I interviewed some local vets over the phone today in preparation for the arrival of our puppy.

Some observations:

• to a person, they all had the same negative opinions / comments on feeding raw
  
• many of the "good" commercial foods they recommended were some of the worst
  
• I think the only time I've heard more mentions of a "balanced diet" is on those commercials for super sugary breakfast cereals
  
• awareness of the issues surrounding over-vaccination seems to be growing - about 50% acknowledged the problem, but only a couple of them said that they suggested vaccination only if indicated
  

Hopefully there will be more scientific studies done soon (something that every vet claimed they needed in order to recommend anything) so that the raw diet will gain wider acceptance, and hopefully the laws will catch up with science on frequency of vaccination.

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Good for you! It's so important establishing a good relationship with a vet.

I'm pretty dismayed that the docs in our hospital haven't ever heard of the 2 foods I've had my puppy on (Chicken Soup and now Innova). Haven't heard of it and seem pretty skeptical about it.

It's funny, the doc with 30 years experience is more laid back about raw feeding. The doc with 3 years experience is completely against it. I've heard on several occasions "Would YOU eat raw meat?" To which my silent response is always "No, but I also don't (insert whatever unpleasant dog behavior you like here)"

I can only imagine what will be said when I switch to raw.

Your experience is pretty typical. All you can do is educate yourself on raw feeding or different kibbles and vaccination issues. I just smile and nod when my vet says bad things about my dog's diet and my views on over vaccination. Stand firm and ignore them on these subjects.

Occasionally vets are swayed by what they see. If your dog is switched to raw and gains better health, teeth, coat, etc. then the proof is in the puddin'!

Also, as to the older vet being more relaxed about raw...the young vets fresh out of school are still worshiping at the alter of the insititution. For 4 years they've been stuffed with info and made to parrot it back...little time for their own opinions. Older vets tend to believe more of what they've seen with their own eyes.

The young vets at offices I've gone to have mostly been condescending and preachy about things like vaccines and raw. That's been my experience anyway.

I don't care what my Vet thinks about raw feeding. I never asked his permission. I rarely bring my dogs to the vet anyways, they never get sick.

If you've found a vet is isn't opposed to minimal vaccination, that's a good start. They're already thinking outside the box a little bit - hopefully you can cause them to see your point on raw when they see how good your dog does.

Raw feeding and minimal vaccination is a reletively new concept for me (in the last 2 years), so I picked my vet based on the way she clicked with my animals and me.

I was pleasently surprised when I took the cats in for booster shots and mentioned that I wanted to vaccinate every 3 years max, and the receptionist told me that titers were available as well. There was also no negative comments on the fact that the cats got pre-made raw as part of their diet. I take the 2 dogs in for a check-up next month - It will be interesting to see what she says about their diet.

Jäger's first vet was recomended to us. The practice was well established and the vet seemed affable. We quit going there because everything was walk-in first come first served. My disability makes that a deal breaker.

Jäger's second/current vet was selected via the web. I started looking at different vet's bio's and noted that some had continued their education much more aggressively than others. My vet had attended numerous seminars/clinics dealing specifically with GSD and large dog specific issues. I made an appointment for a well puppy type check-up. She was very knowlegable, chatted animatedly with me about Jäger's health and actually got on the floor interacting with the dog. While he thought he was being played with and petted she was checking hips, paws, eyes, groin, mouth, I was impressed with the fluid manner she checked my dog and he never knew it happened.

When he got Valley Fever she laid out the worst case scenario, and what it would cost pointing out that anything less than worst case ment it cost less. I was handed a written estimate for everything like going to a body shop after a wreck and was told again this was for the worst possible case and that we could stop when I said so or Jäger was cured. She even helped me find the least expensive quality meds.

OK, so after the shaggy dog story, check the web. Google the clinic's name and the vet's name. Add words like complaint, lawsuit, dissatisfied, trouble, school, ... and you may be surprised at how often some vet's show up with recommendations.

Well. i thought i had a great vet. The dog liked him and actually pulled me to the office on our walks(the vet is right across the street from me) Then i started feeding raw..oh my god when he found out you thought i had commited a felony. Next my GSD injured his leg and the vet had to hurt him to examin him. Since then my dog didn't like him and would growl at him on sight. That let to my vet getting scared of him and wanting to put him under for something as simple as trimming his nails. Needless to say i started to do it myself and i changed vets. I thought i had a great vet until i took my dog to the new one. I was there for 1 and 1/2 hours on his first visit because the vet was making sure that my dog was comfortable and not stressed out. She said it doesn't matter how long it takes, it matters that the dog is relaxed and happy. Now that is a vet!!

Good for you! I switched vets, right after I got my lab pup(have a GSD too). Only my reasoning was because when I took my GSD in for her shots when se was a pup, she saw 4 different vets and the last one, when my girl got her rabies shot, didn't even touch my dog besides to give the shot. I knew right then that I needed to find a new vetrinary clinic. I found one that is very animal oriented and cares for them as if they were his own.
I wish you the best of luck finding a good vet. PS: You don't have to listen to the vet about food, I would go with one that is against over-vaccination and won't get on your case if you do decide to go with the Raw diet for your dog.