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Old April 5th, 2012, 05:14 PM
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mhikl mhikl is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 70
Science on Fat for BARF; Where art thou?

I am interested in finding out the science behind the low fat BARF recommended diet for dogs.

For some time now I have been trying to find out what the ratio of fat to protein, I, a human being, should be eating. I do my research and have found it a difficult topic to find true learned advice and not just people’s bias opinions, often heart felt but still, not proven rocket science. However I am finding some interesting data that is challenging my old thoughts. This really is about dogs, my concerns over my ageing Corgi, Sadie, but so little science is to be found I have been searching out studies on fat intake in humans in a hunt for similarities between carnivores with omnivore skills. It is Canines and Humans who are the carnivores with omnivore skills with whom I am most familiar.

In important matters such as nutrition, I am not interested in what people feel is correct; I am not interested in one thought on any subject that comes to the mind of a vegetarian; most profoundly, I am not interested in what large consumer and governmental agencies think is correct; may I add, what obese smoking professional dieticians think makes the dark ages look luminescent. That thought goes assuredly to skinny dieticians. NB Within their profession there are many honourable and knowledgeable dieticians but their knowledge is what is become the folklore of our times, witnessed on the nightly news. (Remember when Cholesterol was suddenly “discovered”not to be all bad? Bazinga! And the back tracking was indeed a fatty feast for the ears and eyes. The straight faces where a sight to behold.)

I just know I feel better when I eat a high fat, very moderate protein diet with very few carbohydrates which, when eaten, is usually celery (lots- lightly steamed or fresh raw juice), and less of boc choy or broccoli, red bell peppers, cilantro, parsley, garlic. Occasional blue berries and raspberries cross my crevice that accepts food. A small handful of almonds and pumpkin seed, a little psyllium (which I really don’t need on this diet way). That is it. I can’t eat dairy at all. I used to use heavy cream in my coffee but then I found my weight stabilises when I don’t use it and my eczema clears up. I do use eggs occasionally and oodles of butter and ghee. I render my own lard by simmering it in water. I do use flax oil. This all sounds so boring, but I like it. Food no longer is my raison d'être. (Neither are cigarettes ever since I discovered the miracle of vaping.

But back to the real topic:My dog has been a BARFER for a year and three months. (Bones And Raw Food; Biologically Approved Raw Foods) But the dog forums suggest low fat BARF so an animal’s liver is not put in stress. But is this based on fact and science? or on bias and ignorance*, or due to the faulty belief that fat is evil. Once a Thinker was thought to be an inspired person. No more, it seems. * lack of knowing, not the rude definition.

I am starting this thread because I want to question the idea that a low fat, high protein and bone diet is the best BARF diet for dogs. I want to know what and where the facts are, not the opinions or the rumours but the actual science behind the idea that a higher fat diet is bad for dogs. And forget the story of old Bowser, fifteen going on a hundred, keeling when he attacked a fat laden sausage. If it is true that fat is bad for healthy dogs, then we need the verifiable scientific data.

We all know how the news treats fats for humans. We read that vets and their schools are subsidised by the pet food industry. We hear tell that doctors get very little time on nutrition at Medical school (like single digit hours)! We know how commercialism and the dreams of big business rules so much of what we see in all media.

I want the science. My dog is too old for me to experiment on. If she were a pup, I could experiment with different percentages of bone, meat and fat. I could check her poop, check the ph level, colour odour, (yes, taste) of her pee, the quantity and how often she drinks water, log her demeanour and energy level. I could have her blood examined. But at 11 years three months, I daren’t take a chance. It may be that fat is bad. It may be that limited fat is good. In these times of political correctness, can the truth stand tall and strong?

I know that on a low protein, minuscule carb and high fat diet I feel good: my damaged hip does not hurt, I get no teeth pains from cold drinks, I can see more sharply, I don’t have headaches, I need less sleep and I have more energy and desire to do the things I like to do. I follow a carnivore diet of around 70-80% fat, 15-25% protein and about 5% carbohydrates. There is more information coming out on the carnivore way of eating but nothing science based that I can find on fat ratios for a dog’s diet. I understand that animals in the wild prize brains and organs, most of which are high in fat. Where is the science in the nutrition that favours dog’s health with lower fat consumption, then? And if animals in the wild desire it so much, why do many dogs gobble the fatty stuff down first.

So much has been written on this site on most topics but this question of fat I have not seen properly addressed save the regurgitation by naysayers of personal beliefs and opinions based upon biases or their vets. Would there be members with science on their sides to address this question!
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Last edited by mhikl; April 5th, 2012 at 05:27 PM. Reason: usage & spelling error correction
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