Hereditary Diseases

[Sayreovi]

At the moment i am reading "Give your dog a bone" book by Ian Billinghurst.

He has raised some very interesting theories, like the way you feed your dog massively (if not entirely) contributes to a dog getting HD. If you feed your dog on a BARF diet then it will unlikely develop serious 'diseases'

Is this fact or merely speculation?

If it stops dogs getting HD does that mean that it is in fact not genetic related and Hd affected dogs could actually be bred? (Well ethically )

If it is true then why do we health test our dogs if it is merely how you raised them, if that is the way they turned out?

Also if true, why arent majority of breeders feeding this diet?

Its been eating away at me for awhile, hope someone can help

Edited May 19, 2007 by tollersowned

[malsam]

I believe he is referring to dogs that genetically not affected by HD are not made worst by improper diet. Just because u don't inherit cancer genetically, doesn't mean u won't get it throughout your life especially with improper diet.

[bloss344]

Having just got a Golden I've been reading up on Large Breed puppy nutrition and it seems that growing them slowly seems to decrease the risk of OCD, HD. Apparently not all HD is genetic.

I think however it's probably anecdotal to say feeding BARF will prevent serious diseases. If it is fact there will be some references to research to back it up etc.

Some dogs will live long healthy lives eeating Pal, some will eat BARF and get sick. I think it's like people, a lot of people smoke and don't get lung cancer, some people have never had a smoke and get lung cancer.

I've lost two dogs to cancer in the past 3 years. Both were fed good natural diets, didn't have vaccinations after their 1 year booster. It's the luck of the draw. You can only do what you think is best.

[Flames_Daddy]

Hi there Tollersowned.

Personally I have no doubt that BARF will contribute greatly to optimizing a dog's health and longevity. Our Dobe breeder has tons of empirical evidence that I have personally observed, and the theory that dog's do best on the natural food they evolved with in nature is rock solid in my books.

When we rescued Scooter, he was very sick and weak. The vet fixed him up, and then he started on the full BARF diet that Flame has enjoyed and has taken her to Royal Easter Show "Challenge Bitch" status this year. His natural golden colour returned, and his eyes are bright and keen. His behaviour is friendly, focused and energetic. He is enjoying life. As we see in ourselves when we eat right, we see in him the massive restorative benefit of Bones and Raw Food. Nature DOES have the answers.

I'm so grateful to Ella from Fireax for giving us reading material on BARF... we also bought the official book. She insisted we read it before we were deemed worthy of becoming Flame's new family.

[MonElite]

BARF diet that Flame has enjoyed and has taken her to Royal Easter Show "Challenge Bitch" status this year.

Fdiddy

I wonder why Divani didnt get it?, after all she is on BARF as well

BARF or any form of natural feeding IMHO surly contributes to the dogs wellbeing however if you get a sick or genetically prone to some desease dog you can only hope for the best regardless of what diet you feed.

[Toohey]

If it is true then why do we health test our dogs if it is merely how you raised them, if that is the way they turned out?

Also if true, why arent majority of breeders feeding this diet?

It is not merely how they are raised, HD is polygenic, meaning there are several factors at work that may cause it, diet being one of them, early and/or innapropriate exercise another, genes another and "how on earth did this happen" seems to be another . I don't know if it is correct that a BARF diet will prevent or cure HD, but I think it is better to feed a balanced natural diet where possible. I know quite a few cocker breeders and they all feed a natural diet.

[Sayreovi]

Thanks for the answers.

I may have been reading it wrong, but he did seem to lay alot of the problems we have with dogs on its diet.

[Rappie]

Hip dysplasia is multifactorial - while there a dog must have a genetic predisposition to develop HD other factors like nutrition, exercise and environment will play a part.

If a dog doesn't have a predisposition, then everything can be "wrong" and HD will not occur.

If a dog does not have a predisposition then the outcome is quite variable - it may be possible to prevent overt clinical signs of HD with good management, but sometimes despite all good intentions the condition will progress.

I don't think BARF is a wonder cure - but I think I should qualify that before I get flamed

I see lots of dogs (and cats) every day, and as part of my general questioning I do ask what each animal is being fed. It's not so I can promote a certain food, it's because diet plays such a big part in an animal's health and there are often clues in there that relate to a certain clinical situation. The answers are varied, and the "care factor" of the owners is equally varied! By virtue of it's composition, a BARF diet is generally lean - which will certainly have an impact on diseases that are 'affected' by obesity - HD being an obvious one.

I don't gasp in horror if someone tells me that they feed BARF, the majority of people that do feed BARF show that they take a vested, proactive interest in the health of their pet. There are just as many people who feed a commercial food and who have exactly the same level of interest and dogs who are equally healthy. There are just as many people again who would have no idea what brand of dog food they feed their dog, and only notice a problem when it starts to impact on their life (diarrhoea on the carpet etc).

