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Britster · 08-21-2016, 02:55 PM

The whole "vet making money off food" thing is so exaggerated. I used to believe it too. If anything most vets find it to be a pain to stock the food because it's not like it's flying off the shelves and it takes extra time to do special orders and get it shipped. The RX foods are for the dogs who really need it so they need to have them in stock as an option.

In my non-professional opinion, do a majority of vets support brands like Science Diet, Purina and Royal Canin? Yes. The reason for that could be debated. Those companies do often provide literature and free stuff to vets in school as well as vets offices. Is there a bias? Yeah, likely. But these foods, in general, are studied and proven and aren't going to (likely) kill a dog. They have research to back them up. A vet simply does not have time to research *every* brand of food out there and give an opinion on it. Let's say a vet recommended Taste of the Wild and then a dog gets sick from it and dies. The owner will come in and likely point the finger at the vet for recommending the food. I guess, simply put.... they stick with what "works". Maybe it's not ideal (I'm not a huge fan of a majority of formulas of these 3 brands but I can find at least one formula I would feed -- I've also learned reading ingredients is only a small portion of dog food... how they formulate it, balance it, manufacture it is more important).

I am kind of curious to know why people think it's so terrible for vets to make a kick-back on anything they sell in the first place. Why not? They went to YEARS of school, likely took out student loans galore, and are there to help your pet (I believe a majority of veterinarians are not in it for financial gain -- some? Probably are, but most are probably not). But vets need to make a living too and there is nothing wrong with ensuring you can run a business as well.

My vets office sells The Honest Kitchen in their lobby, a food considered much 'higher end' -- would folks perception change if the food was "better"... or would it STILL be bad for the vet to be making ANY financial gain on this food?

08-21-2016, 02:55 PM	#24
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	The whole "vet making money off food" thing is so exaggerated. I used to believe it too. If anything most vets find it to be a pain to stock the food because it's not like it's flying off the shelves and it takes extra time to do special orders and get it shipped. The RX foods are for the dogs who really need it so they need to have them in stock as an option. In my non-professional opinion, do a majority of vets support brands like Science Diet, Purina and Royal Canin? Yes. The reason for that could be debated. Those companies do often provide literature and free stuff to vets in school as well as vets offices. Is there a bias? Yeah, likely. But these foods, in general, are studied and proven and aren't going to (likely) kill a dog. They have research to back them up. A vet simply does not have time to research every brand of food out there and give an opinion on it. Let's say a vet recommended Taste of the Wild and then a dog gets sick from it and dies. The owner will come in and likely point the finger at the vet for recommending the food. I guess, simply put.... they stick with what "works". Maybe it's not ideal (I'm not a huge fan of a majority of formulas of these 3 brands but I can find at least one formula I would feed -- I've also learned reading ingredients is only a small portion of dog food... how they formulate it, balance it, manufacture it is more important). I am kind of curious to know why people think it's so terrible for vets to make a kick-back on anything they sell in the first place. Why not? They went to YEARS of school, likely took out student loans galore, and are there to help your pet (I believe a majority of veterinarians are not in it for financial gain -- some? Probably are, but most are probably not). But vets need to make a living too and there is nothing wrong with ensuring you can run a business as well. My vets office sells The Honest Kitchen in their lobby, a food considered much 'higher end' -- would folks perception change if the food was "better"... or would it STILL be bad for the vet to be making ANY financial gain on this food? __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 08-21-2016 at 02:57 PM.