The Diet/Health Connection: The Word is Out!

How many times has each of us bought something that looked great on the outside yet contained little or nothing that it promised on the inside, all because the packaging was so convincing? A glaring example of this that caught my attention is a popular dog kibble sold in supermarkets. The maker boasts juicy red meats and colorful fresh vegetables splashed boldly across a glossy white bag. It has great visual appeal and is an attractive package in the pet food aisle. Well, I have opened that bag and I have looked inside... and I am here to report that I have seen nothing in the bag that remotely resembles the pictures on the bag! The irony is that there is no mistaking the message there, even from the pet food manufacturer... the word is out that real food is what our pets need to maintain optimal health. 
 
The 2007 pet food recall disclosed not only the idea that lots of things get by us that shouldn't, but that we cannot rely on various agencies to do all of our thinking for us. There comes a time when we need to start relying on our own good common sense. We have to look straight into that glossy bag with all the juicy pictures and say to ourselves... "Does that look or smell even remotely like food?".

We have to rely on our own good sense in other areas too. Although a handful of dedicated veterinarians throughout the nation are now encouraging their clients to consider 'natural' alternatives to commercial pet food, the majority still hold onto their old beliefs that most commercial pet foods are perfectly fine for your pets and theirs. I do not believe there is anything underhanded going on here. These are their true beliefs, though outdated and based in ignorance.  

I'm going to blunt here; ignorance can no longer claim to be bliss. I don't go to my doctor for information about nutrition because I know he has little training in it (he told me himself that he had about ten hours of nutritional training throughout his entire medical career). 

Following the same trend, until very recently even the best veterinary schools didn't regard pet nutrition as worth teaching. Consequently, almost everything the average veterinarian has learned about feeding pets has come from the reps who supply the pet foods that he or she in turn sells to you. To my mind, the regurgitated praises of pet food companies for their own products is not what I'm hoping for in the way of guidance from my pet's health care providers. So, with all due respect, as with my own doctor, I do not look to my veterinarian for the nutritional health of my pets.

Here's something to think about... probably 95% of veterinary patients are cats and dogs. Cats and dogs are carnivores, and that means that they require a diet much higher in animal protein than we humans. The world is pretty much in agreement these days that we are what we eat. It doesn't seem much of a stretch to extend that same rule to our pets. Wouldn't it make sense in the practice of administering professional health care to dogs and cats that training in carnivore nutrition would be essential?

Back to the small but growing number of veterinarians who actually support the idea of leaving commercial pet food behind in favor of a diet more naturally suited to the animal. They are the ground breakers in their industry and they are listening to their clients. Still, there are some hurdles to overcome. 

Most veterinarians work for a clinic or hospital practice. More and more, these practices are becoming corporately owned. Just like physicians in a human hospital practice, they may have certain productivity benchmarks to meet. For example, veterinary vaccination appointments bring in a substantial amount of revenue. A veterinarian who is not encouraging clients to get annual booster shots may be noticed unfavorably by superiors. If a veterinary facility does a big business in pet food, that same veterinarian may be required to stop engaging in conversations about feeding 'real' food, even if he or she whole heartedly believes in its benefits.  And if none of those hurdles are present, I hear from my clients that even when their veterinarian agrees that a diet of 'real' food is best for pets, they are rarely able to provide any guidelines for it and don't yet know where to send their clients for reliable information.

The sad fact is that a veterinary facility today probably has the least information available on a healthy diet for your pets than anywhere else you might think to look for it. While I am confident that we are at the forefront of some huge and wonderful changes in how veterinary care is taught and practiced, we are not there yet and like most big industries, it is a titanic that will take some time to turn around.  
 
In the meantime, there are established and dedicated sources out there where you can find the information you need about optimal pet nutrition and can be confident that it is reliable. 

We at Pet Wellness Resource Center recognize each pet as an individual, that while their basic needs may be the same as another, their own particular requirements related to age, activity level and current state of health are specific to them. We make it our business to get the right information about pet nutrition to you about your pet.

At Pet Wellness Resource Center we are passionate about keeping you informed and helping you to keep your beloved pets healthy and happy through the most natural means possible. We offer our services to you through telephone consultations, health evaluations and workshops at your pet business, organizations and clubs.  

For more information please visit our website at www.PetWellnessRC.com or call us at 978-655-4696.