Buying a Veterinarian

by Dr. Laurie Coger

 

I recently read a highly informative article by Dr. Laurie Coger regarding pet foods sold at veterinarian offices.  More importantly, how those food companies are impacting the thinking and decision making of veterinary students.

Pet Food Programs in Vet Schools

Most if not all veterinary schools have some sort of Pet Food Program featuring brands like Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, and Purina. Suddenly, “premium” food and “prescription” diets are affordable to the broke vet student. The very foods listed on the laminated notebook insert with the conditions where they should be used are clearly listed. The products they hear about in their internal medicine lectures, the brands that have given them books, backpacks, scrub shirts, and other imprinted sway are all available to students at an exceptionally low cost. When Dr. Coger was a vet student, she could purchase a 40 lb. bag of Science Diet Maintenance for a mere $10. A case of canned food could also be purchased for $10.

Recommending Those Same Foods in Their Practice

Dr. Coger recommended those food to all her clients when she went into practice. She recommended their “prescription” diets for patients will all sorts of health issues and never considered any other brands. Her loyalty and medical recommendations had been bought $10 at time over her four years of veterinary college.

We are all influenced by our experiences. Veterinary students think warm thoughts to those that provide them with a research laboratory, discounts on products, or gifts such a t-shirt or other swag.  This leads to blindly trusting that pet food company without any scientific thought or open mind.

Purchasers of pet food need to be aware of the subliminal marketing effects of these pet food companies and their participation and support in veterinary education.

Please read the article in its entirety at http://healthydogworkshop.com/buying-a-veterinarian/

Photo credit: Crowdspring