Shocked by Vet's Response Toward the Raw Diet

[DaneMama]

He still believes feeding raw is wrong and that I should return to kibble, but he is nuts if he thinks I will! I am not going to torture my poor pup and make her go through what she was going through when she was on kibble!

This right here is what I don't get. Unless he cares more about the money you spent with medical bills prior to the switch, that he no longer sees...how in his right (and scientific) mind would he think you should go back?!

[BoxerParty]

The problem with telling them the truth is if something digestive comes up, I am afraid they will always blame it on the raw food no matter what is really going on. It could be detrimental to my dogs if they refuse to look past raw food as a problem.

^THIS. Malcolm has *always* had issues with his digestion. This has been largely sorted out by feeding him raw, but he has had a couple of episodes of serious diarrhea, which I think are attributable to stress, in one case, and enhanced chicken in the other 2. If my vet knew he were eating raw, every time Malcolm got diarrhea, the vet would say it was because his diet "isn't balanced". I know this to be false. Moreover, I *only* take my dogs to the vet for diarrhea if it is serious (totally liquid stools over several days, not resolved by giving slippery elm and feeding exclusively high-bone meats like turkey necks, and combined with whining to go out in the middle of the night and/or poop accidents inside or in their crates), so I'm probably already blaming myself in some way and don't need the guilt trip.

[Thunder409]

This right here is what I don't get. Unless he cares more about the money you spent with medical bills prior to the switch, that he no longer sees...how in his right (and scientific) mind would he think you should go back?!

That is what I don't understand! He says that even though she is doing so well on the raw diet he still thinks that she isn't having a balanced meal, that she is going to have some sort of deficiency, or it will affect her in some way in the long run.

I don't know how he thinks going back to kibble will be any good for her. Every brand we tried did something to her, and I know that feeding her raw is much healthier for her.

Anyway, I haven't gone back to him in a while (because for once she is doing great ), but a friend of mine told me her vet actually tells people to try the raw diet, so I am thinking of checking her out.

[DaneMama]

Honestly I'd go back to the first vet who doesnt believe in raw. Keep going back to him to prove that nothing is deficient. Run annual or semi annual blood work to check vital organ function. That way he has no justifiable reason to think that raw is inadequate. Yes going to the other vet will help make things more friendly and less confrontational, but that other vet already believes in raw.

Make him believe and see the benefits for years to come. That's how it's done!

[BoxerParty]

Honestly I'd go back to the first vet who doesnt believe in raw. Keep going back to him to prove that nothing is deficient. Run annual or semi annual blood work to check vital organ function. That way he has no justifiable reason to think that raw is inadequate. Yes going to the other vet will help make things more friendly and less confrontational, but that other vet already believes in raw.

Make him believe and see the benefits for years to come. That's how it's done!

Or, alternative: go to raw-friendly vet. Forward test results/photos/etc. to raw-skeptical vet. Same result (he sees the benefits), minus the drawbacks of seeing him (aggravations of dealing with repeated exhortations to beware of the imbalances of the raw diet).

[Thunder409]

That is very true! The main reason I wanted to switch vets was because of what other posters said, about how everything will be blamed on the diet. I am going to stick with him for now. She needs her annual heart worm test done this February along with the physical, so we will see what he says.

[DaneMama]

No, he sounds like the kind of vet that needs to personally examine the dog himself, not just see number on paper. Going to this guy is just what I would do since I'm not afraid to stand up to any vet about raw.

With all that said, if your dog gets sick I would go to the raw friendly vet before that other guy, because like already mentioned he will immediately blame raw and nothing more.

[Thunder409]

No, he sounds like the kind of vet that needs to personally examine the dog himself, not just see number on paper. Going to this guy is just what I would do since I'm not afraid to stand up to any vet about raw.

With all that said, if your dog gets sick I would go to the raw friendly vet before that other guy, because like already mentioned he will immediately blame raw and nothing more.

Yeah that is what I will do. I will check out the other vet, but I will continue going to the current one. If something serious happens I will take her to the other one. I want this guy to realize just how amazing a raw diet is.

[MollyWoppy]

Keep going back to him to prove that nothing is deficient. Run annual or semi annual blood work to check vital organ function. That way he has no justifiable reason to think that raw is inadequate.

Make him believe and see the benefits for years to come. That's how it's done!

Yes, you explained it so much more eloquently that I could. This is exactly what non-confrontational pathetic little me is doing. I like and respect this vet enough that I will try to force him to change his way of thinking.

They do blame everything that's wrong with your dog on the raw food. Last time I went there with Mol, I walked out of there with a sample bag of Science Diet.