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Post by CollieSlave on Jul 8, 2016 15:14:30 GMT
I have just read an interesting article published in 'Nature' regarding research into the genetic differences between wolves and dogs. The research reveals that the dog has significant genes that enable it to digest starch effectively - unlike the wolf! To quote from Robert Wayne, a geneticist at the University of California, who is studying dog genomes - “Every day I get an email from a dog owner who asks, should they feed their dog like a wolf," says Wayne. "I think this paper answers that question: no.”A link to the paper - www.nature.com/news/dog-s-dinner-was-key-to-domestication-1.12280 |
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Post by mikebusano on Jul 9, 2016 8:57:30 GMT
I think not necessarily like a wolf but I would suggest a high protein diet (meat rich).
Dogs can digest meat better than humans and opposite is for carbs. I've had my dogs like this for years now and compared to filler/more carb diet they are doing better.
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Post by zahada on Jul 9, 2016 12:05:52 GMT
I have a feeling that the subject of dogs ability to digest starches has come up on here before? Or am I on a wrong forum?  Anyway, just because dogs can process starches doesn't mean they're good for them. Or, at least not in the quantities some dog food manufacturers use. To feed a dog like a wolf would be quite difficult, well for me anyway. My dogs eat indoors. Don't have to catch their own food. They don't have access to whole animals. Although my dogs eat raw food, the prey presented to them is skinned (or at least devoid of feathers), cut into portions, with offal, veges and supplements added in correct ratios.  |
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Post by bextull on Jul 9, 2016 12:24:24 GMT
Dogs should definitely not be fed like wolves. Dogs are not wolves. While genetically, dogs and wolves may vary, physiologically they do not. Regardless of breed, every dog has the same, short and simple digestive system adapted for a carnivorous diet. Dentition, mono-gastric stomach, short large intestine, lack of amylase in the saliva, etc. Dogs may come in many shapes and sizes, but what's inside is relatively unchanged. Obviously you have to allow for some differences due to the sheer number of breeds, for example a pug compared to a husky. I don't doubt that dogs are better at digesting starches than their wolf ancestors. However, just because they are better at it, doesn't mean that they are good at it. It's almost the same as comparing a dog's ability to breakdown lactose in milk with a lactose intolerant person. The dog might be better at it but neither of them are good at it. That doesn't mean I should feed my dog a diet comprised of 50% lactose just because they are better at it (a highly unrealistic example I am aware but I'm having a slow day  ). It's no secret that I feed raw but I don't feed it because it's what Oscar would eat in the wild. I cringe when I see people use that argument as to why they feed their dogs raw. If Oscar were "wild" he'd either starve very quickly or he'd likely live off of worms, rubbish and horse sh*t (hell, I can even add in actual horse feed because he loves that too). I also don't understand why people think that meat is inherently high in protein? A diet that is high protein does not mean that it is high in meat content. Likewise a diet that is high in meat content is not necessarily high in protein. Oscars diet is 99% meat but it would only be around 25% protein. The norm for most dry dog foods is around 22 or 24%. |
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Post by caz2golden on Jul 9, 2016 12:54:45 GMT
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Post by CollieSlave on Jul 9, 2016 13:05:20 GMT
I think not necessarily like a wolf but I would suggest a high protein diet (meat rich). Dogs can digest meat better than humans and opposite is for carbs. I've had my dogs like this for years now and compared to filler/more carb diet they are doing better. In what ways are they 'doing better'? |
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Post by CollieSlave on Jul 9, 2016 13:07:22 GMT
I have a feeling that the subject of dogs ability to digest starches has come up on here before? Or am I on a wrong forum? Anyway, just because dogs can process starches doesn't mean they're good for them. Or, at least not in the quantities some dog food manufacturers use. To feed a dog like a wolf would be quite difficult, well for me anyway. My dogs eat indoors. Don't have to catch their own food. They don't have access to whole animals. Although my dogs eat raw food, the prey presented to them is skinned (or at least devoid of feathers), cut into portions, with offal, veges and supplements added in correct ratios. In what ways might starches be bad for them? |
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Post by zahada on Jul 9, 2016 13:09:33 GMT
I didn't say bad did I? I can process lots of chocolate but is that good for me?
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Post by zahada on Jul 9, 2016 13:23:00 GMT
I'm getting to a point where I believe that any research can be interpreted in to whatever one wants. You just pick out the bits that support your belief and voilà Bob's yer uncle. |
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Post by zahada on Jul 9, 2016 13:27:02 GMT
Have you posted this before or have I seen it elsewhere? |
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Post by CollieSlave on Jul 9, 2016 13:44:52 GMT
I didn't say bad did I? I can process lots of chocolate but is that good for me? YES!! |
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Post by caz2golden on Jul 9, 2016 15:13:57 GMT
Have you posted this before or have I seen it elsewhere? I don't think it was me who has posted it before! I have posted link to the dogs naturally article in the past that was in response to the Nature article. Though those articles can also be very bias the other way again, twisting things to suit their mental model of what they think a dog should be fed! I think you are right, if you take certain assumptions or your pre-conceived ideas are bias then you can make the conclusions skewed towards these prior assumptions. Must add scientists from many disciplines will put their ideas out there in papers for someone to come along and disprove them. That's how science moves forwards! |
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Post by perriejinnie on Aug 22, 2016 7:09:23 GMT
The diet of your dog should be based on its breed. Some breeds requires high protein rich diet while other breeds may not necessarily needs any special diet plan at all, they can rely on human foods as well. My blog: Nutritional foods for adult dogs |
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