Interesting article!

[GSDGunner]

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenl.../dogdiets.html

A few tidbits I found *ahem* interesting!

I've always contended that the larger the pet food manufacturer, the better and more frequent quality control and more research they will run, eventually benefiting you and your dog. One very important factor to consider in purchasing dog food is freshness. Don't buy your food at a low volume boutique pet store; you want a place where the food flies off the shelves. Don't buy more than a month's supply at a time of any dry food.

We all seem to loathe the idea of feeding 'grocery store' dog food, but consider this; the grocery store food comes from huge companies with superb quality control and research programs. It flies off the shelves and doesn't get stale. The billions of pets eating these foods come into the vet's office happy, healthy and glowing. And, they only need to come in once a year for their shots.
What the grocery store fed dogs generally don't come in with are the perforated intestines, severe bacterial disease from campylobacter or salmonella, exotic parasites, or the way out of wack metabolic changes we see in the dogs being 'cooked for' or being fed 'raw' or 'barf' food.

Regarding people who feed barf, raw, or home-cooked diets:

Thankfully, most of us (dog owners) recognize that a lot of those books are full of bovine excreta. And nearly all of us (Veterinarians) are laughing all the way to the bank after we fix - if possible - the problems caused by some of the alternative diets to the tune of $5,000.00, more or less, per dog. Many of the problems can't be fixed, and the pet dies. So instead of the extra two years of life Purina has shown us we can achieve, we're opting for illness, pain and early death for our dogs by refusing to feed them appropriately

Read the article, it's rather enlightening.

[gsdraven]

The food sits in warehouses or trucks for months before even being sent to grocery stores or pet food stores. I'd rather get a food that doesn't sit in a warehouse.

[Jax08]

Who would have guessed that Sable123 name was Mary. I had him pegged as a Rick.

[GSDGunner]

Originally Posted by Jax08

Who would have guessed that Sable123 name was Mary. I had him pegged as a Rick.

Rick, whew, I almost read that wrong....

[Josie/Zeus]

I'm glad she's not my Vet-

[carmspack]

quote "And nearly all of us (Veterinarians) are laughing all the way to the bank after we fix - if possible - the problems caused by some of the alternative diets to the tune of $5,000.00, more or less, per dog. Many of the problems can't be fixed, and the pet dies"

Oh, really ? Well then mr/ms Vet , continue laughing to the bank ---- is THAT why you became a vet? --- well then you keep on laughing and you plan your vacations .

Meanwhile vets get fewer patient calls from well fed raw fed dogs . Personal experience , the only time I see my vet, who I like and would recommend in a heartbeat , is for rabies and x-rays , prelim then certification.

You don't think kibble companies are worried at their shrinking market share? Why do you think they are scrambling to create grain free and other more acceptable products . It is a tidal wave . Sure not all raw feeders are doing right or the best but still better .

Carmen

[onyx'girl]

Vets are so amusing! Veterinarians Behaving Badly

[Jax08]

The people who feed barf, raw, or home-cooked diets are the ones I really want to identify. First their dogs are at severe risk for many many problems. For instance, the dog with a high blood phosphorous level; does it have kidney disease or an owner feeding barf?

If she can't figure this one out then there is a serious problem. ummm...what ELSE indicates kidney disease? mmmmm....????

[Courtney]

I got the feel for this article quickly after starting to read it and kept thinking "wait for it..wait for it"...the raw food diet is going to be coming and how dogs fed raw are unhealthy...yup, the vet went there. LOL

Three things I learned fast with regards to most vets.

Don't listen to advice on:

1. nutrition
2. vaccines
3. training