You might have seen the news that a new study almost excuses the use of grains in dog foods, but don’t be misled by this study. Friend and pet food advocate Dr. Michael Fox shares with us his perspective on high levels of grains in pet foods.
Several pet food consumers quickly emailed me the news story when it was published (team work!), they all shared they were concerned Big Pet Food might use this new study as scientific reasoning why their pet foods contain so many grains. Turns out, our friend and pet food safety ally Dr. Michael Fox felt the same concern. His wife sent me the article below with permission to provide to TruthaboutPetFood.com readers (thank you!).
The Seattle Times wrote about the pet food study: “A team of Swedish researchers has compared the genomes of wolves and dogs and found that a big difference between the two is a dog’s ability to easily digest starch. On its way from pack-hunting carnivore to fireside companion, dogs learned to love — or at least live on — wheat, rice, barley, corn and potatoes.”
The Boston Globe stated: ” Dogs digest starches more efficiently than their wolf ancestors.” But they (thankfully) added information gathered from this study “might provide hints about the genes and biological underpinnings of modern diseases that have arisen with the shift from a peripatetic existence to a grain-based diet…”
The BBC wrote: “…it seems dogs have many more genes that encode the enzymes needed to break down starch, something that would have been advantageous in an ancestor scavenging on the discarded wheat and other crop products of early farmers.”
You can probably see the open door that many are concerned Big Pet Food walk through using this study as scientific excuse for the use of numerous corn, wheat and soy ingredients in pet food. Now, here is Dr. Michael Fox’s opinion…
DOMESTICATION & DIET: DOG GENES & CAT GUT BACTERIA
By Dr. Michael W. Fox
Swedish researchers in their comparative studies of dog and wolf DNA report that dogs show changes in genes governing three critical steps in the digestion of starch, first breaking down large carbohydrate molecules into smaller ones, then breaking these up into smaller sugars and then finally facilitating their absorption in the digestive system. Significantly there was so called gene duplication, multiple copies of a gene for amylase, produced by the pancrease that is involved in the first step of starch digestion. Wolves had two copies while dogs had four to 30. ( See Erik Axelsson et al 23 January 201 The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet.Nature doi:10.1038/nature11837 ).
While some dog food companies may be quick to jump on this research as scientific evidence supporting their continued and widely questioned practice of manufacturing high grain/starchdiets, they do need to pause and consider what these findings really mean.
They do not mean that it is OK to make starches a major dietary ingredient for dogs. But they do mean that many dog breeds are more omnivorous than wolves and can digest some starches as a consequence of co-evolved selection living in close association with humans for many generations. Humans also went through similar genetic-dietary changes with the shift from being gatherer-hunters (the Paleolithic diet) to grain-eating (and dairy consuming) agro-pastoralists. But just like with we humans, dogs show nutrigenomic differences, some developing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency when after being raised on a high grain diet, or diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, skin disorders and even epilepsy. When these symptoms disappear when they are taken off high grain/starch diets, we have medical based evidence of the probable cause.The recent inclusion of genetically engineeered food ingredients in dog (and cat) foods, such as corn, rice, canola and sugarbeet, may aggravate these conditions and cause other health problems as documented in “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Foods” by veterinarians Fox, Hodgkins & Smart.
This interesting genetic research revealing some of the differences between the wolf and domesticated dog genome shows how processes of adaptation operate through gene-environment interactions. These processes, in the realm of dietary choices and what kinds of foods are available, are epigenetic, but there are additional considerations. Dietary ingredients can alter the ‘microbiome’ of the digestive system—the numbers and varieties of bacteria and other microorganisms which play an esential role in the digestion of various foods and assimilation of nutrients, coupled with critial immune defense, metabolic and other regulatory functions.
According to a recent study in kittens fed either a high protein low carbohydrate (HPLC) or moderate protein and moderate carbohydrate (MPMC) diet, levels of proteolytic bacteria (which break down protein) were higher for kittens on the HPLC diet and levels of saccharolytic bacteria (which break down carbohydrates) were higher for kittens on the MPMC diet. This illustrates how adaptive processes can operate it the level of the digestive system’s bacterial microbiome. (see Kelly Swanson et al, British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 31, 2012). They also looked at relationships between the diets and physiology. The kittens fed the MPMC diet had high levels of bifidobacteria, which was linked to higher blood ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite and thus may be linked to weight gain. At the same time, the bifidobacteria may promote better gastrointestinal health. Low levels in humans have been linked to inflammatory bowel disease.
