This month we bring you “Myths about Feeding Dogs”.

Feeding your dog, a healthy diet is not difficult. You just need to follow a few simple rules and apply some common sense.

As we mentioned last month, many feeding myths are discussed among dog fanciers. It is important for you to know what ‘myth’ is and what is ‘truth’ when it comes to canine nutrition.

Therefore, check and double check any nutritional information you find on the internet when it comes to feeding your dogs. Your dogs will certainly appreciate you knowing the truth and feeding them accordingly.

1. Stones and Crystals in the urine are all treated with the same diet, and just change the pH of the dog’s urine.

Actually, there are numerous types of stones, and all are treated quite differently.

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Struvite crystal and stones are caused by bacteria in the urine, or Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s). Diet has nothing to do with these, but treating the infection will clear them up.

Calcium oxalate stones are most often genetic, and simply feeding low oxalate foods (most oxalate foods are in carbohydrates, such as vegetables and grains) will clear those up.

Purine stones are treated by feeding a low purine diet (no red meat or organ meat), and cysteine stones are hardest to tackle. But feeding a prescription for diet (which is one diet, which is recommended for all) is relatively useless.

The pH is caused by bacteria waste in UTI’s (struvite) and once you remove oxalates from a dog prone to calcium oxalates, the pH will normalize as well. You can click on the following links for more information on these stones:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/struvite-and-calcium-oxalate-stones-and-crystals/
https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/purine-stones-and-diet/
https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/canine-cystinuria/

2. Do not mix fresh food with kibble

‘Do not mix fresh food with kibble’ is a particular statement that is frequently seen on message boards, email lists and Facebook. However the truth is, dogs are quite capable of digesting multiple types of food at one time.

It is important to understand that dogs are different from humans when it comes to digestion. When people digest food, it tends to spend a short time in the stomach and a much longer time in the intestinal tract. Dogs, however, have a much shorter and simpler digestive tract.

Dogs are carnivores and therefore, their digestive system is designed to digest animal protein and fat. Food spends a longer time in the dog’s stomach where powerful gastric juices break down the food. This helps to destroy bacteria, dissolve and break down bones, fur and skin.

Kibble is fine to feed with animal protein and fats, however, it is suggested that raw meaty bones be fed separate from kibble. This is because raw meaty bones are heavier and therefore, may compete for gastric juices when the stomach churning forces both against the stomach wall at the same time.

Read more about mixing kibble with fresh foods here:
https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/digestion-anatomy/

3. High protein diets harm dogs

Dogs, as carnivores, require animal protein for many important health functions.

Proteins help maintain a healthy liver, heart and kidney function, keep the blood sugar level, and they provide the vital amino acids a dog needs for good health.  These are not found in plant-based foods.

Two important stages in a dog’s life when high protein levels are essential are during puppyhood and the senior years.

For puppies, protein is essential for proper growth and development. For our senior dogs, it is essential to help maintain healthy organs and to provide the needed nutrients as the dog ages.

High protein does NOT cause renal problems! When renal issues develop, the level of phosphorus MAY have to be reduced, but this only becomes necessary with chronic renal issues.

You can find more information about the importance of protein in a dog’s diet and the consequences of not feeding enough quality protein here:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/is-it-necessary-to-reduce-protein-in-the-diet/

4. Feed High Fiber Diets for Dogs to Lose Weight

Many diet dog foods that you see on the market reduce protein and fat and replace it with fiber such as rice hulls, grains, starchy vegetables or other plant fillers.

Sometimes people will replace some of the food with green beans or other carbohydrates assuming this will cut calories, keep their dog full and satisfied, and reduce its appetite.

However, these types of ‘food replacements’ leave a dog feeling unsatisfied and hungry. These dogs become hungrier because their body is craving the quality nutrition it needs. It is better to simply reduce the amount of food served. If you reduce the amount of food served, do not reduce the total amount by more than 10% to start.

If you are feeding a fresh food diet and you want your dog to lose weight, I suggest using less fatty foods. You can do this by removing the skin from chicken, using leaner cuts of meat, and using 2% yogurt rather than whole milk yogurt.

