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Based on my own experiences I think the theory is correct and incorrect for different reasons.I have heard this conspiracy theory thrown around that vets or higher organizations making profits out of forcing packaged food. I wouldn't believe in something without proof. But some vets do work hard I guess to fuel the fire.
Nutrition courses in vet school are usually short and are usually taught/funded by Hill's reps/Royal Canin reps.
If I was a rep for Hill's and my job depended on selling food, I don't think I'd mention the downside to feeding Hills nor the benefits for feeding an alternate diet.
However I've seen my own vet tossing bags of Science Diet into their own vehicles to take home for their own dogs. I know for a fact another vet in this clinic feeds her kitten Science Diet....they think it's the best deep in their hearts.
I don't think the vets are "out to get us" or rip us off, usually. Some probably are, but they're medical doctors, not nutritionists and don't make diet and it's importance in prevention as their study of choice. Treatment of disease is their choice, and I'm grateful for that because I never went to vet school, nor did I care to =)
These vets (for the most part) IMO are excellent medical doctors and are very good at recognizing and treating diseases. They can and do save lives in acute conditions and if my pet were hit by a car or suffering from bloat or acute pancreatitis, that's the vet I would seek out. They can use drugs and medical means to keep my pet stable and alive. Holistic vets can do this, too, but IME they vary in "how far" they're willing to go when it comes to drugs. When it's my pets life on the line, I say forget the herbs and stuff and do what needs to be done to keep the alive, THEN once they're stable and doing well, we'll discuss alternative means that might help them heal.
Holistic vets OTOH do take an interest in prevention and diet is part of that protocol.
I wish the two schools of thought would quit bickering and come together to realize they could save a LOT more lives together than they could arguing and squabbling.
JMO.