Domesticated Dogs And Diet

[MaryJane]

This is a great article (my opinion) on what has changed in a dog's genes corresponding to diet needs as it became domesticated. It also provides some neat graphs that identify how far certain breeds have moved from the genes of the wolf when it comes to "starches". This was posted in the Facebook DCM group - they have great scientific articles.

 

https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/a-key-genetic-innovation-in-dogs-diet?fbclid=IwAR0gvT5TIv7Kjeu2M4GKTORKPw6uu3zmH6CkoUu_KFf_qckLAJzZk3g8wMo

[LaFlaca]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm not on FB so it's much appreciated.

[greysmom]

Great article. Thanks.

 

I do find that DCM group incredibly sad though. So many sick, dying, and dead dogs from a fad.

[MaryJane]

Great article. Thanks.

 

I do find that DCM group incredibly sad though. So many sick, dying, and dead dogs from a fad.

 

 

I agree that it is disheartening especially that so many of the people tried to do the best for their pets. What I do find encouraging is that there have been so many that have reversed the process by switching the dog's diets - it takes awhile but, they can get back to good health.

[NeylasMom]

Thanks for sharing, really interesting (aside from the last paragraph where they make huge generalizations that seem to be inconsistent with the findings they just shared ).

 

A great next step would be to measure the amount of amylase produced and compare that to the number of genes in specific dogs. Without that information it's hard to know how well dogs digest starches, even those with greater numbers of that gene (though I'm not claiming that they don't).

 

Would also love to see something like this done for mixed breeds across the US.

[robinw]

This is very interesting. In India, the dogs at the hospital where I volunteered ate a vegetarian diet and seemed to do very well. They ate starches like chick peas and lentils. I've been considering switching my dog to a veggie diet, as the research I've seen suggests that many of the problems found with vegetarian diets can also be found in meat diets.

[MaryJane]

This is very interesting. In India, the dogs at the hospital where I volunteered ate a vegetarian diet and seemed to do very well. They ate starches like chick peas and lentils. I've been considering switching my dog to a veggie diet, as the research I've seen suggests that many of the problems found with vegetarian diets can also be found in meat diets.

 

 

I'm a vegan and while I would love to switch my dogs to a vegetarian diet - there is not enough known about the long term effects. If you are on Facebook, I suggest that you join the group Nutritional related DCM - it provides a great deal of information on the DCM cases and the grain-free foods many of which have novelty proteins and things like lentils or peas as a substitute for grains.

[robinw]

I'm a vegan and while I would love to switch my dogs to a vegetarian diet - there is not enough known about the long term effects. If you are on Facebook, I suggest that you join the group Nutritional related DCM - it provides a great deal of information on the DCM cases and the grain-free foods many of which have novelty proteins and things like lentils or peas as a substitute for grains.

Thanks. Have joined it and have spent the morning reading.

[krissy]

 

 

I'm a vegan and while I would love to switch my dogs to a vegetarian diet - there is not enough known about the long term effects. If you are on Facebook, I suggest that you join the group Nutritional related DCM - it provides a great deal of information on the DCM cases and the grain-free foods many of which have novelty proteins and things like lentils or peas as a substitute for grains.

 

There are veterinary diets that are vegetarian, so it is certainly possible for dogs to eat a vegetarian diet long term and be healthy. I wouldn't recommend feeding a homemade vegetarian diet though.