Hey Doc, What should I feed my pet?

This is a question that almost every client asks at some point and I used to cringe a little every time I heard it.  Why balk at the chance to educate clients and improve the nutritional health of pets you ask?  Because no matter how careful we are as veterinarians to try and stay abreast of the commercial pet food market, it is always changing.  The food I recommend today because it has had a long, consistent history of quality ingredients will inevitably have a recall next week.  Pretty much every major company has had a recall at some point, believe me, I monitor the recall notice boards.  Not to mention that no matter what I suggest or my reasons for recommending it, clients will always believe the T.V. network chef turned pet food mogul or the stock boy at the big box pet store over their DVM with a medical degree and the best interest of their pet in mind.

I recently attended a meeting for veterinarians on a newer company that is making nutraceuticals (supplements) and pet foods and was blown away.  For those of you who have not yet gotten a chance to know me yet, I have a little skeptic streak (from my Dad) and do not, as a rule, trust advertising on face value.  I need to see the science and research and real world studies before recommending products for my patients.  But this company was something different.  First, they can track all of their ingredients to the source and provide that information to clients with a click of your mouse.  Next, they have done extensive, double-blinded studies to confirm efficacy for their nutraceuticals.  Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they test their products for content AFTER production.  Companies that make supplements (and are regulated by FDA) are only required to report what goes into their products.  However, many of the supplement nutrients are fragile and significantly degraded during the manufacturing process.  So that bottle of 200mg blank-vitamin had to contain 200mg before it was compressed into those capsules, but is not required to test and report how much in the finished product.  More often than not over 50% can be lost during production. 
 
Complete transparency in pet food ingredient and manufacturing is amazing, especially in the age of weekly recalls.  I love that I can recommend a food that is not only completely traceable, tested post-production for quality and content and that the company makes it so easy for pet owners to access this information.  I love that I can recommend a joint, skin or liver supplement to my clients and know that the concentration it states on the bottle is what their pet will actually get.  I have to be skeptical of new trends and fads when looking out for my patients’ health.  I am so excited to be able to recommend and offer a truly quality product that has been tested for efficacy and content.  If you are looking for a true quality food or supplement for your pet, come in to see us and we’ll help you find one appropriate for your pet’s age, lifestyle and/or medical condition.