Since commercial dog food has been available, manufacturers have been producing food from by-products and fillers that do not provide the best nutrition for your dog. In the last 20 years or so, as awareness of healthy living for humans has been heightened, we are finally seeing foods for our pups that bring them what they really need to thrive and be healthy.
Our Rover Reported talked with Elizabeth Chandler from Holistic for Pets about choosing the right food for your dog.
RR: Elizabeth, what are some of the most common questions you hear about dog food?
EC: The most common issue or question that we hear in our store is that dogs are “itchy” and their humans are looking for a topical solution for relief, i.e., they are looking for a topical “band-aid” but haven’t given much, if any, thought to what it is that is causing the itching.
So, our first question usually is “What are you feeding your dog?” Many times the answer is a food that is heavily laden with grains, by-products, glutens, and other fillers, which can lead to itchiness that pet owners often confuse as an allergy. We normally suggest a grain-free food and we try to find the right protein level and other ingredients based on the pet’s age, general health, etc. and suggest that they try that food for a few months to see if the situation improves (which, usually, it does).
RR: We now know that when you are looking at an ingredient list, the first item you should see would be a protein, like Chicken, or lamb, is that correct?
EC: Generally speaking yes; you are looking for Meat, Veggies and Fruit. It’s OK for there to be grains as maybe the second or third ingredient if you are not feeding a grain-free food. While grains are not necessarily bad for dogs, they are not a necessary element in dog food. Wolves do not eat grains and, since our dogs are evolved from wolves, we should strive to feed them diets that are evolutionarily in-line with that of the wolf.
RR: What types of ingredients do we really not want to see?
EC: Gluten, wheat or wheat flour, soy products, by-products, but, especially, anything that is referred to on the label as “meat.” By FDA labeling, if the word “by-products” is used, it MUST be from a chicken, cow, or pork. But, if the word “Meat is used either alone or with the word “by-products” it could be anything from road kill to euthanized cats or dogs (we refer to “Meat” as being the three D’s – dead, diseased, dying animals). Propylene glycol is in a lot of commercial dog food and treats and even some human food. But you will not find it in holistic food and it should not be on any ingredients panel of food or treats you choose to feed your pet. Manufacturers use it for form a coating around the food to make it appear moist.
RR: How can we best maintain a healthy weight for our pups?
EC: When dogs are overweight, portion reduction is the way to go. If your dog is overweight, short of a health problem, then it is for the same reasons people become overweight: (1) eating too much and/or (2) not getting enough exercise. Dogs need relatively small amounts of food and most people overfeed and overtreat them. If your dog is healthy, develop an exercise regimen together (it’ll help you, too!). As far as feeding is concerned, I have found that (1) managing proper portions and (2) feeding a lean diet is the best way to go. In my personal experience, the best food for keeping a lean body mass is raw food. Secondarily, canned food is very low in carbs (versus dry and “low calorie” foods, which are high in carbs). If you find yourself feeling guilty because it just doesn’t look like you’ve given your dog enough food, then buy a smaller bowl to ease the psychological impact.
RR: What are some other myths surrounding dog food?
EC: The most common misconception is that dry food cleans dogs teeth. Most dogs don’t chew their food, and even if they did, chewing dry food does not create enough abrasion to clean their teeth. Think about the wolf again; when they are eating in the wild, time is of the essence, an entire chain of secondary predators are waiting to pounce on the kill. So they need to consume their food quickly and move on. Wolves must eat quickly (or be eaten) so they eat fast, with little if any chewing, and their digestion actually begins in their stomachs (unlike humans, whose digestive process begins in their mouths). Sustained chewing on abrasive surfaces is what cleans dogs’ teeth (like raw marrow bones or bully sticks).
Another misconception is that canned food creates loose stool – but it is not true. The consistency of the food has nothing to do with what comes out the other side. If that were true, we’d all have loose stool from eating soups!
RR: I know some foods are also very high in protein, like as many as 40g per serving. How much is enough and how can we gauge the proper amount?
EC: The correct level of protein is going to be different for every dog. Younger dogs should have higher protein. For some dogs, a more moderate amount of protein is called for. It just depends. It was once thought senior dogs should have less protein to protect their kidneys. But now, the holistic take on this is that senior dogs may actually need more protein because they may lose some of the ability to absorb protein as they grow older. And there are other health issues that may require lower protein levels. Talk to our staff and share your dog’s health conditions, if any, so that they can help you formulate a plan.
RR: Do you recommend any particular books or resources?
EC: Go to our website library for several interesting articles and links: HolisticforPets.com.
RR: In an ideal world, is feeding raw the way to go?
EC: Raw is my personal favorite. It is most like what our dogs would eat if they were wild. It is about the same cost as canned food and most dogs do very well on a raw diet, maintaining a good, healthy weight with improved coats.
Canned food and dry food, while containing the necessary nutrition, are processed at such a high temperatures, the vitamins have been added back in. The basic nutritional tenant for dogs is similar to that for humans: The less processed a food is, the better. The closer to its original form on earth, the better.
For most people, preparing a raw food diet for their dog from scratch would be overwhelming. It requires a fair amount of time, nutritional expertise and special equipment. Fortunately, there are lots of great options of holistic raw foods that are available in prepared form; all you have to do is thaw and serve! Talk to our staff and get a free sample to try with your dog.
Elizabeth Chandler is the Manager of Holistic for Pets Bradenton and Mom to 8 dogs: Cory, Lil’ Dog, Cassie, Eddy, Sheena, Beezer, Casey and Cooper, and 5 cats. Here are just a few members of her family:
Thanks, to Elizabeth and Holistic for Pets for spending some time with SarasotaDog.com