Rumor or Reality? Is Purina Making Pets Sick?

[@VetMedCorner]

Remember to check out the video description if you are looking for additional information on these topics! Thank you in advance for remaining respectful in the comments, and for not sharing disinformation. I appreciate all of you!

[@haventli]

"You're being a little bit extra." 😂 Thanks for posting the facts.

[@VetMedCorner]

I forgot that happened until I was editing 🤣🤣🤣 My dog is *always* with me when I record and while I edit. You can often hear her dreaming or eating a food puzzle or huffing/sighing if I'm too slow (per her standards lol). She's got so much personality, and I just love her. 🥰 Thank you for watching!!!

[@adayu1756]

Thanks for the video. I am so confused and stressed about this situation. Thanks for clarification

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm glad I could bring you peace of mind - there's nothing to stress about! All the rumors are baseless and are the result of fear mongering by those who benefit from spreading disinformation.

[@gailcorado2781]

​@@VetMedCorner I have been feeding my Cavalier and Cocker Purina Pro Pla for 4 years because my Cavalier's breeder has used it for her Cavaliers. None of my vets have told me to switch when asking what i feed my pups.

[@VetMedCorner]

That's an excellent, research based choice that meets WSAVA guidelines. That's why your veterinarian doesn't make a different recommendation! Sometimes we use prescription diets for specific health issues, but unless your dog is in that situation, then OTC is perfect. 💪

[@bmwfish]

Thank you for being a shining voice of reason. Scanning that FB group for a few minutes made me anxious. I can’t imagine what happens to people who “live” in that group 24/7. I love this -> “The retired veterinarian” 😂😂. You have a new subscriber.

[@VetMedCorner]

Welcome to VMC! 😊 It took me a while to figure out how to address this without giving even more attention to those spreading disinformation - this was the best I could come up with at the time!!! I'm so glad you found the video, and got back out of that Facebook group 🙌

[@janetjohnson6897]

Thank you . I’ve fed the Purina product line for several decades . I have healthy Bostons . I feed the dog in front of me so my Bostons are fed puppy chow, dog chow, Purina one true instinct, pro plan sensitive skin salmon. None are sick and I’ve never stopped feeding the Purina .

[@VetMedCorner]

They have some of the longest researched and most researched formulas available - it's a great choice!

[@judithb4202]

Another excellent video

[@VetMedCorner]

Thank you 🥰

[@hellodanes]

Thank you so much for posting this video and being the voice of reason! Great info here on red flags, too. More people need to see this video.

[@VetMedCorner]

Thank you for your comment - it means a lot to me 💜☺️

[@teresewutke3324]

Are the labs they used have a conflict of interest? Dr Judy said she had a hard time finding a lab that could do the tests for her without conflict of interest.

[@VetMedCorner]

No, they were third party labs from 2 separate places.

[@bethjeans3780]

I’m sure you’ll get some pushback but you are so appreciated. The rumor mills are even more alive and well thanks to social media. Ugh. In the past decades (yikes!) I’ve gone to veterinarians who had little interest in nutrition, or little knowledge, one who told me that when he went to school nutrition was not part of the curriculum. Nutrition was a passion for another veterinarian. And yet another very busy veterinarian refers to a veterinary nutritionist if needing a deep dive. Very mixed bag, the same for people docs! Now on to Voiceplay… 🙀

[@VetMedCorner]

As GP veterinarians we should always refer to specialists when appropriate! Yes, it's absolutely true that every single person has their individual strengths and weaknesses, but nutrition is now thoroughly a part of our curriculum in vet school (and was way back when I graduated a decade ago)! A colleague of mine did a nice blog summary of what's included in our education - let me grab it in case you/someone else is interested www.alltradesdvm.com/topics/nutrition/what-do-vets-know-about-nutrition You definitely deserve a VP break - enjoy 💜

[@itsbutters69]

This is very interesting. We used to feed our Boxers Purina Pro Plan shredded and they never had issues. Now I have a little rescue Chi/yorkie mix (or at least we think that is what she is) and I have been feeding her that ToTW. I'm thinking of going back to Purina Pro, especially seeing it's on the WASVA approved list. Just curious, but what do you feed your lovely pooch? I saw your video about the DNA testing and that was really interesting!

[@VetMedCorner]

Unfortunately, ToTW does not meet WSAVA guidelines and is causing nutritionally related heart issues (ie daDCM aka nDCM). If your dog has been eating this for over 6mo you should see a veterinary cardiologist for an ultrasound of your dog's heart to screen for DCM. I've fed my dogs a variety of formulas from a variety of companies (all that meet WSAVA guidelines), depending on what their current needs are. My current dog is a Labrador who would eat as much as she could find. She also had an elbow injury, and now has mild bilateral OA in her elbows. As a result, she is currently eating Royal Canin Satiety + Mobility. But what's best for my individual dog would not be best for every dog and the specific formulas you should consider depends on their age, lifestyle, body condition score, and medical history.

