Studies substantiating the need for a high–fat diet are blossoming. Since the advent of commercial dog foods, the industry has been trying to sell low- fat for dogs. It means greater profits for them, at the expense of real health for your dog. The term "high-fat" used in this document is used only in relation to typical fat levels in commercial dog foods. Based on what is necessary for the canine to reach and maintain an optimum level of health, what is
 being referred to as "high-fat" is what should be the normal levels of high quality fat.

Let it be made clear that all discussions on nutrition and ingredients have no bearing unless a very high level of quality is maintained. You cannot compare a quality grain to a fragment or filler (rice being a whole grain, rice bran being a filler etc.). The first consideration on any food product whether it is for a human or a canine, is the quality of the food they are consuming.

We all know that good nutrition can improve the quality and length of a dog’s life. The correct levels of quality fat are essential to this.

FIGHT CANCER WITH A HIGH-FAT DIET

Cancer in dogs is often visible through what is called cancer-cachexia,meaning, a wasting away of the body, despite adequate consumption of nutrients. The dog is no longer metabolizing properly.

The process that takes place in a cancer patient is a chain reaction of sorts that ultimately is feeding the tumor. It goes like this: Normal cells  metabolize glucose into energy (carbon dioxide and water = oxidation) cancer cells metabolize glucose into energy and lactate, a form of lactic acid. The body responds by converting the lactate back into glucose through the liver. The price the dog pays is a huge drain of energy, i.e. Weight and condition loss. Meanwhile, the tumor has been given a boost of energy for growth, it has metabolized. This is a no win situation for the dog with cancer. Often, the canine cancer patient develops a resistance to insulin, the hormone responsible for transporting glucose into the cells, where it is metabolized. This causes greater fluctuations in blood sugar after eating, followed by a rise in insulin and lactate levels. Again, causing a state of malnutrition (cachexia) and can fuel tumor growth.

As quoted from the article "The Canine Cancer" first published in the AKC Gazette May 1998 by Kathleen Hefner DVM.

"Studies have compared the effects of a high-fat diet vs. high-carbohydrate diet in canine cancer patients. The high-fat diet provided fewer blood-glucose fluctuations, less loss of body fat, less tumor growth, increased weight, as well as improved protein and energy metabolism. It is believed high-fat diets decrease the severity of cancer cachexia and studies have shown are more likely to go into remission".

For a total state of health, a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, which is most commercial dog foods, should be avoided.

HEALTHY DOGS

What about a healthy dog? Do they require higher levels of fat than they have been getting from most commercial foods? A resounding YES!

We now know that a high-fat diet is of dramatic benefit to a dog with cancer. The same is true with a healthy dog, whether he is active or inactive, young or old.

What we have seen in sight hounds, particularly Whippets, is very telling. They often have a heat cycle yearly rather than every 6 months or in some cases every 2 years. Changing them to a diet high in quality fat has shown to improve the regularity of their heat cycles. A high-fat diet is what is
necessary for all dogs to be at an optimum state of health.

In humans, eating the bulk of your caloric intake with carbohydrates (carb loading) has proven to increase muscle-glycogen, therefor increasing stamina. The same carb loading tested on sled dogs showed an excess accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. In horses, it caused founder and colic; therefore, establishing that canines and horses do not metabolize carbohydrates as humans do. Dogs metabolize fat the way humans
metabolize carbohydrates. It is their fuel, what gives them the ability to function at their greatest peak of health.

From an article by Hilary Watson, Fat Is Where It Is At: "A high-fat diet in conjunction with endurance training causes cardiovascular pulmonary and exymatic changes that enhance the ability to use fatty acids as fuel for muscle activity. This process is known as "fat adaptation"."

Also taken from Ms. Watson’s article: "Sled dogs have shown to perform better on a high-fat diet. Treadmill test done on Beagles eating a high-fat diet showed much longer periods before exhaustion set in, as opposed to when fed a typical canine diet higher in carbohydrates. The beagles on the high-fat diet had better oxygen utilization, improved endurance and reduced depletion of muscle glycogen".

Fat adaptation has shown to reduce the effort of breathing through lowering the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Even sedentary dogs benefit form the high-fat diet, giving their body what has long been required and allowing it to easily digest.

Dogs maintain better body heat in cold temperatures and in summer a high-fat diet guards against heat exhaustion and dehydration through fat adaptation. Dogs who are competing in field trails, lure coursing, agility, or any sport requiring excessive effort and ensuing a high-fat diet consume less water than their competitors, giving them the competitive edge. It is believed that this is through an increase in production of "metabolic water" in animals fed a higher-fat diet.

Metabolic water is water produced from the metabolism of nutrients in the body. Depletion of water is a major cause of fatigue, heat stroke, and in cases that are more serious, heart attack and death.

Hot or cold weather results in increased stress to any animal. When that animal is not getting a quality diet with the proper amount of fat, it takes a toll on their body, reducing their optimum state of health.

  An excerpt taken from Dogs In Canada, The Most Essential Nutrient, June 1998, Hilary Watson states:

It is time that we give our dogs what they have always needed, and not what the manufacturers have tried to convince us was adequate. A quality dog food with proper fat levels, giving our dogs greater digestibility, better coats and skin, an overall improved health leading to a longer fuller life with fewer medical problems. This is truly a win win for dogs and owners alike.

Back To Basics Food For Dogs has what is felt to be a normal level of fat in a quality diet. Protein levels of 23% with a fat content of 19% are what Back To Basics feels is optimum for all dogs, young, old, active and inactive.

                    "Fat Is Where It's At" article from Hilary Watson, June 1998
(reproduced from Back to Basics Website)

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