Veterinarians and Compassion

[Amy]

I'm curious if others of you have dealt with the pervasive anti-vegan cat bias that I have faced when trying to take your companion in for health care. If so, how have you responded? What do you think we could/should do to improve veterinarian understanding?

Personally, I'm frustrated because, one would think, if anyone would understand trying to reduce animal suffering, it would be a vet. But caring for humans' "pets" (or profit-producing "livestock") seems to be their primary focus with little or no consideration given for non-human-loved creatures.

I've been known to avoid the whole discussion entirely ("they eat canned food"), hang my head in shame as I'm taken to task for not honoring their "natural" dietary needs, and procrastinate about taking my cats in knowing the ridicule I would face. I've also been known to carry around Evolution informational pamphlets just to support my food choice, knowing there would be an argument.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

[Ari Moore]

Thanks for posting about this Amy, it's a real issue. I think it makes it a lot harder for us to make good decisions for our cats due to this very real fear of being scolded by vets - when what we really need is a supportive atmosphere where we can feel free to be honest. How else can we get good advice as to how to care for our animal friends? If we're immediately shot down with "well you have to change their diet," it makes it harder for us to solve problems for our cat friends, and find better solutions for all animals.

My strategy is to educate myself as much as possible - my knowledge gives me confidence. I go into the vet and I'm honest. I don't bring it up until diet comes up naturally. I say something like, "They're vegan, but I'm committed to their health, even if that means they change their diet." This usually reassures the vet that the cats' health is our number one priority, which seems to make them more willing to deal with us even if they disagree with our decision.

We once had a vet who was adamant that out cats should eat flesh, who made me feel so uncomfortable about discussing things honestly with her that I needed to switch vets. Our next vet also disagreed with the vegan thing, but had met other vegan cats and knew how crazily careful we are about our kitties, so she didn't give us a hard time, and focused on whatever the real health issue was instead of always blaming their diet. That place was great - we really felt we could be honest, and were more able to discuss stuff without feeling like the answer to every question was going to be "meat!"

Our new vet (we've moved to a new city) has been very engaging, giving us articles and discussing nutrition with us regularly. She's encouraged us to get more involved in making sure nutritional testing happens, so that vets can feel more comfortable with our decisions - after all, you shouldn't experiment on your kittens, and that's what it is, from the vets' perspective, since we don't have much besides anecdotal evidence to prove that our cats will thrive on a plant-based diet. She doesn't feel a vegan diet is really safe yet but seems supportive of our attempts to do right by all animals, and works with us where we're at. She's been very considerate about our choice, even notifying us when supplements and medications (one of our cats has an allergy, not related to veganism) contain animal products.

I feel that asking the companies that make vegan cat food to do nutritional testing that will satisfy our vets will really help us to defend our choices - even if we need to organize and fundraise as a community to ensure that testing happens. But even more importantly, I think we really need the space to be honest with our vets - so we need our vets to work with us constructively. Maybe you can find a more friendly vet in your area who you'd feel more comfortable talking with honestly! I really hope you can. It feels so much better than feeling like you have to hide.

[Christina]

Today we were with our sick cat Bamse at the Vet´s. The reason is because he has a loss of hair on his ears and above his eyes. And he has lost a lot of weight. I think It is the food wich makes him sick, but I would like to know what in it so I can change the food. But when I told he was Vegan the Vet was upset and said that cats needs animal protein.

They took a blood sample so I will know more tomorrow or Friday..but I would like to be more prepared with knowledge of the health of other Vegan cats..

They offered us catfood made of meat..but we said that we would like to try other things first..but ofcourse it makes me so sad that he is sick..

My cats have also been thowing up a lot..anyone wiht the same problems or suggestions of wich catfood is the best choice? Now we have been giving them Benevo and Ami cat.

I'm so worried! Would be happy to get any kind of answer!!

Love,

Christina

[Imogen]

Hi Christina,
Sorry to hear about Bamse, I hope he's ok. It must be really stressful for you. Keep us posted on what the tests come back with, it will be interesting to know what is causing Bamse's illness. This website where I get my cat food from has lots of tips about vomiting in cats on this page: http://www.veggiepets.com/acatalog/tips.html. I know it is horrible to feel like maybe it is the vegan cat food that is the cause of Bamse's illness, but both AMI and Benevo have been designed by people who know what nutrients cats need and hopefully the manufacturers rigourously ensure that each batch is nutritionally complete. I have compared packets of AMI to meat cat food and the nutritional breakdown of AMI was identical (or better in some cases such a taurine) than normal meaty cat food. I have often wondered whether taking a packet of food to the vets to show them would be a useful thing to do. Depending on the test results, it may also be useful to write to Benevo and Ami to ask if they have ever heard of vegan cat's eating their brand of food having experienced similar problems to you.
I hope Bamse is well again soon.

[Christina]

Thanks!:-) I will keep you posted. No reply yet from the Vet..

[Christina]

The vet called back to us today and it doesn't seem to be the food that is the problem (which made us relieved for that part..and a little bit victorius..*big smile*).

It is probably a virus and maybe salmonella. We are going to the vet on monday and bring some poo with us. We are also told to check his temputure. But we have no answer yet about the loss of hair..that could be allergy.. But if it is salmonella..there is a good prognosis.

The Vet also wanted to know more about the vegan food.. :-) Hopefully they will get more interested!

Ofcourse we are still worried about our little friend..want to see him totally happy again!

[Eric Milano]

Does anyone know of a vet in the New York City area that is amenable to vegan cats?

[Ari Moore]

We brought our girls to The Heights Veterinary Hospital when we lived in NYC. (59 Hicks St, Brooklyn - tel. #[phone] - they're cash-only). Their stance is that cats shouldn't be vegan, for health reasons - but they were really open-minded, non-judgmental and helpful; we always felt like we could speak with them honestly, and they didn't say "it's the diet!" whenever we brought our cats in with an ailment. They're really committed to making animals healthier, so they help with rescues and ferals and adoptions, and are really affordable.

Good luck in your vet search! :)

[Lauren]

Eric,

I used to go to this holistic vet in Chelsea. The Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital. Dr Elliot works from this office as well as another. While she mentioned that my cat should eat a meat-based diet, her approach was more holistic and I didnt feel pressured. There is also a regular vet practice in this office that I only experienced once when I had an emergency. The vet techs are miracle workers with my very upset cat, whom my current vet can not even handle.

[Sick like a sickle cell]

I was actually pretty set on not even telling my vet my cat will be vegan, but I changed my mind. Instead I will take obligate carnivore with me, tab every stupid question and or statement so I can quickly thumb to it and read out the response. I'm tired of putting all this thought and reason in to my responses when I do not get the same in return. Perhaps the blatant redundancy of their biases will be enough to make them go, hmmm.