[@user-ec8hj9wg7n]

You have been such a great source of help right now. We have a 3 yr old lab that needs to lose weight and your help in aiding us in making an informative decision is appreciated more than you know. We were using Pet Food Advisor but now use your recommendation. Our Vet saw the food he was eating which is a Kirkland premium brand and recommended us to change. Thank you again for your knowledge.

[@VetMedCorner]

This means so much to me - thank you 🥰 I hope your veterinarian helped guide you that if your dog is a body condition score of 7,8, or 9/9 that a prescription weight loss formula is necessary in order to help support satiety, support the metabolism and help your dog lose fat (but not muscle). If your dog has a body condition score of 6/9 then an OTC formula that is well formulated, research based and meets WSAVA guidelines is sufficient and a prescription weight loss formula isn't necessarily required. I wish you success, and am so glad you've found VMC!

[@strwbryparfait3889]

Thank you for this video. You definitely reduced my anxiety about continuing to feed my Great Pyrenees puppy her puppy chow for large breeds. I’ve had her to the vet twice for bloody diarrhea and I’m coming to the conclusion that is was from eating some non rawhide chew sticks I gave her one time and the other time from eating a toy (she is a big chewer). Constant supervision, correction at chewing and decreased treats seemed to have solved her issues.

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm so glad you think you have figured out the likely cause. I tend to use canned food (which can be frozen for additional challenge) and kibble in food puzzles as a way to increase enrichment and give my dogs an appropriate chewing outlet. Perhaps that would also be helpful for your situation!

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

Originally was going to comment about how raw food were tested to find dangerous levels of lead, buut then checked the aforementioned Facebook group who were promoting their own kibbles and that group shun raw-feeding. Dog food MLM schemes are weird.

[@VetMedCorner]

It's such an incredibly odd situation! I hadn't thought of it like an MLM scheme before, I don't know if it's set up the same way or not?

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

@@VetMedCorner Dunno. I just call it that brcause my stepdad got suckered into Amway and lost his entire retirement funds

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

@@VetMedCorner I do find it strange all the boutique kibble promoters are very silent about labour abuses in meat processing plants. Not exactly a secret Purina exploits Thai fishermen

[@VetMedCorner]

@ZaryaTheLaika oof 😣

[@maureengilligo1960]

Great video Dr. Em. I give my 6 1/2 year old cat Hills indoor dry and mix Tiki cat dry. She also is fed Blue Tastefuls. Shes fine

[@VetMedCorner]

Thank you for your lovely comment!!! As a reminder, at least 90% of the daily calories need to come from a well formulated, research based diet that meets WSAVA guidelines (of the ones you listed, only Hills meets those standards!).

[@charlenegeorge5897]

Dr Morgan is so confusing, hard to listen to. I’m thinking she is the retired vet that needs a job! Enid Pet Hospital suggested Purina One and Pro Plan. I’ve been feeding the wet and dry for over 40 years and never had problems. My oldest dog was 19 when she passed. All of our dogs and cats have live very long healthy lives on Purina. I really appreciate your video, I have now subscribed to your channel. Thank you for all you do.

[@VetMedCorner]

It's confusing because it's not logical and it truly doesn't make any sense!!! Purina is excellent, research based, and meets WSAVA guidelines. It's a great choice for so many pets! Welcome to VMC 😊💜 I truly appreciate the kind comment.

[@charlenegeorge5897]

Thank you so much. I feel much better.

[@denisemalloy2761]

about a month ago I had to throw away a bag of Purina because it had meal moths in it

[@VetMedCorner]

This is because of a storage or shipping issue. Here's additional information for you kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWUYqadq9B_l6ssi=DngM1lg_JCkAhing

[@elizabethemelenejefferis2355]

Do you have any good peer-reviewed veterinary journal articles on nutrition that are NOT financed by the pet food industry. I've read many and every time I do so digging, I find at least one of the co-authors are employed by a large pet food company or that the study is actually financed by a food company. I'll happily read all of them if I can find them. I've only found a few, myself.

[@VetMedCorner]

Who should finance pet nutrition research? Cigar companies? Why don't other pet food companies care enough about the animals they feed to research what's best for them? Why do they keep the profits and spend on advertising incorrect information instead of putting those funds into research?

[@elizabethemelenejefferis2355]

As a trained researcher with an advanced degree from University of Chicago, and my professional opinion, I would consider it a clear conflict of interest. I think this would be very obvious to you and am surprised that you asked that question. In fact, that is indeed like asking a cigarette company to conduct studies on the safety of cigarettes which actually did happen for decades. Do you know there were board certified doctors in advertisements paid by the cigarette companies to tell the public that cigarettes were safe. Despite the fact that we had multiple studies starting as early as the 1920s clearly outlining the deleterious effects of cigarette smoking? You're asking the fox to guard the chicken house. So again, do you have any independent studies on canine nutrition that I may read to understand the situation better for myself?