If you feed your dog on a BARF diet then it will unlikely develop serious 'diseases'

What if we edit that statement:

"If you feed your dog a diet that keeps it in optimum health, then it will be less likely to develop some serious diseases that can be influenced by nutrition."

Edited May 20, 2007 by Rappie

[poodlefan]

Rappie:

I don't think BARF is a wonder cure - but I think I should qualify that before I get flamed

No flaming here Rappie. I think there are a variety of diets that dogs do well on. BARF certainly won't stop a dog getting PRA as at least one fanatic raw feeder has claimed in the past.

[Flames_Daddy]

BARF diet that Flame has enjoyed and has taken her to Royal Easter Show "Challenge Bitch" status this year.

Fdiddy

I wonder why Divani didnt get it?, after all she is on BARF as well

Hey Myszka its because Diva is a living legend and like all such entities is not appreciated initially. She is too kool for skool! Trust me one day her time will come when she matures maybe and you put the final touches on your already excellent presentation in the ring. I've seen a bit of what you can do and its brilliant... those judges must be frikkin' blind or jealous...

[Staff'n'Toller]

I have read the book too and whilst I think the basic principles are excellent, it is written in a sensationalist and provocative style- you can get easily absorbed in it.

Mel.

Edited May 20, 2007 by Staff'n'Toller

[Sayreovi]

Has anyone heard of a dog doing badly on a BARF diet?

Or does it agree with majority of them when done right?

Personally i thought it wasnt right, and then i got thinking of how many problems dogs have that are nutrition related and here i am

Thanks for all the answers though

[poodlefan]

Has anyone heard of a dog doing badly on a BARF diet?

Or does it agree with majority of them when done right?

Personally i thought it wasnt right, and then i got thinking of how many problems dogs have that are nutrition related and here i am

Thanks for all the answers though

Yes, I have heard of dogs doing badly on BARF. The two causes identified were either food allergies or an unbalanced (usually poorly researched or prepared) diet.

I've also heard of other stories about dogs doing badly but when more information was obtained, the diet was NOT actually a BARF one.

The worst of these involve pups raised on a half baked version (usually mince and some veggies) and not getting appropriate nutrients.

[Sayreovi]

Thanks PF

[espinay2]

No, A raw diet will not solve all your problems.

I have a bitch with VERY severe HD. She was fed a raw diet from 4 months of age. She did not, however, come from HD tested stock. At 8 years of age with pain management and continuing raw diet she is still very mobile and I do beleive her diet has helped her immensely.

A wide range of things contribute to HD and you can't IMO emphasise one over the other. You have to look at the genetics, you have to look at the exercise and you have to look at the diet. Certainly I believe that diet can help improve things (sometimes a lot) even in an animal that is genetically predisposed, but it is not the only factor, and it can't work miracles.

[cowanbree]

I have told this one before but I think it is worth telling again. I have a friend who has bred GSD for 30plus years. She read give a dog a bone and was totally converted so converted her kennel to BARF. She had a litter, the bitch was BARF fed and so were the puppies, it was done properly exactly as per the book and she had to pts the majority of the litter with elbow and hip issues prior to 12mths, in fact 2 were at 3mths.

Because she is a glutton for punishment and a lot stronger than me she repeated the exact mating but this time she fed them the way she has for 30 plus years, about 60% dry and the rest meat and bones. Everything else was done exactly the same way she had for the prior litter and she got excellent hips and elbows

I am not saying BARF caused the bone issues but you do have to wonder

[Sheridan]

Has anyone heard of a dog doing badly on a BARF diet?

Or does it agree with majority of them when done right?

Personally i thought it wasnt right, and then i got thinking of how many problems dogs have that are nutrition related and here i am

Thanks for all the answers though ;)

My previous dog was on a mostly BARF diet but died at age five of a kidney disease. Perhaps the kibble killed him.

[poodlefan]

Has anyone heard of a dog doing badly on a BARF diet?

Or does it agree with majority of them when done right?

Personally i thought it wasnt right, and then i got thinking of how many problems dogs have that are nutrition related and here i am

Thanks for all the answers though ;)

My previous dog was on a mostly BARF diet but died at age five of a kidney disease. Perhaps the kibble killed him.

What was your vet's opinion?

[Sheridan]

Has anyone heard of a dog doing badly on a BARF diet?

Or does it agree with majority of them when done right?

Personally i thought it wasnt right, and then i got thinking of how many problems dogs have that are nutrition related and here i am :D

Thanks for all the answers though

My previous dog was on a mostly BARF diet but died at age five of a kidney disease. Perhaps the kibble killed him.

What was your vet's opinion?

The US specialist thinks it's genetic. The advice given is that unless the dog has a food intolerance there is no need to put it on any type of hypoallergenic diet.

[poodlefan]

Sheridan:

The US specialist thinks it's genetic. The advice given is that unless the dog has a food intolerance there is no need to put it on any type of hypoallergenic diet.

Heart breaking for you. :D What breed was he? Are you a Soft Coated Wheaten person or is my memory completely crap??