I have posted a link on health and feeding so wont go into detail about Oliver again but my vet seemed quite concerned i was feeding Oliver meaty bones and is hinting that his illnes could be down to it. i havent heard from the vet yet so can not say whats wrong. What can i say to the vet (who ws shocked he ate the bones) so as to make me feel confident in my decision to feed RAW. I told her i had done alot of research but couldnt at that time say anything specific in a positive way about the diet.
Any suggestions?

Sandy is your girl for this - i would imagine she has a whole load of stuff to throw at your Vet

send her a message as she isnt always on ST

Just had vet phone me and im not happy with her diagnosis. She says he seems to have an ear infection but could also have a bad tooth. I said so he hasnt got anyhting stuck then and she just said try him on antibotics for a few days and see if he gets better.
An ear infection would seem to be a cause of the temperature but she seemed to be guessing. Anyway i can pick him up at 4.30 so i will monitor him over the next few days and hope that antibiotics make him better.
Just glad to have him home soon!!

I hope he's ok. I wouldn't like to be in your position, I feel that raw feeding is just the sensible thing to do! Mind you the support from everyone on here has helped so very much.
I was reading the website by Emma the TV vet last night, she is against raw feeding for the all the normal reasons, In the 100 years their digestive systems have changed, bones will only make them choke. She recommends Hills food saying it's great. Funny though there is a big hills banner/link on the top of the page, wonder how much she's paid. As an aside she's also against all dog shows and pedigree breed standards. So to go off the point it just made me mad, So many people are influenced by a celebratie.

Sending oliver hugs and get well kisses.
Sue

thanks very much. I will continue with RAW until i am presented with evidence that it is wrong or Oliver stops thriving on it. Its just the vet made me feel guilty today for feeding him it. As my OH said Oliver has put on weight, his limp which he had as a puppy has stopped, firm stools (usually!), not so hyper but still lots of energy and a fantastic glossy coat, which he never had before. It could all be coincidence but i dont think so.

I feed raw and don't innoculate either. Have asked vets to note the non innoculation on my records and that it's an informed decision and not being lazy or a cheapskate.

BTW Emma Milne is the main vet at my practice - we hold very differring views on many things and I don't see her unless I have to ................ nuff said

To be honest what you feed your dogs is completely up to you, nothing to do with the vet.
At University vets get very little training in nutrition, and what they do get is sponsored by the pet food companies And yes they do get 'rewards' for selling lots of Hills or Royal Canin or whatever.
My pup had constant diarrhoea on every pet food out there, now he is on raw he is absolutely fine, that speaks volumes to me!
I've worked as a vet nurse in a busy practice for more than 10 years and I can tell you that we have never had to open up a dog to remove a raw bone that is causing a problem, the odd cooked/'petshop' one yes, but we all know not to feed cooked bones.
I'm lucky that my vet is a good friend who doesn't have a problem with raw feeding, in fact he's quite happy for me to feed his own dogs bones.
Just stick to your guns and don't be put off by your vet scaremongering about something she knows nothing about
I hope Oliver is all better soon!
(Oh yes and if the vet suspects he has a bad tooth she should be able to diagnose that properly, I would suggest when you take Oliver back for his checkup you see a different vet!)
XXX

Don't worry love... I have the same problem! Every time I go to the vet I get sheets of lists that I should choose for my dogs food. ALL kibble I'm not as luck being in Canada, Most if not all people don't feed raw.... I think after talking to all the pet stores and vets there is about maybe 1 other person that feed raw. Its just very rare here!

I totally agree here in Canada If your not happy with your vet they tell you to seek out a second opinion.

Here we go again The more dogs are fed a raw diet and forgo needless vaccinations the less they go back to the vets and then their revenue goes down, they are only trying to keep a roof over theirs and their families heads, I feel so sad for them sometimes, it's so unfair

Sandy

when i took Stell in with what turned out to be grass seed in her ear my vet said...

"do you walk her in grass? With other dogs?" and kind of huffed when i said of course i did - made me feel like i had been cruel!
When i collected her she then made a comment about the lead being dangerous and giving Stellar whiplash! (It flexes about 2" to save my arm coming out of the socket)... I think she must have had flu the week vet school covered springlies!


- as for feeding raw - although i don't do it, it's not because i think there is anything wrong with it - you just stick to your guns,

hope Oliver is better soon

I don't feed raw but if your vet is carrying on like this I would change vets immediately.

When we first got Marls the vets we went to didn't fill me with confidence, just brushed stuff off. So I changed vets and now I have one I'm confident with and I can trust to get to the bottom of the problem.

I agree with you, your dog thrives because it is a natural diet - for a canine! I feed raw (and bone too) any vet who disagrees with the way I feed my animals doesn't get my business - end of story! I'm paying them!!

These same vets are the ones who concocted and ok'd the feed for cattle which contained dead cattle which led to mad cow disease, now as far as I understood it cattle were herbivores and certainly not cannabalistic! BIOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE RAW FOOD or BONES AND RAW FOOD that is what we feed biologically appropriate food.

My concerns about Oliver were purely that an x-ray before other things are ruled out was a bit much. Did she examine his eyes to see if the third eyelid was across the eye? Did she ask if he had recently had any puncture wounds (such as bites, glass or a nail in a pad etc) because some of what you described flagged up Tetanus (lockjaw) and yes though it is rare dogs, can get it.

So what would I say to your vet????

I'd say are you the dogs owner? Are you paying me or am I paying you? Wish I could come with you!

Spot on Sandy!

Im usually a real strong person who will express my opinion and wont be railroaded into anything but i have this thing with vets and mechanics that i believe everything they say!!!
My OH is taking him next time as he is not happy!!

I've never yet talked to my vet about feeding Rhian, so I don't know his opinions. In your case I'd say that you have informed yourself well, and that you think the benefits outweigh the risks. Full stop. It is your decision, but of course he's free to tell you about his opinion.

A vet is entitled to tell clients about the risks of feeding bones - after all they get to see those dogs that came to grief over it - but after that the decision about what to feed is yours alone. If he won't accept that, I'd recommend looking for a different vet.

And no, I do not think vets give advice on purpose to make animals ill so that they can treat them again and earn money. There might be a black sheep like that, but for most this is an allegation without foundation that makes me really cross.