Roo Elimination Diet

[Erny]

So I asked about the raw v's cooked and the answer was as I expected, that cooked is easier to digest which is what I want at the moment.

I don't quite agree with that, although I know some do. I have read (lots) and heard (lots) that raw meat - especially at room or stomach temperature is digested easier than cooked meat - in part to do with "proteolytic enzymes" that exists within the meat cells. And then there's the nutritional value that is lost through cooking.

But there's more to it than that - there's amino acids called "peptides" that are released when meat and/or plant protein is eaten and digested. These peptides can greatly effect intestinal function and other things such as rate of digestion. And of course digestion isn't just about the stomach either - it effects/affects the function of all of the other organs. Gall bladder emptying rate; appetite; blood sugar and insulin levels; blood pressure; and something I well know about ….. the immune system. (Hark back to all the allergies we're seeing and hearing for all these years - conditions that are getting more and more prevalent - hmmmm, wonder why? (Rhetorical question.)

An interesting fact I have discovered whilst doing this exercise is that all the raw pet grade kangaroo meat I have looked at is preserved with sulphur dioxide BUT they highlight on some brands that it has added Thiamine.

Be careful of being lulled into thinking that the affects on Thiamine by sulphur dioxide preservative is negated if extra Thiamine is added.

What they don't seem to realise is that sulphur dioxide kills ALL thiamine that it is mixed with!!

Whoops! Just read that you've already realised . Yep - this is a propaganda exercise that reels people in, easily.

Which is why the dermo specialist says to dose the dog with thiamine separately and 4hrs hours before/after feeding the roo meat.

Although preservative free is better :).

Makes you wonder how much else they have got wrong with their product!!

Took me an age to work through what was right for my boy. And it turns out to be a good combo of the most uncomplex of food sources :). Good luck with your dog and his diet. Hope it all works out well :).

[Erny]

Anne, this dog has never had roo before although I have fed some of my other dogs roo BARF and also plain roo meat. The Big Dog Roo BARF doesn't smell but the plain (and I think it must have been pet grade) roo meat was very stinky...but that is going back a while!

BARF doesn't have 'straight' roo, though (to my knowledge). Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's as I remember it when I was trying to source pure, unpreserved, roo for my boy. Most of the foods sold at "pet" level have at least chicken added to it.

Lamb used to be the one that was fed to dogs with food allergies because it never used to be used by dog food manufacturers...but now they use lamb extensively so that protein source is no longer an alternative.

To be quite honest, I think it's more about what the lamb, beef and chickens are fed on that is a major source of the problem we're now seeing in our dogs.

[sas]

I have fed human grade roo raw for a itchy dog, no dramas.

We've also used Horse and Goat meat too as novel proteins.

Edited November 6, 2013 by sas

[Stitch]

Just thought I would give you all an update on my girls progress on the roo elimination diet.

She is doing exceptionally well. No more itchies which had her scratching day and night, and I have developed a routine for cooking the roo stew.

I use the human grade kangaroo mince available from Coles or Woolworth plus I add lots of veges then freeze it in lots, and I have also been able to successfully introduce rice into the mix.

I add thiamine, although because there is no preservative I don't really need to add it, and I also supplement with calcium plus Natural Animal Solutions Digestivite Plus.

Things are definitely looking up for my girl....she is now itch free!!!

[BC Crazy]

Great news Stitch. No more scratching !! :)

[frufru]

Thanks Stitch - I am currently looking for a protein source for elimination diet for my mini poo who has become itchy at 5yrs