|
Originally Posted by Nancy1999 You say:
"Where did you get the information that "most vets learn from breeders"? I was under the impression that vets learn from scientific inquiry, research and lab work."
Scientific inquiry includes talking to professional breeders.
When I use the word breeder, I'm referring to a professional breeder whose opinion I respect. Someone who has been doing this for well over 30 years, and has done research, testing, and scientific inquiry herself. She is an expert and vets do come to her for advice. My own vet, who while not familiar with this particular breeder, told me he asks the breeders for advice all the time; this made me respect him more. You ask me if I believe in science, of coarse I do, but there is good science and bad science, and an example of bad science is when someone quotes from various publication to try to prove their point. You seem to be mixing apples with oranges here, I was talking about puppies under the age of 9 months, so all the literature you have quoted on adult dogs can automatically be ruled out.
The only thing that referred to puppies was this quote:
"3. According to the AKC (I thought you mentioned breeders as you goldent standard), "Puppies need more calories and essential nutrients than do adult dogs. Choose a food specially formulated for puppies. Puppies under six months should get three or four meals a day. They are growing rapidly, but their stomachs have limited capacity. After six months they can handle two to three meals a day."
This to me says nothing AGAINST free feeding, but mainly points out that "They are growing rapidly, but their stomachs have limited capacity". Are you supposed to empty the bowl out after every feeding? If not, this is essentially free feeding. The important point here is even this refers to puppies in general not Yorkshire terriers which have very specific needs and problems, one of which is hypoglycemia.
You say:
"Each of us, I am sure, wants to address a potential developmental problem soon enough before it turns to be obesity or hypoglycemia."
It's not clear to me that you understand what hypoglycemia is, it's a condition resulting from low blood sugar. Yorkies are prone to this especially as puppies, it not something that they grow into like obesity.
You also state:
"Dogs can develop medical problems from going too long without food. The free-feeder dog is of course not aware of needing to eat every so many hours. As a result, these dogs become candidates for things like seizures from hypoglycemia."
First statement true, but the second statement " The free-feeder dog is of course not aware of needing to eat every so many hours. As a result, these dogs become candidates for things like seizures from hypoglycemia." What??? The dog forgets to eat??? What was your source for this? While it is true a dog suffering from hypoglycemia may not eat a little Karo syrup or Nutrical applied to roof of mouth will induce him to eat. This is much more likely to happen with a food-deprived animal then one that is free fed. This is another example of bad science, mixing a true statement with an opinion and passing it off as the latest expert advice.
While it true food deprived animals learn at a much faster rate than satiated animals, since we are talking about puppies why is this so important? In the early months of their lives, they are growing so fast, doubling and tripling their weight. Everything, from the skeletal system, to muscle development including the heart muscle, as well as brain development is increasing in size. Also, this is the time their adult teeth are forming and Yorkies are prone to tooth problems, which can have devastating effects on their overall health in latter years. This is just not the time to limit their food. So what if he takes longer to become housebroken because he not eating to some prearranged schedule, I would rather have a healthy puppy that turns into a healthy dog with strong bones and teeth, a healthy heart, and good brain. This first year is the most important year of their life.
Clearly, you feel very strongly about this and I was initially just offering some advise that I had been given. You can take it or leave it, but please don't try to convince everyone that all experts believe free feeding puppies is bad. I am perplexed to as why you posted your initial question, and my main goal was just to reassure you everything sounded normal.
Nancy |