The new AAFP-AAHA feline life stage guidelines are published.
My initial thoughts, after a quick review:
I like that they recognize that the efficacy of dental treats/food is debatable. One more “mark” against the myth that dry food benefits cats’ dental health!
The use of dental treats and chews may be a realistic, practical alternative to daily tooth brushing, although data about their comparative efficacy is lacking.
I do NOT like that they are buying into the GARBAGE spewed by pet food manufacturers that their highly-processed high-carb dry foods don’t cause diseases like diabetes or obesity! If that’s the case, why does ELIMINATING that food magically “CURE” diabetes, IBD, obesity, etc, in most cases?
Evidence does not support the carbohydrate content of foods as being harmful or an independent risk factor for diseases such as obesity or diabetes.
When will veterinarians start thinking outside the bag/box? When will they exercise some CRITICAL INDEPENDENT thinking, instead of blindly following what the pet food manufacturers tell them based on their studies designed to prove their profit-motivated theories?
For more of my thoughts, see my other blog posts, including Six reasons not to feed dry cat food and Vets and pet food.
