I’ve written about feline nutrition many times in the past, including the post Vets and Pet Food. I found yet another interesting article on the subject, by Dr Meg Smart.
At present, only 8% of the Veterinary Colleges in North America have nutrition as a prerequisite for admission into the veterinary programme. Introductory nutrition courses are taught in 75% of the veterinary colleges in the United States. Applied clinical nutrition in both large and small animals is taught as an elective in 14 to 28% of the colleges. Exit interviews of graduates and surveys of practicing veterinarians indicate that they are not adequately trained in nutrition.
I’m still interested, perhaps obsessed, with animal nutrition. While I no longer have cats in my care, I recently adopted a dog. While we’ve been transitioning from the diet she was fed at the shelter (predominately grain-free dry food, with some canned), I’m still not sure what is our objective. I like the idea of more canned, and Dixie currently gets canned at least once a day, sometimes twice. Some days she gets dry food (kibble) for breakfast, usually in her Kong wobbler so it’s a fun game for her. I’ve made her a few “homemade” meals.
Dixie eating one of her homemade meals (and carefully picking out the veggies and putting them on the floor – though, to her credit, she went back and ate them later)
So, I’m reading and thinking about how I’d like to feed my dog. I’m also reading about training my dog. I’m struck, once again, by how much “dogma” exists that doesn’t seem to have a lot of science behind it. To some extent, I’m trusting my instincts. I cringe at punishment-based training. “It doesn’t hurt them” doesn’t seem a compelling argument to use certain common training items. It would hurt me. Why wouldn’t it hurt my dog? I know dogs are pack animals, but I can be a loving leader – not one who instills fear. Maybe I can even be a leader that makes yummy and healthy meals.
Life of the Lintee Bean 