Overnutrition

rmci · 08-15-2006, 08:54 AM

I've been reading all the posts on the forum regarding buying the best dog foods. One post mentioned that the dog food he fed met the standards of AAFCO, even though it was a brand that most on the forum wouldn't recommend.
So I checked out what I could find regarding the AAFCO standards and read that the main concern as to why the AAFCO standards are in place is overnutrition, not undernutrition as most seem to think. http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=662
This reminded me about all of the "antibacterial" products everyone now uses in their homes. There's been studies showing that our immune systems aren't as good as they used to be because of the use of these products. Some bacteria is needed to "balance" our systems.

By trying to give our dogs the best food are we inadvertantly hurting them?

sammy · 08-15-2006, 09:19 AM

I tried to read the article but it didn't work.

rmci · 08-15-2006, 09:28 AM

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=662

bigdoglover · 08-15-2006, 12:02 PM

I don't know that we are really harming our dogs by "over nutrition".....now, this is just my opinion, but I compare it to taking vitamins. Our bodies expel what we don't need (excess) as waste. I would think that the same applies to dogs, but I'm not a vet.

rmci · 08-15-2006, 12:13 PM

Ah, but taking vitamins can cause problems. Our bodies expel most excess as waste but stores others. Water soluble vitamins are excreted, but fat soluble vitamins are stored in your tissues. Eating a diet rich in vitamin A or taking supplements with high Vitamin A could lead to an overdose; which will make you seriously ill.

bigdoglover · 08-15-2006, 12:17 PM

Now that is something I did NOT know! Thanx for the insight!

calgal · 08-15-2006, 12:23 PM

I'm not one for trusting AAFCO. The reason is: http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html

People are healthier today than they have EVER been in the past. People are living longer today than EVER before. Killing a few germs is not going to compromise our health. Fact is we need to keep our homes as clean as possible because our planet is more polluted than ever. Things kind of balance out don't you think!

rmci · 08-15-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Calgal: People are healthier today than they have EVER been in the past. People are living longer today than EVER before. Killing a few germs is not going to compromise our health. Fact is we need to keep our homes as clean as possible because our planet is more polluted than ever. Things kind of balance out don't you think!

Yes, I agree. Our planet is more polluted than ever. The bacteria that survives the antibacterial cleansers adapts and creates a resistant strain. Cleansers will need to get stronger & stronger to keep up.

Also, researchers believe that the overuse of antibacterial soaps, shampoos, and cleaners has caused a rise in stomach issues, allergies, asthma, and some types of diabetes. This is due to not being exposed to enough bacteria so are bodies overreact to allergens such as pollen & dust.

rmci · 08-15-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgal

I'm not one for trusting AAFCO. The reason is: http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html

People are healthier today than they have EVER been in the past. People are living longer today than EVER before. Killing a few germs is not going to compromise our health. Fact is we need to keep our homes as clean as possible because our planet is more polluted than ever. Things kind of balance out don't you think!

Thank you for the link. Interesting. The article you posted states that AAFCO is the

Quote:

"who's who" from the pet food industry.

Now how do they know that? If you look at AAFCO's directory http://www.aafco.org/NameSearch/tabi...spx#BennyHitch They all look like State employees to me. I guess I'd have to track everyone's records to be sure.

Also, the article states that dogs don't need Vitamin C, that's it's only added to dog food for shelf life. But I've read that Vets give Vitamin C for canine hip dysplasia and arthritis. Unfortunately, the side effect is that ordinary (human) vitamin C may cause dogs gastrointestinal upsets, but dr's are looking into a "doggie" vitamin C to correct this.

rmci · 08-15-2006, 01:18 PM

The amounts of vitamin C aren't listed.

calgal · 08-15-2006, 02:38 PM

We have been sucsessfully killing the same typs of bacteria causing germs for a hundred years and have not read anywhere that there is a new strain. The secret is NOT using stronger solutions, but just different. Just like plain white vinegar works to kill bacteria just as Chlorine bleach.

elegy · 08-15-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgal

We have been sucsessfully killing the same typs of bacteria causing germs for a hundred years and have not read anywhere that there is a new strain.

germs (both bacteria and viruses) mutate regularly. antibiotics that used to kill off certain bacteria no longer does because the bacteria have changed to become resistant.

we are, unfortunately, not successfully killing certain bacteria anymore.