[@VetMedCorner]

Where should research funding miraculously appear from, then? ETA and who should pay for the work that veterinary nutritionists do when properly formulating research based diets that meet WSAVA guidelines?

[@elizabethemelenejefferis2355]

@@VetMedCornerwell, let's try this. You discounted the person who posted the original post starting this whole question of heavy metals in part because they had something to gain. This person had their own food they were selling, I believe you said? So if that's grounds for discounting what he was saying, why don't you apply the same to the pet food companies who are fortune 500 companies? Such companies have a long history of misinformation, obfuscation, and straight out hiding facts born from good scientific research. So, again, if we don't have research from INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES, that's not a reason to say, "Well, we have nothing else, so we should just trust these big companies with a shady track record and a lot to gain by telling was whatever is necessary to get us to buy their food." I studied corporations as an organizational sociologist. The reason I didn't go for an MBA was because the question was so simple: how do we get the mice (employees) to run through the maze (work) for less cheese (compensation)?" If you think these companies have your pet's best interest at heart, I can point you to hundreds of books and studied from top universities to the contrary. They aren't evil, per se, they just have one goal: make as much profit for shareholders as possible. I mean yet, it's in their mission statements. It's not like they're trying to hide that. Now, I understand this puts you in a pickle. I worked on a top journal as a peer review board member in sociology for a couple of years. I understand how that system works and how flawed it is. But in the end, it's all we have. A lot of what comes from it, is very helpful and good and it does move the ball forward....when the research is based in **academic institutions only.** The answer is look hared and be a more careful reader of who is sponsoring the studies and research you're consuming or pushing on clients. Our dogs are dying of hermangiosarcoma at ever increasing rates at younger and younger ages. If I won the lottery, I'd donate to University of Madison, WI to do independent research on CAUSES, not just trying to find a cure. Many of us in the public are looking at two sources: the food and the environment, i.e., pesticides/herbicides. The World Health Organization lists processed meat as a Class 1 carcinogen, up there with cigarettes. I can't think of any meat that's more processed than the meat in kibble. The pet food industry is relatively new in canine history. Dogs lived for millennia with humans without kibble. I strongly suggest a great book by historian Harriet Ritvo, The Animal Estate. Then I suggest, The Forever Dog, mildly. Some of it is rather mundane, because after all, they had to make it mainstream consumable, but there are some very interesting parts. I'm waiting for someone to do a retrospective study on age using AKC data, not comparing the last 50 years, but comparing the last 150. I have a suspicion that we'd find some interesting things out. Think about what's coming out now about spay/neuter. Sure, we prevent reproductive cancers, but now we're learning that spay/neuter is linked to higher incidences of other organ cancers and of course osteoarthritis issues later in life. All this stuff is MEANT TO CHANGE with new research, that's the point, but the public isn't listening. They're not taking it in. In that same vein, there are small studies here and there indicating that feeding a dog something other than just burnt meat in the form of kibble that needs supplementation because all the nutrients have been burned out of the meat. I can't think of something more insane. You took a perfectly good piece of meat and then fried it into powder so badly that you have to replace all the goodness you fried out of it....all so you can make meat shelf-stable over the long term, like a Twinkie or a Dorito, that's what we're feeding our dogs, fortified twinkies and doritos. I want something better and I want vets to get angry about the dearth of independent research and demand better studies.

[@VetMedCorner]

You are making so many inaccurate statements that I don't even know where to start. Although you have a wonderful understanding of the benefits and shortcomings of peer reviewed, published research, as you say, it is the best we have at this time. You also never answered where the funding could come from in order to fund these studies... Nor did you answer who else will pay veterinary nutritionists to do their work making appropriate pet foods... While you understand the world of publishing research you have an awful lot to learn about what kibble is and what it isn't. I suggest you start learning from actual experts in pet food. Ie veterinary nutritionists. Lastly, the companies that meet WSAVA guidelines are not going around spreading inaccurate, fear mongering rumors. Only this unethical individual is, for her own profit.

[@Midala87]

I used to feed my dogs purina dog chow and they were all fine. I switched the brands up so they weren't on it very long .

[@VetMedCorner]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Purina and it's fine to feed! It's generally not advised to switch formulas frequently due to how their microbiome is set up. Once you've found a research based diet that meets WSAVA guidelines and works for your dog it's a good plan to stick with it!

