Dobes&Hounds

I have been feeding green tripe dog food for quite a while now. Each dog gets 1/2 can at night. As I mentioned in a previous post since they started green tripe they don't have gas, and they inhale the food.
Well, I was online ordering more Tripett green cow tripe, when I noticed they had a green lamb tripe too. It was only a dollar more a case, so what the heck we got some. It came today UPS. Tonight as I was "cooking" dinner for my pack they were doing their little waiting dance. Well, everyone except Reggie. I called their names and placed their bowls down in their spots one at a time and I had 1 happy doberman, 2 happy hounds, and one DISGUSTED Reggie. He looked at me like I had served him dirt and worms! He would barely gag the stuff down while the other dogs devoured it. I knew the guy was hungry, so I grabbed a can of Merrick working dog stew (which has beef tripe in it) and poured it over his kibble and lamb tripe. He was so relieved! Ate his dinner per usual.
Has anyone else had bad luck with the lamb tripe? Reg will eat darn near anything so this really shocked me.
Been doing a lot of thinking about grain-free food. I am going to pose the question, what IS so great about grain free anyhow? The companies promoting these foods keep saying that grain isn't part of a dog's natural diet.
Well, I have to wonder since when are sweet potatoes or tapioca part of a dog's natural diet? All of the grain free foods have a carbohydrate source. If your dog is not allergic to rice or barley, and the food has a good amount of high quality protein, then what really is the difference?
More to ponder... it's been said quite a few times that A.) dogs are omnivores
B.) dogs are scavengers and thirdly <grin> when a wild canine kills it's prey they like to eat the stomach and intestines first. Ok, most of the time, what have prey animals been eating? Grass, plants, fruit, and GRAINS. Deer eat corn out of farmer's fields and I am sure they don't hesitate to eat other grain crops as well. Domestic livestock that are killed by predatory canines have been grain fed too. So, what's so un-natural about grain? Wouldn't you be less likely to find deer eating potatoes?
Done with my food tangent now

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JW Mercury's Secret Obsession OA OAJ WAC CGC HIC UDC ATT

*My Soul Mate*
1996-2007

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog & a man.
- Mark Twain

talentdobe

Exactly!

You know what I think is the best thing about 'grain-free' diets? They sell well and make dog food companies lots of money.

Don't get me wrong, there are dogs out there they have allergies where a grain free diet is truely beneficial, but for your average dog there really isn't a difference.

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Luvbirds59

Just a note about grains in kibble. Grain in the amounts we eat it and feed it to our dogs, is never seen in nature....we grow it in huge fields, and then have to process it to make it eatable. I can't add too much more, because I'm a raw feeder, and you know where to find that information if you are interested.

Evolutionary Discordance of Grains/Legumes in the Human Diet

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ellenm

dobesan hounds-
I asked my specialist vet that same question, and she said what you were brain storming. Dogs will eat some grains in the wild, and grain in their food will not hurt them as long as they are not allergic to that particular grain source. I don't think the kibbles with corn and meat byproducts as their first ingredient are very good, of course. I'm talking about a comparison of the premium kibbles.

I had my two on Innova Evo for 90 days and when I had a routine blood chemistry on Cheers at her annual check up, her BUN was a little high....due to the high meat content in her diet. I rotate high quality kibbles through out the year with my dogs, as recommended by my vet and The Whole Dog journal.

My two get Prairie raw patties at night, with the addition of tripe or beef heart etc as extras a few times a week. They get kibble in the a.m. meal

LPacker79

I buy the Tripett at my local dog food store, and I always get both the lamb and beef. Poseidon seems to like them both equally, though I find the lamb is a bit less pungent than the beef. That could just be me though.

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Leanne & Poseidon the Siberian

doberkim

The studies performed showed dogs did NOT eat the stomachs first of all the prey offered - in fact, many did not eat the stomach/contents at all. My dogs eat the stomach last every time, and Berlin does not eat stomach contents.

