No more raw for Sophie

[cbrons]

What is the plural of anecdote?......................................... ...... Data.

wrong. collections of anecdotes are case studies... just stories. data is gathered in a precise and methodological fashion.

And please, oh please don't cite wikipedia as a source of information.

Wikipedia would not be appropriate to cite if I were writing a paper and needed references.. however, it is more than sufficient to explain to you very basic forms of valid vs. invalid argumentation

[zentrainer]

Check out anecdotes and data in Wikipedia. I'm sure you'll get my answer. It's a very very old joke (but true) that researchers use.

Wiki is a fun place to look up nonsense but I work in the professional pet world and if I am going to talk about animal nutrition with vets, pet food companies, politicians and such I need to be able to cite legitimate sources, which I do.

Even with my clients, if I put forth an argument for feeding one way or the other or adding a supplement I back it up with a legitimate source.

[cbrons]

I think my original hypothesis about why the animal got sick from eating raw was correct... I have finished both of Dr. Lonsdale's books (Raw Meaty Bones is very good, very well-documented. Scary but it doesn't surprise me - I see a lot of the same silencing of scientific inquiry everyday). Anyway, in his book he discusses the problems associated with switching a pet from artificial kibble to raw and says two of the most common problems are 1.) the floral makeup of the digestive tract is disturbed because the kibble-fed diets have allowed for the proliferation of unnaturally occurring bacteria while inhibiting the growth of beneficial symbiotic bacteria that a "wild" diet provides. My second guess about antibiotics disturbing the floral makeup of the digestive tract is plausible as well - amoxicillin (penicillin) and various fluroquinolone antibiotics, particularly 1st generation ones, have a propensity to destroy beneficial bacteria that help us break down various foodstuffs.

#1 is a common response to feeding any sort of mammal food they aren't used to getting - humans often respond the same way in similar circumstances but the problem is short and eventually goes away assuming you aren't eating something harmful.

[threedognight]

I am so glad that you educated yourself but you are still wrong none the less. Sophie has IBD and has had this reaction to MANY foods that I have tried. She has a different system than healthy animals and thus hers cannot be compared with their reactions.

[gstevens]

Here's an excerpt you might find useful.

Though some pet food manufacturers point to a lack of scientific proof that natural and organic products are indeed healthier or safer, Lummis emphasizes that many natural pet foods and virtually all organic ones contain higher-quality ingredients and are produced in more closely monitored environments. In many cases, this is simply because the companies and production batches are much smaller, he adds.

I can't paste the entire article, but if you want to know more: Organic pet food

[redmare]

I'm responding to raw for sophie. My question is what raw food is she being fed. I've found that many dogs are reacting to raw foods because they are foods that have been pumped up with additives of all kinds. Try making sure the meats and veggies are organic in nature. I haven't been able to see on this discussion what the vet said was the cause of her problem. I will be happy to post what reliable breeders are saying to feed our pets

[threedognight]

Sophie has the early stages of IBD. Her bowels have only been able to handle fish or duck; neither of which I can afford to feed her raw. I am also unwilling to try something new and risk sending her into another month long sickness.

[LoveNewfies]

We work with a dog that has IBD - diagnosed via scope and biopsy. This dog could not eat anything without being on steroids and antibiotics, including the vet prescribed foods.

The owners were very reluctant to feed this dog a raw diet so we created a dehydrated diet for him and he hasn't had an issue since - it's been two years.

It can be a hard thing to get through, but more often than not, IBD can be resolved with a natural diet, it's just a matter of, yes, repopulating the gut with healthy bacteria and providing the right combination for the dog.

Hopefully you will be able to keep her stabilized.

[sarah_1349]

I don't think you should complain to someone giving you advice, especially if you posted on a site where people are trying to help.