[@denisemalloy2761]

Also in my comments when I said I switch my dog from one brand of Purina to another it was still Purina just a different kind of Purina dog food because the store did not have the kind I always bought

[@phyllisbennett5414]

Bravo, I m so tired of being criticised for my nutrition choices

[@VetMedCorner]

I also get very frustrated at baseless fear mongering! I'm so sorry you experience it 😞

[@carolgershel7093]

do you think not all dogs are getting sick or some dogs??

[@VetMedCorner]

This is part of what people are confused about. Dogs (and all animal species) get sick all the time with all sorts of things. Also, all dogs (and all animal species) need to eat in order to be alive. Those two things can both be true, however that doesn't mean that one is *causing* the other. So for this specific situation, animals getting sick is not causing them to eat Purina *and* animals eating Purina is not causing them to get sick. There is *zero* evidence of any causation between the two.

[@dewayneleek4588]

I had a 2yr old dog die and her sister 6months later,,got a 13 month old dog from another family all hounds,now the 13 month old is passing blood im changing food tomorrow,,,not sure if its the food but hope if it is i can fix it in time smh that shit is 60 dollars a bag,,i try and treat my dogs the best too

[@VetMedCorner]

The answer is to see your veterinarian during their next business hours, or go to an emergency clinic for an appropriate medical work up.

[@dewayneleek4588]

@VetMedCorner my vet said the 2 that died had liver failure,,,the 2nd dog just died 2 weeks ago,,and I just seen the blood in stool 30 mins ago from my other hound that's why I was looking this up,I've raised all these dogs from pups,,it broke my heart when the other 2 died

[@phillyfriedcheesesteak6508]

My cats eat kit and kaboodle for 5 years and are healthy and fine, what a bunch of BS I trust purina

[@gilliansickelmore5713]

What is YOUR agenda? What are YOUR affiliations?!

[@VetMedCorner]

This channel is dedicated to sharing best practices, research based info to help people care for their pets as best as is possible. I have zero affiliations.

[@terripatterson3804]

Good video, this whole thing has been maddening. I would like to hear what you have to say about vaccines. One of my dogs, age 2 had a reaction to a 3 year rabie shot. She just acted extremely weird for the rest of the day. She was staring and hiding in closets and would not lay down. I never want to get another vaccine since this. Two years ago, i took my dog for a rabies shot and he developed a mast cell tumor two weeks later. Two more weeks and he was gone. I dont get vaccines and am so worried about the future

[@VetMedCorner]

It's somewhat common for vaccines to cause 'side effects' like a low grade fever or localized pain. The trip to the vet clinic can also be a lot for some dogs. I have also had my own pet need an antihistamine and a dose of NSAIDs before vaccine boosters! This does happen for some pets! You should discuss what happened with your dog with your veterinarian, and get a plan in place to reduce those symptoms before the next booster. I've already done a video covering the basics of vaccines - let me grab it for you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKi6qGCPaLWLgbMsi=Q-pzSLtVEe-mdGPZ ETA - vaccines do not cause mast cell tumors. That situation is unfortunate correlation, which is why it's important to remember that correlation does NOT mean causation. I'm so glad the video about Purina was helpful for you! 😊

[@Mark-qv4bn]

I vaccinated my 12 year old dog so I could get her a dog license. She died 2 months later. 😢

[@VetMedCorner]

As the vast, vast, vast majority of vaccine reactions occur within 10min to 24hrs, and rarely can occur up to 48hrs after vaccination, you can be completely confident the vaccine boosters had nothing to do with what happened 60 days later. I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 it's never easy to lose a beloved pet.

[@phillyfriedcheesesteak6508]

My dogs been on purina one for 9 years and they are healthy and beautiful, what a bunch of BS

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

I clicked on this because my cat got sick after eating Purina Pro Plan a couple of months ago and I was worried that there was a larger issue. She didn't have seizures but vomited every time she ate a particular wet food variety. It was so odd; she had been tolerating their other wet food formulas for months before. I contacted the company to let them know and gave them them the lot number and SKU so they could investigate. I'm not certain what happened after that, but I switched my cat back to primarily Hill's kibble with a little Fancy Feast. She's been okay since 👍🏾 Thank you for your commitment to dispelling misinformation and fear mongering!

[@VetMedCorner]

It's absolutely true that there's never one formula that works for all animals. It's also true that there are dozens of medical issues that can lead to a sensitive GI tract/vomiting. I'm so glad you have found a good option for your cat now - that makes me happy 💜

[@susanc.8009]

My dog was sick also when eating Purina, but that was because she needed to be on a special Hill’s diet!

[@cynthiacriado]

My 4 dogs were eating Purina Pro Plan. They all started getting sick. My chihuahua started vomiting and had a siezure. I stopped feeding the food immediately. I switched foods and all symptoms disappeared. I KNOW the food made them sick!!!! I have a friend who also has 4 dogs that got very sick on Purina Pro Plan. She almost lost one of them.

