Providing the correct balance of essential nutrients is key to a dog's long and healthy life. Big-name dog food manufacturers spend millions of dollars annually in marketing to attract consumers. Most veterinarians advocate for commercially prepared diets because they were trained to do that. However, the effect of conventional diets on a dog's health is not included in their education.

 As a dog parent, you must educate yourself on all aspects of nutrition. There are different foods that most dogs better absorb, but it is fair to say that there is no one food that is best for all dogs. You must monitor your dog's weight and body condition to determine if the right amount of food is being provided. By examining your dog's poop or size, color, consistency, and shape, you can decide if the diet meets its needs. You need to relay this information to the veterinarian during your dog's annual visit for bloodwork and a comprehensive exam.

The most common reasons for non-wellness veterinary visits are skin problems, gastrointestinal tract diseases, obesity, cancer, periodontal disease, pancreatitis, and diabetes. The one thing that all of these disorders have in common is that they are linked to nutrition. 

A nutrient imbalance often causes skin problems. Protein, essential fatty acids (EFA), including Omega-3, zinc, copper, vitamin A, and Vitamin E, highly impact the condition of a dog's coat and skin. Chronic skin disorders and ear infections can occur if a dog is experiencing a deficiency in one or more of these nutrients.

The quality of your dog's protein is as essential as the quantity. Protein from a grass-fed organically raised cow will have higher levels of trace minerals and essential amino acids required to develop new hair and skin cells. However, despite the source of the protein, when processed and extruded during the process of manufacturing kibble, there will be very little difference in quality. Protein degradation means that essential amino acids are destroyed, so many kibble brands require amino acid supplementation, especially taurine supplements. 

The essential fatty acids are vital to developing the lipid (fat) portion of the epidermis, allowing skin elasticity and its ability to adapt to environmental conditions. The epidermis is the outer layer of skin, an essential barrier that prevents water loss and other nutrients from the skin. If your dog is deficient in EFAs, he can develop scaly and flakey skin, matted fur, hair loss, and a dry, dull coat.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that cannot be stored in the body, so you ensure that your dog receives the appropriate daily dose. Without enough zinc in its diet, your dog can experience crusty skin lesions, hair loss, flaky skin on paw pads (hyperkeratosis), and itchy red skin (pruritus) throughout the body and ears, causing ear infections.

Copper is another essential trace element that is a component of storing and transporting proteins and enzymes. Achromotrichia, or the loss of normal hair coloration, is the classic clinical sign of copper deficiency, especially on the head and face. Due to a copper deficiency, your dog can also lose hair and a dull or rough coat.

The primary function of vitamin A is to promote the growth, differentiation, and maintenance of epithelial tissue. Scaly and flaky skin, especially along the ear margins and around the chin, are clinical signs of a vitamin A deficiency. Thickening of the outer skin layer and keratinization around the nose and on the paws are also caused by a lack of vitamin A. 

Vitamin E plays a significant role in maintaining healthy skin due to its antioxidant properties. Your dog's skin is bombarded with air pollutants, UV radiation, external parasites such as fleas and ticks, and other potentially pathogenic microbes, all of which are oxidative.

Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders and Diseases

Numerous gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases are related to your dog's nutrition. The gut microbiome is so important to your dog's overall health that it is often called the "forgotten organ"! 

The gut microbiome, a highly complex community of bacteria, viruses, and fungi,  constantly evolves over your dog's lifetime. Colonization of the microbiome occurs at birth, but it is a dynamic, complex, and adaptable community of organisms that change over the lifespan of your dog in response to your dog's age, genetics, and environmental factors, including nutrition. 

Dietary changes significantly impact the composition of the gut microbiome, affecting how the gut microbiome metabolizes protein, carbohydrates, and fat. The microbiota composition reflects the ratio of macronutrients provided in the diet based on the body's needs for properly digesting the nutrients. 

Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance in the gut microbes, directly affecting a dog's immune system. Dysbiosis is associated with many disorders in dogs, including obesity, metabolic diseases, cancer, GI tract disorders, and neurological disorders.

