| Since the infamous pet food recall in March 2007, dog | | | | actually needs fat in his diet, especially if he is a |
| owners have had their confidence in the commercial | | | | working dog, or very active. We humans use |
| pet food industry shaken, and justifiably so. In | | | | carbohydrate food (grains, cereals, fruit and |
| today's age of information, you'd think it would be | | | | vegetables) for energy. The canine digestive system |
| easy to find the best way to feed our canine friends. | | | | is designed to process meat, bones and fats; dogs |
| It's true there is a lot of information available, but so | | | | need fat for energy. |
| much of it is contradictory or biased that it becomes | | | | 6. Bones are bad for dogs: Wrong! Cooked bones are |
| more confusing than helpful. I hope that by debunking | | | | bad for dogs. They can splinter and damage the gut. |
| a few common myths, I can help anyone who is | | | | However, managed sensibly, raw bones are beneficial |
| struggling with the question of what to feed their | | | | to teeth and gums and provide a relaxing treat. If |
| dog. | | | | you are worried about feeding raw bones, use |
| 1. Only commercially prepared dog food offers a | | | | mutton flap or brisket, both of which contain quite |
| "complete and balanced" diet: Surely we have been | | | | soft bones. |
| brainwashed here? The pet food industry is so | | | | 7. Milk products are bad for dogs: Some adult dogs |
| lucrative for the big-name manufacturers, that they | | | | can lack the digestive enzyme needed to process |
| devote a huge budget to marketing, advertising and | | | | lactose. Try your dog with a small volume of milk to |
| seductive packaging. If anyone tried to tell a mother | | | | see what happens. Milk products such as yoghurt |
| that the only way she could feed her children | | | | (natural, unsweetened), cottage cheese, and |
| "complete and balanced" nutrition was with a | | | | buttermilk are excellent foods for dogs, and good |
| processed, packaged (or canned) food and nothing | | | | sources of bioavailable calcium. |
| else, she would be horrified! | | | | 8. Raw food is dangerous for dogs because of |
| How did dogs survive before commercial dog food | | | | bacterial contamination: When handling raw meat for |
| was available? | | | | dogs, we need to practice the same standards of |
| 2. Dry dog food benefits teeth and gums: Are | | | | hygiene that we use for our own food. This is more |
| biscuits good for our kids' teeth? We are supposed | | | | to protect ourselves than to protect our dogs. Dog |
| to believe that chewing hard biscuits mimics the | | | | saliva has an enzyme that destroys pathogenic |
| effect of chewing raw meat. In reality, stale material | | | | organisms; canine stomach acid is strong enough to |
| lodges around the dog's teeth, causing plaque buildup. | | | | destroy harmful bacteria. Keep a separate chopping |
| 3. Eating the same food every day is better for my | | | | board for meat; wash your hands and utensils after |
| dog's digestion: While it is true that you should make | | | | preparing your dog's food; keep leftovers covered |
| radical changes to your dog's diet gradually, a variety | | | | and refrigerated; keep raw meat wrapped in the |
| of meal ingredients given as part of the regular diet is | | | | fridge. |
| no more disturbing to our dogs than it is to us. | | | | 9. Raw eggs are bad for dogs: Raw eggs contain a |
| 4. Changing my dog's diet will cause diarrhea: | | | | substance that interferes with the absorption of |
| Commercial dog foods can include a lot of "filler" | | | | biotin. However, eggs are such a valuable nutrient |
| ingredients, causing production of large stools. Artificial | | | | source that their benefits far outweigh this small |
| "stool hardeners" in the foods prevent these large | | | | disadvantage. |
| stools from also being objectionably loose. If you | | | | 10. Older dogs need less protein: Actually, older dogs |
| decide to change your dog to "real" food, make the | | | | need more protein, and better quality protein |
| change slowly, gradually weaning the dog off the | | | | because as they age, their digestive systems |
| "artificial" food over several days. Introduce new | | | | become less efficient. Good quality (animal) protein is |
| foods one at a time. | | | | more easily utilized and more nutritious for them. |
| Your dog's stools will become smaller and less | | | | Nothing will ever be as easy as pouring the kibble into |
| offensive. They might seem soft initially, but will | | | | a bowl, but with a little planning and organization, |
| eventually settle to being soft but formed. | | | | feeding real food, homemade from wholesome |
| 5. Too much fat is bad for dogs: Obesity is now a | | | | ingredients, need not be complicated. The joy with |
| major human health concern. As humans, we are | | | | which your dog eats, the security that comes from |
| constantly encouraged to eat less fat. Dogs, | | | | knowing his food is safe, the improved health of your |
| however, do not have the same issues with animal | | | | dog, and the saving in veterinary costs can make this |
| fat. In fact, unless your dog is overweight, he | | | | small effort very rewarding. |