Why do vets recommend Science Diet and are grains bad for dogs?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By C. Rathjens, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on October 10th, 2018

  Those brands (and I'd throw Hills in to round out my personal list) are recommended by vets because they do good quality control and have veterinary nutritionists on staff to make sure they are producing a nutritionally complete diet. Generally, foods are the grocery store are lower quality than pet stores, although many pet stores are now pushing fad diets (ie grain free, raw, etc) and tiny producers that veterinarians don't support (in regards to the fads) or can't comment on their quality (in regards to tiny producers - doesn't mean they aren't good, we just don't know yet). I will comment that Blue Buffalo is a diet I see many issues with in pets, mostly with skin issues and diarrhea. I hope that helps answer you question!

  

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  Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on April 13th, 2018

  We recommend Hill's because it's an excellent food. There are veterinary nutritionists on staff at Hill's to ensure that each kind of food is specifically formulated to meet a dog or cat's nutritional needs, or to meet the medical needs in terms to medical problems such as kidney disease. They have excellent quality control over their food because they own their own factories, unlike companies such as Blue Buffalo who do not own their own factories, give their recipes to someone else to make, and have publicly admitted to having poor quality control over their food being made. In addition, their recipes are based on scientific evidence, unlike companies who make grain free foods where there is no scientific evidence it's beneficial, and in fact studies are now coming out showing that grain free diets with lentils are actually detrimental to a dog's health long term (leading to taurine deficiency and subsequent heart disease from the taurine deficiency). It's a common misconception that vet's have no training in nutrition, which is often stated by people who have never attended veterinary school. We do have lots of veterinary nutritional training throughout our schooling, and take continuing education classes on nutrition when practicing vets to keep up to date with current research and recommendations. I hope this answers your question.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful