If your Veterinarian recommends a pet feed…

The idea of a “conversation” about PF with a Vet needs to be put into context.

Here’s what Vets do. They treat specific ailments and the not even with a guarantee the pet will be cured (just our trust). We don’t sign any contract with them for guaranteed services. Treatments are based on rates (demonstrated cases) of (probable) success. Lawsuits are based on whether more harm than good was done to a pet based on proven carelessness or neglect. So except for vaccinations (some would consider prevention) Vets aren’t responsible for keeping a pet well (or even in superior health) because they have no control over what happens outside of the clinic. They have no control over the PFI either. They are as much a consumer-victim as is every other pet owner. They just buy wholesale from suppliers and not retail. In fact a Vet can only answer a question about diet with two possibilities: (One) feed anything safe or (Two) feed one of the 4 recommended brands. For a Vet to be suggesting (specific) PF does step beyond their “mission statement” as a profession. Otherwise they might as well be counseling an owner against all kinds of potentially hazardous situations, like poisonous substances, or dangerous devices like “retractable leashes” … and on it goes.

Just as treatments are guided by studies and statistics, the 4 recommended brands (Purina, Mars, Hills & Royal Canin) were selected (not only because of financial incentives) but because there is no objective third party testing or evaluation done among all possible PF products. So the entire marketplace of PF can’t even be ranked across the board. Instead, Vets are assuming that feeding trials done by the 4 brands are at least “something” rather than nothing at all. Having a PF discussion with a Vet slides further downhill, being there are no long term (objective) scientific studies demonstrating the superior wellness of pets who eat raw or homemade diets, compared to commercial PF. In terms of the statistic that approximately 50% of pets are likely to die of cancer, who or how has that fact been correlated with brand name PF – is what the Vet will push back and ask.

Recommending a homemade PF diet to just any or every client without understanding the owner’s level of competence, commitment and the requirements of the individual pet – is taking a chance. Doing so through a professional (animal) nutritionist is expensive. Baselines are difficult to manage. And if a pet’s lab profile is off, then that owner will question the Vet. When pet owners decide to feed homemade, generally it’s a (defensive) move to avoid substandard, rendered, spoiled ingredients (garbage) and choose food that is not. This is the biggest issue in terms of convincing (or at least informing) Vets about the critical difference between pet “feed” and “food.” We do not own “small animal livestock” we care for specialized (domesticated) dogs and cats for the sake of companionship! (Emotional welfare if you will). And to that purpose those pets share our life on a par with our human family so we require long term quality of life for them!

If we’re going to have any dialogue with Vets it should be this. That Vets need to DEMAND of the Big 4 Suppliers, that if they are promoting their products they must be accompanied by premium pet FOOD too. (First) the commercial product is needed, (second) the testing to prove that it is, (third) earning a Veterinarian recommendation, and (fourth) demonstrating that there is a marketplace for assurances in PF!

I suggest that Vets should receive the TAPF Newsletter, to keep them informed, provide access archived background, which would make having a conversation about PF with their clients easier, and to demonstrate the real need for Pet FOOD (not feed).

This could be done through obtaining a database of email addresses for Vets nationwide.

Great! Very helpful, thank you. Although, I’d change “no kibbles are made under USDA inspection”, to “very few kibbles are” – to be accurate. And that only helps to ensure quality – that says nothing of whether my pet is receiving metabolizable nutrition!

This certainly explains what I’ve experienced the last couple of days. My approximately 4 year old male cat had crystals and a urethral obstruction that required emergency treatment at our regular vet, which is also a 24/7/365 emergency vet clinic. The vet who did the surgery mentioned dietary changes but didn’t state a specific food at first. The next morning, the vet who called me to give me the morning update proceeded to very firmly inform me that Spotty would have to eat the Royal Canin urinary SO food and no other food or treats for the rest of his life. I researched it, saw immediately that it is crap and insanely overpriced and knew that would not be happening. I tried discussing better (READ: Non-Prescription) diet options with the vet who examined and diagnosed Spot and with the morning phone update vet. It was like phone calls with telemarketers who won’t take no for an answer. Both of these vets refused to even acknowledge that there are other options and insisted that if I don’t feed Spot that food and only that food he will get obstructions over and over for the rest of his life and be constantly needing surgery and hospitalization. Spot’s written discharge instructions also state, “The MOST important aspect for Spotty’s future care includes switching him to a prescription diet FOREVER. He must not be allowed to eat any other cat food, no treats that are not prescription and no people food.” And the first sentence is even highlighted for extra emphasis.

This whole thing is organized, pre-planned bullying. And the biggest victims are our innocent pets. It should be forbidden, and vets who do this should lose their licenses. I will be finding a new regular vet clinic for Spot, that’s for sure.