HereToRockYourWorld said:

I agree I have also seen some done by the RCVS some are interesting some in my opinion are just unbelievable time and money wasting; the pdf file is a summery of results I asked for more info so the vet photocopied a batch 247 papers interesting reading so I have asked for more information, think I’ll drive him around the bend LOL but I wont be fooled my dogs health is more important than someone having an agenda. I have also seen a few done by vets & researchers employed by leading manufactures those I just browse through I prefer independent research.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Melissa did you qualify as a veterinary nurse by in house training or at a university then do in house training?

katt said:

Yeah, where the money is coming from is very important. I don't dismiss everything that comes from a manufacturer, by any means. They have the most money and incentive to do studies, and some excellent research and understanding -- and benefits to pet health -- have come out of that. Large-scale research is so important, and so expensive. But. . .most people don't understand research enough to be that critical, so they're gonna have to rely on their vets to sort through it all.

I feel pretty good about the stuff that comes through the journals. I used to read JAVMA every day on my lunch break (). I think they take the science very seriously.

katt said:

I did it backwards. In-house training, then university. At this point I've got all of the qualifications on both ends (as far as all of the bio and chem classes plus technical skills), but I started on the job.

It's an interesting way to learn. Probably not ideal for most people, as far as understanding disease, though learning from experienced nurses is probably a better way to learn technical skills than in a classroom.

It was very cool, because at the place I worked for the longest, I had two vets that LOVED that I was a geek and wanted to know everything. One of them was a GP, and answered all of my questions, in detail, copied journals for me, pulled out her textbooks, just really answered like I was a colleague rather than brushing me aside as a "mere tech", which I appreciated. The other was an ultrasonographer, and she would talk me through all of the ultrasounds that I assisted on. . . I learned SO much about anatomy and physiology from her. . . they were awesome. You wouldn't believe how much of my pre-med coursework has been a breeze so far just because these vets took me under their wings.

It was a cool experience.

These days, I think it's harder to get your foot in the door that way. Most places want you to do school first. Which is a good thing, ultimately.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

A biologically appropriate diet for a dog is one that consists of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs' wild ancestors. The food fed must contain the same balance and type of ingredients as consumed by those wild ancestors. This food will include such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other "foods" that will mimic what those wild ancestors ate. Please note that modern dogs of any breed are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health. This is because their basic physiology has changed very little with domestication despite obvious and dramatic changes in their current physical appearance and mindset.

There is an enormous difference in health between pets raised on commercial pet food compared to those raised on a biologically appropriate raw food diet.

Vets receive very little worthwhile training in nutrition and no training in the use of raw whole foods and a biased approach to an understanding of commercially produced pet foods.

It is relevant to ask what do many veterinarians really know about pet foods? Unfortunately the answer translates as - not very much. Regrettably, a lack of knowledge concerning nutrition has become the basis for recommending processed pet food.

eraclito said:

OMG I would love for Ib1tch to come here now..

Anyway.. when I USED to have a dog we used to get meat from the butchers especially.. and we would add to her diet loads of protein and ruffage.

She was a well healthy dog who lived to 14..

maybe its all different these days, but I would prolly stick to the same old, same old rather than these mass produced heavily advertised DESIGENER foods that they are selling now, ripping off the consumer and not giving the dog its real beneficial needs in food..

HereToRockYourWorld said:

i haven't seen anyone giving advice, just their own opinions. you are not the only person on this site who can read and understand journals. its just seems that you choose to read the line that is being sold, where as i prefer to question and push a little deeper.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I sent the research Melissa remember it’s only a summery if u where here In the UK I would send you all the research details. A vet nurse can still be in house trained here I don’t think the way you did is personally wrong as it sounds like you where thrown in the deep end and found that you loved the profession sadly some go to uni after many years of study and decide the jobs not for them then feel trapped but do the job as they have debt. It would be brilliant if we all could do say a 6 week trial course like try before you buy LOL maybe more people would enjoy working more. Have you ever thought about becoming a vet? I ask as it sounds like your tutors can see you are more than capable of being one.

eraclito said:

and you cannot judge what happened in the 80s that everything is perfect now.

Dogs are pets. They used to be workers in ones family and for you to go accuse that family A treated their dog badly is very wrong IMO.

