That is not however what you claimed: that *all the nutrition classes taught to vets are taught by Hills reps*. They are not -- they are taught by vet school staff at vet colleges. Corporate sponsorship is the norm for prizes and scholarships in just about every field -- drug company support enabled both the Uk SM conferences to be held, for example, and pet food and drug company support has underwritten many of the research projects done on dogs, including cavaliers. Food sponsorships enable all the major dog shows. That doesn't mean every breeder goes off and feeds Eukanuba or Purina Dog Chow.
Sponsorship is the norm for conferences, dog shows, universities, etc.
For many ill dogs, Hills foods have kept them alive as they are the largest supplier of specialist medical foods in the market. Royal Canin picks up a small subsection after purchasing a small company that also provides this corner of the market. There is a direct vet/medical connection for vets and these products. They are all nutritionally balanced -- so in my book, who cares if a small number of vets sell Hills food. Others sell Burns, Royal Canin, etc etc etc. Mine also sell rabbit food, cat litter, and litter boxes. The main issue I personally have with Hills is simply that, excepting the well-rated natural food, it is quite expensive for what is in it and I like something more simple and less costly, like James Wellbeloved. At the same time, I think people waste a heck of a lot of money on designer dogs foods that are supposedly 'natural; and 'what wild canids would eat' yet I've not ever seen a wolf eating kelp extract, brown rice, thyme, etc. :lol: Incidentally not one of my dogs has allergy problems or stomach issues (except for Lilys occasionally growly tummy, after she eats hideous things off the pavement from time to time...
).
But let's have a little context here. I sure wish breeders and pet owners got half as concerned about breeding practice and health, as they do about somethin as innocuous as food choices. For 95% of dogs, the latter is really of minimal impact on a dog's health as long as it is getting any of the maasive range of foods approved as nutritionally balanced. Throw in safe table scraps, and you've got a pretty good mix of food that will keep a dog happy and healthy. I can tell you for a fact (as I am older than some here! :lol: that dogs did not used to have all these allergy and stomach and health issues in the 60s, 70s etc when fed a pretty mediocre supermarket diet. Never even heard of dogs on tablets, special diets etc when we first had dogs (back when *everyone* had dogs). So what has changed...hmmmm.
Well, let's look at the biggest problems that have the greatest effect on health and lifespan in cavaliers. Every day, breeders continue to breed dogs outside the MVD protocol, condemning this breed to what is already an average lifespan three to five years shorter than typical of a toy dog breed (average lifespan for cavaliers is 7-10 years, statistically: appallingly short. It should be pushing 13-15 years). Few scan, and thus continue to breed dogs that may be hideously affected by syrinxes without their knowing. Amazingly, many still dispute whether the condition is even a serious issue in the breed, while every study shows about half of *younger* cavaliers, including dogs with no symptoms, have syrinxes. If research samples only included dogs over 5, you can bet the number would be well over 50%.
Most of us will end up with cavaliers affected by one or the other or both of these very serious health issues; at least one could have been reduced to a minimal problem in the past decade had breeders followed the MVD protocol.
So really: what a red herring for breeders in particular to ramble on about Hills and vet education while they breed whatever way they please. Meanwhile, puppy buyers would do far better by their dog to work with health-focused breeders as that is going to make a much bigger difference over the lifetime of a dog than whether it eats Purina, Hills, Orijen, or a raw meaty bone (and I do know of dogs that have died from rectal rupture and impactions on a raw meaty bone diet...it isn't exactly as raw advocates like to claim either).
On food, I firmly advocate reading widely, questioning statements of supposed fact, being cautious about internet claims, carefully thinking through risk and benefit, then make a decision. For most people, I think a medium price range balanced dry diet is a good cornerstone and then supplement with real food.
Others may like an all raw diet, a homecooked diet, etc. Or a mix! (that is what I go for).
There are a lot of good thoughtful choices.
