[Breeze]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

There may not be overt kickbacks but there are absolutely benefits offered! For instance, our vet gets a free bag of Science Diet kibble to present to every new puppy owner. It makes the vet look generous, but more importantly it sends a subtle message to the new puppy owner that this is THE food recommended by the vet and they buy more. But most of the sales ploys are at the vet schools, where they offer stipends to students, free and discounted products, free text books, untold $$$ to the school in professorships, products and supplies. They also fund nice little conferences for the vets to attend under the guise of studying nutrition. It all sounds so much like the prescription medicine sales with doctor's office. They even both offer about the same sort of freebie give-aways (post-its, pens, clip boards, etc.) Here is a reprint of an old Wall Street Journal article about the Science Diet in Vet's offices: Why Vets Recommend Designer Chow

I wouldn't even care if it wasn't for the fact that every single vet's office I have been in is selling Science Diet. Now you can't tell me with all the Premium dog foods out there, that all those vets just really and truly are selling the brand they think is best. No way! Gotta be the perks.

Great post, and totally agree.