Our vet’s advice on feeding
“I have been searching online for proper information on feeding my dog. I have sent you a list of questions.”
Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert
You certainly have sent a lot of questions, which I will endeavour to answer as best I can. Much information on the internet in this regard is self-promotional and it is best to avoid websites that publicise some ‘superqualified individual’ who talks pseudoscience (albeit convincingly), then tries to sell you something.
Are all brown kibble diets bad?
First, consider the statement: ‘All red cars are fast.’ Hmm. Is it a Fiesta or a Ferrari? You simply cannot lump all dry diets into one and discuss them in this way. Some are poor quality but many are not. I’ve read the websites that do this, most of which then go on to recommend feeding raw (and also sell raw). They frequently mention that ultra-heating ingredients is bad (though no scientific evidence is offered) but neglect to point out that heat can be used to kill salmonella, campylobacter and even anthrax spores. The irony is that many of the diets that are then promoted often have to be recalled due to contamination. Kibble diets are also blamed for obesity (actually caused by owners feeding their animals too much food and not exercising them enough), orthopaedic problems (which have genetic, obesity and age involvements), mammary tumours (no evidence), diarrhoea (no evidence) and a reduction in lifespan (which is utter nonsense). One common marketing ploy is to put down ‘kibble foods’ (as if they were all the same) then offer the perfect solution in the form of an alternative diet or additive. Don’t be fooled. Oh yes, and kibble diets ‘go off quickly’. Indeed they do, depending on the way they are stored. But then so does every other food, unless
properly canned. At least kibble diets are safe and can cater for different lifestyles and stages. Everything in moderation.
Are grain-free diets healthier?
Wrong. Some like to believe that dogs are true carnivores, being wolves at heart and in bowel, but over time they have developed more omnivorous tastes and digestive capabilities, so can consume and thrive on a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, meats, poultry and fish. Indeed, in the USA, grain-free and other ‘boutique diets’ have been associated with a higher-than-expected incidence of cardiomyopathy. Some individuals may be intolerant to certain grains. I am allergic to mussels, for example, but that doesn’t mean no one else should eat them.
Do all commercial diets need to be supplemented?
No. Most commercial diets are carefully balanced to provide the correct calories, nutrients, vitamins and minerals appropriate to the age/stage of the dog. Adding supplements, whether they be raw eggs (which contain a trypsin inhibitor, so prevent the digestion of protein) or vegetables will only cause some sort of imbalance. Naturally, feeding small amounts of sensible things as training aids is unlikely to be significant but beware the ridiculous fad for adding all sorts of unproven (but lucrative) additives.
So many companies are competing for your money that it is easy to see why the internet is being exploited with claim and counterclaim. The proof of the pudding is in the eating – along with the quality of poo, skeletal density, longevity, reproductive performance, skin, coat condition, dental decay and so on.
“There are so many diets out there, and many companies competing for your money”