Gizmo has pancreatitis!!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Vet's are totally dependent on the pet food industry to provide a food for their clients. They just sign up with whatever company they feel comfortable with or with the company rep that gives them the best deal. The pet food company develops a really bland combination of ingredients and adds vitamins and minerals for nutrients.

You've made these kinds of sweeping generalizations so many times that I often sit here wondering what kind of back woods outmoded vet you take your dog to. That aside, I want to point out that many holistic vets "push" raw premade diets and useless supplements lacking any scientific proof of efficacy. One can easily walk into a holistic vet's office, pay $250 for the visit and tack on about $500 in supplements and raw premade food only to have to go to conventional veterinarian when their dog gets sick. Just saying.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Vet's are totally dependent on the pet food industry to provide a food for their clients. They just sign up with whatever company they feel comfortable with or with the company rep that gives them the best deal. The pet food company develops a really bland combination of ingredients and adds vitamins and minerals for nutrients.

If I thought my vet was picking products just because she got a good deal on them, I'd run.

I don't care what people feed. I do care that what google says is stopping some people from feeding what is needed.

When my vet doesn't have. Nutrition answer she has her clients contact a veterinary nutritionist. These nutritionists, with much more experience in the area, also recommend these gastro diets though. So I guess they don't understand nutrition either?

My dog has had pancreatitis a couple times. Both moderate fat foods and certain ingredients set her off. If in processing, one of her trigger foods is accidentally added (happens all the time), then what? Also the fat percentages listed are minimums. If they decide o add more one day, then what?

Vets do care what the major food companies have to say, but a good vet wouldn't base their recommendations solely on that. I know mine pays attention to what her patients do well on. So she knows what is likely to work for oter dogs in similar situations.

While following vets I've seen many dogs on all kinds of foods. And for me personally, a dog eating hills is the least of my dog food concerns.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

anyone know why vets push hills science diet??? Suggested Low Fat Dog Foods look at all the low fat foods that are out there! why do they push science diet? When i talk to my vet tomorrow im going to question her! Gizmo likes Fromm, and she knows that and they even have a low fat flavor... i dont understand these vets! gr

I would have to disagree with vets pushing a specific brand of dog food (ie Science Diet). When I visit my vet I just cannot imagine his practice making a substantial amount of money from selling dog food. Now if you were to say Petco or Petsmart make a substantiated portion of their profits from pet food I would totally agree. Vet's offer food that is not available to the consumer without a RX for purchase to treat dogs that cannot tolerate foods for whatever health issues. How much could a vet possibly make from a bag or can of dog food $1, $5, $10, $20 What percent of their gross income could possibly come from selling RX foods to a pet owner with a sick dog? As a matter of fact, when I visit my vet the last time he had 3 bags of food on a shelf and a few cans of IBD food.

The last time I was in Petco picking up kibble, I ran into 3 different pet food REPs promoting different foods, handing out coupons and samples of food. I would think compared to your vet's office the big box Pet Stores make far more profits from dog food manufactures than any vet who sells the occasional bag of RX food to a pet owner with a sick dog. Additionally, Petco sends vendor coupons to me promoting whatever food that I regularly feed and I have also seen coupons attached to different treats to encourage purchase.

RX dog food is important and necessary to the well being of many dogs that could not survive without very specific formulations of food to address their medical issues. Of course, Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canine would like "your" vet to prescribe their formulation to address the needs of a sick dog, these companies have spent resources formulating the ingredients that go into their brand of food. But at the same time, the real profits are made from the average pet owner feeding all the other brands of commercially available brands of dog food?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

anyone know why vets push hills science diet??? Suggested Low Fat Dog Foods look at all the low fat foods that are out there! why do they push science diet? When i talk to my vet tomorrow im going to question her! Gizmo likes Fromm, and she knows that and they even have a low fat flavor... i dont understand these vets! gr

Because they work! I have had plenty of pups in my care over the years and those who had medical issues and were placed on Hill's RX foods did well.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Vet's are totally dependent on the pet food industry to provide a food for their clients. They just sign up with whatever company they feel comfortable with or with the company rep that gives them the best deal. The pet food company develops a really bland combination of ingredients and adds vitamins and minerals for nutrients.

They sell RX foods that work for sick pups. Most of their clients don't buy food from them. The only ones who do are those with sick pups.

I hardly think they are just signing up with someone who gives them the best deal...if that was the case, then you would see them offering other foods. They all carry the same basic foods...from the companies that do the testing and research and offer foods that will help the animals.

[Chrissybear]

If you look at the first ingredient in the hills i/d dry kibble its Ground whole grain corn, it also has chicken-by-product meal, pork fat.... etc.... just not great ingredients.... i just think that there are much better dog foods out there than hills.... Gizmo used to eat Fromm beef fatatta.... they also make another flavor that only has 11% (min) fat... compared to min of hills being 14%. I personally dont think limiting a dog to one brand of food for the rest of his life is fair when there are other brands that can be just as good if not better (especially since gizmo is only 1 years old)

heres a list of other great dog foods that are low fat.... http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-d...-fat-dog-food/ yet my vet doesnt mention them...

