Is it Ethical for Veterinarians to Recommend Pet Foods?

Of course on the other side of the coin, OUR docs recommend certain medications.......and a lot of that is likely based on what drug reps tell them.  I don't remember what the issue was, or my concern, but when my doc suggested Boniva, I expressed those concerns and he decided I should use the weekly osteo med instead.  Despite whatever the drug reps told him, HE listened to my concerns and didn't push it.

I strongly believe that we must be our own health care advocates and that extends to our dogs as well.  If a vet makes a suggestion on a food, I'll have the same kind of discussion with that vet that I would with my own doctor if I had a concern about a drug.  RX foods are like meds in many ways.  I expect my vet to have as much respect for me as a thinking human being with a decent brain, as my own doctor does.

When a vet flat out insists on a specific brand, without even saying that in his/her experience it works best on said condition, my back goes up.  When I have researched and found a brand with identical properties and the vet blows me off, it upsets me.  I have the utmost respect for medical personnel, however, I expect them to respect that I too have a brain.

whtsthfrequency

Two, very few companies showed any interest in making their products available to students or established vets  (i.e. "getting the word out";). They kept to themselves and the "holistic" circle which has only recently gone mainstream. These other vets I mentioned recommend the"just fine" foods because they were taught these foods were the best and were literally not exposed to ANY others unless through their own pets or through friends.

That is such a well-phrased point that I wanted to highlight it. What doctors may have recommended 30 years ago will have changed. And this change must occur from the providers of more holistic foods getting over the "us vs. them" mentality. How can a vet know about your food if you don't contact them? I'm also going to go out on a limb and state that a number of vets may have owned animals prior to getting into this occupation. So, they may have used some foods that worked well for them and may tend to stick with that. And they may have done other research, as well, either in school or on their own.

Obviously, there are some vets that push a food. I'm not saying that doesn't happen. But, on the other side of the coin, I've read in this forum of pets that were prescribed an SD corrective diet that, evidently, fixed the problem. 

I haven't bothered talking nutrition with our vet and he's never said anything one way or another, including me bringing along bits of steak or lunchmeat to treat Shadow for desired behavior. No, we haven't done blood tests but neither has he seen anything wrong with Shadow that could merit a food change. Tall, strong, healthy, with a shiny coat. The only food I bought from him was Purina NF for my old cat, Misty and that's because that's what he had and it was the only place that I could find such a thing in a 50 mile radius, I kid you not. I looked in the stores, feed stores, etc. And it was probably a food that worked for him before in such a case. So, maybe I'm just lucky to have this vet. He sees Shadow like he sees most pets. Vacc updates, speuter, the odd malady or injury.

Would he recommend Innova if he knew about it? Maybe so. I don't think he spends much if any time on the internet. He often answers field calls for horses and cows on his way into the office. And the scheduled procedures also. And he's got grandkids to go and spoil. In fact his wife (who is also his office manager) requires him to work no more than half a day on Saturdays, if he must work a Saturday, so that there is more time for the family. And he is closed on Sundays, going to church and visiting family. So, I imagine he is too busy to read about food xyz designed to feed your pet just like was a gray wolf in Yellowstone. He started his practice about the time I was born, which was quite a while ago. So, he has seen a bit. I might just have to ask him what his experience has been.

I don't mind if a vet recommends a food. But I might be uncomfortable if he was pushy about it. Maybe not. I don't know a lot and he might know more, maybe.