Vet Visit

My M took Helios for his last vaccination last week, but unfortunately he could not do it coz he had a slight tummy upset from over-eating (told you not to finish up Tommy's dinner!). I think my M was a little pissed with the vet coz she claimed to have paid to listen to a 'lecture'. Funny, I don't see her doing any pissing at the vet tho, and I was there!

The vet asked my M what she fed that caused the tummyache, and she said we're on home cooked food (hcf), and he then asked her if we're on any supplements. So my M told him she's feeding us calcium (since our HCF has no bones, and therefore not much calcium) and the vet went 'Oh No you should not be feeding calcium!' and went on and on about why people do things they have no idea about and the dangers of over-supplementing with calcium. Even when my M pointed out that the breeder recommended calcium for growing pups, the vet still went blabbering about how too many people feed calcium without knowing about calcium-phospherous ratio etc.

And he disapproved of my M feeding us hcf, coz he said that we should be eating 'nutritionally balanced dog food', because the average owner don't know enough about nutrition to feed dogs. He even claimed that he studied a year of nutrition and even he dare not prepare his own dog's meal! Well, I would say that he have studied in vain then!

My M then made a passing mention that she would have given barf if she had time and I think the vet almost fainted. He was blabbering about why dogs should not even eat raw food and bones is the worst! He even asked my M if she would eat raw food and she told him she likes sashimi. Anyway, he said unless she has fresh chickens which she kill and feed to us immediately, he wouldn't call them fresh. And he yakked about why people want to think of dog's ancestry and feel we should feed raw meat like we're feeding wolves. And about how dog's stomach are not meant for raw food.

He also asked why my M fed hcf and she said it's coz I can't take kibbles. It's true, I have bad diarrhoea once I eat any brand of kibbles. He went on to say that there's no reason that the other dog (meaning Helios) should not eat dog food just because I am allergic to dog food, especially since he's a growing pup and needs a nutritionally balaned diet. And what's the main point of all these talk? You know how come vets will carry certain brands of dog food by certain companies? My M thinks it's because he wanted to recommended her the brand of vet prescribed dog food for 'sensitive dogs' which they carry.

My M did not want to start a debate with him so she just nodded her head while secretly rolling her eyes. Anyway, my M thinks that dogs have been living well on fresh food long before kibbles were invented, and fresh food is always better than dog food. Most of the time you don't even know what really goes into those kibbles! And with the recent food recall, dog food aren't that safe either.

And for all of these, plus a thermometer poked up Helios ass, my M had to pay $21 for 'consultation', which she felt she could have done without.

I'm sooooo glad my M did not decide to change our diet, or I'll be stuck with boring dog food every day!

She's now thinking of changing vets coz the last time she took me to for my vaccination, she also encountered another 'preachy' vet at the same place, and she cannot imagine having to listen to a lecture everytime she brings us to the vet.

Anyone can recommend any vet who is not so 'against' holistic or more natural ways for taking care of a dog?