickness.
I mentioned ginger root as an excellent anti-nausea herb.
The dose I discussed was 250 mg per 10 pounds of body weight daily.
Ginger for nausea.
Not exactly radical stuff.
Many of us learned that from our grandmothers.
But the College wanted scientific proof for every single statement. Their view was that I could not present that kind of information to pet parents, especially while practicing under their rules.
That became the bigger issue.
Why I Resigned
Let me be very clear.
I did not lose my license.
I was not banned from practicing.
I voluntarily resigned from the College of Veterinarians of BC.
Why?
Because I did not want to pay large fines and continue being restricted in what I could say publicly to pet parents.
I believed, and still believe, that pet parents deserve access to information about holistic and alternative options.
So yes, I chose to walk away.
But that choice came with a real cost.
I gave up my profession, my practice, and a stable income. It was not some brilliant financial move. There were some very lean years afterward.
But I felt it was the right thing to do.
The Fine That Said a Lot
The College fined me heavily for what they called professional misconduct linked to marketing and communication.
At that time, the fines I faced were larger than many given to veterinarians who had done far more serious things involving actual harm to animals.
That made me question what was really being protected.
Was it animal welfare?
Or was it the reputation of the profession?
That question stayed with me.
The 20/20 Interview
After I resigned, I was contacted by ABC’s 20/20 for a segment about veterinary care.
I was told it would be a balanced piece.
It turned out to be more of a “gotcha” news story about veterinarians overcharging and doing unnecessary tests.
I became part of that story.
And after it aired, the backlash was huge.
Thousands of angry emails. Articles in veterinary media. Plenty of people saying I was spreading misinformation.
It was not easy.
But it also showed me something.
A lot of pet parents were already feeling the same concerns I had been talking about.
Why I Still Do This
Today, I continue to share natural pet health information because I believe it helps people and animals.
I am not here to tell you never to use conventional medicine.
That would be ridiculous.
There are times when conventional veterinary care is absolutely needed.
But I also believe there are many situations where natural remedies can help, where side effects can be avoided, and where pet parents deserve to know their options.
That is what Veterinary Secrets has always been about.
About Our Products
If I recommend a product, it is because I believe in it.
I use these products with my own animals.
My cat Cassian is on Ultimate Feline. He also gets our Oral Health Probiotic Formula. He had some plaque and gingivitis starting, and since adding the formula, his mouth has improved.
He also has food allergy tendencies, and he does much better with omega-3s and quercetin.
So when I talk about these products, I am not throwing out random claims.
I am using them myself.
My Takeaway About AI Summaries
AI can be helpful, but it is not always accurate.
A short AI summary may pull from multiple sources, but it can miss context, repeat errors, or present opinion as fact.
So if you are researching your pet’s health, or even researching me, I encourage you to go deeper.
Read original sources.
Look at studies.
Ask questions.
Do not stop at a summary.
Final Thoughts
Yes, there was controversy.
Yes, I challenged conventional veterinary thinking.
Yes, I resigned from the College because I wanted to continue speaking openly to pet parents.
But no, I did not lose my license.
No, I was not found guilty of making false claims about products.
And no, I do not believe sharing natural pet health information is misinformation when it is thoughtful, honest, and grounded in experience and research.
If something I have shared has helped your dog or cat, I would love to hear about it.
That is why I still do this.
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