[mzw00dy]

I feed My Max (who had a bout with panceititis too) the Purina EN. It is "prescribed" by the vet. Max loves it and he has not had another problem. I also forbid any table food and that has helped too.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

If you look at the first ingredient in the hills i/d dry kibble its Ground whole grain corn, it also has chicken-by-product meal, pork fat.... etc.... just not great ingredients.... i just think that there are much better dog foods out there than hills.... Gizmo used to eat Fromm beef fatatta.... they also make another flavor that only has 11% (min) fat... compared to min of hills being 14%. I personally dont think limiting a dog to one brand of food for the rest of his life is fair when there are other brands that can be just as good if not better (especially since gizmo is only 1 years old)

If the same food keeps a pup healthy, I am not sure what the issue is with a pup eating it for all of its life.

My goal is happy and healthy pups.

Your pup has been very ill. My suggestion to you is that if you feel so strongly about Hill's RX diets (that do work no matter how you feel about the ingredients), that you consult with a vet nutritionist. I would avoid all of the online "nutritionists" myself. My best to your pup....

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mzw00dy

I feed My Max (who had a bout with panceititis too) the Purina EN. It is "prescribed" by the vet. Max loves it and he has not had another problem. I also forbid any table food and that has helped too.

I actually have two pups on Purina EN. They are doing really well on it. It can be used instead of Hill's I/D but I suspect the Hill's haters also hate Purina.

[Chrissybear]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I actually have two pups on Purina EN. They are doing really well on it. It can be used instead of Hill's I/D but I suspect the Hill's haters also hate Purina.

Thats really not called for Ladyjane.. All i want is Gizmo to be healthy and happy. And i dont think its ridiculous to question the ingridents of dog foods...

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

Thats really not called for Ladyjane.. All i want is Gizmo to be healthy and happy. And i dont think its ridiculous to question the ingridents of dog foods...

What do you mean...not called for?

I did not say it was ridiculous to question ingredients.

I did not say that you don't want Gizmo to be happy and healthy.

I made a statement that I stand by. People bash Hill's and I think that is uncalled for...but they have their opinions and I have mine. I have seen the results first hand of RX foods with sick pups. I have had many of them... many!

[Chrissybear]

You’re insinuating that I ‘hate’ hills. I said nothing of the sort nor am I ‘bashing them’. I am simply questioning the ingredients and I am sure they work great for many dogs, I have no doubt. I just think that vets should give you options and not limit a dog to one brand. Just because one brand may work great for one dog it doesn’t mean that it will work for the next.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

You’re insinuating that I ‘hate’ hills. I said nothing of the sort nor am I ‘bashing them’. I am simply questioning the ingredients and I am sure they work great for many dogs, I have no doubt. I just think that vets should give you options and not limit a dog to one brand. Just because one brand may work great for one dog it doesn’t mean that it will work for the next.

If you want options for your dog, ask your vet. They can easily give you a couple of different options for this condition, some of which have already been mentioned on this thread. Pancreatitis can be life threatening and is best avoided. Fat isn't the only "trigger" for pancreatitis. That's why vets will usually recommend low residue, moderate protein, low fat Rx foods for dogs who have had this condition. If you are worried about "ingredients" then home cook for your dog because that is the only way to really control ingredients. Anyone can market something to make it sound good.

Your dog is a year old, and pancreatitis gets worse with repeat flares. If you want him to be healthy and happy my suggestion is to not listen to the views on some internet blog written by a dentist.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Chrissybear

You’re insinuating that I ‘hate’ hills. I said nothing of the sort nor am I ‘bashing them’. I am simply questioning the ingredients and I am sure they work great for many dogs, I have no doubt. I just think that vets should give you options and not limit a dog to one brand. Just because one brand may work great for one dog it doesn’t mean that it will work for the next.

I am not trying to insinuate anything. I thought I was clear.

But, at any rate, again I suggest:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/3826283-post38.html

[Chrissybear]

Originally Posted by 107barney

If you want options for your dog, ask your vet. They can easily give you a couple of different options for this condition, some of which have already been mentioned on this thread. Pancreatitis can be life threatening and is best avoided. Fat isn't the only "trigger" for pancreatitis. That's why vets will usually recommend low residue, moderate protein, low fat Rx foods for dogs who have had this condition. If you are worried about "ingredients" then home cook for your dog because that is the only way to really control ingredients. Anyone can market something to make it sound good.

Your dog is a year old, and pancreatitis gets worse with repeat flares. If you want him to be healthy and happy my suggestion is to not listen to the views on some internet blog written by a dentist.

I completely agree, i just submitted the dogfoodadviser site as a reference. Gizmo is seeing his primary vet tomorrow for more blood work up and i have some great questions to ask her thanks to you guys. ( the emergency vet we saw really pushed Hills and bashed other brands, which is why i posted on here and got some great posts from you guys)