{"id":33806,"date":"2023-09-16T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7b752c35-5fe1-4bbf-85a9-b72868eb527a"},"modified":"2023-09-16T17:46:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T15:46:13","slug":"heres-what-diet-your-dog-really-needs-to-stay-healthy-according-to-science","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/heres-what-diet-your-dog-really-needs-to-stay-healthy-according-to-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s what diet your dog really needs to stay healthy, according to science"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a dizzying number of choices for what to feed your pooch \u2013 but what’s best? <\/p>

By Zazie Todd\n <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 16 September 2023 at 15:00 PM<\/p>

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There are so many options for dog food, it can be hard to know what to choose. Our choices are often shaped by cultural beliefs \u2013 after all, dogs<\/a> are family members, so it\u2019s no surprise we think carefully about what to feed them.<\/p>

Don\u2019t be swayed by marketing, though; dogs are not wolves. Dogs are omnivores, meaning they can eat food from both animals and plants. <\/p>

It sent ripples through the dog community when scientists comparing dog and wolf genes discovered that domestic dogs have 4-30 copies of a gene for amylase<\/a>, a protein involved in starch digestion, depending on breed; wolves only have two copies of it. It was a surprise finding and it showed that dogs have gained the ability to digest starchy foods such as potatoes and grains.<\/p>

So how do you pick something that will work for you and your dog? <\/p>

How to pick a healthy diet for your dog<\/strong><\/h2>

A lot of words on labels (\u2018human-grade\u2019 or \u2018holistic\u2019) don\u2019t necessarily mean much. <\/p>

Dr Deborah Linder<\/a>, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, says, \u201cLook for a nutritional adequacy statement on the pet food label that says if the food is complete and balanced, and what life stage it\u2019s appropriate for. <\/p>

“There are growth\/gestation and adult guidelines. Interestingly, however, there are no senior nutrition guidelines \u2013 that\u2019s just a marketing term because every pet needs something different as they age.\u201d<\/p>

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association <\/a>(WSAVA) suggests some questions to ask when researching foods, including what the company\u2019s reputation is like, whether they have a veterinary nutritionist on their team and what their quality control measures are.<\/p>

As for raw food, the WSAVA says that there are risks because bacteria can be shed in the dog\u2019s stool without them showing any signs of illness; this may especially be of concern if anyone in your household is particularly vulnerable<\/a>. They also say that bones shouldn\u2019t be included in raw food due to the risks of damage to your dog\u2019s teeth and of obstruction.<\/p>

Any food that says it\u2019s \u2018supplemental\u2019 is unsuitable as the main diet; it\u2019s more for use as a treat. Of course, we all like to give treats. <\/p>

Dr Linder says, \u201cMake sure 90 per cent of your pet\u2019s diet comes from a complete and balanced food, and 10 per cent of daily calories can come from treats or other food items.\u201d <\/p>

If you\u2019re looking for ideas for low-calorie treats or special diets, she and her colleagues have some great information on their Petfoodology blog<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>