I think that's a pretty weak excuse. You can't recommend raw diet because you assume your clients are not intelligent enough to handle it?
You should show this thread to your bosses and remind them that they are their to serve their clients by offering correct health information for OUR PETS. Stop worrying so much about the human.. if they want to be doctors.. be a doctor, not a veterinarian.
It was definitely never mentioned, nor implied (I'm sorry if it came off that way), that clients in general are not intelligent enough to handle it, as you suggested.
The problem lies in misinformation, half-truths, myths, etc. As I mentioned, I consult clients on a regular basis who are feeding a 'natural raw food diet' that consists of raw chicken breast, raw ground meat, etc. This is not medically or nutritionally appropriate for any species long term. I do not tell these people that they are horrible for feeding a raw food diet. Instead, there is a conversation on what a balanced raw food diet entails, as well as necessary precautions that are necessary when feeding raw (hand washing, bowl washing). Unfortunately there is a lot that is out of our control (e.g. patient eating raw licks child in face and child contracts X bacteria). Because our beloved pets are sharing our living space with us, who sometimes don't have a 'human' level of hygiene (e.g. licking their own butt), these are things that need to be at minimum discussed.
Furthermore, it was nothing to do with owner intelligence - human health risks are a real concern, and is for the most part out of our control. On that note, as I mentioned, I personally feed my dog a raw food diet and let him lick me in the face frequently. I consider myself an intelligent person. However, I am educated with the potential risks and concerns, and made educated decisions from there.
Of course, our priority is patient care, patient well-being, and patient health. That is why our discussion on ferret nutrtition is, as mentioned above, that ferrets are obligate carnivores and therefore require a diet that is extremely high protein, with negligable CHO. This can be achieved without a raw diet, though I am very familiar with the benefits of such a diet, as well as whole prey meals, and that is not what we were discussing here.
We are always open for conversation and dialogue, but I do find your closing comment a little offensive and uncessary. Human health concerns
IS a part of veterinary medicine, and it would be irresponsible and dangerous to NOT discuss various zoonosis concerns with our clients, particularly those who are susceptible. I do appreicate and condone your passion for nutritional education and biologically appropriate diets.
Suzie is correct, though I will partly disagree in that diet is a huge part of overall health, which is why it is something that is discussed at every visit. Whatever the diet is, as long as it is biologically appropriate, and the patient tolerates it well, we don't put too much care into what specifically is being fed.