Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom  If a dog is gaining (or has gained) weight - it isn't due to too much protein or too much carbs - it's too many calories. There actually are studies out there that show more inappropriate weight gain on a higher carb diet vs. a higher protein diet - but I don't have the energy right now to find them for you. They're out there though.
But it's almost beside the point. A higher protein diet, for a dog, would be considered more nutrient dense and bio-available - bc that's what their bodies can most efficiently assimilate - they're carnivores and that's what they're bodies are designed to eat. Therefore, when feeding a nutrient dense diet - you are supposed to feed less volume and it's usually indicated. The kcal analysis is different and you have to adjust accordingly.
As for the homecooking - was it balanced? Was the cal-phos ratio in check? What % prot/carb/fat were you feeding? Was her daily calorie intake calculated? There are so many things that go into homecooking and so very many things that can easily contribute to weight gain in homecooking.
The bottom line is: a size of a being doesn't determine whether or not it can deal with protein. Find a food you trust, a way of feeding you trust, learn about canine digestion and carnivores a bit - AND learn your dog's body - then feed to condition.  |
I cannot say it better really. Wylie's Mom ftw
This is why I always encourage
research research research. Does not matter what people say, what vets say, what members here say, what pet food specialists say. They can only help you so much.
You have to form your own opinion. If you're only gonna listen to the arguments people make, you're always gonna be conflicted, because the pet food business is a commercial world, and they're always gonna vie with each other with a better marketing campaign. it never ends.
I'm sorry to say, vets are not always right, and they are not always well informed. As for the pet food specialist, well... they own a business to run do they not? Are they genuinely passionate about dogs? Do they care if your dogs eat the right things or not?
Of course there are exceptions, but really, why would you depend on people's words when you can find out for yourself.
When I was in a food frenzy, the members here were so nice, they helped me inconsiderably. But I weighed each and every opinion myself. I did not go and base my decision on just any one opinion. I still went and did my own research and my fair share of reading. I'm still reading EVERY DAY. I joined emailing list, I joined groups, I follow links. If you really want to be comfortable with the decision you make about the food your babies eat, you have to arm yourself with knowledge, and decide which are biased and which are not.
It's really just a matter of googling and setting time aside to read. That's all you need.
My yorkie is now 8 months old and she has been on Orijen for about 3 months. I started free-feeding her a month ago. I will admit that my 2 year old shihtzu is also on the Orijen puppy, with higher protein and fat. We are now almost finished with the 7 kg bag of Orijen. Mocha had a growth spurt (which I do not attribute to the food, she is bound to have it sooner or later) she is now longer and taller, but aside from the growth spurt she has not gained excessive/unnecessary weight. My shihtzu, Lulu has not gained extra weight. Both has GREAT energy. We are now walking almost TWICE the distance we used to do. I have lost a kg every month since we started Orijen, because of the distance we do, and the brisk walk. Cross my heart.