Dog Community

Posted : 11/19/2006 8:19:31 PM

Sorry, I phrased that wrong. What I meant was that the "grain free" foods still have carbs which don't seem any different to me... Hope that made sense. lol

kennel_keeper

Posted : 11/19/2006 8:48:04 PM

Sure does [

]

Here's a little info on carbs

[linkhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/carbohydrate-basics-ga.htm]http://health.howstuffworks.com/carbohydrate-basics-ga.htm[/link]

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/19/2006 10:46:47 PM

So according to that article, a starch is a starch whether it comes from grains, potatoes, tapioca etc... and the the whole grainless thing is a marketing gimmick.

My epileptic allergy dog would beg to differ. She did very well on a grain free kibble (Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish) for a year, before I switched back to homecooked. Her seizures and general itchiness were greatly reduced. Being grain free is probably the reason she's still around.

She still eats potatoes or sweet potatoes almost every day.

sallya

Posted : 11/19/2006 11:57:44 PM

A LOT of dogs do well on grain free foods. Trudy can't eat grains, corn etc. She does great on her Nat. Balance Fish and Sweet Potato. I love that Sweet potato is in it. Each dog is different. We just all have to find the fright food for our dogs. Allergy dogs are really a challange. I have been very happy with the food we give her.

Luvntzus

Posted : 11/20/2006 2:12:17 AM

Thank you for the link Kennelkeeper. [

] Very interesting stuff!

starsenchis

Posted : 11/20/2006 6:35:01 AM

That link on carbohydrates may apply to people, but not to dogs.

Why do you feel grains are bad?

They are a completely unnatural food that the dog's digestive system did not evolve to digest. Dogs have zero requirement for dietary carbohydrates, even pregnant and lactating bitches. Grains are the hardest source of carbohydrate to digest, since they contain gluten.

Here are some resources with information on this topic:
[linkhttp://b-naturals.com/Dec2005.php]http://b-naturals.com/Dec2005.php[/link]
[linkhttp://www.wysong.net/PDFs/apology.pdf]http://www.wysong.net/PDFs/apology.pdf[/link]
[linkhttp://www.anglianwolf.com/d_front_page/junkfoodfordogs/junkfood.htm]http://www.anglianwolf.com/d_front_page/junkfoodfordogs/junkfood.htm[/link]
[linkhttp://www.barfworld.com/html/learn_more/nograin.shtml]http://www.barfworld.com/html/learn_more/nograin.shtml[/link]
[linkhttp://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/5/pets_grains.htm]http://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/5/pets_grains.htm[/link]
[linkhttp://www.geocities.com/raleighdurhamlrc/Articles/GoingGluten-Free1.pdf]http://www.geocities.com/raleighdurhamlrc/Articles/GoingGluten-Free1.pdf[/link]

willowchow

Posted : 11/20/2006 7:58:03 AM

I think they probably aren't "meant" to eat grains in such a large way that they do now. But, that if they have no skin or digestive issues with them that they can do fine with them.

I have noticed a big difference in Willow skin and also no odor since switching to not grain free but a lot less grains. She's getting Natural Balance for some meals and her prescription diet for some and that does have rice.

My husband even noticed it last night that she doesn't have the smell she had a month ago. I was going crazy trying to figure out what was causing it. There are a lot of things I will deal with but her stinking and making my house stink are not two of them.[

]

mudpuppy

Posted : 11/20/2006 3:18:11 PM

Dogs have trouble digesting grains. They seem to digest potatoes quite well. So if you feed a food that has a lot of grain in it, the dog is probably not getting the nutrients you think you are offering.
my dogs are gassy when fed grains, even over-cooked rice. They are not gassy on potatoes, sweet or white. Mind you, I would never feed a diet that contained A LOT of potatoes. Like some of these allergy formulas that have "potato" as the first ingredient.

papillon806

Posted : 11/20/2006 4:21:21 PM

starsenchis---- And since grains are the hardest to digest, this is why they are a good source of dietary fiber which is essential for GI tract health.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/20/2006 5:00:13 PM

Grains are the hardest source of carbohydrate to digest, since they contain gluten.

All grains do not contain gluten. Rice, quinoa, and quite a few other grains are gluten free.

Bobsk8

Posted : 11/20/2006 5:13:06 PM

ORIGINAL: starsenchis

a starch is a starch whether it comes from grains, potatoes, tapioca etc... and the the whole grainless thing is a marketing gimmick.

Exactly!!!
Plus, potatoes and tapioca have very high glycemic index, so they are much worse than whole grains for controlling weight gain and diabetes. The grainless foods are marketed to people as a raw substitute, yet these foods are fully cooked and full of carbs. It really is a total marketing gimmick and I applaud Wysong for trying to educate people- even if they are...(gasp!)...a dog food company!!

Sweet Potato has about 1/2 the glycemic index of a white potato. That is why diets that focus on the glycemic index of foods like the South Beach diet recommend sweet potatos and not white potatos.

momoftwo

Posted : 11/20/2006 5:31:16 PM

sweet potatoes have been associated w. low thyroid (but in humans; wonder if any studies done on dogs?)

starsenchis

Posted : 11/20/2006 6:07:30 PM

starsenchis---- And since grains are the hardest to digest, this is why they are a good source of dietary fiber which is essential for GI tract health.

That does not mean that dogs should eat them. Dogs can get fiber from fruit, vegetables, and raw bones. Dogs were not meant to eat grain. You can rationalize all day, but that doesn't change the fact.

I am not about to get into a dog food war- I've seen too much of that here and that's why I usually stick to the grooming forum, so this is the last post on this subject you'll be seeing from me. I've said all I need to say.

Jenny cd- you are right about there being gluten-free grains, I was generalizing with that statement, sorry.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 11/20/2006 6:43:48 PM

Dogs can get fiber from fruit, vegetables, and raw bone

Huh??

I've never heard that bones provide dietary fiber [&:]

Jana, I totally agree that dietary fiber is essential for GI health. I also know that MY dogs do better with whole ground corn as a part of their diet. They perform better, look better, and rebound quicker after a hard workout.

Now, I'll admit, that not all dogs do ok with some grains, but you can't label grains in general as bad, harmful, or non-beneficial. They DO serve a purpose, but have been overdone and this is what gave them such a bad rap.

willowchow

Posted : 11/20/2006 6:55:21 PM

Mind you, I would never feed a diet that contained A LOT of potatoes. Like some of these allergy formulas that have "potato" as the first ingredient

**Content removed** I'd never feed some of the things you've mentioned. It's all a matter of preference. **Content removed**

grains vs potatoes