A number of views are promulgated about what to feed your dog that have nothing to do with what foods are actually healthful for him. Here are 3 oft-repeated claims not to rely on when choosing your pet’s provisions.
Myth #1. Because dogs belong to the order Carnivora, that means they are carnivores whose health would best be served if they ate meat only.
Fact: Carnivora contains more than just strict carnivores. Giant pandas are part of the Carnivora order, too, and they are strict herbivores, eating virtually nothing but bamboo shoots. The name of an animal’s order and its diet don’t necessarily match up.
Some people assume dogs should eat meat and nothing else because they descend from wolves, who are true carnivores. But one of the two major genetic differences between dogs and wolves is that dogs have evolved with a much better ability to digest starch (plant foods) than their canine ancestors. That makes them omnivores rather than carnivores — capable of getting good nutrition from a combination of meat and plant foods. (The second major genetic departure from wolves involves a difference in temperament. Try getting a wolf to pose agreeably for a photo in a fuzzy Halloween pumpkin costume.)
Truth be told, not even all wolves are carnivores. Some get their nutrients from meat and plant sources.
Myth #2. Dog food labeled as “senior” is the way to go for an older pet.
Fact: There is no legal definition for “senior” or “older” dog food. The terms mean whatever the manufacturer wants them to mean. Nutrition requirements for geriatric dogs may very well be different from those for younger adult dogs, just as nutrient requirements for older people differ from those of younger adults. But the veterinary research community is not there yet in terms of nailing down how a dog’s nutrient needs change with age. Thus, ignore the large bold bursts on the front of the package and anything else the package says about why the food is better for older dogs. Most dogs, as they age, can safely remain on the diet they’ve been on. If your aging pet is losing weight or has other health issues, speak to the vet about whether a dietary shift is in order.
Myth #3. Chicken and rice is the way to go for a dog with an upset tummy.
Fact: For some pets, plain, skinless chicken breast and rice may help calm an upset stomach. But for many dogs, just putting out their usual food and keeping cool fresh water available is the right approach. If it’s just a transient GI illness, they’ll eat when they’re ready. In fact, introducing a food a dog doesn’t usually eat can serve to exacerbate the situation in some cases. Even when a dog is not sick, switching him from one food to another should happen gradually, over a week’s time, so his digestive system will have a chance to adjust.
