I have lived in SoWal since I was 2, some people like to stay stuck in whats always worked for them, I like to change it up. After leaving for a few years, and coming back, I can say thats so even more. Dr.'s and vets in this area are stuck in another century. Sure the rule of thumb might be no human food, and I also have been in the seat with a few thousand dollar vet bill, but mine was due to spinal arthritis, which is very common in sheperds, almost every german sheperd/breed has it along with hip displaysia. Our vet in Tallahassee where my husband got the dog and he lived with the dog for 8 years, was a K-9 police vet in Miami-Dade county for almost 14 years. We feed our dog a rice/turkey/veggie mix with a fatty amino acid oil in it. The vet is the one who told us to do it. I cant imagine living my life every day and eating the same meal all day every day, sure maybe its healthy, but not much fun. So yes we spoil our pet, hes 70 lbs of fur with very thick undercoat. He cant even go outside until late afternoon. Now I also have 7 yr old twin sons, they like to feed him crap sometimes, and we get on to them, its not allowed. But to say that all vets say no human food at all just isn't so, maybe the ones here. Maybe they dont want to take the time to learn new things, or go out on a limb for you to try something new with your pet for your pet. I have never heard no human food ever. Just not certain things (ONIONS, GARLIC, BONES, ****TY DOG FOOD,DEAD THINGS, TRASH, SOME FISH). On another note, maybe Gators parents should read this, Im just fine with my animal the way I have been doing things, and under my vets supervision, his skin is great and his coat is nice and plush with no scratchies. This post is making me scared to take my dog to a vet around here. I have already sworn off the Doctors in SoWal, all of them.