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In the current
issue of Dog Watch, the newsletter distributed by Cornell University
College of Veterinary Medicine, "the four most common causes of death
in older dogs are cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal failure and epilepsy
and hepatic diseases."* Eating fresh foods free of the contamination
of hormone and antibiotic "supplements" to the meat animals,
pesticide sprays and systemic treatment to plants, etc., is high on the
list of recommendations for cancer prevention and good health for humans.
Since humans and dogs are both animals does it not make sense that the same
applies to dogs?
In just about any
one of the various monthly magazines and reports that I get, there is
something about dental care for our pets. To neglect care of the teeth
results in stress and ultimate compromise of the kidneys, liver and heart.
Yet, when dogs ate "real" food, which always included raw bones,
there was no big deal about tartar coated teeth.
Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian vet, noted an undeniable
connection between the increase in the use of processed, commercial dog
food and the decline in the health of the dogs of his clients and his very
own dogs. Of equal importance is that he saw a complete turn-around when he
and his clients switched back to "real" food! The problems he saw
in the declining health of the animals lists all
of those mentioned in Dog Watch and many, many more.
For many years vets recommended supplements of calcium for dogs
of the large and giant breed category and now we know that that is THE
worst possible thing we can do. Yet, Billinghurst
says that all commercial food is too high in calcium. Bear in mind that
here [in Mexico] there are still vets telling their clients to use a
calcium supplement for their dogs during their growing years!
Recently a client
asked about feeding reduced protein food to her growing pup because her vet
told her that would reduce/eliminate risks of canine hip displasia. Wow! Scary stuff, folks. According to Lisa
Freeman of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, a puppy's
nutritional requirements must be met and one way to do so is to feed a good
quality commercial food "and be careful not to overfeed; it should
remain lean and grow slowly." She also refers to some of the new products
available specifically formulated for large and giant breeds and to
continue with these products until the dog is 12 to 18 months of age.
Freeman says that starting pups of large/giant breeds on adult food by 3 to
4 months of age is an option but the foods are often deficient in the
nutrients that pups need. Of course, one can supplement to meet those needs
(extra fat, for example) and do very well.
The REALLY big
issue is to never, never allow a pup to have an extra ounce of fat on his
body!!!!
To back up that
statement I refer to the 12-1-2000 issues of JAVMA (Journal of Veterinary
Medical Association). I quote from a "post" I received:
Evaluation of the effect of limited food consumption on radiographic
evidence of osteo-arthritis in dogs, by R.D.Kealy et al.
"Control and
limit-fed Labs (Labrador Retrievers) that received 25% less food than
control dogs were observed from 8 wks to 8 years of age. At 8 years of age rads (radiographs) were taken of shoulders, hips and
elbows and stifles. In the control dogs osteo-arthritis
was detected in 85% of shoulder joints and 68% of hip joints. In the limit
fed dogs osteo-arthritis was detected in 57% of
shoulder joints and just 14% of hip joints."
The point being,
keep your pups and dogs lean! Do not restrict the oh-so necessary protein.
If you are absolutely determined to feed commercial food learn how to
interpret those labels and buy the very best available. And, keep this in
mind: veterinarians do NOT learn about nutrition in vet school. Furthermore,
about the only information available to those interested in studying
nutrition is provided by (guess who?) the pet food manufacturer.** Gee, I wonder where that will lead us in the path to
good nutrition?
*Not sure just how
they came up with the number four but this is a quote.
**Based on information gleaned from studies done by C.A. Buffington, DVM,
PhD of the Ohio State University and Dorothy P. LaFlamme,
DVM, PhD of the Ralston Purina Company.
"Until he
extends his circle of compassion to include all living things man will not
himself find peace." Albert Schweitzer.
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