What to feed for optimal health

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Taylor, once you have fed raw (be it premade, like in my case) & witnessed the remarkable improvement in your dog(s), then I won't have a problem that you think it's a problem.

One thing that I have noticed, is that they don't get gurgling sounds from their stomach. No yucky smell from their mouth, this is all from eating premium canned & kibble. I have worked my way up the list, never was way on the bottom, but somehow subconsciously did work up from big box chain store kibble & am very happy w/my decision. If you have a problem w/that, then what can I say? It's my choice, my dogs, leave it be.

I truly believe that the more the food is fresh & intact, the easier it is for them to digest it. It takes 14-16 hrs for kibble to pass through their digestive system, only 4-6 hrs for raw food. That's a fact also, a scientific one. I always moistened their kibble bc I felt that it's easier on their tiny kidneys. That's 1 organ in their body that can't repair itself once it's damaged. These things, I do for my dogs' health & I simply wanted to share the knowlege to anyone who would be interested.

Oops, I don't think I worded that right...meant eating canned food & kibble made their stomach gurgle & caused bad breath, like it was coming from their gut.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Taylor, once you have fed raw (be it premade, like in my case) & witnessed the remarkable improvement in your dog(s), then I won't have a problem that you think it's a problem.

One thing that I have noticed, is that they don't get gurgling sounds from their stomach. No yucky smell from their mouth, this is all from eating premium canned & kibble. I have worked my way up the list, never was way on the bottom, but somehow subconsciously did work up from big box chain store kibble & am very happy w/my decision. If you have a problem w/that, then what can I say? It's my choice, my dogs, leave it be.

I truly believe that the more the food is fresh & intact, the easier it is for them to digest it. It takes 14-16 hrs for kibble to pass through their digestive system, only 4-6 hrs for raw food. That's a fact also, a scientific one. I always moistened their kibble bc I felt that it's easier on their tiny kidneys. That's 1 organ in their body that can't repair itself once it's damaged. These things, I do for my dogs' health & I simply wanted to share the knowlege to anyone who would be interested.

That's not my problem at all and you 100% can have your opinion like everyone else just don't get facts and opinions mixed up, the person who made the list of the best foods was simple saying there opinion when they made it. It is not a fact that raw is the best. I think your getting what I am saying mixed up or something. There is no fact about what is the best food it is opinions about what is the best food. If it was a fact all vets would agree raw is the best but they do not and there is a whole vet association saying it is not so it can't be a fact.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Taylor, once you have fed raw (be it premade, like in my case) & witnessed the remarkable improvement in your dog(s), then I won't have a problem that you think it's a problem.

One thing that I have noticed, is that they don't get gurgling sounds from their stomach. No yucky smell from their mouth, this is all from eating premium canned & kibble. I have worked my way up the list, never was way on the bottom, but somehow subconsciously did work up from big box chain store kibble & am very happy w/my decision. If you have a problem w/that, then what can I say? It's my choice, my dogs, leave it be.

I truly believe that the more the food is fresh & intact, the easier it is for them to digest it. It takes 14-16 hrs for kibble to pass through their digestive system, only 4-6 hrs for raw food. That's a fact also, a scientific one. I always moistened their kibble bc I felt that it's easier on their tiny kidneys. That's 1 organ in their body that can't repair itself once it's damaged. These things, I do for my dogs' health & I simply wanted to share the knowlege to anyone who would be interested.

Callie doesn't have and gurgling from her stomach or a bad smell coming from her mouth and I know a lot of dogs that don't and are not on raw.......

[Lovetodream88]

I'm not even debating raw feeding at this point I am just trying to point out that the statement raw food is best is an opinion not a fact. Maybe some of the things you say why raw feeding is good maybe facts but the simple statement that raw is best is not a fact it is an opinion.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Taylor, once you have fed raw (be it premade, like in my case) & witnessed the remarkable improvement in your dog(s), then I won't have a problem that you think it's a problem.

One thing that I have noticed, is that they don't get gurgling sounds from their stomach. No yucky smell from their mouth, this is all from eating premium canned & kibble. I have worked my way up the list, never was way on the bottom, but somehow subconsciously did work up from big box chain store kibble & am very happy w/my decision. If you have a problem w/that, then what can I say? It's my choice, my dogs, leave it be.

I truly believe that the more the food is fresh & intact, the easier it is for them to digest it. It takes 14-16 hrs for kibble to pass through their digestive system, only 4-6 hrs for raw food. That's a fact also, a scientific one. I always moistened their kibble bc I felt that it's easier on their tiny kidneys. That's 1 organ in their body that can't repair itself once it's damaged. These things, I do for my dogs' health & I simply wanted to share the knowlege to anyone who would be interested.

