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DIET GUIDELINES
By Dr. Roger L. DeHaan
TEN BASIC
GUIDELINES EMPOWERING BETTER DOG FOOD CHOICES
1-24-2023
A few weeks
ago a new client brought her dog foods to my office,
incorrectly believing they were “the best”. I
began by reading the main ingredients. Three
sources of meat: chicken, beef and salmon. Wheat
and wheat gluten. Corn and corn gluten.
Soy bean meal. And cellulose, which is sawdust
for fiber. OK, STOP!
- I began
by explaining that back on the farm, decades and
centuries ago when breed genetics were standardized,
a dog might obtain a bird one day. A rabbit
another. Or leftovers from farm slaughter or
the family table. Think about it.
Chicken is an flying bird. Beef a warm blooded
land mammal. Fish are cold blooded water
creatures. Three totally different proteins
all mixed and consumed day after day. Or
typically for weeks, months or years at a
time. Which
violate the basic “creation laws” of simplicity,
rotation and variety. Are we on
the same page?
- Raised on
an organic farm in the 1960’s I know what healthy
food tastes like. Comparing nutrient dense and
historically healthy foods, I do not consider corn,
wheat, nor soy healthy foods anymore.
Why? Because most are hybridized,
genetically modified, and then planted, matured and
harvested using chemical fertilizers, herbicides,
insecticides and more. Do they qualify as
healthy foods under those conditions? Good
question.
- A second
question is this. Canines are
carnivores. Do meat eating carnivores require
grain…...especially industrialized,
bio-processed and genetically modified corn, wheat
and soy? According to grain companies,
yes. According to unbiased science, grains are
not required to maintain excellent canine
health. For example, have you ever seen a dog
raid a corn patch, a wheat field, or crave
soybeans? Likely only if starved!
Depending on the breed, more likely they relish a
rabbit, bird, rat or other catch. Happily
consuming stomach contents, organs, meat and
bones. Although the stomach contents are
likely vegetarian, they are predigested with enzymes
at body temperature. And if a companion pet on
the family farm? Then also typically
supplemented with leftovers of meat, vegetables,
broth, potatoes, oatmeal, spices and so on.
- Now
consider the genetics and DNA of each breeds
country of origin. A
Portuguese Water Dog on fishing vessels survives on
fish--or else! A Mexican Chihuahua on rats,
rice, and fruit. A German Shephard likely
lamb, oatmeal, potato and cabbage (cooked or
fermented). Breed origin, therefore, and the
foods common to that nation and culture, are
essential data to comprehend which foods qualify
genetically. Therefore rice for Asian and
South American breeds of origin qualify as a likely
yes.
- Speaking
with Dr. Jean Dodds regarding on this subject, I
concluded (based on food allergy food testing and
personal clinical experience) that rice
generally DID NOT test well on most European
breeds. She agreed. The
theory: rice is not a common staple in Europe
as their continent of origin. In other words,
the land of origin is key to understanding each
breeds unique nutritional requirements.
Therefore genetics and DNA designed via centuries of
breeding and survival speak loudly--to those who are
listening.
- Dry
kibble cooked and factory processed foods are a
modern invention for city dwellers.
Yes, there are superior dry ethical foods.
However in nature nearly everything a canine
carnivore ate was wet and raw. Their diet
typically included berries, nibbling on a few herbs
to balance their diet by instinct….all wet.
Therefore if one chooses to feed a superior kibble
diet for convenience, one solution is adding bone
broth, healthy home cooking broths, and left
overs. Or lacking those, warm
water…..preferably filtered…..and definitely not
chlorinated city tap water.
- I
strongly recommend superfoods supplementing both
homemade and commercial dog foods. Why?
Because our soils are severely compromised.
There are no perfect soils. Consider
supplements such as kelp, alfalfa meal, whole ground
flax, spirulina and food grade diatomaceous
earth. Rotating virgin coconut oil, olive oil,
occasionally fish oil. Judiciously add sea
salt, herbs and spices. Which together are
spark plugs initiating superior health and
longevity. Are we still on the same
page?
- Back to
meat and meat meal. A
single meat, and NOT a mix of land, air and sea
meats consumed in a single smorgasbord meal.
It is not what is consumed, but what is digested and
assimilated that counts. In other words: Simplicity
is the basic standard of “creation law”.
Also NOT the same meat month after month. The
solution is to ROTATE different meats on different
days; or perhaps rotate ingredients weekly or
monthly. In addition, depending on age,
health, digestion, allergies and country of
origin……judiciously include a minimum of
carbohydrate supplements such as oatmeal, barley,
lentils, peas, beans, potatoes or sweet potatoes as
careful choices which qualify. Many bags list
chicken and rice, or beef and rice. But
is rice right for your breed? And on a
daily basis month after month?
- Building
on this principle, is chicken a wise choice month
after month? Or year after year is some
cases? Therefore I query my clients: do
YOU eat the same foods every meal month after month
and year after year? Typically in shock
they respond: “Of course not! !
But I never thought about that for my dog.
Wow: that makes so much sense.” Building
on that same principle: chicken is a “hot”
food in Chinese medical terms. Many pets
arrive at my office with “hot” inflammatory
conditions. They itch. Their ears and gums are
inflamed. These indicate various chronic “hot”
conditions. Frequently turkey is an “cooling”
option, therefore qualifying as a “cooling”
meat. Common sense, right? Shifting
directions, serious kidney and liver issues often
benefit by eliminating red meats as beef and
lamb. In
other words, there is no perfect answer for every
pet. But
PRINCIPES, Common Sense and Creation Law apply.
Our dilemma is that most dog food companies operate
in ivory towers with white suits, computers and
calculators. However, if an educated
population demands grain free food, they will
comply. If they demand single meats, having
completed owner and consumer research, again many
will comply--based on supply and
demand.
- Therefore
it is up to us, the consumer, to educate
ourselves. Read the labels.
Experiment. Research. Pay for good
counsel when it makes sense. But above all be
responsible. Listen to your gut. Listen
to your pet,. And return back to the BASICS!
For a scheduled PHONE CONSULTATION with Dr. DeHaan
call: (704)
734-0061. However first click
on “Phone Consultations”, read and understand the
requirements prior to calling.
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