Calling ALL YT Vets, Vet Assts, Vet Students!!!
 

Why do Vets swear by Hills Science Diet? Why is it the #1 recommended dog food? I don't get it!? Please tell me what they see that we YTers don't.

Now, if you are a Vet, Asst., Student, etc...do you recommend Science Diet to your patients? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks a bunch!!! :animal36

I'm not vet tech or anything but I feed Mlly it because that's what her breeder fed her when she was a baby and that was the ONLY thing that she fed her!!

I started a thread about this exact same thing a couple of weeks ago. I, like you, don't get it! I took my new puppy to the vet when we got her...the vet asked what we were feeding her...I said Chicken Soup...and she said that she strongly recommends that I feed her Science Diet, and she gave me a HUGE bag of it for free! That was about 4 weeks ago, and I still haven't opened that bag.

If you wanna check out that thread, here is the link:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44788

Our vet gave us a free bag of Science Diet too. We dropped it off at the Humane Society shelter.

I am not a vet or a vet tech but it seems to me it must be about marketing and kick backs. The vendor gives them the food for free to give away to new dog owners.

also a big part of it is that science diet supports many vetrinary colleges and their practices and it's probably somewhere in the contract that due to that they must sell their product. Which is total BS I know.... but it's more then likely the truth.

science diet sucks anyway you look at it.

corn the first ingrediant? you have to be kidding me.

i'm sure it's for profit. science diet sucks.

Now that explains it! That's GOT to be it!!!!

Shoot, I didn't see that. :p I'll have to check that out. Thanks!!!

It all has to do with money. Science Diet sponsors and pays for alot of things, in return vets, groomers, are to recommend their products. Even though I have been told to recommend or give Science Diet out, I never do and never will, we all know it is not a great brand. I always recommend great dog food such as Merricks, Innova, Chicken Soup, etc... If it were not for the money thing, I doubt many vets would recommend it or use it.

The responses here really made me realize why they recommend it! I guess that's like Doctors who prescribe certain medications...let's say Zoloft over Paxil or Celexa. It's all for the kickbacks. :confused:

I too was strongly advised by my vet to feed my new puppy Science Diet . I switched to Merricks puppy plate thanks to Baby Fidgette. I also have some Canidae on the way for both my yorkies thanks to her as well. Thank you!!

QUOTE -- ".....Science Diet supports many vetrinary colleges and their practices and it's probably somewhere in the contract that due to that they must sell their product ...."
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Highly unlikely...

I have worked in medical offices for years - and pharaceutical reps are there all the time (constantly) leaving samples for our doctors to give to their patients. And, the reps are there also to keep the doctors up to date and informed about new medicines coming out.

BUT - our doctors have no obligation at all to use these medicines. But, they are good medicines and are ones that are generally prescribed all the time anyway - so they are a God-send for our patients who can't afford to buy the prescriptions they need.

We have an entire cupboard full of free samples..... that we are happy to give out all the time.

***** These samples are also great for patients to try for a week or two. Sometimes people can't tolerate certain medications or some medications don't work well for them. Giving a week or two supply of a new medicine helps our patients discover whether or not they work well for them without having to spend their money on something that doesn't - which usually leaves them with a lot that they haven't used.....a real waste!


**** My point I want to make is that I was at my vet's office the other day and there was an animal rep there leaving samples of all sorts of different things for the office to share with their animal patients. Some were food products, other "keeping teeth clean products" - and other things.

I know Science diet is a very aggressive company that leaves samples everywhere. They are hoping that people will try their product, be happy with it, and buy it...... makes sense to me!!!

And my vet has some pet food that he sells .... don't even know what. But, I have seen people come in to get more food. They and their dogs must like it.


Carol Jean

I agree...doctors do not get paid in any way or get kickbacks in any way for prescribing certain medications. It is their discretion as to what medication they prefer or wish to prescribe.

I so agree with this, kickbacks. When you go to the doctor sometimes they have samples, well the doctor gets something for giving out the samples or at the very least the drug company gives them the samples and they hand them out. People like getting free stuff!

It has to be that, I thinks its an okay dog food, but almost every vet recommends it??!!??