Diets that rely primarily on ingredients that you could pick
up at the grocery store (e.g., chicken, carrots, brown rice, etc.) should
provide pets with more of the benefits of whole foods.
Keep in mind, however, that some vitamins, minerals, and
other supplements will always need to be added to dog food to ensure that it is
nutritionally complete and balanced. Look for an AAFCO (Association of American
Feed Control Officials) statement on the label that says something along the
lines of 'Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand A
adult dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of
adult dogs' to ensure that the food you pick does meet all of your dog's needs.
Don't get me wrong, nutritional supplements can do a lot of
good; particularly when scientific evidence is available that supports their
use for the treatment of particular conditions. For example, a 2007 study
evaluated 16 clinical trials that investigated the effectiveness of a variety
of joint supplements. It found evidence in support of the following for the
treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs:
Green lipped mussels
A combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine
hydrochloride, and manganese ascorbate
Omega 3 fatty acids
Polysulfated glycosaminoglycans
Avocado/Soybean unsaponifiables (ASU)
P54FP (an extract of turmeric)
Injectable pentosan polysulphate
But even here, the whole food movement may have something to
contribute. The first item on this list, green lipped mussels, is a whole food.
In fact, green lipped mussels contain several of the other compounds mentioned
above including chondroitin sulfate, omega 3 fatty acids, and manganese, as
well as glutamine (an amino acid), minerals (zinc and copper), and vitamins E
and C that may all combine to help dogs with osteoarthritis.
The dog food and supplement industry has taken note. Green
lipped mussels are being included in some commercially prepared foods that are
formulated to help dogs with osteoarthritis, often in combination with other
ingredients, like glucosamine, that have been proven effective. Supplements
containing green lipped mussel powder or extract are also widely available.
See? It's not that hard to provide your dog with the
benefits of whole foods. Of course tossing him or her the occasional raw carrot
or apple slice doesn't hurt either.