In dry dog food diets, I would use a HIGHER protein diet OR, replace some of the kibble by adding in some fresh lean animal protein.

If you want your dog to lose weight, their diet must still provide them the proper nutrients needed to remain healthy and feel satiated after a meal, but they also need more exercise!

Carbohydrates and fiber increase your dog’s appetite and they are oftentimes MORE fattening than quality proteins and fats. Dogs need fat for energy, and they need high quality protein to maintain good health.

If you want to learn more, please check out the following link:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/carbohydrates-good-or-bad/

5. Dogs Do Great on Vegan/Vegetarian Diets

Yeah? Well, I don’t think so!

Dogs need animal protein to maintain healthy heart, liver and kidney function. Animal-based proteins contain the amino acids that are not found in plant-based proteins.

The dog’s digestive system is a simple one and it labors when it is fed a high-carbohydrate diet overloaded with grains, starches, and beans.

This is because their digestive tract is short and simple. It simply cannot ferment and digest these types of foods.

Additionally, dogs MUST get their iron requirements from animal-based foods. They have a poor ability, if any, to get their iron needs from supplements or plant-based foods.

Animal protein is essential for your dog’s organ health and to ensure your dog is healthy as it moves into its senior years.

Remember, old age does NOT cause renal, heart or liver failure, but a poor diet can! There are numerous other reasons why canines should not be fed a vegetarian diet. Please check out the following newsletter for more very important information on this topic:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/why-vegetarian-and-vegan-diets-are-not-recommended-for-dogs/

6. Raw Meat Will Cause Aggression

Occasionally I hear people say they would never feed a raw diet because it will create ‘blood lust’ and aggression in dogs. The interesting thing about feeding a raw diet is that is creates the exact opposite effect. Dogs need animal-based proteins to the get the amino acids they need. These not only provide dogs the proper nutrition needed, they also provide a calming affect!

Carbohydrate laden diets, such as grains, starches and fruit all convert to sugar. As the sugar levels raise and lower in the blood, it creates mood swings and can cause a lack of concentration.

A diet that contains no carbohydrates or is very low in carbohydrates creates a more stable blood sugar level in the dog’s system.

High carbohydrate diets also create cravings for the protein that is necessary in their diet, which can cause anxiousness, odd cravings, the begging and stealing of food, and create destructive chewing behaviors on inappropriate things such as furniture, clothing, books and other household items.

The best remedy for dogs that are hyperactive, have anxiety separation, destroy personal objects and are nervous, it is to feed a diet high in bioavailable fresh protein. This includes meat, whole milk yogurt, eggs and organ meat.

Dogs will not only be more satisfied and ‘satiated’, but it can also calm them and help stop their frantic searching and chewing of inappropriate objects! This will not happen overnight, however gradually you should begin to see a calmer temperament over a period of several weeks.

Additional information regarding raw diets and aggression in dogs can be found here:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/can-diet-cause-aggression-in-dogs/

7) Dogs with liver ailments need low protein diets

In reality, dogs with liver problems need protein for the liver to thrive, regenerate and heal.

Most dogs will eat a normal diet with the majority of liver issues. It is only in serious liver cases, such as a liver shunt or severe chronic liver disease, where ammonia can leak into the bloodstream. This can cause discomfort and severe illness.

However, you still don’t need to reduce the protein; you simply feed meats that are low in ammonia, such as chicken, fish, and eggs and dairy.

Red meats and organ meats are high in ammonia, so these are proteins to avoid.

Additionally, it may be necessary to feed a low-fat diet to a dog with a compromised liver. The liver is an organ that helps process fats and if the liver enzymes are elevated, low fat diets may be recommended until the liver enzymes return to normal levels. For more information and diet recipes, see this article on diets for dogs with chronic liver disease:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/liver-diets-for-dogs-with-chronic-liver-disease/

8) Dogs with renal issues need low protein diets

Dogs never need to have a low protein diet if they have renal issues. However, if the BUN is over 80, creatinine is over 3, and the phosphorus level starts to rise above normal, a low phosphorus diet may be needed.

