Can I trust the Vet????

[littcoheat]

Before we picked up Hooligan last week, I thought I did my homework on the food subject. I researched, took into consideration the recommendations from people on this forum, I read and understand how to evaluate dog food and it's ingredients, I chose Canidae to start with.

BUT...When I went to the first vet check today, she didn't even know what Canidae was, and when she found out it was an all life stage food, she shook her head at me like I had done something wrong and said "You MUST feed him a puppy formula- studies have shown that it's has specific things they need to grow properly. I don't care what it is, as long as it's a puppy formula for a large breed." Then she gave me a sample of Science Diet. First ingredient: corn of course

Okay: 1.) Do they really need the puppy formula- It makes sense that in the wild, they would eat everything the other dogs eat, just more or less depending on their needs...is there any reason why this wouldn't apply to my dog, or am I withholding something important?
2.) It was my understanding that Boxers are not a large breed, but a medium breed. If that's true, why is my vet saying otherwise. Didn't she go to school for this?
I don't know who to trust. I'm so frustrated.

 

[annabella]

if she doesn't know what canidae is, i wouldnt trust her! haha my vet knows the good food! but doesn't push it, he says it doesnt make the much of a difference and its really up to me we went with canidae ;-)

 

[Pearlywhirly]

Your choice of Canidae is fine, it is your dog and you are the one buying the food. Nutrition is something that is not as heavily studied as medicine when vets are in school and the food reps really push their product. I work in an animal hospital and the Science Diet reps are in there at least once a week. They offer huge discounts to employees ($4 for 40#) and if you can get them hooked it's a safe bet they will be recommending their food to clients. I am waiting for them to ask why I don't buy any.

 

[jgerhold]

Your vet is right and wrong. You can feed almost any food you would like as a puppy however, your vet is right about the calcium/phosphorous ratio which should be between 1:3:1 and 1:2:1 (ex. calcium 1.5% and phosphorous 1.2 %). Keep the protein between 23-25% and the fat around 12% to 15% and your pup should be alright. Canidae would fit in these guidelines.

 

[littcoheat]

Your choice of Canidae is fine, it is your dog and you are the one buying the food. Nutrition is something that is not as heavily studied as medicine when vets are in school and the food reps really push their product. I work in an animal hospital and the Science Diet reps are in there at least once a week. They offer huge discounts to employees ($4 for 40#) and if you can get them hooked it's a safe bet they will be recommending their food to clients. I am waiting for them to ask why I don't buy any.

wow thanks- that's an eye-opener!

 

[littcoheat]

Your vet is right and wrong. You can feed almost any food you would like as a puppy however, your vet is right about the calcium/phosphorous ratio which should be between 1:3:1 and 1:2:1 (ex. calcium 1.5% and phosphorous 1.2 %). Keep the protein between 23-25% and the fat around 12% to 15% and your pup should be alright. Canidae would fit in these guidelines.

That's a relief, thanks!

 

[mybubbieroo]

Hope you have better luck than me!

I have gone to 4 different vets in a 60 mile radius and the two things they all have had in common are. One they call Bubbie a large breed dog and two they all recommend Science diet .:eek: Now I just had to pick my favorite one and hope for the best. So far so good. If anything very serious happens I will travel farther and find a specialist but for the little things I guess I will stick with this one even though he thinks Bubbie is a large science diet eating breed! LOL. Good luck!

 

[littcoheat]

I have gone to 4 different vets in a 60 mile radius and the two things they all have had in common are. One they call Bubbie a large breed dog and two they all recommend Science diet .:eek: Now I just had to pick my favorite one and hope for the best. So far so good. If anything very serious happens I will travel farther and find a specialist but for the little things I guess I will stick with this one even though he thinks Bubbie is a large science diet eating breed! LOL. Good luck!

How funny! Well- after Pearlywhirly's comment I understand why the people at Science Diet have such power in the vet world!

 

[Pearlywhirly]

How funny! Well- after Pearlywhirly's comment I understand why the people at Science Diet have such power in the vet world!

Well, that's why you don't see much advertisement. Drug companies do the same thing, sending reps to doctor's offices to push product. I was at the doctor for a dog bite last February and there were three different drug reps in the waiting room. I'm not trying to make them sound like bad people, they have a job to do after all, it's just that it's junky food.

I'm sure your vet is used to people just nodding their heads and going along with what she says. Good for you for doing your due dilligence! Your dog will be better for it.