What do you feed your dogs

Hippocratus said “Let food by thy medicine” And with that he pointed out a massive truth – the biggest single impact on our health comes from what we eat and our gut health. And the same applies to our four footed friends/kids. The biggest single impact for health – or ill-health – comes from what they eat. Yes, genetics and environment also plays a role, but the biggest single role is played by the food they are fed. Are you feeding them for health or for ill-health.

It is therefore important for you to know what you are actually feeding them – it is your responsibility. And then we start by saying look at the bag of food and what ingredients are stated there, the first ingredient is the major ingredient (50%-90% of food ingredients) and then secondly do your own research on the implications for health of those ingredients – I have in my articles also pointed out the effects and implications of these foods. And let me stress, YOU are feeding YOUR four footed kids – it is therefore your responsibility and not to just rely on what vet sells you, on propaganda, on advertising. It is YOUR choice.

LIES, DECEPTION AND OMISSIONS

1) Lies – The dog food industry is often involved in direct lying, i.e statements like food is high in proteins, while it barely has 20% protein. Statements like grain is a natural food for dogs, while grain in dog food was introduced in the last 50-70 years and dogs digestive system not evolved to digest grain, specifically corn (that is predominant ingredient of most dog food) Bland statements like “nutritious food” while it basically is just corn, that research has shown is NOT nutritious and readily digestible by dogs. They deny the links between their corn rich dog foods and health problems, but then make hypo-allergenic foods (and to be noted at a very high price) where they replace the corn with rice (an admission that corn is cause of allergic and inflammation reactions). And of course the dog food industry spend a massive budget on advertising and kick backs to vets (for which you as client are paying) to convince you of their lies. 

2) Deception – The dog food industry also try to script a certain narrative that their food is good and to deceive the public. This comes through clearly in their advertising and in false sponsored “research” that again and again gets debunked as false. More direct deception is statements on ingredients like minimum 4% chicken or minimum 7% chicken where impression is created that could be more, while indeed only the minimum they state in ingredients. Also creates impression that actual meat is used in some disclosures, while in other disclosures clear it is not meat used but meat meal/ meat by-product (that is meat not approved for human consumption and includes waste material and even sick and euthanized animals)

3) Omissions (hiding of facts) – everyone that wants to be conscientious and try to do the best for their four foot kids and actually read the ingredient list on the dog food bags will be frustrated. Only the bare minimum (Actually less than the bare minimum is disclosed) No indication of amount of any ingredient is included, generic term grain or cereal is used rather than maize and all descriptions are generalities that is purely opinion (and actually often knowingly false statements) Impossible to pinpoint precisely what is and is not in the dog food. Even searches on their own product websites usually bring you to a dead wall. When clicking on “ingredients” they just take you back to the products list and use same vague descriptions and generalities. MY QUESTION: IF YOUR FOOD IS SO GOOD WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO FULLY DISCLOSE INGREDIENTS. Usually when you try to hide things it is because you have good reason to hide it, you do not want the public to know.

THE TRUTH

Dogs are Carnivores

1) The intestines of dogs is simply not developed for an omnivorous diet. Dogs has a short and simple intestine. Thanks to the highly acidic pH inside the stomach, fats and proteins are easily and quickly digestible in a short intestinal tract. Things like corn are however not properly digested and actually rot in the stomach/ gut (leading inter alia to inflammation, leaky gut and IBS). And you will also see the results in stools in that 80% of food intake is excreted. 

2) No salivary amylase. This lack makes pancreas overwork for digestion of carbohydrates. Direct severe impact on health of dog

3) Teeth and jaw conformation. Large opening of mouth capable to swallow big chunks. Short and sharp teeth perfect to rip flesh.

4) Insulin response. Food rich in carbohydrates cause a higher insulin response and lead to the storage of glucose excess in body fat form (carbohydrates changed into sugars and then becomes fat). This process may lead to diabetes and obesity and glucose/ sugar is also what fuels cancer in dogs.

For a healthy diet for dogs predominantly MEAT need to be fed. That will mean a balanced raw diet or a quality dry food that is predominantly meat (In South Africa the choices in this regard is a bit limited, basically Farmina imported from Italy and Acana imported from Canada). Both these dry foods mentioned also DO disclose full detailed ingredients and nutritional information. Again I wonder why this difference between them and the other dog foods – maybe because they do not have anything to hide. 

Between these two I would recommend Farmina, a lot cheaper than Acana and higher meat content. Farmina has between 64% and 80% meat (according to specific product) and 90%-98% of protein from meat. 

Nobles of Camelot are a national distributor for Farmina. If you wish pricelist and full nutritional information please contact Henk 078 0653360 or email henk@noblesofcamelot.co.za Then you can make an informed choice.

What are you feeding your dog(s)? Are you feeding for health?