When Mason got pancreatitis, Dr. Potosky and I had quite a long talk about dog food and the merits of different kinds. I was accustomed to feeding Mason half fresh, low fat ground beef and half dog food in the morning and half chicken, half dog food in the evening. I was feeding him Hill’s Science Diet’s Chicken Meal and Rice Recipe dog food, and his favorite, Hill’s Science Diet’s Liver Meal and Rice Recipe. I had bought some of the Blue Buffalo Fish and Brown Rice Recipe, which Mason loved at his cousins’ (my sister’s dogs’) house, but was less enthusiastic when I bought him some. (Isn’t that exactly the way children are?).
The Vet’s Recommendations
She recommended I drop the ground beef from his diet but keep the chicken, and she said that Hill’s Science Diet is a good dog food to give my little Mason, and that she also likes Royal Canin, Iams, and Purina, as well as Blue Buffalo and some of the other more expensive dog foods. I was surprised, because all of the news about all natural dog food with a list of ingredients like what I might order for myself at a restaurant had me thinking I should get some of those kinds of dog foods for my little guy and just throw out his science diet.
But Dr. Potosky actually said that some of those new people-type dog foods can be very rich, and that she has had dog patients that can’t eat them, although most can. She further went on to say that we need to remember that what is good for people is not always what is good for dogs. We need to consider our dog specifically and what it is that he needs. Some dogs can eat most of the same things you eat, maybe, but most cannot. Most dog foods, expensive or inexpensive, whether containing whole meat or meat meal, simple or unusual vegetables, can be eaten by most dogs.
I was asking about dog foods because I have heard some commercials that make it sound like dogs need the more expensive dog food with gourmet ingredients and without “meat by-products,” implying that the by-products are inferior for dogs. I want to buy what’s best for my dog, not spend a lot of money on whatever current fad is being promoted, and I was glad to find that I am feeding Mason a healthy dog food.
I also know that in the wild, when dogs eat as they prefer, they go first for those “by-products,” the parts of an animal we humans would not eat. That’s what they like the most. I know this is true. In fact, I know that one of the reasons dogs like those types of organ meats is that they are more intense. Since dogs don’t have a great sense of taste, they rely more on their sense of smell, even when they’re eating. This is why they are attracted to “stinky” smells, like dirty socks and all kinds of disgusting things they run across when you have them outside for a long walk. Dogs are attracted to intense odors, and therefore they will joyously eat things we couldn’t even imagine.
In Summary
There, I’ve probably ruined your appetite for dinner, but remember, your tastes and your dog’s tastes aren’t always the same, and a rich diet for you is going to be a big no-no for your dog long term. Give her simple meals that are healthy for dogs! Remember that you can give her bits of carrot, apple, broccoli, and other “human” foods, preferably cooked, but don’t load them with sauces, and make sure you give them in small amounts.
More Resources
Check out these articles: http://www.littlethings.com/can-dogs-eat-apples/, and http://www.littlethings.com/can-dogs-eat-carrots/.