And my dogs being omnivores is a point of contention. Mine aren't

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Dobes&Hounds

Doing a quick google search it seems there is some conflicting information. Some websites say yes, they do eat stomach contents and will scavenge on grass, fruits etc. The other websites say no, they don't generally. This is wolves mind you, not dogs. I guess there have been studies done on dogs?
At any rate I don't believe that some grain in the diet is going to be a detriment to a dog's health IF the dog is not allergic to it.
My dogs are omnivores. They will eat whole apples, carrots, green pepper, and they LOVE ripe pears.
I am not sold on an all-meat or grain free diet. I am not opposed to raw feeding either, but I think the whole concept of what is "natural" is up for debate.

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JW Mercury's Secret Obsession OA OAJ WAC CGC HIC UDC ATT

*My Soul Mate*
1996-2007

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog & a man.
- Mark Twain

doberkim

Personally, my dogs will eat a lot of things, Just last night Rah started to eat (and Mercury finished!) the 6 inch leather tab I accidentally left on him in the crate during Berlin's attention class. During winter months, Rah eats poopsicles in the yard only if completely frozen, and will still gladly finish off a sock if not kept out of his reach. Berlin enjoys a good papertowel and ADORES cardboard. So I take it lightly if they choose to eat a vegetable or nosh on some grass outside, as they have proven to me in the past that their culinary tastes leave a bit to be desired when it comes to discretion.

THere are little studies period done on what the is the natural diet of dogs - all we have are wolf studies. The only studies we have on canine nutrition come from the big kibble companies, and they have done a lot for us in some areas (and don't get me wrong, I use some of their prescription diets every single day). I simply choose not to feed them any of those diets.

I think we have quite sufficient proof that feeding unnatural diets can cause poor health in animals (ESPECIALLY in cats), it's just up to interpretation what those health problems are and if they are related to diets. I personally believe that many health problems can be *prevented* with a proper diet. Can I say I will never have the health problems others have? Of course not - but knock on wood, I hope my good luck continues to pan out.

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Lexxsmom

i think that maybe its not so much that dogs should get zero grain, but that most commercial pet foods have a MAJORITY of grain, way too much for a "natural" diet.

think about it, grain is cheap, meat is expensive. What are the companies going to fill their kibble with to make the best profit?

From personal experience only I chose to feed Orijen ( a grain free kibble) prior to turning to 100% raw. The reason that I chose this food is not ONLY because it was grain free, but also because it is made in canada and has all human grade ingredients. I don't want my dog eating rendered pets in his diet thank you very much.

As for the comment that companies use "grain free" as a target word to sell the food for more and make more of a profit, this might be in some cases, but my all natural orijen didn't cost any more than the "vet recommended iams"

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Leanne and Lexx


Dragon Slaying Dobermans Incorporated, member #001, President.
" I don't need to sit for the cookie, I hunt dragons all day dammit!"
Lexxington's blog: http://lexxslife.blogspot.com/

Dobes&Hounds

Oh gosh, no I don't think the majority of their diet should be grains or carbs for that matter. If you get a commercial food it should be meat based, human grade, with no BHA or Ethoxyquin. I was just stating that some grain is not going to hurt a dog with no allergies.
I feed for variety. They have their "staples" being wellness core, canned tripe, and solid gold seameal. However, I do vary meals. Sometimes I will boil a bunch of chicken thighs (de-boned) and feed them that. Other times I will buy big fat raw turkey necks and a package of giblets (heart, liver, gizzard) and they will have that for dinner. I don't mix raw with kibble. I will however mix the tripe dog food with raw because it is basically cooked meat and water. Just mush!
I also buy cans of different premium foods like merrick, spot's stew, brandon farms organics etc. I too am trying to do what I think is best for my dogs and avoid health issues.
I can guarantee there's no Ol' roy in THIS household! They do get indulged with 3 dog bakery cookies though.

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JW Mercury's Secret Obsession OA OAJ WAC CGC HIC UDC ATT

*My Soul Mate*
1996-2007

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog & a man.
- Mark Twain