[Ellie May]

Diets very high in meat (or probably any protein) make BUN rise. Not interested in that for my dogs. Just because a diet is "natural" doesn't mean it's optimal.

The conspiracy theories about rx foods have really made me nervous as of late. If there is no DVM behind a name of somebody commenting on prescription diets, I usually just walk away because DVMs have the training to treat medical issues (which is what rx foods do). I also like to see a PhD with that DVM because they have studied just nutrition for years. I'm not really sure why the creators of these sites think they know more than veterinary professionals. They usually have zero credentials.

Vets do have drug reps come in and food reps just like human doctors have with drugs. And if I thought that a free lunch and cool pens with a nice speech was what my doctor or my dogs' doctor based their medical opinion off of, then they would be our doctors no longer. Our doctors use drugs that they know are relatively safe and effective. From first hand experience I know if a drug rep presents an argument to switch drugs to my vet, she takes her sweet time deciding if it is right for her patients. That is what I expect from medical professionals that touch my dogs or me.

I can even see why somebody could make the argument that vets don't know that much about nutrition, but they are recommending the same things veterinary nutritionists do and these people know more than anybody on an internet forum could ever hope to on the subject.