Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Are some genetic problems caused by food?

Much has been said in the media and elsewhere about how over breeding has caused all sorts of genetic health conditions in dogs. While this is true, it masks something equally disturbing. The majority of dog owners in the developed world have been feeding their dogs processed food for decades. Processed food has two potential drawbacks. Firstly, it can be seriously deficient in the ingredients dogs need to maintain good health. Secondly, it can contain ingredients that actually damage a dog’s health. When experts describe a health issue as being ‘genetic’ they may be overlooking something more obvious: the effect of feeding processed food to generation upon generation of dogs. A good example of this is skeletal disease. Almost unheard of before processed food, bone disease is now widespread in the west. For dogs to have healthy bones they need the calcium and other vital bone-building nutrients that are only found in raw bones. Each generation that doesn’t receive these vital bone-building nutrients is weaker than the last. Modern solutions to bone disease – involving various treatments as well as culling and selective breeding - are never going to solve the problem. What has to happen is a re-building of healthy ‘stock’ by means of the correct diet.

Well, that's what I think.

No comments:

Post a Comment