I don't think doctors of any kind truly understand, or appreciate, the impact the web has had on how we, Joe Public, view medicine (human or animal). The sheer volume of good information and research is now available to everyone who wants it.

In fact, I've seen first-hand how they view it as a negative because now they must engage in a dialogue WITH a client, instead of merely talking TO a client. The minute you mention "I read on the internet..." they give you the look :smirk:

God forbid you should DARE be an active partner in your animal's health care.

On the positive side, we have a whole store devoted to raw feeding here and it's a huge space. She's located in one of the highest-rent areas and there are always customers in there when I stop by. It's a growing movement, despite the best efforts of vets to discourage it.

 Quote: sarah morris

The minute you mention "I read on the internet..." they give you the look :smirk:

God forbid you should DARE be an active partner in your animal's health care.

This is exactly the experience I had, only my vet said (after disputing what I had said, plus the smirk) "well, I haven't had the benefit of an internet education like you have"

And I wasn't even talking about RAW, just health care concerns!

Needless to say, he is not my vet anymore.

Edited by Shody Lytle (11/13/2007 12:01 PM)
Edit reason: forgot something

 Quote: sarah morris

In fact, I've seen first-hand how they view it as a negative because now they must engage in a dialogue WITH a client, instead of merely talking TO a client. The minute you mention "I read on the internet..." they give you the look :smirk:

God forbid you should DARE be an active partner in your animal's health care.

Funny, but ultimately so stupid - on their part. Wouldn't it make their job easier and more satisfying if all their clients actually had a clue what they were talking about when they discussed a diagnosis or a treatment plan? Instead of just blankly nodding their heads and putting out their hands for prescription doggie drugs... I don't know about them, but I prefer a THINKING audience...

When I described Oscar's slab fractured 4th premolar to the dentist tech over the phone (before our appointment) I used so much specific terminology that she thought I was a dentist! HA, that'll be the day, but an hour online and I felt MUCH better prepared to talk about vital pulp therapy, root canals and capping, and extraction... and while I will pay a lot of money for a professionally trained "dentist" to DO the work, LEARNING about it is FAR from rocket science, and I wish they appreciated the fact that everyone can do their own research.

Come to think of it, I think a lot of PEOPLE doctors are the same way! I know MY old doctor got that face whenever I mentioned reading about something... apparently it's just FINE if you reference a TV commercial selling some mysterious new brightly colored pill, but if you try to get too technical, or gosh forbit - alternative!, you get a slow head shake and a change of subject...

Sarah, I sure wish I had a dedicated raw feeding store near me!! Sounds fabulous...

~Natalya

 Quote: shody lytle

This is exactly the experience I had, only my vet said (after disputing what I had said, plus the smirk) "well, I haven't had the benefit of an internet education like you have"

I would have promptly turned tail and left THAT office! What a dope...

~Natalya

same thing with my vet, I don't feed raw but when my cat who is diabetic was diagnosed she pushed the Hills and Purina prescription food. He turned his nose up at it (he never does this with food)and I mentioned I wanted to feed Wellness and Evo she looked at me puzzled. Had no idea of these food brands and I had to bring her info (off the net) She was shocked at how good the food was. Her place pushes hills, iams, purina, eukanuba Has no idea of these brands of better foods.

One time on pedigreedatabase some fool actually tried to argue that dogs now need grains & fillers in their diets because we have been feeding them kibble so they have now evolved to need them !!!!! ROFLMAO

i am so grateful to have such a caring vet.when i asked about raw feeding he was totally supportive and helpful.he will titer my dog,which alot of vets wont,just combovaccinate to death and push science diet.i need to drive a little to get there ,but what the heck.we are so glad to have him

 Quote: susan tuck

One time on pedigreedatabase some fool actually tried to argue that dogs now need grains & fillers in their diets because we have been feeding them kibble so they have now evolved to need them !!!!! ROFLMAO

THAT is the most common mind-set of the vast majority of people. We have been fed that line so many times in so many different forms that it is entrenched in the minds of the masses.
That is why feeding raw is so hard for most people to comprehend.
They think you're asking them to move to the moon.