I work at a pet specialty store and have gotten at least 4 people in this last month that asked for Beneful because their vets recommended it and two people that asked for Pedigree. I had another guy in that said his vet told him if he was going to feed Beneful he needed to give his young dog the "healthy one" and bought the Healthy Harvest. That food uses primarily soy proteins (my understanding is that dogs cannot digest soy well) and is a weight loss type formula.

Also had 2 customers that said their vet said to feed their ferrets Purnia One dog food, which only has 20% less protein and 15% less fat than most sources recommend for ferrets.

There are some folks on this forum who would agree that the majority of vets have very limited knowledge of the nutritional needs of the animals they treat. It does not appear to be a subject of serious consideration in vet schools and is normally funded by pet food companies, if my understanding is correct.

Which specialty pet store in Arkansas?

In their defense, they know exactly what they were taught.

If I just dropped that kind of money on vet school, I'm gonna feel like I'm getting THE most accurate and up to date info there is.

A special few question what they were taught and further educate.

 Quote: michael_wise

In their defense, they know exactly what they were taught.

If I just dropped that kind of money on vet school, I'm gonna feel like I'm getting THE most accurate and up to date info there is.

A special few question what they were taught and further educate.

Michael, I agree a million percent, and I often need to be reminded that it's not some inherent evil that vets are prone to .... it's exactly what you said. They know what they learned in a vet school education that probably cost them $150,000 to $225,000 (and more).

And those courses don't look or sound like snake oil speeches, either. They are loaded with science and nutrients and numbers and research (all provided by an arm of Hills).

I consider this to be corruption. That's JMO. But I'm not the person who loves animals and who worked like one to get this education (and will keep working like one to pay off the student loans), despite the fact that many (maybe most) professions that cost this much to learn will pay a lot better ... that person who, as you say, "dropped that kind of money on vet school" and almost has to feel that "I'm getting THE most accurate and up to date info there is."

The vets who accept those of us who have done our own research, and even go so far as to say "I cannot argue with your results" .... maybe they are a whole lot more open-minded than I am.

I just experienced a wave of appreciation for my own vet, who doesn't support raw feeding but who accepts mine and never tries to scare me out of it.

Yeah, it has to be a very small percentage that actually know better and are trying to rip you off.

All of 'em are trying to make a buck, but I doubt many are malicious in their diagnosing, recommendations, and pricing.

I think my vet doesn't say anything to me because it isn't his damn dog. I respect that.:smile:

And think of what happened to vets like Tom Lonsdale (and Billinghurst and the other pioneers), who were ostracized, ridiculed, dropped by professional associations, and more .... for bucking the tide of corporate dog-feeding and who stood up and said "Let's give animals real food."

 Quote: connie sutherland

And think of what happened to vets like Tom Lonsdale (and Billinghurst and the other pioneers), who were ostracized, ridiculed, dropped by professional associations, and more .... for bucking the tide of corporate dog-feeding and who stood up and said "Let's give animals real food."

Thats a pretty big gamble with that 1/4 million dollar tuition. Glad I'm not a vet.

 Quote: connie sutherland

And think of what happened to vets like Tom Lonsdale (and Billinghurst and the other pioneers), who were ostracized, ridiculed, dropped by professional associations, and more .... for bucking the tide of corporate dog-feeding and who stood up and said "Let's give animals real food."

I could not agree more with this statement Connie.
I have tremendous respect for these pioneers and for having the courage to stand up for what they believed in.
I applaud them and truly wish there were more like them.
Maybe it just takes time, and I know that more and more vets are actually seeing healthier dogs and they certainly can't argue the visible results.
My current vet never has brought up my feeding raw either, even though he sells Science Diet in his lobby and his vet techs don't have one clue about nutrition either.
I asked him how do my dogs look to you?
He says " They look great, they are in excellent health"
While I know the answer to my own question, I simply found myself asking to put that confirmation in his head.
I couldn't help but smile.