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by hexe on 21 December 2010 - 06:12
Ruger1 wrote:
All I can tell ya is I had a 14 year old female GSD and a 12 year old Great Dane that is still living that have been fed Iams all their lives.........Great health, nice coats, and happy too....
My point precisely, Ruger1. I'm not a fan of fixing things that ain't broke--and given that you've got a DANE that's made it to 12 and is hale and hearty and healthy still, then clearly there's no condemnation that can or should be made of the diet he's been on for all those years...
One thing that I do wonder about, as far as the various alternative feeding practices go, is how this may be impacting the breed from a genetic angle--by feeding these specialized diets, are we actually increasing the degree of food sensitivity within the breed? Are dogs that would not normally be participating in the gene pool because they are 'difficult keepers' now flying under the radar because they're being fed reindeer and quinoa, and no one ever knows that they can't be maintained easily on foodstuffs that are readily available in their locale?
All I can tell ya is I had a 14 year old female GSD and a 12 year old Great Dane that is still living that have been fed Iams all their lives.........Great health, nice coats, and happy too....
My point precisely, Ruger1. I'm not a fan of fixing things that ain't broke--and given that you've got a DANE that's made it to 12 and is hale and hearty and healthy still, then clearly there's no condemnation that can or should be made of the diet he's been on for all those years...
One thing that I do wonder about, as far as the various alternative feeding practices go, is how this may be impacting the breed from a genetic angle--by feeding these specialized diets, are we actually increasing the degree of food sensitivity within the breed? Are dogs that would not normally be participating in the gene pool because they are 'difficult keepers' now flying under the radar because they're being fed reindeer and quinoa, and no one ever knows that they can't be maintained easily on foodstuffs that are readily available in their locale?
by Jyl on 21 December 2010 - 09:12
Jenni
They mostly ate kibble. There was a small amout of canned and or table scraps mixed in their kibble. My moms lab that died 2 years ago was raised on Sturdy and then as a senior dog he ate Iams. He died at 18.5 years old. Again, I am not saying that these are good foods, but they sure worked for my moms lab. His coat was beautiful and his health was good. My mom is in a wheelchair most of the time and she use to take him on a 2+ mile run every morning up until a few weeks before he died.
They mostly ate kibble. There was a small amout of canned and or table scraps mixed in their kibble. My moms lab that died 2 years ago was raised on Sturdy and then as a senior dog he ate Iams. He died at 18.5 years old. Again, I am not saying that these are good foods, but they sure worked for my moms lab. His coat was beautiful and his health was good. My mom is in a wheelchair most of the time and she use to take him on a 2+ mile run every morning up until a few weeks before he died.
by Jenni78 on 21 December 2010 - 15:12
Hexe, "specialized diets?" LOL
People, people, people, look at the big picture here; look at the overall difference in the way we treat our dogs as opposed to 20,30, 50 years ago. We are NOT doing them any favors (for the most part) with all our modern miracles in healthcare, kibble, etc.
Genes count for a lot. I have no doubt that a farm dog eating crap in a bag (and whatever roadkill he finds himself) will do better than an apartment dog eating crap in a bag, and maybe just as well as an apartment dog eating something decent. I think people underestimate these environmental influences and just how big of a difference they make. Why are their Newfoundlands in Europe living to 17 on a fairly regular basis (had a friend studying this) while we in the good old US of A are proud of ourselves for getting our Cocker Spaniel to 12?
Jyl, I think the canned and table scraps mixed in their kibble had a lot more effect than they are given credit for. Dogs can scavenge quite successfully; it doesn't take a whole lot of biologically-appropriate food to improve their well-being tremendously. Thank you for elaborating. This is something I've thought a lot about.
The farther we get from nature (formula instead of breastmilk, kibble instead of biologically appropriate food) the worse off we all are...dogs included.
And yes, I maintain my contention that I can look at most dogs (as Jyl also can) and tell you roughly what they eat. I may not be able to get brand-specific, but I can get the gist of it, with few exceptions. I do it all the time and the owners are shocked and often times, it makes them THINK about what they're doing, and do better.
