Why do vets do this?
 

I took Hootie to the vet last night for her first checkup. The vet asked me what I was feeding her and I told her Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul. Then the vet gave me (as a "gift") this big bag of Science Diet Puppy food and she told me that she highly recommended that I start feeding Hootie the Science Diet. She said that it has all the necessary nutrition that growing puppies need and that it is the best. I just said ok...I really didn't want to get into an argument with the vet. But I looked on the ingredients and the very first ingredient was Whole Corn!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Why do vets recommend these foods that are not the best for our babies?! I just don't get it? Why do they think there is something wrong with Chicken Soup? :confused: It would certainly seem like a veternarian would know what she is talking about. So, I am wrong, or is she wrong?! :confused:

I think you should ask your vet. I asked mine the same question and I can't quote what she said but mine have always been on science diet and has had no problems at all. they can explain it to you in technical terms.
mine said (among other things) .... Are there better ones? YES... Are there worse ones? YES...etc. seems like most vet offices sell science diet, maybe they get a kick back on the it, :idontknow

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:confused:

that is weird........ very weird.....

Yes.. they get some $$ back from their sales on this... I have no problem with Science Diet... my Gizmo unfortunatly has a sensitive tummy and it does not agree with their formula so I both of mine on California Natural.. just easier than monitoring their separate foods ya know....

I think a lot of the time vets receive their training on dog nutrition from (get this) dog food companies. And of course each dog food company is going to say they have the best food and blah blah blah....

Or it could just be the food they sell there in their office. If you start to feed your dog their food because of the recommendation, maybe you'll buy it right from their office. The more food they sell the more money they make.

Personally, I would never even consider feeding my dog Science Diet, Iams, Eukanuba, Purina (I could keep going) because of the grain contents in the food.... In fact, my pup doesn't eat kibble at all. She gets a raw diet.

I'm not sure what kind of SD the vet gave you, but their website lists the ingredients for the Small Bites Puppy The first ingredient is CORN the next is a meat BY-PRODUCT. In fact, I don't see any whole meat sources in the food at all! :eek: If you compare the SD ingredients to Chicken Soup, IMO, Chicken Soup is WAY better.

I'm sure there are plenty of dogs that have eaten Science Diet (or Iams or Eukanuba or Purina) their whole lives without a single problem... but no one food is perfect for every dog. If Chicken Soup works for your pup, then by all means keep feeding him Chicken Soup!

check ingreedients
 

I dont use that food because i believe they use by product and if you go on the PETA website you will see what by-product is not pretty. They also test their products on animals another not pretty sight. I did my homework when i got Rocky he was on Mighty dog and after 2 weeks i changed to Natural Balance and he loves it.

I would question your Vet and tell him you searched on the ingredients they use and that you do not want to give that to your dog.

You should be the one deciding what to feed your dog not your vet.

Reuger's on Science Diet. It's what his breeder had him on when I got him. We have cheaper food outside for our outside dog and Reuger kept getting into it. I noticed later that he was biting his paws really bad. We put the food outside up where he can't reach it and the paw biting quit. I think that he has allergies to corn, but Science Diet doesn't seem to bother him. He's still on Science Diet and we don't have any problems with it.

maybe they are trying to push it for sale profits? who knows . but you could just tell them no thanks next time maybe they will take a hint.

What people do not understand is that vets are not trained in nutrition or very little. Science Diet supports many vet schools with grants etc. It also has a program for vets to offer Science Diet and the vet will gets some of the profits. Each person really needs to study their dog food and what is the healthest way to feed their little ones. There must be at least a 1000 posts on YT covering all the issues.

Good Luck and learn as much as you can to provide your little one a long and healthy life.

I think they get a kick back if they promote that food. My vet gave me science diet too

Sadie started on Science Diet as a puppy. At about the same time that I learned that it wasn't the best food to give her, she just quit eating it. It was kind of weird. Anyway, I switched her over to RC & she loves it.

You should definitely have questioned her recommendation. Mostly it's because they get a break on the food and they resell it at a nice markup. Amazing how easy they can fall into the trap of just commercial selling themselves.

I wasn't even considering switching from Chicken Soup to Science Diet, I was just wanted to know why vets, or my vet, promoted it so strongly! :confused:

Thanks for all the responses. My mom's vet also gives her "free" science diet. She gives it to her yorkie as "treats." :p I think that is what I'll do with this big bag that I now have. :thumbup:

Angel is eating Nutro Max Mini Chunk, which the breeder fed her and gave me some to take home. When I took my Yorkie for her first vet check up, her vet recommended Hill's Prescription Diet, which is what she feeds her dogs. She said that Nutro isn't the best choice of dog food but it's ok. She said it's economical cuz breeders have so many dogs. I'm sticking wtih Nutro Max. A lot of vets are in it for the money as they run a business. Her office sells this product in the reception area. You just have to do what you think is best for your dog, which I know can be hard if you don't know a lot like me. Did you get your dog from a breeder? I just ask the breeder a lot of questions when I don't know what to do. FYI, the breeder also feeds some of her dogs Chicken Soup so I think this is a good product.