What to feed? This dog doesn't care.
photo courtesy of Quasic @flickr.com

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Who Paid for that Study?

Realize when it comes to research conducted on dog food, no single researcher outside of the dog food industry has the time, money or inclination to run a multi-year study simply to find out if Brand Z extends your dog’s life or promotes better health than Brand Y. Any positive scientific claim you read that defends Brand Z was paid for by Brand Z, or its parent company, whether that research was conducted in Brand Z’s own labs or at Ivy League universities. No one ever says “Our product is bad, and the research proves it.” On the other hand, bad products generally do not reach the market shelves. Dog food companies do want to get it right because their livelihood depends upon it. Bad products, such as the Melamine-tainted dog foods that came from Chinese manufacturing plants in 2007, are isolated accidents.

Peer Support and Popular Opinion

The title of this article, “Dog BARF,” refers to a diet that is the polar opposite of processed dog food. Almost all of the articles on the BARF diet, and there are hundreds, if not thousands of them, make fun of the name. The name is an acronym which stands for biologically appropriate raw food; or, bones and raw food. The second name aptly describes the diet. Dogs on this diet receive uncooked bones along with raw meat, grains, and vegetables.

You can read ad nauseum about BARF, including the beneficial claims, the claimed disadvantages, and the risks associated with the diet. Everyone chimes in, from breeders, to veterinarians, to dog owners. The most unique aspect of the BARF diet is there is no scientifically conducted research to back up any of the opinions. You can probably guess the reason why when I tell you the BARF diet was invented by an independent veterinarian, not supported by any major dog food company. The vet does not have the money or time to do a controlled multi-year experiment. None of the diet’s thousands of proponents have laid out the cold hard cash to run studies. All that leaves us with is opinions, which range from:

• Raw food is the single best, most natural thing you can feed your dog, to
• Raw food carries the risk of poisoning from Salmonella and Campylobacter, to
• It’s expensive, to
• My dog is worth the expense,

and on and on and on.

As you would expect, the website that most strongly supports this diet, and the one that turns up in the number one ranked position in a Google search on the BARF diet is . . . wait for it . . . from the guy who invented the diet!

What about peer support and popular opinion for the BARF diet? The recurring theme I have found in reading articles and forum comments in support of the diet is based on circular reasoning: I believe something, therefore it’s true, therefore I believe it:

“My dog is thriving on the BARF diet, therefore it is superior to traditional dog food, therefore my dog can only thrive on the BARF diet.”

Then there are people who have tried traditional dog food with one dog, and the BARF diet with another dog. The dog on BARF, take your pick: lived longer, had whiter teeth, less intestinal gas, healthier joints, more energy, etc. Therefore, the BARF diet is better, never mind the uncontrolled differences between dogs, including genetics; exposure to environmental stresses; supplementing with table scraps; contracting diseases; differing levels of exercise, etc.

Your Veterinarian’s Opinion

Your vet is a great resource when it comes to dog nutrition and health. Even so, you would do well to take your vet’s advice not as the gospel, but as one credible source. I say this because even your vet is not free from bias. Most of the information he has at his disposal is based upon reading research conducted or funded by, guess who? Dog food companies. Additionally, if your vet carries a specific brand of dog food for sale in his office, you can bet dollars to doughnuts, (or dog treats,) he is going to recommend the brand he carries. This is not to say you should automatically discount the vet’s brand simply because he has a profit motive. Likely he carries that brand because it is good. Your vet not only wants to make a buck by selling food from his stock, he also has his good reputation to maintain. Just realize the choice he recommends is only a choice, it isn’t your one and only option.

What’s Not Important

Here is the dog’s honest truth about dog food. Almost all of the brands and varieties available today will sustain your dog. Try to ignore attention grabbing devices such as multi-colored, multi-shaped dog food pieces. Try to ignore photos and ads that pass off dog food as human food. You know the kind—moist, tender tidbits of rich beefy chunks floating in velvety gravy. Years ago fishing lure companies realized they could increase sales if they designed their lures to catch people first, then to catch fish. Many dog food companies use the same approach with brightly colored food that resembles children’s breakfast cereal. Your dog is red-green color blind and his ability to distinguish blues and yellows is not good. The color of dog food is irrelevant to your dog. Your dog also couldn’t care less about gravy, or the shape and size of his tucker. About the only thing he cares about is, well, food; and the stinkier, more humanly unappetizing, the better.

Try to ignore the research hype surrounding dog foods. When someone makes a claim about a particular food’s superiority, ask yourself, “Who paid for that study?” If a group of people claim a particular diet or food is the one and only solution for all dogs, remember the trap of circular reasoning. All you need to do is look around to find dogs that thrive on a variety of diets.

What’s Important

Read the nutritional breakdown of various dog foods. Look for a food that derives protein and fats from high-quality, wholesome sources. Look for a food that is not loaded with cereal fillers, though expect to see some grain used as a source of dietary fiber. Note the inclusion of minerals and other nutrients that make a dog food well-balanced. Your veterinarian will be able to guide you. Realize that dog food is one area where a high price does not necessarily indicate a better product. Some dog foods are marked up not because they are superior, but because the manufacturer is either trying to market to a wealthy demographic, or because the manufacturer is trying to cover the high cost of a limited production, boutique product. As long as a dog food meets your and your vet’s criteria, buy what you can afford. Don’t over-extend your budget on the false notion that more is more.

Finally, look at how your dog fares on a diet. That is your best indicator. If you and your vet agree his digestion, energy level, and general health are satisfactory on a particular dog food, and he actually eats the stuff, you’ve hit the mark.

*The opinions expressed in this article are my own and not necessarily those of the provider of the attached photo.