Jenny, didn't you just have dentals done? Weren't there extracted teeth? That is due to periodontal disease and it smells .. always. Raw food will not prevent it.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Teegy

I'm a huge fan of Dr. Becker and Dr. Dodds, who is doing some great research, as well as many other lower profile holistic vets who support home cooking and raw feeding.
If you educate yourself you will see that either a well prepared home cooked meal or a raw diet are actually the best thing for your dogs. The proof is in the pudding.
I think a lot of fear and misconceptions are out there in regard to handling and dealing with raw meats, but it's no different than if you were making yourself a rack of lamb or a prime rib, use safe hygiene practices.
I certainly wouldn't recommend someone home cook or raw feed without first learning what they are doing and the means to do so are readily available.
I have several friends who as instructed by breeders fed their dogs RC Yorkie, they ended up ill with allergies, hives and skin lesions, hair loss, ear infections, pancreatitis, liver issues and bad digestion causing them to go to the vet to have the anal glands expressed on a regular basis.
They finally after thousands of dollars at the vets made the switch to a raw. Itching stopped within a day, hives started to clear up within a few days, ear infections gone within a week, new hair growth within a week and the anal glands no longer needed expressing as their digestive system began to function properly.
On Friday my friends Yorkie died. She had been home cooking and feeding the occasional raw meal to for him for 6 years and when she went back to work it was recommended she go on RC Yorkie as she didn't have the time for preparing his meals. The dogs health started to fail after almost a year on this and her vets couldn't find anything wrong running test after test and spending lashings of cash. She finally went went to another vet for a second opinion, he had severe necrotic pancreatitis, his liver was severely damaged, fluid had developed on his lungs and a secondary bacteria had kicked in. His body went into shock and they couldn't save him.

There are many causes of pancreatitis. I don't think it is fair to assume a dog food caused a sudden case of necrotizing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is also not that difficult to diagnose....so who knows what was going on for that year.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

I will try to explain again...I did not say that raw food is the BEST...Dr. Becker, Dodds, Picarin (& the list goes on) did. I just think & believe that they are correct. I don't even feed raw food, not even sure if I ever will be comfortable w/it, but I do believe that it's a species appropriate diet. It is considered the best pet food bc cats & dogs can digest the fresh meats easily & they get the enzymes & amino acids that the fresh whole foods provide.

Home cooking is not considered the best bc it's cooked (but it's still good!). So the vitamins & minerals need to be added to make it balanced. I would rather have the vitamin & mineral sources come from fresh whole fruits & veggies. But not everyone can feed that way everyday, I sure can't.

I'm not slamming any particular food, you can feed whatever you want to your pets. When my guys were eating Canine Caviar, they were doing great! It really helped w/Princess' yeast issues bc it didn't have too much carbs (no potatoes). But Momo's hair was so dull & the vet even gave me fish oil to add to his diet. So what works for 1 dog, will not be so great for others. I'm just spreading the knowledge of what's best & worst on the pet food chain. You can choose to believe it or not, it's up to you...as long as it's balanced.

Jenny, go back and read your post. You did say it was the best. I can promise you that that is the only reason most comments have been made since then.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Jenny, didn't you just have dentals done? Weren't there extracted teeth? That is due to periodontal disease and it smells .. always. Raw food will not prevent it.

The smell came from Princess' mouth...she had her teeth cleaning couple of months ago. She doesn't get that yucky smell from eating premade raw food now. It must've been the canned food that didn't agree w/her.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Jenny, go back and read your post. You did say it was the best. I can promise you that that is the only reason most comments have been made since then.

I said it was the best bc I believe it to be the best. I also linked Dr.Becker's vid & article & Dr. Dodds' blog, where I got the idea.
If others do not think it to be the best, that's fine. I don't want to argue or bicker about it...just not my style. That's why I kept getting frustrated, bc I felt like I needed to explain myself over & over of why I think it to be true. Difference of opinions are fine, but when my beliefs are questioned, over & over, it gets very tiring.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

I said it was the best bc I believe it to be the best. I also linked Dr.Becker's vid & article & Dr. Dodds' blog, where I got the idea.
If others do not think it to be the best, that's fine. I don't want to argue or bicker about it...just not my style. That's why I kept getting frustrated, bc I felt like I needed to explain myself over & over of why I think it to be true. Difference of opinions are fine, but when my beliefs are questioned, over & over, it gets very tiring.