Where did this "good enough" attitude come in? Why is "good enough" good enough for the creatures we call our best friends? I would never settle for "good enough" for any of mine, nor would I place one with someone who thought differently. They are totally dependent on us. Totally. Why cross our fingers and hope they do ok on what's convenient for us instead of give them the optimum? I just don't get it, and I never will.
And for the record, some people's definitions of "thriving" frightens me. Our society as a whole is quite complacent with maintaining a subpar, mediocre level of health. The dogs are simply a reflection of society.
People, people, people, look at the big picture here; look at the overall difference in the way we treat our dogs as opposed to 20,30, 50 years ago. We are NOT doing them any favors (for the most part) with all our modern miracles in healthcare, kibble, etc.
Genes count for a lot. I have no doubt that a farm dog eating crap in a bag (and whatever roadkill he finds himself) will do better than an apartment dog eating crap in a bag, and maybe just as well as an apartment dog eating something decent. I think people underestimate these environmental influences and just how big of a difference they make. Why are their Newfoundlands in Europe living to 17 on a fairly regular basis (had a friend studying this) while we in the good old US of A are proud of ourselves for getting our Cocker Spaniel to 12?
Jyl, I think the canned and table scraps mixed in their kibble had a lot more effect than they are given credit for. Dogs can scavenge quite successfully; it doesn't take a whole lot of biologically-appropriate food to improve their well-being tremendously. Thank you for elaborating. This is something I've thought a lot about.
The farther we get from nature (formula instead of breastmilk, kibble instead of biologically appropriate food) the worse off we all are...dogs included.
And yes, I maintain my contention that I can look at most dogs (as Jyl also can) and tell you roughly what they eat. I may not be able to get brand-specific, but I can get the gist of it, with few exceptions. I do it all the time and the owners are shocked and often times, it makes them THINK about what they're doing, and do better.
Where did this "good enough" attitude come in? Why is "good enough" good enough for the creatures we call our best friends? I would never settle for "good enough" for any of mine, nor would I place one with someone who thought differently. They are totally dependent on us. Totally. Why cross our fingers and hope they do ok on what's convenient for us instead of give them the optimum? I just don't get it, and I never will.
And for the record, some people's definitions of "thriving" frightens me. Our society as a whole is quite complacent with maintaining a subpar, mediocre level of health. The dogs are simply a reflection of society.
by Don Corleone on 21 December 2010 - 16:12
Maybe I missed it, but what do you feed, Jenni?
by Jenni78 on 22 December 2010 - 23:12
Whatever dead animals I can get my hands on. My pups are raised on everything from elk, beaver, and ostrich to Wal-Mart chicken, beef and turkey, (which I don't like due to additives) to tripe and every other scrap from these animals. Here's an example of a meal:
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch
by Don Corleone on 23 December 2010 - 00:12
Why don't you raise your own meat then?
I fed raw for a while, but it's a pain in the rear. At the end of the day, they're still dogs. Buying $50 bags of food are enough in my book.
Besides, they get the neighbors cats, the rabbits and anything else that enters the yard.
by Jenni78 on 23 December 2010 - 00:12
No need to raise my own meat.
I don't see how it could be easier. My older ones pick and choose what they want to eat each day; most of the time, I don't even have to touch it;-)
I don't see how it could be easier. My older ones pick and choose what they want to eat each day; most of the time, I don't even have to touch it;-)
by Don Corleone on 23 December 2010 - 01:12
Now I'm cofused. Are they game hunters or are they eating roadkill?
by Jenni78 on 23 December 2010 - 01:12
No roadkill, though I have no problem w/venison roadkill and have fed it in the past. All clean, fresh, mostly organic game.
by Don Corleone on 23 December 2010 - 01:12
There was a show on a man that ate roadkill. He had people that would come over for dinner dates. Made me want to yack! Couldn't even feed it to my dog unless I was the driver and knew it was fresh
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