An Aussie vet
has been expelled from the national society that
represents his profession for constantly damning
processed pet food.
It's a
simple message that's made veterinary surgeon Dr
Tom Lonsdale a crusader for pet care, a campaign
he's been conducting for the past 15 years.
"For good health we should
feed [dogs] raw meaty bones," Dr Lonsdale
declares. "Nature's right and I'm communicating
nature's message."
Converts to his raw pet
food diet, like breeder Leah Ryan, are raving
about it.
"My dogs are 100 per cent
more healthy, there's no doubt about it," Leah
said.
But Tom Lonsdale's
campaign has turned his veterinary colleagues
against him and recently they expelled him from
the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).
The AVA's Dr Norm Blackman
says … "He was saying they were poisoning the pets
in society and of course these claims are
quite unfounded."
Dr Tom Lonsdale's warns
that what you're about to hear may be upsetting if
dry or tinned processed commercial pet food is
what you feed your dog or cat.
"There are some less bad
than others but by and large if it's processed
it's not suitable," Dr Lonsdale said. "The fact is
the vets are selling this junk food in their
surgeries … not only promoting it and recommending
it, selling it."
Dr Lonsdale adds it's not
all vets who recommend and sell commercial pet
foods, but he believes "most vets, about 90 per
cent adopt this intransigent view that you must
keep feeding pets out of the can or packet."
But here is Dr Lonsdale's
real sting …
"I believe it's a corrupt
system. The vet code says first of all you should
consider the interests of pets but the interests
of pets come way down the list of priorities for
them once you get down to the nitty gritty," Dr
Lonsdale said.
The AVA was far from
impressed.
"AVA members were offended
and felt as though they had been denigrated in
some way," Dr Norm Blackman said.
Dr Blackman says the
crunch finally came when Tom Lonsdale sent an
email to the Veterinary Surgeon's Board and dozens
of politicians criticising vets, alleging they
have loyalties to the pet food
manufacturers.
"He alleged vets in this
country were actually involved in a consumer and
scientific fraud against the community. That is
simply not true," said Dr Blackman.
Dr Tom Lonsdale's
membership was cancelled.
So what is the AVA's
official view on processed pet foods and correct
diet?
"They should be having a
balanced diet. That may include tin food if owners
choose to do that. It may include dry food, it may
include vegetables," Dr Blackman said.
"[They should have that]
in combination with raw meaty bones because meaty
bones are quite good for dental health."
But Breeder Leah Ryan says
on processed commercial foods her Collie's vet
visits were often and the bills were high.
"Kidney problems, skin
irritations … I had about 20 dogs in those days
and was spending about $1000 a month, so I decided
to try for myself on a natural diet and they
haven't looked back," Leah said.
For more details
on the Raw Meaty Bones diet proposed by Dr Tom
Lonsdale, phone (02) 4574 0537 or visit the
website –
www.rawmeatybones.com
– or email: rivetco@rawmeatybones.com 
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