Exactly and that makes it an opinion. Becker and Dodds are not in the majority in the vet world, so when you speak of them you will have opposing thoughts.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

The smell came from Princess' mouth...she had her teeth cleaning couple of months ago. She doesn't get that yucky smell from eating premade raw food now. It must've been the canned food that didn't agree w/her.

All I am saying Jenny is that smelly breath is often from periodontal disease.

I have pups who eat different foods and if they have smelly breath I always suspect their teeth. As long as they have dentals as needed and their teeth cared for, I don't have an issue with odor. Not saying that your Princess did not have an issue with whatever food she ate....merely saying that it has not ever happened to my pups.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

All I am saying Jenny is that smelly breath is often from periodontal disease.

I have pups who eat different foods and if they have smelly breath I always suspect their teeth. As long as they have dentals as needed and their teeth cared for, I don't have an issue with odor. Not saying that your Princess did not have an issue with whatever food she ate....merely saying that it has not ever happened to my pups.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean about the smelly breath & periodontal disease. I appreciate all your info on dental health bc I believe it's very important. The boys had their teeth extracted & Turbo did have bad breath due to some plaque build up towards the back. Momo's not so much since he had cleaning done a year ago but he still ended up losing a tooth. My vet didn't mention that they had periodontal disease, just wiggly teeth that needed to be extracted. So does teeth extractions mean they have periodontal disease? They were put on clindacure for 10 days.

Princess is very sensitive that way...one little piece of anything potato will have her scratching her ears, licking her paws, she's one yeasty pup! She's also the one that gets colitis if she has any beef. This odor from her mouth, she had since she was little, I called her Princess poopy breath bc that's what it smelled like, sh*t loll. I thought it was her teeth too, so she went in earlier last year w/Mimi, they both kept all their teeth. She still has white teeth, no plaque build up & she still had that stinky smell after her meals. It didn't smell early in the morning since she didn't eat yet, so that's why I thought it came from her gut. Since feeding her premade raw only, her yucky stinky breath is gone (I can't call her Princess poopy breath anymore loll). Maybe it was from canned food or kibble just getting stuck between her teeth...idk!

[Ellie May]

There is no one best diet. The best food is the one that your pup does well on.
The decision to avoid raw does not mean that some of us are somehow not educated on the topic as was suggested in this thread. I know of at least three of us in this thread who have been or are involved in medicine/science (school or career). I'm not saying we are somehow experts, but insinuating that we are uneducated seems a bit unfair.

Ellie is shiny, itchies and intolerances have drastically reduced, loves her food. It is not raw. I think makeup of the food has much more to do with positive and negative effects than whether it is cooked or not.

I don't care what people feed. Honestly, I have enough to deal with without taking that on. But I personally do not feed raw because 1) for me the benefits do not outweigh the risks for the pups or us, and 2) raw fed dogs in general do not jump out at me as being healthier. Remember, considering the vast number of dogs in the US and the fact that raw fed percentage is very low there are an awful lot of concerning reports. It would be impossible to say raw is safer because there are fewer negative reports.

Kibble does sometimes harbor salmonella and I'd be furious if Ellie's did. But just because it sometimes does does not make it acceptable. Salmonella does affect dogs. That is a fact. We don't know how often and that is partially because Sub Q fluids and injectible meds are given for gastroenteritis in pups and rarely do vets test for it. On the other hand emergency room doctors do test people for it if signs warrant.

[Maximo]

There are so many factors that affect a pet's overall health (starting with genetics) that it would be hard to draw a straight line between diet and longevity and general condition (exceptions: dogs with illnesses that require special diets).

All we can do is find what works best for our individual pets. I don't stress over my decisions in this department like I used to.

Our previous dog, an Airedale, ate Purina kibble with Alpo almost every single day of her life. On very rare occasions when we ran out of Alpo, we would give her a raw egg or hot dog. She was in gorgeous condition and lived to age 19. Good genes and general happiness were probably the reasons.

[Teegy]

In the case of this dog it was very obvious his health issues and pancreatitis were caused by the food. The poor wee soul had been a healthy happy dog until royal canin. Like Barney said her dogs are great on it. Obviously his little system hated it and had issues with it. It's true Maximo we have to find what works best for our furry beasties and go from there.
My favourite thing about my choice to raw feed is wee poops that don't reek.
When ever I dog sit my friends larger dogs I hate the squelching of a warm large poo in my hand ewwwwwww.