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Why
Supermarket Foods are NOT a Bargain
by Lyn Richards
Many large and giant breeds
are identified with specific limb and joint conditions.
Giant and Large breed dogs are particularly susceptible
to some of these conditions. Bone disease is often the
result of factors other than genetic or inherited in these
large and giant breed dogs.
Assuming that you have purchased
your dog from an ethical breeder who has taken advantage
of testing and genetic registries (OFA, PenHip, CERF-for
example), not a pet store, puppy mill or a rescue where
we are unable to determine genetic predsiposition, we
can rule out poor conformation and genes.
High intake of calcium is
associated with various bone diseases in Large and Giant
breed dogs. Owners mistakenly believe that "more is better"
and attempt to supplement all kinds of things with bigger
breed dogs. Diets high in protein also increase the growth
lameness tendencies for large dogs. Most experienced breeders
also recommend that no vitamin or mineral supplement (other
than Vitamin C) be given to puppies of these larger breeds.
Poor quality foods bear
quite a large part of the blame for growth problems like
HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy),
OCD (Osteochondritis Dessicans)
and Pano (Panosteitis).
The problem is too fast growth caused by too much protein,
unbalanced fat to protein ratios, or poor quality protein
and fat sources.
Usually a good quality Adult
dog food that is 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat is recommended.
In recent years, protein requirements have turned into
a numbers game. Research has shown that 21% to 24% protein
is optimum for various life stages. It's not just
the quantity but the quality of your dog's protein source
that is vital. For example, a 32% content of a poor
quality protein source could give your dog too little
protein.
Many pet food companies
add low-quality protein products such as meat and bone
meal, by-products and corn gluten meal, knowing they can
increase the percentage of crude protein on the label,
without making a better food. Low quality proteins
are not easily digestible, therefore not easily assimilated
by the dog. You may be paying for food that
your dog can not utilize. One of my pet peeves is with
companies like Iams, Eukaneuba and Purina, who make "puppy
foods" which contain low quality and way too high
poor quality protein content for Giant Breed dogs to do
well. Recommended foods
Quality dog foods usually
contain more calories per pound and are more digestible
than store brands, so it takes less quantity of a quality
food, to meet your dog's needs. Also, smaller amounts
of highly digestible, quality food mean less stools--another
major advantage of quality digestible food.
Dogs of many breeds are
susceptible to bloat and torsion so the less stress on
the gastrointestinal tract the better. Good highly digestible
diets are a MUST for most breeds, many even recommend
feeding a Raw Food diet (See BARF
references below).
Many folks interested in
feeding for maximum health, low cost and low environmental
impact now espouse a feeding plan called BARF
(Bones and Raw Food) . Based on the premise that when
fed a natural whole food diet, animals are far healthier
than if fed cooked and processed foods. This harks back
to the "natural" state for wild canids, of the need for
raw freshly killed meat, and the partially digested vegetable
contents of the stomachs of their prey.
Puppies are usually fed
3-4 times a day, gradually decreasing to twice a day between
6 months to a year. NEVER, EVER feed puppy or growth food
(high low quality protein levels of 28-30% and high calories
which promote accelerated growth) to a large or giant
breed pup, that's like asking for leg and bone growth
related problems.
Another "mistake" that food
companies and dog owners make, is lowering fat content
in foods. (Read our "Fat is
Where It's At" and "Why
High Fat?" articles)This causes several problems,
the most serious of which are skin and allergy type disorders.
Veterinarians will many times suggest dropping fat contents
in foods fed to overweight dogs. This in fact causes weight
GAIN, due to hunger caused by protein to fat imbalances
in the diet, which make the dog constantly feel hungry.
Instead, feeding a higher fat (15-19%), moderate protein
(19-23%) food with LOWER calories and supplementing with
some raw foods (meats and veggies) will facilitate steady
and gradual weight loss, with little stress to the dog
or its digestive system.
I can tell
you that 90% of the "housebreaking" problems
I encounter are UTI or Diabetes related issues!
Also, many of the eating disorders (Coprophagy, wallboard
chewing etc) are all related to poor quality food. By
this I mean that the High Carb, Low Meat-based protein
foods CAUSE the problem by not filling strategic nutritional
"gaps" in a dog. They are still "mentally"
hungry, so they chew or eat inappropriate items. A GOOD
quality dog food will have at LEAST 12% fat, 23% protein
from PRIMARILY meat based sources, and will also have
a variety of whole fruits/vegetables to help fill fiber
needs while providing nutrition as well. Foods with a
high Beet Pulp content (Iams, Eukanuba, Diamond to name
a few) are providing a large volume of nutritionless fiber
(artificial stool hardening as well). Beet Pulp DOES act
as a Pre-Biotic when added to foods in a very SMALL quantity,
but it should be WAAAAY down in the ingredients list...not
# 5, 6 or 7. Many of the other foods (i.e.. Purina, the
feed store brands like Blue Seal etc) use Plant based
proteins, which may not be sufficient for many dogs needs.
If you research
the foods that are for instance, recommended by Whole
Dog's Top Ten list, you will
find that the "best" foods are not the Pet Supply
Store brands, and a good explanation of what a to look
for in ANY food.
Certainly SOME
eating disorders are based on "psychological"
problems, but not as many as people will have you think.
For more info on dog health,
foods and feeding, check out my site at http://www.doglogic.com,
type any of these words; Feeding, Health or Food into
my site search engine for more info!
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DogLogic's
Recommended Kibbled Foods List
All of these
foods can be ordered on line, the first two are delivered
by mail.
Do
YOU Know what's in YOUR
Dogs Kibble?
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INFO
ON FEEDING BARF
(Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods)