While pet food manufacturers still marketing both moderate and high carbohydrate diets for cats may applaud this study of a small number of cats, it should be noted that kittens on a high protein diet had higher levels of bacteria that break down protein. This study does nothing more than to demonstrate how diet affects gut flora/bacterial populations, and in no way justifies feeding cats and kittens a ‘balanced’ diet of moderate amounts of protein and carbohydrate. This study simply demonstrates how commensal and symbiotic intestinal bacteria are affected by different diets, just as the Swedish study comparing dog and wolf DNA reveals what one would anticipate in terms of genetic adaptations over generations in dogs to dietary changes associated with a domesticated existence. The cat study does not look at the long-term differences between obligate carnivore felines being fed biologically appropriate and inappropriate diets in terms of health and longevity, even though their changed gut flora may help cats adapt to a high carbohydrate kibble diet. The wolf-dog comparisons do not consider the long-term consequences of raising dogs on a more ancestral, wolf-like diet with little or no carbohydrates. This is a popular trend today, and has some merits for those dog breeds and individuals (yet to be systematically identified) with low genetic duplication for pancreatic amylase production and therefore limited ability to process starches. The notion that too much protein in the diet can cause kidney disease is erroneous, lacking biological and clinical evidence to my knowledge, but that is not to dismiss the legitimacy of concern regarding protein quality and quantity when the kidneys are actually diseased.
Thank you Dr. Michael Fox! Truth and clarification is a good thing.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Jose A. Carmona
January 31, 2013 at 3:01 pm
That is true. Grains are definitely not good for Siberian huskies, for example. If any of mine eat something with any grain, they will get ill.
Tina
January 31, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Makes me glad we have been feeding a prey model raw diet since 2004. We feed mostly wild game, 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organs. Vets can’t believe how healthy our dogs are. We are also vaccine free & chemical free!
Dr. Laurie Coger
January 31, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Thanks to Dr. Fox for writing this, and you for sharing it! There are some veterinarians who are writing that this study shows that dogs can thrive on carbohydrate laden diets! Talk about the misuse of data…
I’ve been feeding and promoting a natural, raw diet for almost 20 years. And yes, I do include some vegetables and fruits (more as a treat than as a dietary staple, but the bulk of any meal is meat, organs, and bone. Dogs fed this way truly thrive.
Kristin Maloney
January 31, 2013 at 7:19 pm
Dr. Laurie-
I am looking to transition from buying raw food to making my own. Do you mind sharing your recipe you use. I keep finding contradictory information about what recipes should include. Thanks!
Tina
January 31, 2013 at 9:44 pm
I’m not Laurie, but don’t make feeding your own raw complicated. Dogs need 80% muscle meat (which includes heart and tongue), 10% bone and 10% organ and it’s all over time so you don’t feed these ratios per meal. For example, we feed wild game scraps year around. We feed our german shepherds a pound of deer meat once a day and then once or twice a week they get a meaty deer neck or a rack of 4 ribs. On bone day they also each get 1/4lb of either liver or kidney, that’s it.
When we didn’t have access to wild game, we fed 50% whole chickens cut in half and 50% beef heart and then organs once a week. We fed chicken one day and heart the next. The chicken satified their bone requirement and actually chicken is about 30% bone, so we fed chicken 3 times a week and heart 4 times a week. You can tell by their stools if they are getting too much bone or not. Some dogs need a little bone daily to keep their stools normal, others like ours, only need bone once a week.
Lynda
January 31, 2013 at 5:05 pm
The issues is quality of protien, you can get protien from shoe leather. But if you have deboned Chicken or salmon in protien there is no comparison to a a product that says their source of protien comes from “Animal Protien”.
Very good article. Thank you for sharing.
Donna Talbot
January 31, 2013 at 5:23 pm
I have three generations of golden retrievers in my family and they all eat Bravo raw diet. My girls (ages 10.5, 8 and 3.5)are very healthy, a good weight and are well muscled. I believe a raw diet (which is a blend of meat, organ meat, ground bone and veggies)promotes good health in my dogs. I wouldn’t consider feeding them anything else. I also encourage my puppy customers to feed Bravo and, thankfully, many of them do.
Dr Amy Nesselrodt
January 31, 2013 at 7:13 pm
I agree with Dr. Fox! Thank you Susan for sharing this!