[@VetMedCorner]

This is a classic case of correlation which is VERY different from causation. Unless your veterinarian confirmed that the formula was the problem... And that it wasn't your storage of the diet, or something completely unrelated to kibble altogether (like feeding something else that caused GI upset, or your dogs finding something outside etc etc etc) you absolutely do *not* know it was anything to do with Purina.

[@BORNGEARHEAD]

Our Jack Russell started vomiting and diahrea. When he would vomit he was drop straight over on his side like a seizure for about 10 sec. Then slowly get up. This last time he went unconscious and we were able to resescitate him. We stopped using Purina Pro Plan about 10 days ago and our Jack hasnt had an issue since. He had a total of 6 episodes.

[@VetMedCorner]

You need to see your veterinarian as this description is very common for a syncopal episode. Take video of one of the episodes and see your veterinarian promptly.

[@BORNGEARHEAD]

@@VetMedCorner We have a few videos of his episodes.

[@VetMedCorner]

Then as is noted above - you need to see your veterinarian, and they may need to refer you to a veterinary cardiologist, depending on if these are actually syncopal episodes or if they think it's something else then they may need to refer you to a different specialist.

[@jandries9053]

Thanks for your video. Yes, the PPP and their continued added brands on saving pets one at a time, had me very concerned. I opened a bag of what my dog normally eats and she would not eat it. It’s now on the list (not my report). I had been looking for a better quality dog food and found it on their honorary list. However, I started getting suspicious when they were not reporting number of cases that put a brand on their stop feeding list. I looked at their “experts, moderators”, etc and saw maybe 2 were holistic vets and the rest had no background in vet services. Some didn’t even list their background! 🚩🚩🚩🚩

[@VetMedCorner]

Thank you so very much for your comment. I'm so glad you've found VMC - welcome! Please use the links in the description to learn who pet nutrition experts are, and what the WSAVA guidelines are. Currently the best practices recommendation from veterinary nutritionists is to feed a properly formulated, research based diet that meets the WSAVA guidelines. The diets that don't meet WSAVA guidelines are causing nutritionally related heart issues (ie nDCM). Unfortunately, the posts in that group are telling people incorrect and sometimes dangerous information. It absolutely does not align with the group consensus recommendations from veterinary nutritionists.

[@jinxiemac29]

I have to admit I panicked when I heard the rumors because I recently changed my 3-year-old cat's food to Hills. I just saw that the list of foods that are supposedly making pets sick has grown. I'm beginning to wonder what is really going on here. It seems like the people who started this took people's comments from that FB group as solid and ran with it before doing any sort of research. Thank you for this video, you put my mind at ease.

[@VetMedCorner]

Hill's is well formulated, excellent, research based nutrition that meets WSAVA guidelines. It's a wonderful option! I'm so glad I could put your mind at ease - the rumours are baseless and are simply a lot of fear mongering. All the best to you and your cat!

[@terridickey3896]

How does one find which dog food is the best dog food their dog. When I asked the site" saving one pet at a time," they would only push raw diet dog food or every expensive dog food. Not everyone can afford to make raw diet dog food.

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm glad you are asking this question! I linked in the video description a 3 part series that covers all the info you need to know. That Facebook group are not pet nutrition experts, they are giving bad/dangerous/wrong advice and need to be completely ignored. I also cover who pet nutrition experts are in the first video linked in the description. Don't hesitate to ask additional questions after you have gone through those videos, if you have any!

[@terridickey3896]

@@VetMedCorner thank you

[@bassdivamtm]

Thank you this❤

[@VetMedCorner]

🐾💜 I appreciate you taking the time to comment!!

[@mssmssmssmss]

Thanks for your video and comments! It is possible that some bags or even batches of food are contaminated somehow, whether in manufacture, shipment or storage. But until I see reliable, scientific proof, or my dogs actually become ill, I will keep my dogs on what they have been eating.

[@VetMedCorner]

As Purina meets WSAVA guidelines and have triple checked for manufacturing issues, that is not the problem. However, yes, there can be shipment and storage issues that can cause issues. Here is the information on how to properly store pet foods: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWUYqadq9B_l6ssi=pElGfw-1R91SbFpi

[@MrJordiBaby]

I did not hear about this rumor here in Portugal. But it's so true what you say about reading stuff online and getting anxious. I stopped giving my dogs Bravecto because of all the nonsense I read online, I regret to admit. I did get a scolding from the vet LOL!

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm glad the rumors didn't make it to Portugal! I hope that your veterinarian gave you a kind/good natured scolding lol! (I give Bravecto to my own cat and dog, it's a great option!)

