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What Should You Feed Your Dog?
Stephen Sheldon, DVM
This is a question I get asked daily and there is so much misinformation out there it causes
consternation. It is also an emotional question and one that does not have a clear cut definite
answer. I did more research for this article than I do for most and this article represents my
professional opinions. Due to space limitations I am not going to reference my sources. If I am
not in a mental institution over this article I will write one on cat nutrition next month.
Consumers need to understand that the pet food industry is huge; $50 billion will be spent this
year on pet food in the US alone. Fads in pet foods parallel fads in human food: low carb,
veggie, raw foods; you name it, it’s out there. So what is a pet owner to do?
I’m not one to string people along so here is my answer to this daily question: I feed a wellknown and reliable premium dog food to my pups. I have for 25 years and my dogs are so
healthy it is disgusting, especially since I get free vet care if they do get sick. I know that is not
the answer many of you feeding an expensive organic raw food may want to hear but I am not
alone in my opinion. I interviewed a client of mine who owns a local pet food store and she
told me this “ fads, shmads; I carry all the diets due to consumer demand but the old reliable
diets are the best out there”. To protect her sanity and since there is so much ‘energy’
surrounding this topic I will not list her name.
Part of the problem lies within the governing body of pet food, the AAFCO. Many veterinarians
feel their food trials are inadequate. A food trial only needs to last 6 months and only 6 of the 8
dogs in the trial need to make it to the end. Some trials, for example growth trials, are only 10
weeks long. Furthermore AAFCO feeding trial protocol only involves testing 4 values: RBC,
hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and serum albumin; no blood chemistries, fecal exams or
urinalysis are required. Still the AAFCO is the best we’ve got currently and they do test the
safety of commercial diets. Many feel that the “AAFCO is better than nothing” sentiment is
flawed and that their seal basically amounts to nothing. I can hear my phone ringing already!
Let’s look at raw diets for a moment. Many people think that since ancestral dogs lived on a
raw diet, it is best for their dogs. Not entirely correct. First of all, dogs are not wolves; yes they
are classified as carnivores (meat eaters) but in all reality they have been bred and raised for
thousands of years as omnivores (meat, veggies, starches). Feed a Dalmation like a wolf and
many will develop urate bladder stones. Wolves also don’t live nearly as long as our current
dogs do so we must be doing something right (insert your argument here____).
If you do feed a raw diet make sure the food has been sterilized according to AAFCO standards;
pets fed raw food can shed bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter. The veterinarian's job
is not only to care for the health and well-being of their animal patients but also those who are
the guardians of these pets as well. There are numerous publications documenting pathogenic
organisms in raw meat and raw food diets. Evidence for transmission of food-borne pathogenic
bacteria from dogs to humans exists. Human patients with Salmonella infection had been
exposed to pig ear treats; the bacteria from the pig ear was indistinguishable from the one
recovered from fecal samples of the infected people. There are reports of racing greyhounds,
sled dogs, guard dogs and cats with Salmonella infections due to consumption of contaminated
raw meat. While many animals never become ill while eating raw food diets, they still pose a
risk to humans and other animals through environmental shedding. People preparing raw diets
are also at risk by handling contaminated meat and egg products. Those greatest at risk are the
very young and old, in addition to the immunocompromised. So please make sure the raw food
diet is safe and if you prepare it yourself that you follow good food hygiene.
If you are going to prepare a homemade diet, raw or cooked, here is a direct quote from a
veterinary nutritionist: “Puppies and dogs need 40+ nutrients in appropriate amounts daily.
Errors in feeding puppies can have lifelong consequences and it happens quite often when
people mistakenly feed "meat", whether raw or cooked, instead of a complete and balanced
commercial growth diet”. Fortunately there are many good websites that will detail how to
prepare a well-balanced, home-cooked diet. Logon and have at it!
This discussion could go on for a long time but here is the bottom line in my opinion. You have
enough things to obsess about in your life; don’t worry about your dogs’ food. Go to a pet
store and buy a well know, widely available premium pet food. If you prefer, get one with
organic ingredients. Now you are free to obsess about your spouses’ hobbies or your kids’
public school education.
Dr. Stephen Sheldon practices at Gypsum Animal Hospital. The opinions in this article are his personal opinions. He
has not been paid by any nutritional company for this article.