AAHA will Develop New Guidelines for Pet Nutrition, But Don’t Get your Hopes Up

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) announced at their January conference plans to develop “a new set of guidelines targeting nutrition to help veterinarians make sound recommendations to clients.” Don’t get your hopes up that a veterinarian near you will soon be recommending dog foods and cat foods utilizing premium and health promoting ingredients. Upon further investigation, it looks as if this move from one of the largest veterinarian organizations is nothing more than the same old story.

DVM360.com reports that “AAHA leaders remain in the initial stages of forming a committee and gaining input for the creation of the guidelines…” Further, “It is our belief that ever pet needs and deserves a nutrition assessment” states President John Tait, DVM. http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/AAHA-to-cook-up-nutritional-guidelinesnbspfor-the-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/652855?contextCategoryId=378&ref=25

The AAHA’s HealthyPet.com website, under the category Dog Care, provides information for dog ‘Nutrition and Weight”…sponsored by…(three guesses, first two don’t count)…Hill’s Science Diet. http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogCareCategory.aspx?sxc_key=01e33355-c51e-476a-8535-0b5f109253b5

The AAHA will even be the Official Veterinarian Sponsor of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VI this year; undoubtedly bringing more awareness to the AAHA and to their sponsors (Hill’s Science Diet, Heartgard, and Frontline). http://www.aahanet.org/accreditation/aw_puppybowl.aspx

I’m all for veterinarians learning to make sound recommendations to pet owners regarding pet nutrition (some have bothered to already learn!); however it’ll sure be interesting to see who will be sitting on the AAHA committee that develops these recommendations. If it’s representatives of Big Pet Food and/or Big Pet Food’s lobby organizations such as The Pet Food Institute, we’ll be hearing the same old song and dance. What a shame.


Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed - your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report - reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com