7 Common Dog Food Myths Debunked

Meal preparation for your dog, like meal preparation for humans, maybe a difficult undertaking. It’s safe to say that finding out what to feed and what not to give your dog may be pretty complex, especially with so much information available online. Despite keeping a close eye on what fits your dog best, there are still several dog food myths circulating.

Whether you seek advice from your dog’s veterinarian, a qualified pet nutritionist, or a random dog parent you met at the park, it’s critical to educate yourself on the different dog food myths that need to be debunked right immediately.

Here are 7 dog food myths that you should be aware of:

1. All Dogs Are Allergic to All Grains:

Some dogs can indeed be allergic to some grains but it neither means that all dogs are allergic to grains nor does it mean that dogs are allergic to all grains. Soy, corn and now even wheat have gained a bad rep in the dog food world as they are grains, but not all dogs are allergic to all grains. For most dogs, grains are fine. Grains are a source of many beneficial nutrients, such as proteins, critical amino acids, fatty acids, linoleic acid and other nutrients that replacement ingredients and supplements might not contain. 

2. All Human Food Is Unhealthy for Dogs:

Human food isn’t necessarily bad for dogs. Some foods are harmful to dogs, but other foods may provide essential nourishment to your dog’s diet. As a result, homemade dog food recipes are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of human foods that dogs can eat include Peanut butter, small amounts of bread, cashews, oatmeal, coconuts, eggs, honey in small quantities, etc. Examples of human food that dogs can’t eat include chocolate, raisins, alcohol, coffee, tea, garlic, etc. 

3. Dogs May Benefit From All Bones:

Dogs do, indeed, enjoy bones. Chewing on raw bones with (fresh) bone marrow is not only healthy, but it also stimulates the jaw and cleans the teeth.

However, not all bones are excellent for dogs, and some should be avoided at all costs. Cooked bones are brittle and readily break, leaving them sharp and potentially unsafe to the dog’s mouth and digestive organs, since they can create rips and wounds. Choking can also be caused by small chicken bones.

4. Lamb Is a Hypoallergenic Protein

Although Lamb is frequently used in sensitive dog food formulations, it isn’t the Lamb itself that is hypoallergenic for dogs. This is because there is nothing that makes one meat more hypoallergenic than the other. Initially, Lamb was used for making hypoallergenic food as most dogs had not eaten it before, hence making it unlikely that the dogs had developed an allergy to it. Food allergies develop and can be recognised only after a dog has been fed the food item for a while. Now, as many parents are including Lamb in their dog’s diet, manufacturers are using more exotic meat options like duck in their hypoallergenic food.

5. A Dog Only Begs When it is Hungry

One of the most prevalent dog behaviour issues that we are all aware of is begging. While a hungry dog may beg, this does not imply that all begging dogs are hungry. Pet parents must keep a careful eye on their dog’s feeding schedule and quantity to truly understand when their dog is hungry and when they’re simply trying to be adorable to earn a treat!

 

6. High-Protein Diets Cause Kidney Failure

While a strictly meat-based diet is not the best option, there is no scientific evidence linking protein-rich canine diets to renal problems. Giving a high-protein diet to dogs that already have renal failure or illness is not suggested by veterinarians. This is a common dog food myth

Renal sickness is caused by poorly functioning kidneys, which cause urea, a byproduct of protein breakdown, to build up in the blood. Urea levels in the blood can be controlled by reducing dietary protein. However, if you don’t eat any protein, your body will hunt for protein elsewhere (in your muscles), which can lead to various health issues and potentially make matters worse.

Look for dog food selections that are customised to supply your dog with the appropriate balance for his problems, as well as his age, weight, activity level, and breed.

Dogs Are Carnivores

Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat everything! This means they acquire their energy and nourishment from a variety of sources, including grains, vegetables, and even fruit. Apart from protein and its amino acids, which are essential for canine development and growth, dogs also require vitamins, fibre, minerals, beta-carotene, beneficial fats such as Omega-3 oil, and other nutrients that cannot be obtained just in meat.