Chronic vomiting and diarrhea caused by dysbiosis can lead to malnutrition and malabsorption. 

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

The overgrowth of harmful bacteria within the small intestine is often a result of excessive vomiting and diarrhea. Dysbiosis is a contributing factor to SIBO.

When the gut microbiome is not healthy, the mucous membrane layer shrinks, causing large cracks or holes in the gut lining to form. Partially digested food, toxins, yeast, allergens, or pathogens can pass through the mucosal wall and penetrate the tissues beneath it, resulting in an immune response that triggers inflammation throughout the entire body. 

The consequences of LGS include food allergies or intolerances due to undigested food particles crossing the intestinal wall. Skin allergies can also result from allergens escaping the intestinal barrier.

GDV is a life-threatening condition caused by an accumulation of gas in the stomach, which causes the stomach to dilate (dilatation). The distended stomach then rotates, causing a twist (volvulus) closing in both ends of the stomach, trapping fluids, food, and gas inside. 

Dogs fed kibble only are thought to be at a greater risk for GDV. Studies revealed that citric acid, used as a preservative in kibble and canned dog food, promotes the creation of excess gas in the stomach.

As a facultative carnivore, the transit time of food entering the mouth and exiting the intestinal tract is relatively short. However, if a dog is fed too much indigestible fiber, the transit time is increased by up to 900%! Although indigestible fibers can provide intestinal health benefits such as reducing inflammations and cleansing the mucosal walls, if too much is fed, your dog's gut bacteria have too much time to digest soluble fiber in the diet. As the soluble fibers are digested, there is an increase in gas production within the large intestine. As too much gas is produced and accumulated in the intestinal tract, it must be released either as flatulence or by traveling back up the intestinal tract into the stomach.

Despite the widespread belief that the air accumulation in the dog’s stomach with GDV is caused by a dog ingesting air while eating too quickly, the real cause is that the gas produced in the intestines moves up into the stomach, causing the enlargement.

A study reported in 2021 involving 7,015 dogs demonstrated that when puppies ate a non-processed meat-based diet during the early and late neonatal periods, they were less likely to develop IBD as adult dogs than puppies ate an ultra-processed carbohydrate-based diet during the same periods.

The poor quality of many commercial dog food products has led to the growing problem of obesity in dogs. 

Kibble contains large quantities of carbohydrates, mainly starch and sugar. Dogs do not require carbohydrates, but for dry food to be processed, there must be a minimum of 40% starch for the extrusion process. These excess carbs are stored in the body as fat.

Once you realize that 40-50% of the kibble comprises unnecessary carbohydrates, it is not a mystery why dogs are becoming obese. Corn, potatoes, rice, peas, grains, and soy are the primary ingredients in kibble. They are calorie-dense but offer little to no nutrition. To meet the vitamin and mineral requirements for dogs fed kibble, they must consume too many calories. 

One in three dogs is diagnosed with cancer during their lifespan, with 50% dying from cancer if diagnosed at ten years or older! Although there are several theories about the cause of cancer, the one thing in common is that DNA is mutated in the cells that become cancerous. DNA mutations can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a combination.

Although there is very little published research on the extent of the link between kibble to cancer in your dog, there are many indications that the link exists. Kibble provides a high carbohydrate, high free radicals, and low antioxidant diet that requires a higher metabolism level to digest and utilize the nutrients. Metabolic stress can result from your dog's body working so hard, which leads to chronic inflammation. Cancer is considered a chronic inflammatory disease.

The high temperatures that are used in the manufacturing of kibble create free radicals that release carcinogenic chemicals. Heterocyclic amines  (HCAs) and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals created by cooking muscle meat at high temperatures. When starchy foods are heavily processed, acrylamides are created. All of these chemicals are mutagens, meaning that they can change the structure of DNA. As stated above, cancer cells are cells that have mutated DNA.