[@lovelesscosplay7864]

Said vet sent food from the people in the facebook group to do do her own testing and it also came back negative for any heavy metals. 🤣

[@VetMedCorner]

I didn't know that, but it's not a surprise as 2 separate, reputable, third party labs tested and found that there were no heavy metal toxicities present.

[@lolajoker]

Is there any new info on this issue? I’ve been feeding my Dog Pro Plan since about 2019 and he’s always done good on it and has always eagerly eaten it. But the last 2 bags, he’s not eating it enthusiastically and the current bag, he seems to be getting an upset stomach right after eating it with a lot of gurgling sounds and he sometimes looks uncomfortable. He has had occasional loose stools and he has vomited it up a few times right after eating it. I hadn’t heard anything about this issue until last week when a neighbor told me about it when she noticed an empty bag of Pro Plan in my trash and she urged me to visit the Facebook pages and watch “the retired vet’s” videos and the subject. Seem like there’s been nothing new since January.

[@VetMedCorner]

Make sure that you are storing the food properly - here's info on how to do that kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWUYqadq9B_l6ssi=xnySsthxJD1_SulE Then you also need to see your veterinarian to figure out what's caused the change in your dog's appetite. There is nothing wrong with Purina formulas and there's nothing new as nothing has changed since this video. Thanks for asking!

[@isabeller.carter4958]

Same situation that we are experiencing with Purina Pro HA. Something is not right.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

I did a video on my channel on my opinion and I’m glad you agree! But you explain things so well and have lots of great info folks don’t know! I would like to mention your channel. Is that okay?

[@VetMedCorner]

Thank you for asking! That's absolutely not a problem to share VMC. I'm going to have to check out what you covered too! We need all the people combating disinformation as we can get. Thank you for covering the topic!

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@VetMedCorner well I didn’t do it as well as you! lol!

[@edschulhof6303]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy True! J/K, you did a great job Glenn

[@Unknown-hu4gf]

@@edschulhof6303 Ed here is one of those spreading mistruths on the internet about pet foods and believes that raw diets are safer and more healthy than kibble diets from WASVA compliant manufacturers.... He also abuses his pets as he feeds this dangerous raw diet to them. He's highly manipulative and a danger to companion animals and public health!

[@violetblythe6912]

The most suspicious thing about this for me was that the claims span multiple countries. Knowing how different the supply chains are between countries, this just doesn’t make sense.

[@VetMedCorner]

That is another excellent point. Absolutely!

[@TheRealShanyeWest]

i switched my puppy to purins only because it was cheap … the little trays were 4/1$ at this grocery store but ever since he been eating his paws has beens red and he got hives last night . so bad it scared me and grossed me out .i put a baking soda mixture on him and he calmed down , i was wondering why was he up all night and i got up and saw his skin inflamed … im scared to give him another tray

[@VetMedCorner]

You need to consult your veterinarian about the paw issue, they can help you sort out what's going on and why. Some dogs do have food allergies, but paw redness is by far and away most commonly due to something in the environment causing skin irritation.

[@Raphael-sk9pv]

i was thinking of giving my left over purina to a dog shelter. Do you think that would be a good idea?

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss 💔 Some shelters will accept open bags, others will not. You will need to contact them to ask.

[@cheriewing4648]

I wouldn't do it.

[@grace46459]

Just found your channel. I’m an anxious pet mom and your channel provides me with SO much relief

[@VetMedCorner]

Welcome to VMC - I am so glad you've found the channel!!! I am *firmly* dedicated to providing best practices, research based info and will always call out baseless fear mongering. I hope that helps to give you peace of mind. If you find that you are interested in a topic that I haven't covered yet, feel free to make a recommendation, and I will add it to my list of future video topics 🐾💜

[@Silverbrze]

I stopped feeding my animal's Marina years ago.When I look at the ingredients there's no way i'm gonna feed my dog that stuff

[@VetMedCorner]

Unfortunately, you've fallen for misinformation about how to assess pet food. Here's 2 blogs from a veterinary nutritionist explaining why the ingredient list is useless for judging quality: vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/06/why-you-shouldnt-judge-a-pet-food-by-its-ingredient-list/ vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/03/stop-reading-your-pet-food-ingredient-list/ And in the video description I have links to additional information on what criteria a properly formulated, research based diet looks like.

[@Dancing_in_the_rain007]

My Bichon started eating purina and immediately became sick with vomiting and diarrhea

[@VetMedCorner]

Remember that it takes at least a week (and often two weeks) to properly transition from one formula to another. You also need to consult your veterinarian to check for medical issues that could be causing the symptoms.

[@moonvine4882]

Is it safe to feed dehydrated meat such as shrimp or chicken hearts to cats as a treat or should I throw them away?

