Five Best & Five Worst Foods, Summer 2016

[Bernie]

sorry folks, just getting in on the back end of this but:
"For example, not all dogs need the same amount of proteins. It differs from dog to dog, breed to breed, age, activity level."
well, how do we know? is there a blood test or something indicating how much protein Rocco needs? I'll have to check with the vet.
at this point I'm not buying it either, but I do like the dentist.

[Abulafia]

Yes, there are ways to estimate protein needs based on breed and activity level—esp the latter. Considerable research has been done on this.

[Abulafia]

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

[SunDance]

sorry folks, just getting in on the back end of this but:
"For example, not all dogs need the same amount of proteins. It differs from dog to dog, breed to breed, age, activity level."
well, how do we know? is there a blood test or something indicating how much protein Rocco needs? I'll have to check with the vet.
at this point I'm not buying it either, but I do like the dentist.

My only "experience" with protein flies in the face of the higher amounts a lot of people feed.

We had brother/sister Akitas years ago. Our female developed nocturnal incontinence at about a year of age and was put on hormone pills to be used as needed. When her brother started wetting the bed, too, the vet checked their urine for protein. Bingo. Protein in the urine can cause incontinence...usually nocturnal but not exclusively. We switched to a lower protein food and never had a problem again.

We weren't feeding a high protein food...it was just too high a level for those particular dogs. If I remember correctly the original food was something like 26% and we dropped two or three percentage points. Our dogs have all tended to be couch potatoes (i.e., not doing agility or some such that would be burning up the calories...just good walks and some casual running around with us and each other.

[Sandra]

sorry. Couldn't help myself.

love it

[Bernie]

Yes, there are ways to estimate protein needs based on breed and activity level—esp the latter. Considerable research has been done on this.

1. I was joking. I'll have to quit doing that as I'm sure there's been research done on anything under the sun now-a-days.
2. It's my understanding that excess protein in a dog's diet will just come out the other end.

[Berna]

2. It's my understanding that excess protein in a dog's diet will just come out the other end.

Yes, but nonetheless it will put unnecessary stress on the kidneys, especially since the food is dehydrated.

[Snowshoe]

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

LOL, my hairdresser and her family used to put their Lab in harness with their Siberian and their other dog and race in family sled dog races.

Regarding degrees in chemistry and engineering, wouldn't a degree in nutrition be far more applicable? I don't think there is such a thing as a degree program in dog nutrition (maybe in animal nutrition there is?) but then I doubt the chemistry and engineering schools have one specifically for dogs either. Surely education in even human nutrition would be better? Heck, my uncle had degrees in chemistry and engineering and he knew nothing about feeding dogs and didn't claim to.

[Bernie]

Yes, but nonetheless it will put unnecessary stress on the kidneys, especially since the food is dehydrated.

again it depends on who we want to believe;
here's a different opinion:
Frequently Asked Questions | ORIJEN

[Jeff]

Your response doesn't surprise me as most pet owners respond to marketing and a naive reading of the label.

The five worst brands have animal protein % reading of 50% and less (of GA protein) whereas the 5 Best have readings averaging 93%.

Perhaps someday you will learn how to read a label and not fall victim to marketing.

Do you know any Iditarod teams eating Fromm?

Well for one I am not Naive. Far From it. Second, I know how to read labels and I do not fall victim to marketing. I do not have a background in chemistry, however I do have degrees in Engineering and advanced degrees Computer Science. None of which make me an expert in Dog food but is about as good as your background in Chemistry and Engineering. Now I did not choose Fromm from marketing at all, I have never even seen marketing from Fromm. In Fact it was a recommendation from my dogs Vet. My dogs vet is considered one of the top vets in the state of Michigan. My dogs vet this year became the head of Canine performance and rehabilitation for Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also specializes sporting dogs and athletic dogs and she is a breeder for retrievers. Then she is active in Hunt retrieving and sporting with her own dogs. Any single one of which kind of blows your "background" in chemistry and engineering out of the water.

Then third, do I know any Iditarod teams eating Fromm? No, I do not know a single Iditerod team nor do I care too. However, I have read the book Call of the wild, which gives me as much authority to talk about sled dog teams as your "background" in chemistry and engineering give you to talk about dog food. Sled dogs live an entirely much different lifestyle than pretty much any other dog. They go through year round intensive physical training. Which here comes another one of my specialties. I used to professionally body build for 10 years. Nutrition is something I know very well as it is just as important if not more important as the exercises you do. High protein diets are important in this scenario. However another thing you want is a variety of different protein as there are several types that serve different purposes. You also need a lot more calories, a lot. Dogs undergoing this would need this as well. However, no lab on this board needs this kind of diet. Also you dismiss Fromm because of vegetable protein. Dogs are omnivore. They can digest and breakdown and absorb both plant and animal protein. It is actually quite healthy for them to eat these either forms of protein. Dogs require protein, animal based protein is a great source however dogs can fully break down plants protein into the essential amino acids required. In fact it is quite healthy to get a variety of proteins from different sources. Too much protein from meat can lead to kidney damage. This is the same for dogs as in humans. Sure when I lifted weights I required more protein and my body could absorb it and use it. The same as a sled dog would require more protein and use it. But if your not using it then it can literally lead to kidney damage in dogs. This is actually why they put plant based protein in the foods because this lowers the phosphorous from the meat while still providing high level or protein.

So if you really want to convince us that your "Model" you developed with your "background" in engineering and chemistry proves those dog food provide the absolute best nutrition for all pets. Then you go write up your model and put it into a scientific and peer reviewed paper. Until then, I am sticking with the advice of my vet which has a little more than a "background" in chemistry and engineering. Not sure why the background in engineering is even relevant. Chemistry, maybe, unless your background in chemistry is making meth.