Is it Ethical for Veterinarians to Recommend Pet Foods?

That is an interesting article! I think the Europeans have the right idea with the law they just passed.

"Many veterinarians sell nonprescription pet foods along with prescription pet foods as a service to their clientele.

Ha...I don't think they sell it as a service at all...they sell it to make money. The couple vets that I have gone to don't charge the same as you can get it at pet stores either....they up the price a bit.

I think the line in that article is true....if they suggest it or sell it...they should be responsible for it. But you know... I think we have found out by ouselves ( with PH 6 if nothing else ) that vets push certain drugs without knowing for sure how good or safe they are.... and I have no doubt that its the same with food.

I hear SOOOO many people (not on the boards, but in real life) that have dogs on Science Diet simply because their vet recommends it.  If you tell them that for the price they could get much better quality food, they blow me off, how can I argue with someone's vet who they trust implicitly?  

On one hand though, if a pet food that a vet sells gets recalled, I'm not sure how much control over that the vet had.  They could recommend the best of the best and it could be recalled. I think they shouldn't be allowed to recieve kickbacks from food sales (or immunizations).  I know a lot of holistic vets carry what they consider to be the better brands of dog foods,  I guess I'm not against it entirely, but I am if they are recieving a benefit from the manufacturer for selling it.  

LillianD

If you tell them that for the price they could get much better quality food, they blow me off, how can I argue with someone's vet who they trust implicitly? 

A great topic, I really have no problem with a vet selling food.  I have never used it and never will, but most owners who have to ask a vet what to feed are either going to feed what they see on TV, what is cheapest or what their folks fed.  SD is not a wonderful product but hey it aint Old Roy....

The only way many vets can offer any discounts or comps is to supplement their income with the sell of feed, vitamins, flea products and sometimes a select line of collars and leads.  Why would I grouse about this when I know for a fact that my vet cuts me insane deals, as a long time client and even more for my Rescue work.  I say go for it, if you can find a way  to make ends meet that does not real harm I will not be picketing your office. 

Bonita of Bwana

I don't have a problem with a vet selling a certain brand of food.  It just sucks because you have to know more about dog nutrition than them to actually judge whether or not the brand they're pushing is legitimate.  lol 

My old vet used to sell Natura products.  It was very convenient because I was ALWAYS there and the pet store was 30 miles away.  So it was truly a convenience to me since it was a goo product.  And they were good vets and I didn't mind paying a bit of a markup - it isn't "kickback" it's called profit for being a distributor.  It was cheaper than gas, even then!

Then I moved out here - and I found a true Temple to the Religion of Science Diet.  Holy Cow.  I made the mistake of bringing my pupper there for his first shots.  Yikes, did I ever get the Sermon on the Mount about the superior advantage that the Science Death puppy formula would give to my pet.  I named the food I used on occasion when traveling - I didn't dare even mention the pup's home cooked diet!

That was weird, so yes, I understand the feeling some people have about this - but I also understand that some vets choose to sell food.

My current vet only sells prescription diets - the Purina versions, I think. 

My vet has never once told me what I should feed a pet. When Misty, my old cat, was diagnosed with diminished kidney function, he suggested Purina NF, which he happens to sell. $15 for about a 10 lb bag. About a $1.50 a pound. I'm paying more than that for the Eagle Pack, right now. Anyway, he's not making a big profit and he gets no kick-backs which explains why he is driving a ten year old truck that needs a paint job. Well, that and he does house calls, even if it's in a barn on someone's ranch. He sees both pets and large animals, such as cows and horses.

He's from the old school, I suppose. If the feed is working, don't fix it. Also, he doesn't get a lot of people that are constantly in for every little thing. He sees them for shots, speuter, and the odd ailment or injury, here and there. So, he won't always have the information to go on.

BTW, Misty ate Purina all of her life. 16 years on Delicat, 1 year on Purina NF. The only wet food she cared for was freshly cleaned raw fish that I would feed her from my sporadic fishing trips.

My vet always asks at each visit what each dog is eating.I tell her Fromm,Evo,Taste of the Wild,whichever they are eating at the time and she's never said anything but "That's a good food".I think she's just trying to keep her clients off the grocery store brands with the Pro Plan she sells.If my vet or anyone else for that matter, ever got in my face about Science Diet they would get an earfull.It amazes me that so many people will do whatever their vet or even their own Dr. says without a little research.I respect my Dr. and my vet but they do not have the final word on my health or my pet's health.

Tena

brookcove

My old vet used to sell Natura products.  It was very convenient because I was ALWAYS there and the pet store was 30 miles away.  So it was truly a convenience to me since it was a goo product.  And they were good vets and I didn't mind paying a bit of a markup - it isn't "kickback" it's called profit for being a distributor.  It was cheaper than gas, even then!

It is possible that vets recieve a kickback from SD for selling it though.  I mean, if it were just regular profit, wouldn't more vets offer more of a variety than that?     I know my vets' office also looks like a shrine to SD, luckily though he's never actually suggested it to me, even though he's never heard of the foods I feed.   That's what I would have a problem with, getting a kickback above and beyond regular profit while touting the food they are selling as the mecca of all dog foods, when really all but the prescription diets for SD are pretty junky IMHO.  I have bought leashes, collars, and treats at the vets' office out of convenience, since I am there every month for the dogs flea/tick/heartworm prevention anyway.  The holistic vet I was considering has a whole store and sells MANY brands of food, I have no problem with profit per se, but extra special treatment from the company I feel weird about. 

 Like Bonita I have NO problem with vets SELLING food.... but that's not the topic   The topic is: is it ethical for them to RECOMMEND food... and IMO the answer is NO.  Not when the average board member here knows more about canine nutrition than most vets I have spoken to

Chuffy

Not when the average board member here knows more about canine nutrition than most vets I have spoken to

Especially when the vet knows mostly only about what the sales people tell them.

 Or what they were taught at vet school... I wonder, if you asked where your vet did his training, and then asked the vet school where they got their funding... I wonder how many would admit to being sponsored by pet food companies....

Chuffy

 Like Bonita I have NO problem with vets SELLING food.... but that's not the topic   The topic is: is it ethical for them to RECOMMEND food... and IMO the answer is NO. 

That is the reason why I posted the article.  I also have no problem with them selling food.  I have a problem with any vet pushing any products... Science Diet happens to be the one that is being pushed the most.  I can't remember who poster was but I remember she/he saying how the office assistant at the vet's office was trying to get her to buy Innova Evo and consider what she/he purchased (I think it was California Natural) to be an inferior purchase.  Also I am a big fan of Natura (maker of innova, cal nat, and etc.), I don't think that was right.  I think a vet's job should be to educate the owners (that is assuming they have proper training in nutrition).  My vet always tells her clients to learn to read labels, to pay attention to how their pets react to certain foods, and etc. Now, she does sell prescription diets (royal canin ones) and I don't have a problem with that.