[@VetMedCorner]

That depends on a few things! First, remember that all treats/toppers/etc must be less than 10% of the cat's daily caloric intake. Over 90% of the daily calories must come from a well formulated, research based diet that meets WSAVA guidelines otherwise the nutrition will be unbalanced. You'll need to do some calculations for your individual cat but as a ballpark for many cats that tends to mean they get 25cal/day for all their treats/toppers/etc Seeing as it's such a small amount, for my cat I tend to use those calories for things that will also slow down dental disease (ie VOHC accepted treats) in order to get the most benefit I can from those calories. Also, if the meat hasn't been cooked there is significant risk of contaminations like ecoli, salmonella, TB, etc so for that reason, I always choose cooked treat items to reduce those risks as much as possible.

[@awkwrrrdbynature]

My dog eats this food (or did eat this food) but started refusing to eat this food as she's been sick vomiting etc.... Well a couple days ago I noticed her skin was yellow. I took her to the vet and her liver and gallbladder are the problem. They sent off the blood work to get more in depth analysis. And she has an ultrasound scheduled for Monday. My mom mentioned that the Amazon driver said something about the food making dogs sick. I'm Not saying that this is my dog's case but I'm suspicious. Thankfully, I did not throw the bag of dog food out. I want to check where I can get this dog food tested.

[@VetMedCorner]

The bloodwork and ultrasound are required as there are dozens of liver issues that cause the symptoms you mentioned and what's (by far) the most likely is that your dog has a medical issue that has nothing to do with the food they were eating. With these symptoms we generally prescribe very specific nutrition to support the liver/GI tract, so I assume your veterinarian prescribed a diet to use while waiting for diagnostic test results to return. That said, save the bag, because in the very rare case that the diagnostics don't show a different cause for the symptoms, then your veterinarian will discuss testing the bag of food with you. It would also be a good idea to make sure that you are storing the food properly. I've covered that topic in a previous video. I'll grab it for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWUYqadq9B_l6ssi=4mp1LjBpgzelEgFk I wish you and your dog all the best.

[@cheriewing4648]

Why is that people develop heart problems, liver issues , kidney problems, every problem due to what they eat. But dogs don't. You must work for Purina.

[@VetMedCorner]

Did you read what you typed? It's clearly and demonstrably untrue

[@angelacastro3418]

My great Dane and Weimaraner have been on Purina One for at most 12 years, never a problem. We noticed our Weimaraner first she has a huge appetite and she left her food in her bowl didn't eat one kibble. Then, began to beg for more food. We were very confused. The Dane ate some but only 1/4 . We just thought the Weimaraner had a bug. Over night, my Dane got very sick by morning, and we went straight to the vet. He said he's 12, and they don't always live much past that he then died that day. He did ask if anything changed. The only thing we could think of was we opened a new bag of dog food. On the way home, we picked up a new bag. As soon as I got home, I threw out the bowl of old food and washed the bowl and gave her new food. She ate the whole Bowl of food and wanted more. I called my vet to tell him, and he said he looked, and there were no recalls on purina but to save a zip lock of the food just in case. So I still have it. I didn't get an autopsy due to the cost. I regret that now. This happened in May 2024.

[@VetMedCorner]

Without a necropsy it's impossible to know what was going on with your dog, however at that age a medical issue is by *far and away* the most likely. If you watched the video, you would know that Purina is an excellent, research based product and there's no need to hesitate feeding it. Just in case you'd like information on proper food storage, let me grab it for you kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWUYqadq9B_l6ssi=KVLT3cBY0JXWnQW3 All the best.

[@angelacastro3418]

@VetMedCorner thank you, that's very kind. Like I always Say, hmm, things that make you wonder.. the Dane saw the Dr 2 weeks before he passed just for the annual and his shots . Perfect health. I'll never know now. All I can say is that the dogs were raised on Purina very healthy. Thank you for your time

[@VetMedCorner]

A physical exam isn't able to diagnose most issues. We rely on tests like abdominal ultrasounds, chest x-rays, and senior blood work panels as generalized screening tools for senior pets. As a result, a physical exam alone doesn't make me go 'hmm' at all. I hope this helps gives you some peace of mind. 💜🐾

[@angelacastro3418]

@@VetMedCorner thank you your very kind

[@denisemalloy2761]

The one that was really sick died day before yesterday in my arms I switched back to the other dog food and now the stools is getting harder they're eating more more active but I still lost my Rocky

[@victoriameyers-y1o]

Why I feed my dogs organic meats, and beef that is not only organic, but grass fed. I don't want to go through Dog Cancer. I went through it with one dog and the heartbreak was too much. Feed your dogs decent human-grade food that you would eat. Otherwise you're setting up your pet for a health disaster! And yourself for a terrible heartache. As for our little angel who died, she was a rescue and was fed a very poor diet before we got her. I don't know what people are thinking when they feed their dogs crappy canned dog food that is not human grade!