Like the liver, the kidneys need protein to survive and thrive. But when chronic renal failure occurs, the kidneys have trouble processing phosphorus. When the phosphorus levels in the body increase, it can cause pain and discomfort.

Lowering the protein amount does NOT spare the kidneys or give them longer life; however, lowering phosphorus levels can create comfort for the dog. You can read more about kidney diets and treatment options here:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/kidney-diets-and-treatment-options/

9) When I switch my dog to a raw diet, I should start by mixing only one protein source to the kibble

This is also a myth! If you brought a child into your home that had been eating a processed diet, you wouldn’t move them over to a fresh food diet slowly. You would make the change immediately and offer the child a variety of fresh foods.

Oftentimes, when you change a dog’s diet from processed to raw, it may have difficulty digesting fat. In that light, I recommend you remove the skin from chicken, serve leaner meats, and use low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese to start.

Also, serving frequent, smaller meals can help through the transition period.

I also suggest adding Berte’s Ultra Probiotic Powder or Berte’s Digestion Blend, which help keep the good flora and fauna in the digestive tract and predigest fats in the stomach before it enters the small intestine. More information can be found here:

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/raw-diet/

10) If my dog’s diet is complete, I don’t need to add any supplements

This is somewhat true; however some needed nutrients are hard to find in fresh foods. Omega 3 fatty acids are one of these nutrients. Therefore, I suggest adding Omega 3 fish oil capsules.

Probiotics are also helpful in keeping the good flora and fauna in the digestive tract. I find this especially true for convalescing dogs, dogs that undergo stress, performance or show dogs, puppies and senior dogs.

Adding water-soluble vitamins, such as C and B complex are also good additions to the diet.

Read the following article for additional information about adding basic supplements to your dog’s diet.

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/basic-supplements-for-daily-use-in-your-dogs-diet-2014/

11) Carbohydrates are necessary for dogs and they need grains, fruit and vegetables.

This is a myth and completely untrue! Even the NRC (Nutritional Research Council), which is the government agency that writes the nutritional guidelines for feeding dogs, states dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates.

Commercial pet foods use them because it makes the foods more economical to produce and they provide a long shelf life for the food. The fact is carbohydrates (grains, fruit and vegetables) are comprised of sugar. Dogs are carnivores and are not designed to digest or use the nutrients found in carbohydrates.

Dogs have a short, simple digestive tract which is not designed to ferment or process large amounts of fiber in their system.

Carbohydrates also cause tooth decay and gum disease because dogs do not have the enzymes in their saliva as we do.

Carbohydrates also cause body odor, large smelly stools, and disrupt the dog’s hormone and adrenal system.

Lastly, they rob the dog of important animal protein and fat, which they need for heart, kidney and liver health and to maintain a good immune system. You can find more information about this in my article on carbohydrates.

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/carbohydrates-good-or-bad/

12) Plant oils are good for dogs and provide good omega fatty acids

Many plant oils have been heavily marketed toward dogs over the years. Some of these oils include flax seed oil, hemp oil, canola oil, safflower oil and more recently, coconut oil. While some plant oils do contain Omega 3 fatty acids, they are in the form of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which dogs cannot convert to a usable form of Omega 3.

Dogs need Omega 3 fatty acids for healthy heart, kidney and liver function, to support the immune system, and to keep the skin and coat healthy. However, they need animal-based Omega 3 fatty acids, not plant-based. Animal based Omega 3 fatty acids are found in salmon, fish, menhaden, sardine or krill oil.

These oils contain EPA and DHA, which are both necessary for good health. Plant oils, just like carbohydrates, are simply not needed by dogs, nor do they offer any benefits.

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/the-importance-of-omega-3-fatty-acids-in-the-dogs-diet/

https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/is-coconut-oil-useful-for-dogs/

Part II is next month! Learn what is true and what is not true. Knowledge is power!