Discussions

I just wanted to make a few comments on this post which is circulating. Its great that people are aware of what they are feeding their pet but there is a lot of misinformation that is being perpetuated.  
1. Yes, clinics do make money off of food sales but so does Walmart, PetValue etc. Commercial pet stores make a living off of pet food sales. We make a living from sound veterinary practices  
2. We do not get kick backs. Frankly we are lucky if we get some free samples.  
3. We promote certain diets because they are THERAPEUTIC and SCIENTIFICALLY proven to do what they claim.  
4. Hills and Royal Canin and Purina (plus many others) take the time to educate us and our staff about the benefits and we attend conferences regarding dietary health.  
5. Through those companies we have access to dietary specialist and nutritionists who do have the training. In challenging cases we can confer with a nutritionist specific to your pet's health and this service is often done at no cost to you.  
6. Did I mention the scientific trials? So your pet is NOT the guinea pig. However if you feed diets like Blue, Acana, Old Roy then yes you're pets are the guinea pigs because those companies have never taken the time or effort to reach out to vet clinics to promote their "totally awesome 100% dairy, corn, gluten, soy, byproduct free" diet let alone share the scientific data (or lack thereof). I'm sure there are some really great diets available out there but we can't speak to their integrity, quality, source and digestibility.  
7. Ever see adverts regarding vet clinic food? Rarely because money is spent on science and nutritional studies not fancy marketing based commercials.  
8. Most veterinary staff feed their pets vet clinic diets not because they are cheaper (which they aren't) but because we feel they are nutritionally sound and healthier for our pets  
9. Dietary questions? Ask us - we don't know all the answers but chances are we do know which direction to point you. 7 years of studies dedicated to animal health has to carry some clout over the summer student employed at the pet store.

Mostly we feed our Gucci fresh raw fish, cooked chicken, canned tuna and occasionally salmon ,, but she really doesn''t like it (salmon) much. She''s a happy, healthy energetic 4 yr old with a really great coat.  
 
Edited by Caroline, 2016-11-25 10:14:40

Thank You Jofly That does really make sense. You are the professionals and I truly believe and trust my Vet's advice. It is now just making my fussy cat go along with the advice...lol.

A hand made, Manitoba product in Best West Foods called Smack.  
 
It was suggested to us for our nearly 17 year old cat. It is made in small, handmade batches and has very high quality proteins that I was told helped with UTI and kidney issues among other general health issues. Most likely because the regular fillers are not there and the starting ingredients are better, but who knows. I love the idea of supporting a small business from Manitoba too.  
 
Might be worth adding it to his diet??

I have researched and compared ingredients in a lot of pet foods when my cat got sick with urinary problems.  
 
From what I have learned, Royal Canin and Science Hills are not that different. The vet gave me a sample of Science Hills dry food, and I did not like how it made my cats coats greasy with a lot of dandruff. I never tried the Royal Canin stuff, but I would assume I would get the same results.  
 
I would suggest a grain free cat food, with meats listed first. My cats get Precise Naturals Holistic Adult, and they are doing great on it. Others I have looked at are Chicken Soup, Call of the Wild, and Blue Wilderness. All have comparable ingredients. Some are more expensive than others. My cats also get good quality wet food every day (not Fancy Feast). I give them a variety between Weruva, Blue Wilderness, and Science Hills for Urinary health (I liked the ingredients, and it's the dry food that makes their coats gross). I will be looking into the Smack brand that someone has mentioned, because I to would love to support a Manitoba business.  
 
Based on my own experiences, the quality of food is apparent in the health of the cats coats, and how the litter boxes don't smell (it all depends on how often you clean them tho to lol).