What's a pet owner to do? Rant about kickbacks to vets and breeders

[TheBigBadWolf]

We got a new Labrador puppy last weekend. He's great, and we love him to pieces!

I've seen several recent threads here, including one that I started about various dog foods, supplements, etc that are supposedly "recommended" by veteranians, breeders, etc, -- just to find out that they are getting PAID to promote these products!

For example, our vet recommends Science Diet. I found out that it is a low rated dog food, full of grains and fillers, and that they pay vets to recommend them.

Then our breeder tells us to use NuVet vitamin supplements, even saying that the "health guarantee is dependent on continuing NuVet". Now, when you order it, you have to give an "order code" that identifies the breeder, so that they can get their reimbursement.

This is all very disheartnening.

Is there ANYONE who gives HONEST recommendations for your pets WITHOUT being paid off????

I think NuVet vitamins are probably a decent supplement, but they are very overpriced, IMO. Your breeder probably likes them and recommends them, and gets a discount on her own vitamins when her clients purchase them. I feel it is totally wrong to say your health contract is void if you don't feed this supplement. I do not believe that would ever stand up in court, though.

I feel you would be much better off feeding a quality dogfood (not Purina One, which you mentioned the breeder recommends), and forget the supplements. I don't feel a healthy dog needs supplements when they are getting quality food. Now, if the puppy is sick, that's another story.

You did the right thing by purchasing a Lab whose parents were OFA'ed. Chances are (from genetics) your puppy will also have good hips and elbows, and that is probably about all your health guarantee will cover anyway. I say feed a quality grain-free food and protect your puppy from jumping off high objects (like out of the bed of trucks) and other things to protect his hips from injury while he's young, and you won't ever need their health guarantee anyway.

 

[teacups]

I think NuVet vitamins are probably a decent supplement, but they are very overpriced, IMO. Your breeder probably likes them and recommends them, and gets a discount on her own vitamins when her clients purchase them. I feel it is totally wrong to say your health contract is void if you don't feed this supplement. I do not believe that would ever stand up in court, though.

I feel you would be much better off feeding a quality dogfood (not Purina One, which you mentioned the breeder recommends), and forget the supplements. I don't feel a healthy dog needs supplements when they are getting quality food. Now, if the puppy is sick, that's another story.

You did the right thing by purchasing a Lab whose parents were OFA'ed. Chances are (from genetics) your puppy will also have good hips and elbows, and that is probably about all your health guarantee will cover anyway. I say feed a quality grain-free food and protect your puppy from jumping off high objects (like out of the bed of trucks) and other things to protect his hips from injury while he's young, and you won't ever need their health guarantee anyway.

ITA with one addition... do not let him become overweight

 

[Deb in IA]

I'm not too worried about the health guarantee. It's not like we are going to return him if he has problems - we would, of course, keep him and give him the care and treatments that he needs. He's a part of the family now.

It's just the ulterior motives of all these so-called recommendations that really surprised, and saddened me.

 

[jrmasm]

It's just the ulterior motives of all these so-called recommendations that really surprised, and saddened me.

I don't blame you.

 

[goofy!]

It makes me wonder if there's somewhere to rate vets and breeders.

There is. At least for breeders.

The best thing to do is go to the national breed club for your breed (every breed has one) and check out the list of breeders.

These breeders are the ones that sign a code of ethics and are the most likely to be reputable and have the dogs and your best interest at heart and not their pocketbook.

To find your national breed club, go to www.akc.org, select your breed and there will be a listing of the breed club's website.

For instance, for my breed, The KCA or Komondor Club of America is the official breed club. MASKC is not "the" official breed club, but just as reputable. Any breeders that they recommend, I would trust.

Any breeder that is not a member of their national breed club, I would never trust.

 

[goofy!]

We were not told anything of this part of the "health guarantee" until we had already written the check and she was going over his paperwork and pedigree. It was all the packet we took home. She said she wanted him to be on this, to call them and order it, using her code. It was only after I read the letter that I saw that the part about the health guarantee.

We had a Lab previously, and are pretty experienced with the breed. Our last Lab, a wonderful black named Lewie, passed away last year from Canine Bloat at the age of 11. We miss him a lot, but are now ready for another four-legged member of the family.

This is how unethical breeders operate. I am sorry you got sucked in. It is so difficult for the person already not involved with the dog world to evaluate breeders. That is why a newbie is best to go with a breeder that has signed the breed's code of ethics. It isn't a 100% guarantee, but it certainly helps.

But even that, if you don't know that national breed clubs exist, you have no idea to go talk to them.

For anybody else buying a puppy - you should always get the puppy contract to review before you hand over any money (or fall in love with a puppy).

 

[goofy!]

To give some breeders credit, you also need to know your breed and what they need.

My breed, Komondor, is a large breed, in the working dog category. Most vets and most people not familiar with this rare breed would recommend a large breed dog food with a high protein content due to their "working dog" classification.

However, this breed is a livestock guardian dog. They are not bred to herd their flock, but to lay with the flock and guard them. They are not an active breed, so don't need that extra energy.

In fact, a high quality, high protein food would be very detrimental to them and does indeed cause problems. As our breeder says, "this breed would do best being fed sawdust."

As puppies, I did lots of bag checking to find the lowest protein dog food, completely opposite of what most breeds needed.

We feed Costco's Kirkland Lamb and Rice (made by Diamond) and they thrive on it.

But a novice to our breed or most vets would be horrified that our breeder and most Kom breeders actually recommend high grain content food for our breed.

 

[teacups]

By the way... congratulations on your new puppy! Can we expect pictures soon?