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??!!??

I am 100% certain that doctors do not get any kickbacks or benefits from handing out samples from drug companies. My hubby is a dr. and trust me, he doesn't get any benefits from it.

Now, vets on the other hand, I don't know about them. But I would guess that the vets are just like human doctors...they get these samples for free, so why not hand it out to patients for free?? I bet the fact that patients get free food/free drugs from them keeps a lot of people coming back to them. You know?? In that case there would definately be some sort of reward for handing out these free samples....repeat customers! :thumbup:

Are you sure? :confused:

I am 100% positive. I asked my hubby who is a doctor and he said it is actually against the law for doctors to get kickbacks or any kind of benefits for prescribing certain kinds of medications.

My vet sells Science Diet but did not push it on me. In fact she asked me what I was feeding Kali. I told her she gets nutro natural puppy lamb & rice. And she get Royal Canine puppy mini 24/7. She told me excellent choice to continue with that.

TroubleTB - You are 1000% absolutely wrong about doctors getting kickbacks for handing out or prescribing certain mediations.

This is so against the law - that a doctor wouldn't touch it with a 100-foot pole....nor would they even care to. I have worked with more than 30 radiologists, 18 cardiologists, and dozens of other physicians for the past 30 years. Plus as an medical office manager and supervisor - just imagine the amount of time that I have spent with pharmautical reps.

What you are suggesting is sooooooo totally illegal - no doctor would jeporadize his practice and income by doing this. No doctor would even want to become involved in this.

Kickbacks!!!!!! A law passed (probably 8 or 10 years ago by the FDA) statedthat drug companies had to limit any gifts they gave to physicians to $25 or less.

Drug companies do buy lunches for our office often - hoping to get a chance to sit with our 9 doctors and tell them about their new medications, etc. And, they leave all sorts of inexpensive stuff in our office advertising their medications (pens, not pads, mouse pads, and things like this).

Interestingly, the only way any pharmautical rep could do any more for any physician would be if he did it from his own pocket -- and, believe me, he wouldn't want to do this - nor would any of the doctors I work for do anything other than report him to his company. They would want no part of it.

Sometime - I really wonder how these rumors get started.

Doing what you mentioned would be a no-win situation for everyone involved.... the drug company, its employees, our physicians, and their employees.

I sure hope everyone is clear on this.

Carol Jean

I'm glad someone is agreeing with me ;)

Really? Wow, I didn't know that. See what we think about things when we don't know the truth? I'm guilty! :eek: :embarasse

I was told by vet pets have less waste (smaller amount of stool) so its better for house pet

Don't worry...I'm guilty too! I'm sure we ALL are! :p

Here's an article I found online. I thought it was pretty interesting...

http://www.simplyschnauzer.net/hills.html

Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery interesting. I guess that answers our question right there as to why vets recommend Science Diet!

Thanks so much for sharing that. :thumbup:

You're welcome. :) I couldn't believe the increase in sales in just fifteen years - from $40 million to $900 million. Someone knew what they were doing. :D

I think that another reason that the premium dog foods aren't readily recommended by vets is because they just don't have the marketing power that Hill's does...I mean come on, Hill's is owned by Colgate...they have all the money in the world to promote and market their products. I am sure that the companies that make the premium dog foods just don't have the kind of money to be giving out free dog food and money to be donating to research and universities and stuff. You know?!

I agree. It looks like it wasn't until Colgate got ahold of the company that it really took off.

"The bulk of our expenditure goes to the veterinary community," says John Steel, who just retired as Colgate's senior vice president of global marketing and sales.

A very clever move if you ask me.

My best friend is a drug rep and yes, his job is to give out samples and educate the doctors, but most of the money and time is spent coming up with elaborate things to do with the doctors. I always get invited along so it's fine with me, but I have had a full day at the spa, tons of parties, private bus with food, drinks to just go look at Christmas lights, so yes, docs do get "kickbacks" and may feel obligated to write say a name brand prescription, even if generic is available, with the reasoning that insurance companies are paying for it anyway.

I forgot to add I can get tickets to almost any entertainment or sporting events (the very best seats, of course).