Antibiotic resistance spreads fast. Between 1979 and 1987, for example, only 0.02 percent of pneumococcus strains infecting a large number of patients surveyed by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were penicillin-resistant. CDC's survey included 13 hospitals in 12 states. Today, 6.6 percent of pneumococcus strains are resistant, according to a report in the June 15, 1994, Journal of the American Medical Association by Robert F. Breiman, M.D., and colleagues at CDC. The agency also reports that in 1992, 13,300 hospital patients died of bacterial infections that were resistant to antibiotic treatment.

from here

(i actually have a bizarre interest in plagues and stuff, so i know a fair bit about this kind of thing. it's really scary.)

but all of that is rather off-topic. yes, you can overdose on certain vitamins and minerals, and i certainly think it's something to be aware of, but i don't think it's generally a huge concern in today's pet foods.

rmci · 08-15-2006, 04:10 PM

Elegy- you're right, we have wandered a little off topic.

Has anyone thought about their dogs getting overnutritioned?

calgal · 08-15-2006, 04:13 PM

Ever wonder why when we get a cure or a wonderfully successful product, it's always squelched? It's all about keeping us sick to make money isn't it?

http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/in...e/plague3.html

rmci · 08-15-2006, 04:43 PM

Overnutrition during puppyhood is believed to cause joint problems later in life.

Calgal- That's a very interesting article about phagues.

08-15-2006, 08:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	Overnutrition I've been reading all the posts on the forum regarding buying the best dog foods. One post mentioned that the dog food he fed met the standards of AAFCO, even though it was a brand that most on the forum wouldn't recommend. So I checked out what I could find regarding the AAFCO standards and read that the main concern as to why the AAFCO standards are in place is overnutrition, not undernutrition as most seem to think. http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=662 This reminded me about all of the "antibacterial" products everyone now uses in their homes. There's been studies showing that our immune systems aren't as good as they used to be because of the use of these products. Some bacteria is needed to "balance" our systems. By trying to give our dogs the best food are we inadvertantly hurting them?
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue Last edited by rmci : 08-15-2006 at 09:28 AM.

08-15-2006, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=662
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue

08-15-2006, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigdoglover Giant Schnauzers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West-Central Illinois Posts: 3,624 Rep Power: 173	I don't know that we are really harming our dogs by "over nutrition".....now, this is just my opinion, but I compare it to taking vitamins. Our bodies expel what we don't need (excess) as waste. I would think that the same applies to dogs, but I'm not a vet.
	__________________ Glory and Greed will destroy the breed.

08-15-2006, 12:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	Ah, but taking vitamins can cause problems. Our bodies expel most excess as waste but stores others. Water soluble vitamins are excreted, but fat soluble vitamins are stored in your tissues. Eating a diet rich in vitamin A or taking supplements with high Vitamin A could lead to an overdose; which will make you seriously ill.
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue

08-15-2006, 12:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
bigdoglover Giant Schnauzers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West-Central Illinois Posts: 3,624 Rep Power: 173	Now that is something I did NOT know! Thanx for the insight!
	__________________ Glory and Greed will destroy the breed.

08-15-2006, 09:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
sammy herding dog lover Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: western canada Posts: 1,089 Rep Power: 109	I tried to read the article but it didn't work.

08-15-2006, 12:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,609 Rep Power: 222	I'm not one for trusting AAFCO. The reason is: http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html People are healthier today than they have EVER been in the past. People are living longer today than EVER before. Killing a few germs is not going to compromise our health. Fact is we need to keep our homes as clean as possible because our planet is more polluted than ever. Things kind of balance out don't you think!

08-15-2006, 01:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	The amounts of vitamin C aren't listed.
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue

08-15-2006, 02:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,609 Rep Power: 222	We have been sucsessfully killing the same typs of bacteria causing germs for a hundred years and have not read anywhere that there is a new strain. The secret is NOT using stronger solutions, but just different. Just like plain white vinegar works to kill bacteria just as Chlorine bleach.

08-15-2006, 04:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	Elegy- you're right, we have wandered a little off topic. Has anyone thought about their dogs getting overnutritioned?
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue

08-15-2006, 04:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,609 Rep Power: 222	Ever wonder why when we get a cure or a wonderfully successful product, it's always squelched? It's all about keeping us sick to make money isn't it? http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/in...e/plague3.html

08-15-2006, 04:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 84	Overnutrition during puppyhood is believed to cause joint problems later in life. Calgal- That's a very interesting article about phagues.
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue Last edited by rmci : 08-15-2006 at 04:51 PM.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)