My Health Notes

Nutrition


Should I feed my dog dry food or canned food? Recently I have heard that several humane societies are recommending that dogs be fed dry dog food only. Why, I wonder? Perhaps they recommend dry food for the convenience of the owner. (Just pour some food in a dish and forget about it.) It is possible that a dog is less likely to experience digestive upset (diarrhea) on an unvaried diet of one brand of dry dog food. (This also seems to be a convenience factor for the owner rather than a health problem for the dog.)

There is a "new" trend these days promoting "people food" for dogs. I have run into this in several books as well as from several local dog trainers. By and large the arguments are supported by common sense and anecdotes. (The pet food companies are the ones with the money to conduct nutrition research.) You can find these views promoted in books by Paul Loeb, Paul Owens, Ann M. Martin, and others.

Their logic goes like this: You would not feed your children only one food all of their lives regardless of how complete it was promoted to be. You know that the protein in dry food can't be of as good quality as the protein in fresh foods. You know that semimoist foods have to be packed with preservatives. Even the canned foods contain animal parts that are of questionable nutritional value. Worst of all, Paul Owens quotes Ann Martin as saying that some rendering plants who furnish ingredients to the pet food companies include companion animals that have been euthanized. The pet food companies deny this, of course.

What are all of these people suggesting? They suggest that what is good for you is good for your dog. One third meat, one third vegetables, and one third carbohydrates. Claims are made that your dog will have fewer health and behavior problems and will live longer. Here is a site devoted to Bones And Raw Foods   (BARF).

Frequently I read on the internet boards of dogs with skin problems and other allergies. Without trying to substitute for veterinary advice, I can remind you that many dogs are allergic to corn, wheat, soy, and/or beef. Rice and lamb based foods are often recommended for dogs with allergy problems. Dogs can be lactose intolerant also.

It is important to read the contents both on the food that you are currently using and the one to which you are considering a change. Changing brand does not by itself solve an allergy problem. Changing contents is what is important. Some of the "lamb and rice" foods contain ONLY lamb and rice. This is a significant reason for their success. The preservatives used can be a factor also. If my dog were having an allergy problem, I think that I would make my own lamb and rice mix for a while. This would eliminate quite a few possibilities at once. Then I could gradually introduce other foods one by one.

What do I feed my dogs? A high quality kibble is available at all times. In the evenings I feed an inexpensive canned food laced with table scraps. My cats have a high quality kibble available at all times and receive Gerber's Baby Food in the evenings. I can't imagine offering my animals dry food as a main meal. At the very least, I would moisten it with broth.

I am reporting these nutritional ideas so that you can judge for yourself as to whether or not they may have some application to your situation.