There are also potential carcinogens in kibble. Dog food is tainted with the pesticide glyphosate used on corn and soy crops. Mycotoxins, naturally produced by fungi that infect grains, have also been found in kibble. The most common mycotoxin is aflatoxin, one of the leading causes of pet food recalls. Both of these compounds are classified as carcinogens.

Oral health in dogs fed kibble only is compromised. Unlike most mammals, dogs do not have the enzyme amylase in their saliva. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates as part of the digestion process, which begins in the mouth of other mammals. The pancreas produces amylase in dogs, so the digestion of the 40-50% carbohydrates in kibble does not begin until the food reaches the small intestine. 

What does that have to do with oral health for your dog? When your dog chews his food, he creates a bolus of food particles mixed with saliva that sticks to his gums and teeth. There is no amylase in the saliva to break down the carbs, letting them remain intact to create tartar on his teeth and gums. However, your dog's teeth are given natural tooth brushing and flossing with a raw diet that includes raw meaty bones, fur, and feathers.

Poor nutrition affects the dog's immune system. Dogs with frequent and chronic infections likely have an imbalanced gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is responsible for 70-90% of the body's immune system. A healthy gut microbiome can control inflammation, produce antibodies to fight infections, and prevent allergens from leaking into the bloodstream. 

Adding prebiotics and probiotics to your dog's bowl will aid in balancing the gut microbiome and thus enhance his immune system. 

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas due to the premature activation of the digestive enzymes released by the pancreas. Diets high in fat and low in protein can lead to pancreatitis. Trash can raiding can cause acute pancreatitis if your dog ingests too much fat (bacon grease is a common culprit) or too much sugar. 

Chronic pancreatitis occurs from long-term ingestion of high-fat or high-carbohydrate and sugary foods. Also, ultra-processed diets have been found to pose an increased risk of pancreatitis in dogs. Conventional dry dog food is an ultra-processed food comprised of 40-50% carbohydrates, despite dogs not needing carbs in their diet. Some dogs cannot tolerate this high level of carbs.

There are two forms of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder where the body destroys insulin-producing cells. Type 2 or insulin resistance develops when the body cannot create enough insulin.  

Type I diabetes has risen drastically over the past 30 years, climbing nearly 80% since 2006! 

Kibble is a high-carbohydrate diet that induces blood sugar fluctuations in dogs. This can lead to insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes. To prevent or control diabetes in people, they are told to avoid food containing complex carbohydrates like corn, soy, rice, and grains, yet these are the main components in dry dog food! Your dog needs a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet with increased fiber, not a diet comprised of 40-50% non-essential simple sugars. 

Poor Nutrition Can Cause Many More Problems

This is a shortlist of the most common diseases and disorders caused by poor nutrition. Bone and joint conditions, age-related diminished cognitive behavior, aggression, and cardiovascular disease have been linked to nutritional deficiencies. As research continues, we will see evidence that nutrition is key to your dog's well-being and longevity. 

Your dog's nutritional status should be examined during any illness or ailment to determine if a missing component could be causing the disease.

Keeping the gut microbiome balanced prevents many commonly seen diseases in dogs.

Working with a holistic veterinarian who advocates for raw feeding will enable you to pinpoint the nutritional causes of many of your dog's ailments.

Feed the dog, not the dog cancer: the danger of processed dog food   

Brady, C. (2020). In Feeding dogs: dry or raw? The science behind the debate (pp. 167-169). Farrow Road Publishing.

Habib, R, and Becker, K. The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer. (2021). Publishers Weekly, 268(27), 53. PWxyz, LLC.

Does contemporary canine diet cause cancer?  

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Nutrition is one of the most important factors influencing a dog's health throughout life. Every meal provides more than calories. It supplies the building blocks needed to support growth, maintain healthy tissues, fuel metabolism, regulate the immune system, and repair the body. While no diet can prevent every disease, appropriate nutrition may reduce many modifiable risk factors for chronic illness and help dogs live longer, healthier lives.

Nutrition-Based Conditions in Dogs

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