What do veterinarians think about commercial pet food and its impact on companion animal health?
From the API (Animal Protection Institute) Winter 1998 Issue Veterinarians: What they think about pet food Last spring API and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) developed a survey to answer that question. Most veterinarians who responded share API’s concerns about the quality of commercial pet food and its influence on companion animal health. Cause of Disease Respondents to the survey rated nutrition as having a moderate to strong influence on a number of health problems in dogs and cats. Developmental bone disease in dogs and lower urinary tract disease in cats were also seen as being strongly influenced by nutrition. “Clinical experience tells me many medical problems are caused by commercial diets”‘ offered one vet. Another commented, “I believe that the incredibly poor quality of commercial pet foods is largely responsible for the continued increase in chronic, degenerative diseases in dogs and cats”. More than 90% of veterinarians responding to the survey