Just because dogs can break down some starches (and we already knew they could for goodness sakes!) does NOT mean a high starch/high carb diet is good for them. Excess carbs may lead to obesity, diabetes and/or glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and (in people at least) low HDL (“good cholesterol”). Have you read Dr Patton’s book “Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack: The Paradox of Pet Nutrition” ? He wrote a whole book about how the excess of carbs has been hard on our pets’ health! Other problems with high grain diets: phytates in grains bind nutrients, and grain mites often lead to allergies. Grains lack many nutrients dogs need. There is also some evidence that protein losing nephropathy (which on of my collies currently suffers from)may be from consuming grain based diets! So…don’t be jumping to any conclusions, folks that dog “thrive” on high starch diets!!!!!!!!!! Dr. Amy Nesselrodt
http://DrAmyRawDogFoodResearch.com/RawDogFoodResearch/
https://www.facebook.com/RawDogFoodResearch
Reader
February 1, 2013 at 12:07 am
The Readers share wonderful endorsements for raw feeding. Doing so absolutely transforms pets (energy, enthusiasm, muscles, coat, eliminates skin & ear problems, with many more benefits!) I have miniature poodles (very young, middle age, and older). All handle raw very well (including excellent stools) using what amounts to a “hamburger grind” of raw beef, organs, yams and veggies, mixed with THK’s “Preference.” This is a fresh to frozen proprietary blend, which I can recommend (but do not sell or benefit from) if you live in my area. Please let me know in another post.
o
Be sure to find and use the highest quality of commercial raw diet. Some are definitely better than others. Since it IS raw food, some are processed and preserved for mass production and distribution in different ways. This can make a difference. For those preparing homemade, yes, using organ meats is very beneficial, including hearts, kidneys, tongue, (it also lessens the fat content, and is more nutrient dense). Please take into consideration the size and age of your dog. If your dog has a history of only being fed kibble, or has a sensitive stomach, test your dog carefully at first and transition gently. Large dogs can handle “chunks” of protein and big heavy bones, as described above. One of our miniature middle aged poodles will gnaw on a huge femur bone over a couple of days. So there’s no danger of choking.
o
Fresh raw food for middle to much smaller sized dogs needs to be ground up to avoid choking, and prevent the danger of breaking a tooth. An older dog’s teeth may be more fragile if not already used to gnawing on bones. The younger a healthy dog is started on raw, the stronger the mouth will remain (and cleaner the teeth will stay)! And finally, be careful when feeding raw during hot weather. Don’t leave out food bowls sitting unattended and uncleaned. Wash well with soap and water. Keep separate the pet dishes from other dishware and utensils.
lynn
February 3, 2013 at 5:39 am
this research hummmmmmm why do they think caring pet parents would buy more lies seems they are full of themself.i will only make my fur babies food. i even buy rabbit meat at earthfare… that is a organic grocery store.i know it is balanced and healthy… most of all i know what’s in it.not what THEY are telling all of us.i do not trust dog food companies. let anyone call me a nut. i will not ever be tangled in a recall w/ my fur baby.
Tina
February 3, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Good for you Lynn! I wish more people would do the research and realize that a species appropriate prey model diet is the best for their dogs! Vets get 4 hours of training on nutrition in vet school and it’s given by a rep from none other than…. Science Diet! I think there are a couple other kibble companies that do the training now too. Give me a break!
Tina
February 3, 2013 at 12:45 pm
And feeding raw does not have to be complicated. Give them a chicken quarter or a half a chicken for larger dogs. Feed 2-3% of their adult weight in food.
Small dogs do not need their food ground; in fact, ground meat has too much fat in it for most dogs. You want dogs to get the chewing action from whole pieces of meat, at leat the size of their head or bigger so if you have a gulper they won’t try to swallow it whole. I’ve also fed it frozen so they have to chew it. There are a couple of yahoo groups to join rawfeeding and rawchat that have thousands of members to help you feed a raw diet if you are not already and have questions.
Allison Nicolas
February 5, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Please beware. Grains are not the only bad filler pet food companies use to reduce their costs. The new big fillers being used are potato and tapioca. Any dry pet food will contain one of these fillers usually as a 2nd or 3rd ingredient. They are NO better than grain! This is a new marketing gimmick to trick pet food consumers…I’ve even seen grain free foods at the grocery store! Next time you are looking to buy a pre-made grain free food have a look at the ingredients…it may be grain free but if potato or tapioca is the 2nd ingredient you aren’t doing much better. Potato actually caused worse allergies for my lab due to the fact it accelerates yeast growth. She now eats a strictly raw diet and every month she’s doing better! No more ear infections…no more vets telling me ‘it’s a lab thing’. Believe me it’s a food thing! Almost all pet illnesses are caused by food, medications or vaccines. Please don’t support the companies that want us to poison our pets. Make your own pet food it’s the only way to go!
Tina
February 6, 2013 at 12:15 am
Great post, Allison!
Donna Talbot
February 6, 2013 at 8:00 am
Wonderful post, Allison! I wish more people would understand this!