Note: After the passing of the proposed resolution in August 2012 this article was expanded and updated and replaces “Proposed AVMA Resolution Regarding Raw Feeding”
In August of 2012 the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) voted in a policy which creates an official stance on raw feeding: They’re against it. The AVMA, who’s members exceed 81,000 North American veterinarians (likely including yours), have not had a policy outlining how association members are to approach the subject of raw feeding….. until now.
Read the policy here: http://atwork.avma.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Resolution_5_raw-food.pdf.
The news of this new policy is being met with mixed reactions from the raw feeding community, and it seems divided between two main camps: People who don’t think this will have any meaningful impact, and those who see this as having the potential to affect personal liberties and compromise the quality of vet care available to raw feeders.
The AVMA is a professional association with a long history, solid reputation, and a big voice in matters of North American veterinary issues. While they do not have any direct control over legislation regarding pet care, their influence is significant and widespread. Quoted directly from their website: Hundreds of veterinarian members participate in the development of scientifically sound policies that guide decisions from local municipalities all the way up to the federal government. The AVMA provides guidelines for the practice of veterinary medicine in the United States. (www.avma.org/about_avma/benefits/membership_10reasons.asp)
It will remain to be seen exactly how veterinarians who are part of the AVMA choose to embody the policy in their everyday practices, or to what extent the AVMA will expect compliance by it’s members. The policy clearly states that vets are to discourage raw feeding, but I’m sure not every AVMA vet who up until August supported and encouraged raw feeding will abandon their belief in the diet choice now. What I think is more likely is even fewer vets discussing feeding and nutrition with clients. Nutrition is the cornerstone of health, and to ignore the subject in routine vet care is a very scary notion.
The impact this could have on vets who have been “on the fence” about raw feeding but willing to learn from clients will likely be compromised. Availability of raw pet food in the offices of AVMA vets could become scarce or non-existant. While raw feeding has been a touchy subject within veterinary professional associations for years, without an official stance individual practices have not had to fear expulsion from an association that could very well mean losing their practice. I know personally of vets who have been afraid to have their practices associated with lists of “raw friendly” vets for fear of backlash from these professional associations. This policy will cement those fears.
The AVMA is the accrediting body for all North American vet schools. As it stands now nutrition is a very minimal part of vet school curriculum. While on one hand raw feeding can’t take any more of a hit, I think this policy will ensure that no progress is made in this area. Commercial processed food companies are major financial backers of veterinary education. This combined with the short-but-sweet policy pronouncing raw food “officially” unsafe makes for a continued climate in vet school lecture halls and clinics where the subject of species appropriate feeding will remain suppressed.
While the AVMA has no direct power to pass laws, the impact of this policy could indeed help to inform legislation and will spread the gross misconception that raw feeding is a public health threat. Referencing this policy from the biggest and most respected association of veterinarians, I think it could become easier to pass laws regarding park access, day-care facilities, kennels, pet food manufacture and sales, and pet licensing in the name of “public health”, and at the expense of our pets’ health and our freedoms.
In a time when recalls of kibbled and canned pet foods happen regularly due to elevated levels of salmonella bacteria, mycotoxins, and other contaminates, one has to wonder why the AVMA has chosen this topic to act on at this time, especially given that they have had no opinion on the various recalls and the companies involved. The claim within the proposed resolution is that it was spurred by the Delta Society (a branch of the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine which governs service and therapy animals and other volunteers) resolution last year. The critically thinking pet owner knows that “following the money” usually betrays the issue at heart, and I, for one of many, have to wonder about the pressures of pet food manufacturers for these professional associations and councils to establish policies that will help ensure their bottom line at the expense of animal health.
