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What Happens if Dogs Only Eat Fresh, Human-Grade Food? One Big Change in Particular
https://www.sciencealert.com ^ | CARLY CASSELLA 4 FEBRUARY 2021

Posted on 02/04/2021 12:49:20 PM PST by Red Badger

Some types of human food might be easier for your dog to digest than dry pellets of dog kibble, according to a new study. Whether or not that more natural ancestral diet results in a healthier dog is another matter, but at the very least, it could get your pet to poop much less (up to two-thirds less, in fact).

The idea that human food is bad for dogs is relatively new, and is historically grounded in marketing, not science.

For thousands of years, humans have been feeding their scraps to canine pets who have slowly evolved to digest them. Commercial dog food, on the other hand, is only a century-and-a-half old and it probably arose as a way to make food waste more profitable.

Today, after decades of unsubstantiated marketing, many pet owners are under the impression table scraps are dangerous for their dogs, while kibble is full of all the nutrients their canines need.

In recent years, however, as the history of 'Big Kibble' has come to light, and certain pet foods have been recalled for safety concerns, homemade alternatives have become much more popular, and many pet owners have begun making the switch to healthy, fresh, organic, grain-free and minimally processed commercial options.

Those words certainly sound healthier, but does that mean they are the best choice? The truth is, we simply don't know yet.

Many commercial pet diets have not been rigorously tested or compared in great detail, even though they technically meet standards for 'complete and balanced nutrition'. It's also unclear how to determine what a dog's 'natural' ancestral diet actually contained and what impact modern food might have on their overall health.

That said, some of the first research on human-grade dog food has now found several perks of skipping the kibble. Feeding dogs a mix of meat and vegetables that we ourselves would enjoy appears to make dogs poop much less than dry food.

When a dozen beagles were given a standard diet of kibble for four weeks, the canines had to eat significantly more to maintain their body weight, the authors say, pooping up to three times as much as when they were given a diet of human-grade ingredients. Compared to fresh ingredients, kibble made dogs poop 1.5 to 1.7 times more.

This implies the nutrients in human food are easier for dogs to digest. What's more, the latter two diets also appeared to modify bacteria in the canine's gut in a way that kibble couldn't.

"As we have shown in previous studies, the faecal microbial communities of healthy dogs fed fresh diets were different than those fed kibble," says nutritional scientist Kelly Swanson from the University of Illinois.

"These unique microbial profiles were likely due to differences in diet processing, ingredient source, and the concentration and type of dietary fibres, proteins, and fats that are known to influence what is digested by the dog and what reaches the colon for fermentation."

The results largely align with previous research, which found fresh or raw meat diets can also alter a dog's microbiome, yet further research is needed to determine how this ultimately impacts a dog's health.

In 2018, Swanson and her colleagues fed eight beagles either a kibble diet, a grain-free roasted diet, or a raw diet. Analysing their physical activity, urine, stool, and blood, the authors found roasted diets were easier to digest than kibble, while both grain-free and raw diets resulted in lower blood sugar levels and higher levels of fat.

But that doesn't necessarily mean these foods are any healthier. A few years ago, some grain-free boutique dog foods were linked to a form of canine heart disease, leading the United States Federal Drug Advisory (FDA) to caution against that type of diet for dogs.

Besides, apart from the health of our pets, there's also an environmental impact to consider. If every pet dog is fed human-grade meat, fish, and vegetables, the consequences for carbon emissions and climate change would be immense.

As such, some scientists are advocating we swap kibble and human-grade food for insect-based diets, which can produce 25 times less greenhouse emissions per kilogram of farming than beef, while using 47 times less land, and using about 20 times less water.

In the end, Swanson says as long as a diet is shown to be safe and meets the nutritional needs of your dog, she considers it an acceptable option. If you want to pay more for premium ingredients, that's up to you.

"To me, the most important thing is testing these new diet formats and products before they are commercially available," she said in 2018.

Until we know more, that seems like a measured approach.

The study was published in the Journal of Animal Science.

https://academic.oup.com/jas/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jas/skab028/6123189?redirectedFrom=fulltext


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; History; Pets/Animals
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To: no-s

We had a beagle once who ate a whole wild live rabbit. We caught her in the act and tried to save the rabbit. The rabbit was half in and half out of the beagle’s mouth. The beagle swallowed it whole. Country living is never boring.


41 posted on 02/04/2021 1:40:16 PM PST by FoundinTexas
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To: Red Badger

We only feed our dog human food. She does poop MUCH less, and seems healthier.


42 posted on 02/04/2021 1:40:29 PM PST by montag813 ("Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the Great")
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To: Red Badger

The original, four-legged dispose-all.


43 posted on 02/04/2021 1:42:58 PM PST by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: spacejunkie2001

Learn how to trap small critters or learn how to be johnny on the spot to scoop up fresh roadkill.


44 posted on 02/04/2021 1:42:58 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: Red Badger

Back in the 70’s I rented out rooms in my house in Lynchburg, Va. so I could go up to Baltimore and catch weekend Orioles games at Memorial Stadium. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in their row house off Eastern Avenue and I’d take their grandchildren with me to the games. They had a dog that ate better than humans. One morning I came downstairs, and my Aunt asked, “What would you like for breakfast?” I replied, “Nothing special, whatever the dog had.” She threw a towel at me. I got bacon, eggs, and pancakes.


45 posted on 02/04/2021 1:43:31 PM PST by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.for corruptiion)
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To: Red Badger

Back in the good old day, dogs were fed mostly meat...of any kind. Seems like they had a lot less medical problems, like anal gland inflammation, and vets were not as rich then.