Move to the counrty.. go back a few years and learn..

what happened then doesnt mean it happens now, and so you shouldnt blame someone now for what happened in the past

eraclito said:

You don't know what you're talking about on so many levels, and I don't have the time or interest to detail it all. I've said what I have to say about this. People can make up their own minds.

I am very confused about this I only blinking posted the info about pet food that may have a problem in a hope if it was true people where warned, it wasn’t meant to be an in-depth heated discussion about pet food rights and wrongs stop it!!

katt said:

Yep, thanks for that. I responded to you privately, I'm not interested in continuing this thread any longer. . . I've said my piece.

My tutors certainly encouraged me to become a vet, but for a variety of reasons, I'd rather practice human medicine. They were instrumental in that decision too, though. I'm very grateful.

And I agree, try-before-you-buy is a good thing. There are pros and cons to every type of training. If I had to go to school first, I never would have done it, so I'm glad I was able to do what I did.

katt said:

Not your fault.

Thanks for posting the info, it's important to get it out there.

katt said:

remember to orgnote me later, sweetie

I'm feeding my newly adopted kitties a new food called Orijen, which is 75% human-grade Candadian meats and eggs/ZERO grain food. All of the fruit and vegetable ingredients are native to Alberta, Canada. My babies seem to dig it.

AnotherLoverToo said:

Doesnt mean its the best diet according to this thread

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Oh u would love my family members loads of doctors and nurses if you ever get ur backside over 2 the UK u come round for dinner they will be in there element chewing your ears off, I’ll pre-warn you, you will either fall asleep or be sitting all night loving every single minute wanting to know about new technology or the newest procedures LOL

katt said:

I would love every minute, and I'm hoping to hit the UK before TOO many eons. I'll let you know, we'll make it a nerd party.

REDFEATHERS said:

Will do the little monkey is pulling her nighty off I think she is hot

HereToRockYourWorld said:

ur on just pre-warn me what u like 2 eat and drink oh remember we have 2 2

No worries in this household. We have three dogs, an English Setter, a Pomeranian/Pekinese mix and an inherited red nosed pit bull who's a real baby.

My hubby cooks for them every night. Rice/hamburger, noodles/meat of some kind. He goes to the local butcher and gets whatever is cheap plus free bones.
If we go out of town he prepares food in advance for the dog sitters to feed them.
We've even had friends of my children (who were a little wasted), eat the stuff when it was in the fridge and thought it was great. Thought it was beef strogonoff.
[Edited 3/17/07 16:49pm]

katt said:

You know, just keep some peanut butter and gin in the back of the pantry and I'm set.

xplnyrslf said:

I MUST add my friend had a pug and she felt it kind to give him cooked chicken and the like.. you CANNOT pamper a dog with meats YOU like

he was sick as a dog

Joke

cos it was far too rich for his stomach

some owners can kill their pets with kindness and that really pisses me off

the arguments/debates we had at work she just wouldnt listen.. her vet fees were extortinate.. just cos she spoiled him.. but for her he was spoiled and loved, for me it was cruelty and ignorance

Orijen has just made it here as well, a lot of people are saying good things about it. As for research from the 80's and now there's a world of difference, it's ridiculous to suggest differently. Also, cod live oil is bad for dogs cos it's too heavy in Vitamin D which dogs get from the sun quite enough (if they're at all kept outside).

And lastly, some people always want to come across as the ones pushing a bit harder and looking beyond and it's still the same tired old bullshit.

Teacher said:

Well said.

Teacher said:

I hope that wasn’t directed at me Jen, I have repeated many times when talking on animal health I speak for my own dog’s health not for anyone else’s animal. As in my case when you have a dog who has auto immune disease when the animals own immune system attacks itself high Vit D is sometimes needed. Every two weekly blood tests are done to determine what is needed in an attempt to improve his health, diet is then modified..

[edited due to blinkin typos, i hate typos ]
[Edited 3/17/07 17:40pm]

REDFEATHERS said:

wtf are u on about, where did the 80's reference come from
are u posting on the wrong thread again?

if you are referring to choker collars, i still maintain that anyone that has ever used them was wrong
i dont care what decade it was, that is not an excuse, nor will it ever be