Vets.. Should you trust them when it comes to your pets food?

Vets are NOT nutritionalists! Few people know this..

here - you will also enjoy reading this

http://gomestic.com/pets/why-is-my-veterinarian-se...

Why is my vet selling me this pet food

Vets are like any type of doctor. They do learn about nutrition. But they know more about animals than anyone else. I did trust my vet with recommendations and then picked a food from that list. I use Natural Balance and my puppy is totally thriving. Both my personal vet and my daughter-in-law who also is a vet in another state recommended Natural Balance for my dog. I have heard of so called professionals recommend vegetarian diets or the raw diet for dogs. I prefer not to go that route. No one tells me what to eat, but I do listen to a doctor about my diet and then make up my own mind. BTW a vet goes to 8 years of college, so I would Trust their ideas over someone who has less schooling, but that's just me. Just because they sell a particular brand does not mean they recommend that brand. Yes they get kick back for like science diet. A good vet does not hide that fact. That doesn't mean they use science diet on their own pets. My daughter-in-law does not use science diet at home.

For me, it does depend on the vet. My dogs vet carries the 'vet' formulas like Science Diet and I think Iams. The cost is absolutely ridiculous for what it is. They also have information on nutrition that I don't find good. I don't take the vets opinion on what to feed my dogs. The vets don't push the products that they carry.

My rabbit vet, on the other hand does know about nutrition. They carry good products (although they are more expensive that other stores). Their information goes along with the info from other websites that are considered to be good. They do know what they are talking about as they realize that nutrition is a vital part of the whole health of the animal.

If I found a vet that did know what they were talking about and carried products that showed that, I would be more open to consider what they say about nutrition.

Some are some aren't. Thats the difference between vets who have educated themselves on nutrition and those who skipped that course because they aren't required to take it. I've met a few vets who wouldn't be caught dead pushing SD and some who think its the cat's meow and the best food out there. Whether they get commissions(cash or other incentives) or don't again varies.

I don't trust ANYONE's recommendation to the fullest.I have already made my choice based on my experience as well as research and if my vet doesn't agree I can always find one who does or who can agree to disagree.

Well, I haven't found a good vet in Kentucky yet, but the vet I had in Arizona had my full trust. He was very qualified, and talented. There are a lot of vets out there I wouldn't trust, but this particular man I would.

Veterinarians are only as good as what they have been taught. I will tell you that the foods you listed above like solid gold, wellness, merrick, and innova are great foods for your dogs. As a owner of German Shepherds we feed our dogs raw food and they do great on it. On the other hand our vet doesn't agree with this type of food for the dogs, but after losing many to cancer we haven't had a problem with it and they seem so much happier.

Depends on the vet. I do consider my cats vet opinion on diet, but I research on my own. I rarely ask her about diet though, and she doesn't push any specific brand either.

My sugar gliders vet.. The one thing that I loved about her when I first brought my gliders to see her, was that she asked about their diet. And she was very relieved to hear that I wasn't feeding them pellets. Now, whenever I am having questions diet, I go to her. In fact, tomorrow, I'll be dropping off a packet with information 5 sugar glider diets to see which one she recommends.. as my gliders are not eating their current one as well as they used to. Now, her opinion will not be the be-all-end-all, as I'll research it on my own as well..but I definitely trust her.

I trust my vet recommendations but I don't know your vet. I've had dogs that needed special diets and ones that eat dog food from the grocery store. Most dogs do just fine with what is at the grocery store, especially dry food.

They're not paid to recommend anything. They may be given freebies or incentives to carry a certain brand, but they're not paid for anything. I don't think they'd necessarily recommend anything that will HARM your dog, but there are better brands than SD. Doing your research, as you are, will show you that.