PVC Nutrition: By Dr. Maria Patink
Recently there have been many nutrition related questions on PVC. Rather than spending time replying to every single one, we thought it would be best to post a file that covers all the nutrition basics you need to know.
Everyone wants to know which pet food is ‘best’. The answer to that is complicated, and therefore you should read this article written by a veterinary nutritionist from Tufts University on what questions you should ask any pet food company you are considering. If the pet food company meets these criteria it is far more likely the pet food will be excellent for your pet's long-term health.
Recently there have been many nutrition related questions on PVC. Rather than spending time replying to every single one, we thought it would be best to post a file that covers all the nutrition basics you need to know.
Everyone wants to know which pet food is ‘best’. The answer to that is complicated, and therefore you should read this article written by a veterinary nutritionist from Tufts University on what questions you should ask any pet food company you are considering. If the pet food company meets these criteria it is far more likely the pet food will be excellent for your pet's long-term health.
To give you a short list, the most commonly recommended pet food brands (at this point) are, in no particular order: Royal Canin, Purina Pro Plan, Hill’s and sometimes also Eukanuba. These companies meet all the criteria listed in the article above, and they go above and beyond the minimum threshold of nutrition research required in regards to bioavailability of nutrients and ensuring that the diets are balanced for long term health. These companies also have fed innumerable pets over decades with no issues.
Next, let’s address grains, in particular. There has been a lot of false advertising in the last few years by a number of disreputable pet food companies implying grains are ‘bad’. This is a myth. Here’s a link to Ohio State’s nutrition page that discusses the actual definitions of the buzzwords and what the truth is about them. This page is also written by a veterinary nutritionist.
https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/myths-and-misconceptions-surrounding-pet-foods
Additionally, less than 1% of pets have a grain allergy. So as of now, there is no reason to recommend feeding a grain free diet for the vast majority of pets. Given the research that is coming out showing dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy from being fed the grain free diets, there is every reason to avoid them. Here is a link to a UC Davis article summarizing what is currently known.
Next, let’s address grains, in particular. There has been a lot of false advertising in the last few years by a number of disreputable pet food companies implying grains are ‘bad’. This is a myth. Here’s a link to Ohio State’s nutrition page that discusses the actual definitions of the buzzwords and what the truth is about them. This page is also written by a veterinary nutritionist.
https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/myths-and-misconceptions-surrounding-pet-foods
Additionally, less than 1% of pets have a grain allergy. So as of now, there is no reason to recommend feeding a grain free diet for the vast majority of pets. Given the research that is coming out showing dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy from being fed the grain free diets, there is every reason to avoid them. Here is a link to a UC Davis article summarizing what is currently known.
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-investigates-link-between-dog-diets-and-deadly-heart-disease
Finally, there are a number of myths that veterinarians don’t get nutrition classes, that we are taught nutrition by food companies, and that these companies also give us kickbacks for recommending their products. None of this is true.
1) Prior to veterinary school, people will have varying amounts of nutrition knowledge depending on what their undergraduate degree was, but most will have at least one class (that is usually 3 hours/week for a semester). During veterinary school, we all get nutrition classes (again, usually 3-4 hours/week for at least one semester) taught by experts in the top of their fields and who are boarded specialists in veterinary nutrition, and they are employed by the veterinary school and are absolutely NOT from a food company.
2) Other than an occasional pizza lunch or a few pens, we get absolutely nothing from food companies. We certainly don’t get free food for our own pets, never mind anything else as ‘compensation’. Pet food retail in the vet clinic sells for a very low mark up, which is minimally more than the cost of stocking it. This markup needs to cover the time taken for a person to make and place orders to keep food in stock, receive the orders, restock the shelves, and to cover the space the food takes up in the clinic (shelving, electricity, heat, the building itself etc). Veterinary clinics do this for convenience for the pet owner, the clinics make their money to pay staff and bills etc by operating as hospitals, not as pet food stores.
3) Veterinarians are often paid by salary or by the hour (meaning their take home pay doesn’t vary in the least bit, no matter what they recommend or don’t recommend). There are some veterinarians who receive some production, but that is only on the medical procedures they perform, it doesn’t include medications or nutrition recommendations, so when you hear these recommendations know that it doesn’t have anything to do with making money. It is truly meant in the best interest of your pet. Your veterinarian is part of the team that wishes to keep your pet healthy and happy for as long as possible!
Finally, there are a number of myths that veterinarians don’t get nutrition classes, that we are taught nutrition by food companies, and that these companies also give us kickbacks for recommending their products. None of this is true.
1) Prior to veterinary school, people will have varying amounts of nutrition knowledge depending on what their undergraduate degree was, but most will have at least one class (that is usually 3 hours/week for a semester). During veterinary school, we all get nutrition classes (again, usually 3-4 hours/week for at least one semester) taught by experts in the top of their fields and who are boarded specialists in veterinary nutrition, and they are employed by the veterinary school and are absolutely NOT from a food company.
2) Other than an occasional pizza lunch or a few pens, we get absolutely nothing from food companies. We certainly don’t get free food for our own pets, never mind anything else as ‘compensation’. Pet food retail in the vet clinic sells for a very low mark up, which is minimally more than the cost of stocking it. This markup needs to cover the time taken for a person to make and place orders to keep food in stock, receive the orders, restock the shelves, and to cover the space the food takes up in the clinic (shelving, electricity, heat, the building itself etc). Veterinary clinics do this for convenience for the pet owner, the clinics make their money to pay staff and bills etc by operating as hospitals, not as pet food stores.
3) Veterinarians are often paid by salary or by the hour (meaning their take home pay doesn’t vary in the least bit, no matter what they recommend or don’t recommend). There are some veterinarians who receive some production, but that is only on the medical procedures they perform, it doesn’t include medications or nutrition recommendations, so when you hear these recommendations know that it doesn’t have anything to do with making money. It is truly meant in the best interest of your pet. Your veterinarian is part of the team that wishes to keep your pet healthy and happy for as long as possible!
