How to Talk to Your Vet About What Your Pet Eats
We often don’t like to talk about what we eat. Our doctors might ask us what our typical diet consists of, and we might be apt to answer with what we think they want to hear: “You know, doc, just grilled chicken breasts, salmon…plenty of lean proteins, flanked, of course, by broccoli or asparagus!”
In reality, many of us hit the Jack in the Box drive-thru on the way home from work, or will scarf down a platter of chicken wings while watching a football game.
It’s difficult, but understandable. A similar issue can happen with our pets. If you take your dog or cat to the vet, for example, you’re likely to get the same question related to your pet’s diet. While your pet may mostly eat a specific type of dog or cat food, they may also be getting…other things, too. Table scraps, a discarded pizza crust here and there—it happens.
But with pet obesity rates climbing, it’s time to try and get a handle on the whole diet conversation situation. Especially when it comes to your pets. It’s a real problem, too.
Consider this: A survey conducted a couple of years ago by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) showed that in 2022, 59% of dogs and 61% of cats were classified as either overweight or obese.
The founder of APOP, Dr. Ernie Ward, said that “Obesity in pets is not just a cosmetic issue, it is a major health issue that can lead to numerous medical conditions, such as diabetes, orthopedic diseases, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer. It's time for veterinarians, the pet industry, and pet owners to take further action and address this growing problem.”
While it’s always a good idea to speak with your vet about your pet’s diet, the onus lies on us, veterinarians, too.
Opening communication about pets’ diets
A May 2023 Purina Institute study showed that 96% of pet owners said they trust their veterinarian for pet nutrition advice. However, only 22% of veterinarians have proactive conversations about pet nutrition during most appointments.
Purina—a company that produces pet food, among other things, which is worth keeping in mind—has been at work on this very issue. In August, it launched the Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Well-Pet Nutrition, a 322-page tome created with contributions from more than 50 experts in 20 countries. Suffice it to say, they did the work.
While the handbook does help veterinary teams learn more about effective communication strategies with clients, we also want pet owners to know that we want to talk about diet and nutrition, too. If you have questions, please ask. If you’re unclear about something—perhaps you saw a concerning social media post that has you worried or confused—bring it up. We want to correct any misconceptions out there, and your questions help us inform other clients, too.
And, as always, please let us know if you think our communication on this topic could improve. We want all of our pets and pet owners to be as happy and healthy for as long as possible, and communication is key!
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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