46 posted on 02/04/2021 1:44:40 PM PST by antidemoncrat
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To: Red Badger

I have two cats, and they are the most unusual cats I have ever owned.

The oddest thing is, I have never had a dog or cat that preferred dry food to wet food. Ever.

But these two...they are nearly indifferent to wet food, no matter what brand we try. They only eat it because we put it out, and much of it goes to waste.

But they go crazy over dry food. It is the oddest thing. My wife jokes they are like me, because I like my crunchy breakfast cereals...:)

My previous cat loved human food, and would eat nearly anything, even corn on the cob and extremely spicy food. He would hassle us while we ate, and we couldn’t leave anything on the counter.

These two show almost no interest at all in human food.


47 posted on 02/04/2021 1:45:06 PM PST by rlmorel ("I’d rather enjoy a risky freedom than a safe servitude." Robby Dinero, USMC Veteran, Gym Owner)
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To: BiglyCommentary

Or run a large rodent farming operation in your backyard (for the cat).


48 posted on 02/04/2021 1:45:16 PM PST by BiglyCommentary
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To: tired&retired

My German shepherd will pull squash off the vine during the summer. His stomach makes loud noises but he does it each year. He is 9 now. He has been getting home made food the last year or so. He always gets scraps. Love that dog.


49 posted on 02/04/2021 1:48:53 PM PST by wgmalabama (Tag line for rent. )
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To: Red Badger

Human packaged junk food is probably worse than Purina.


50 posted on 02/04/2021 1:53:59 PM PST by bgill (Ear piece to Biden, "Salute the Marines." Biden repeats message outloud but no comprehension.)
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To: a fool in paradise

“that more ancestral diet” refers to human food, not kibble.


51 posted on 02/04/2021 1:54:41 PM PST by mlo
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: Red Badger

Daisy & Jasmine sisters from same litter 6 years old

My shepherds get a healthy dose of non allergenic kibble made from meat products with no additives, (Very expensive) mixed with a healthy dose of gophers, raccoons, unsuspecting quail, fish, chicken, tuna, and any cat that decides to take the suicide route through my 1 plus acre of land.
They are very healthy, and are expected to live till they die.


Hershee lived 18 years


My last dog was an Australian/mix, who had the same diet. Maybe not as many cats though. (the crazy dogs likes cats more than she liked other dogs). She lived to be 18. Sadly I had to put her down 2 days after her 19th Christmas

After years of owning dogs I have learned the biggest thing that helps them have a long life, is a loving owner.

When I was young we were poor, dog ate scraps and crappy dog food. Yet she lived to be 17. She too lived long because of kids like me who loved her. As the youngest of 8, she was each and every one of our dogs at one time or growing up.
53 posted on 02/04/2021 1:59:35 PM PST by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: Red Badger

D-i-n-o-v-i-t-e.mostannoyingradiicommerialofalltime


54 posted on 02/04/2021 2:08:42 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Potemkin Joe - Everything about him is fake)
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To: Red Badger

That reminds me, I have a bunch of chicken livers I need to get cooked up for the pups. Thanks for the reminder.


55 posted on 02/04/2021 2:10:19 PM PST by RC one (When a bunch of commies start telling you that you don't need an AR15, you really need an AR15)
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To: RedStateRocker

My daughter’s two Corgis, 1 Labradoodle, and 1 mutt get high-grade crunchies with fresh, home-made chicken soup poured over it. And pricey dog bones from the health food store for after-dinner treats. One of the Corgi’s doesn’t eat hers...just protects it from the other dogs who want to steal it. It’s her way of being an Alpha girl. Too cute.


56 posted on 02/04/2021 2:14:31 PM PST by Veto! (Political Correctness Offends Me)
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To: Red Badger

“Besides, apart from the health of our pets, there’s also an environmental impact to consider. If every pet dog is fed human-grade meat, fish, and vegetables, the consequences for carbon emissions and climate change would be immense.”

Always with this idiotic addition.


57 posted on 02/04/2021 2:15:35 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. .... )
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To: Red Badger

When we lived in England Mom use to get fresh horsemeat cubes from the local butcher for our pet beagle. He loved it. Also, it looked really good just like steak. Might be good on a kebab over coals.


58 posted on 02/04/2021 2:16:20 PM PST by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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To: Red Badger

Cats need grain. My vet explained that cats eat mice and mice eat grain, so DaisyJane gets Royal Canin crunchies and Friskies turkey and gravy cat cans. She only licks up the juice but I don’t care.

I’m going to the Health Food Store next week to check out Organic cat crunchies.


59 posted on 02/04/2021 2:17:39 PM PST by Veto! (Political Correctness Offends Me)
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To: mass55th

The thing about lunch meat that I have noticed is that dogs don’t chew it, they gulp it down and it sits in their stomach unmasticated for too long stimulating the pancreas. This is my theory anyways. I had a border collie that developed chronic pancreatitis after gulping down an entire hot dog that way so I’m very careful with my current pups. They get lunch meat as a snack but I “chew it up” for them before they eat it with a knife or my fingers. My aunt had a schnauzer that died from pancreatitis. Some breeds, like schnauzers and border collies are more susceptible than others. So, all things in moderation for my pups and no hot dogs whatsoever, and any meat gets masticated before they get it up. and if I wouldn’t eat it, they don’t eat it. This food is also extremely rich for dogs that are used to dry dog food so it’s a recipe for puking even if they don’t get pancreatitis.


60 posted on 02/04/2021 2:26:08 PM PST by RC one (When a bunch of commies start telling you that you don't need an AR15, you really need an AR15)
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