Holistic Vet on What She Learned About Pet Nutrition in Vet School - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mimimomo · 11-30-2017, 10:55 PM

HolVet - Veterinarian In New Paltz, NY USA :: What I learned in school about pet nutrition

What I learned in school about pet nutrition

Posted on 06-21-2017

I have for many years advocated for raw food (especially raw meat) diets for dogs and cats. It wasn’t always that way. For the first few years of my homeopathic practice, I made the typical recommendations of most conventional veterinarians: “Get a high quality, good brand commercial canned or dry pet food.” I’m not sure how we evaluated what “good” or “high quality” was. I remember recommending Eukanuba® because it was only sold at pet supply stores (not at the grocery stores), and their published product information said they had higher-quality ingredients. It had the appearance of being different, and somehow that translated into better. Many veterinarians recommended it and sold it.

Here’s the amazing thing: we knew little more about pet nutrition than the average pet owner, as we were educated little more than the average pet owner. Though I went to a great veterinary school (University of Missouri) that produced exceptionally well-prepared graduates for clinical practice, the bulk of my nutritional education consisted of a few hours per day for one week. That’s right – a grand total of one week out of four years for a discipline that is now one of the three main pillars of my approach to optimal health for pets. And that’s not the oddest part. Believe it or not, it was taught by a Hill’s® Pet Food company representative. It seems many of the veterinary schools in the U.S. use Hill’s reps to teach nutrition! I would guess the schools save money by not having to have a full time nutritionist on staff, or they get deeper discounts on their Hill’s products.

Hill’s is the maker of the line of prescription diets called Prescription Diet (though there is nothing really “prescription” about it) and Science Diet. You may have heard of their much imitated string of acronym named diets – R/D, W/D, C/D, etc. To their credit most of the teaching was good, generic physiology, with only about 10-25% of the time spent on how their products fit the needs of various pathologies. It was good marketing for them and a good start of a nutritional education for us. But, it was not enough.

And that was all there was. Most pet owners do not realize this fact, but I have just checked with recently graduated vets and the story is still very much the same.

I intend to keep blogging on this particular topic so stay tuned.

ladyjane · 12-01-2017, 04:40 PM

OK...I am not going to address this entire thing. To each his own about what he wants to read and believe.

I AM going to address this prescription food thing. The REASON they are saying it is not prescription food is as simple as this: companies are trying their level best to compete with Hill's NOT by offering better products and spending money on research, vet nutritionists and feeding trials; but, by marketing and stupid lawsuits. These companies need to stop bashing the companies that have done a great job IMHO of providing quality food to our pets.

Oh....and one other thing. It is NOT true that vets don't know anything about nutrition. It is also not true that the ONLY education they get on it is from a Hill's rep. SMH such crazy stuff gets spread on the internet and it is sad because some people's dogs will die because of people giving bad advice. I wish people realized that there is more to research than reading articles on the internet from sources who may not be qualified.

People can choose what they wish to feed. I totally do not agree with some foods that people give their pets, but I don't bash them. I find it offensive when people bash foods that others use....there are many who disagree with me on what I feed, but the proof is right there. My pups, even those with congental health issues, live long lives.

ladyjane · 12-01-2017, 04:44 PM

Perhaps this may be of interest to some. This department is not run by Hill's. I consulted with one of the vets there years ago about one of my pups who had renal issues. If you click on the faculty link it may open some eyes...not Hills reps! LOL

https://nfs.tamu.edu/

11-30-2017, 10:55 PM	#1
mimimomo Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,874	Holistic Vet on What She Learned About Pet Nutrition in Vet School HolVet - Veterinarian In New Paltz, NY USA :: What I learned in school about pet nutrition What I learned in school about pet nutrition Posted on 06-21-2017 I have for many years advocated for raw food (especially raw meat) diets for dogs and cats. It wasn’t always that way. For the first few years of my homeopathic practice, I made the typical recommendations of most conventional veterinarians: “Get a high quality, good brand commercial canned or dry pet food.” I’m not sure how we evaluated what “good” or “high quality” was. I remember recommending Eukanuba® because it was only sold at pet supply stores (not at the grocery stores), and their published product information said they had higher-quality ingredients. It had the appearance of being different, and somehow that translated into better. Many veterinarians recommended it and sold it. Here’s the amazing thing: we knew little more about pet nutrition than the average pet owner, as we were educated little more than the average pet owner. Though I went to a great veterinary school (University of Missouri) that produced exceptionally well-prepared graduates for clinical practice, the bulk of my nutritional education consisted of a few hours per day for one week. That’s right – a grand total of one week out of four years for a discipline that is now one of the three main pillars of my approach to optimal health for pets. And that’s not the oddest part. Believe it or not, it was taught by a Hill’s® Pet Food company representative. It seems many of the veterinary schools in the U.S. use Hill’s reps to teach nutrition! I would guess the schools save money by not having to have a full time nutritionist on staff, or they get deeper discounts on their Hill’s products. Hill’s is the maker of the line of prescription diets called Prescription Diet (though there is nothing really “prescription” about it) and Science Diet. You may have heard of their much imitated string of acronym named diets – R/D, W/D, C/D, etc. To their credit most of the teaching was good, generic physiology, with only about 10-25% of the time spent on how their products fit the needs of various pathologies. It was good marketing for them and a good start of a nutritional education for us. But, it was not enough. And that was all there was. Most pet owners do not realize this fact, but I have just checked with recently graduated vets and the story is still very much the same. I intend to keep blogging on this particular topic so stay tuned. __________________ Jenny Mimi Momo Princess Turbo Madan Pin Brush: www.toplinepet.com

12-01-2017, 04:40 PM	#2
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,397	OK...I am not going to address this entire thing. To each his own about what he wants to read and believe. I AM going to address this prescription food thing. The REASON they are saying it is not prescription food is as simple as this: companies are trying their level best to compete with Hill's NOT by offering better products and spending money on research, vet nutritionists and feeding trials; but, by marketing and stupid lawsuits. These companies need to stop bashing the companies that have done a great job IMHO of providing quality food to our pets. Oh....and one other thing. It is NOT true that vets don't know anything about nutrition. It is also not true that the ONLY education they get on it is from a Hill's rep. SMH such crazy stuff gets spread on the internet and it is sad because some people's dogs will die because of people giving bad advice. I wish people realized that there is more to research than reading articles on the internet from sources who may not be qualified. People can choose what they wish to feed. I totally do not agree with some foods that people give their pets, but I don't bash them. I find it offensive when people bash foods that others use....there are many who disagree with me on what I feed, but the proof is right there. My pups, even those with congental health issues, live long lives. __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP Last edited by ladyjane; 12-01-2017 at 04:42 PM.

12-01-2017, 04:44 PM	#3
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,397	Perhaps this may be of interest to some. This department is not run by Hill's. I consulted with one of the vets there years ago about one of my pups who had renal issues. If you click on the faculty link it may open some eyes...not Hills reps! LOL https://nfs.tamu.edu/ __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP Last edited by ladyjane; 12-01-2017 at 04:46 PM.