Nutritional Research References?

Question

For those of you who are knowledgeable about canine nutrition, I am looking for some references to back up my position with my new (maybe temporary) vet. She is a firm believer that dogs should be eating dog food, that dogs need carbohydrates (particularly grains), that vegetables are not carbohydrates (?), that I am turning my dog into a vegetarian be removing grain from her diet and feeding her meat and veggies (?), that dogs need to eat the exact same thing every day.......you get the picture.

I am looking for research/references (NOT anecdotal evidence) to back up the following:

1) Dogs have notnutritional need for carbohydrates
2) Dogs have no need for grains
3) Diets high in carbohydrates contribute to inflammation, which increases arthrits pain and can cause medical problems, including obesity and maldigestion.
4) Diets high in carbohydrates contribute to cancer.
5) Eating the same diet all the time increases the likelihood of developing food allergies.

6) Feeding raw is safe (I dont feed raw, but just wanted to put that in).

She is absolutely horrified that I'm feeding Sally Anne a varied, homemade meat and veggie diet.

Jocelyn, the funny thing is I was explaining that I'm in favor of low-carbohydrate diets since I've been eating that way myself for two years and the results to my health have been great. So she said that low-carb may be okay for people who are omnivores, but not for dogs because they are carnivores. Just didn't make sense to me.......I'm not sure why she thinks carnivores need grains.

Answer 1

Hi,
This isn't research, just a suggestion.....
Change vets.
If you feel the need to explain your position as a dog owner to a vet, then you need another vet.
Good luck. I wish you and your dogs the very best in health and life.

Answer 2

www.rawmeatybones.com - the books on this site were written by a vet who did some research about tooth decay problems in dogs, where it came from and how it causes other health issues.

www.rawfed.com/myths
www.rawlearning.com

And as for info that dogs are not OMNIVORES, and therefore don't need carbohydrates in the form of grains/veggies/fruits or any plant matter... Well, all she has to do is pick up a good encyclopedia, where it states dogs are CARNIVORES! Canis Lupus Familiarias... That means they are so closely related to wolves they are their more "familiar" form...

Here are some exact references:

http://rawfed.com/myths/omnivores.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/longevity.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/vets.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/carbs.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/digestible.html
http://rawfed.com/myths/stomachcontents.html

Here is a specific quote in reference to the carbohydrate theory:

Waltham Book of Dog and Cat Nutrition (2nd edition, 1988), we read that


"There is no known minimum dietary carbohydrate requirement for either the dog or the cat. Based on investigations in the dog and with other species it is likely that dogs and cats can be maintained without carbohydrates if the diet supplies enough fat or protein from which the metabolic requirement for glucose is derived."

Personally, I'm one of those that is of the opinion- I'm paying you for a service to my dogs... If you can't provide that service without questioning what I'm feeding my dog, then I will find a vet who can... You can take my money and keep your mouth shut, or I will find someone else who can...

Good luck.

Answer 3

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for but these were all the things I read when I looked into feeding a raw diet.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/nutrition.html

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/diet.htm
There are several sites with references to visit in this link.

http://rawfed.com/myths/changed.html

http://www.healthyvet.com/documents/PDF/Elimination_of_Common_Diseases.pdf

http://www.healthyvet.com/documents/PDF/The_Canine_Natural_Raw_Food_Diet.pdf

http://www.rawlearning.com/

http://www.pet-care-experts.com/archive.php?38480
http://www.bestfrisbeedogs.com/mybluedog.html
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/fatpets.htm#grains

I also read:
Dr Pitcairns Complete Guide To Natural Health
by Richard H. Pitcairn

Give Your Dog A Bone
The BARF Diet
Grow Your Pups With Bones
By Ian Billinghurst

Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones
Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health
by Tom Lonsdale


I will say that there are arguments for and against all types of feeding, so it really is a personal decision and what you decide should be based on your dogs overall health and condition. I have a vet that advocates raw feeding so I do not have to argue about it or prove my decision. Hope this helps and is what you are looking for.

Answer 4

Where you will find the best information about the classification of vegetables will be on a diabetic diet web site, and you will find that some veggies are a carb but not all veggies.
IMHO every dogfood study out there has an agenda, so almost any answer to this question is going to only be an opinion.
My answer to your question is; dogs will eat anything, they don't care nearly as much as we do.

Answer 5

5) Eating the same diet all the time increases the likelihood of developing food allergies.

actually the opposite is true - switching constantly is more likely to cause problems.

as far as RAW food diet goes - there is always a risk to the handler of the food, and sometimes you miss certain benefits of things which are added to doggy food in the Premium foods (eg Yucca for odor control or Glucosamine/Chondroitin for joint health)

the KNOWN problem causers (for allergies) are
beef, pork, wheat, soy, and corn.
Meat Meal is a mystery ingredient which could be any dead animal (never good)

By-products - are typicaly beaks feet and feathers (cheap filler) and whats REALLY bad is that by-products are preserved with a nasty chemical pesticide Ethoxyquin ...

BHT and BHA are chemical preservatives... not good...

dogs are omnivours they need SOME grains...

BE WARNED vets often do not receive any training on food brands or ingredients - they often promote CRAPPY FOODS like Science Diet....

Answer 6

High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight loss, and blurry vision. However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all. How to treat diabetes naturally https://tr.im/n8mVb

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting

Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time, and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Increased appetite
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Slow-healing infections
Impotence in men



If you think you have diabetes i think you should have a checkup and speak with your doctor just in case.

Answer 7

Hi there. I have some great articles bookmarked so hopefully I can help.

Raw food diet study:

http://www.antechdiagnostics.com/clients/antechNews/2003/jun03_02.htm

Ethoxyquin and Antioxidants

http://www.grandadventuresranch.com/articles/ethoxyquin_Jean_Dodds.pdf

Nutritional Analysis of Chicken and Turkey Necks

http://www.thefcf.com/husbandry/nutchickturk.asp?key=151

Nutrition and Joint Disease

http://www.ilovemypet.com/jackart.html

General canine nutrition:

http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/nutrition.html