[@VetMedCorner]

Please share the peer reviewed, published research that demonstrates your claims are in any way accurate. What you've described is a correlation, and it is crucial to remember how that is very different from *causation*.

[@mssmssmssmss]

I have rescued, fostered and placed or kept dozens of mostly small dogs over the decades. Most have lived into their teens, one 17 and another 19. All ate commercial food, almost all kibble. Mostly they passed because of heart valve disease.

[@mssmssmssmss]

Adding because I can't edit: I am not suggesting causation in my comment. Heart valve disease is often suspected to be caused by dental infection. But no dog lives forever, though we wish they would.

[@Unknown-hu4gf]

@@mssmssmssmss Also, Mitral (and other) valve disease occurs when the valve undergoes a degenerative change, thickening and becoming floppier. The exact cause or causes of this degeneration are currently unknown; however, an inherited or genetic component is suspected in some breeds. Mitral valve disease is also known as mitral valve insufficiency (MVI) or mitral regurgitation and is often associated with a heart murmur. Other causes of mitral valve insufficiency include ruptured chordae tendinae, a condition in which the fibrous cords that hold the valve leaflets in position break, leading to the heart valve not closing properly.

[@NyokatheJungleGirl]

Thank you for this! I'm afraid the fear this information is creating is actually hurting more pets than helping.

[@VetMedCorner]

You are absolutely right - it is, which is unconscionable... But people who spread disinformation and who benefit from that disinformation do not seem to care.

[@hedyelizabeth715]

This type of hyper rumor mill crazy is dangerous. My dog has been a Pro Plan girl for 11 years now and i just found out that one of the prescription Pro Plan dry food that she eats is being discontinued. I am scrambling to figure out what to do, but we are Pro Plan customers. My sister has been a Vet Tech for over 30 years and she has always recommended Pro Plan for my dog as she says that Purina as a company does a great deal of research, etc.

[@VetMedCorner]

Hopefully there's a prescription kibble from Royal Canin or Hill's that you can blend over to 🤞 Your sister has absolutely given you good advice - I'm so glad you have her!

[@denisemalloy2761]

I recently changed my dog's from one brand of Purina to another brand because they do not have it at the store all four of my Chihuahuas became sick diarrhea really bad bloody stool from one one had bloody stool but not as bad and the other had just diarrhea

[@VetMedCorner]

You need to see your veterinarian for an appropriate medical work up. Switching any food to any other food without a gradual blending (over at least a week) will cause GI upset. All the best.

[@user-ec8hj9wg7n]

Thank you for responding. My dog is 3 years old and 115lbs. He had a partial cruciate ligament tear in December that has healed pretty well but very important he lose weight. I was going to try Hills Science Diet Light. Any suggestions for success?

[@VetMedCorner]

This is such a common issue that a video on canine weight loss was one of my very first topics. Let me grab you the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYO1qWN8esqan7ssi=Uts_VDGbbek6PB9y (Edited to add - forgive the lesser sound quality and horrible video editing etc I was *brand* new to all of this and on an incredibly steep learning curve... But the info is still correct!) I'm presuming at that weight your dog would be at a body condition score where a prescription weight loss diet is necessary, but you can double check by figuring out your dog's body condition score! Also in the video description are links to things like a calorie calculator etc Remember to have patience as the weight loss will take time, but you are correct, it's incredibly important! You've got this 💪

[@FreeHumanity1111]

My two large lab mixes became incredibly sick after switching to Purina Pro Plan. One almost died. Only after I stopped giving it to them (One that almost died didn't even want to eat) and switched them back to they both start getting healthy again. Now I just make them food. My only incentive is to help save animals if possible.

[@VetMedCorner]

Unless you are working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist and are doing an echo, bloodwork, urinalysis and whatever else the veterinary nutritionist recommends every 6mo than what your comment says is untrue.

[@FreeHumanity1111]

@@VetMedCorner My dogs have never been healthier. They have more energy and their coats are shiny and are happier than eating dehydrated byproducts

[@VetMedCorner]

None of those are near enough of a metric to even begin to assess 'health' and indicates your immense lack of knowledge in this subject. You need to immediately get a veterinary nutritionist involved and actually implement appropriately formulated, balanced nutrition.

[@FreeHumanity1111]

@@VetMedCorner Their core diet consists of white fish, sweet potato, lentils, little rice, blueberries, apple, coconut oil and blueberries and tumeric. They are way healthier than before. Period.

[@VetMedCorner]

Nope. Completely incorrect and dangerously unbalanced.

[@nazzkid23]

Thank you for clearly explaining this, Dr. Em! I thankfully haven't seen much of this current debaucle but I've heard others mention it online. Great video 🙌

[@VetMedCorner]

I'm glad you've managed to avoid the most of it! Thank you for watching this video 😊