New Zealand DOG DIET STUDY A WAKE-UP CALL Dog owners can improve the wellbeing of their canine companions by serving up a high meat diet rather than the “human-like” carbo-loaded fare favoured by many, a new study shows. THE STUDY FOUND: • High meat diets are more digestible for dogs • More nutrients from a high meat diet are able to be absorbed • Dogs on a high meat diet had higher levels of the bacteria associated with protein and fat digestion • Dogs on a high meat diet had smaller poo and better faecal health. 32 APRIL 2017 understand the digestive system of dogs and the long-term health consequences of feeding different diets.” New Zealand Premium Petfood Alliance spokesperson Neil Hinton says the study findings support the view the pet food manufacturers behind the Alliance have been advocating for a long time. “While dogs are considered members of the family, they are carnivores so shouldn’t be fed a humanised diet containing high levels of carbohydrates. The study supports our long-held view that dogs need to be fed a high-meat, low-carbohydrate diet best suited to their biological makeup.” Hinton says there is growing interest from pet owners about biologically appropriate diets that lead to healthier and happier pets. “To date there has been hardly any published research, so this study is a significant contribution to the international animal nutrition field. A lot of diets on the market have been designed to ensure a dog survives, but this research shows that a high meat diet is the best to help a dog thrive.” The study is part of a three-year independent New Zealand research programme led by AgResearch and Massey University and co-funded by the New Zealand Premium Petfood Alliance and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment through the MBIE Outcomes for Science Targeted Research Fund to assist the red meat pet food industry to grow their exports. Members of the Alliance are Bombay Petfoods, K9 Natural and ZiwiPeak. The next full study from the research programme on the effects of feeding cats a high meat diet is due for completion mid-2017. The independent New Zealand study – only the second of its kind in the world – has found a high meat diet is easier for dogs to digest, means more nutrients are able to be absorbed, and results in higher levels of bacteria associated with protein and fat digestion. Study co-lead Dr Emma Bermingham of AgResearch says dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates in their diets and the research shows a dog’s gut is biologically designed for a diet high in meat. “This study looked at the role different bacteria play in a dog’s digestion system to help us work toward a clearer picture of what the optimum diet for dogs is,” she says. “Understanding how bacteria works in the gut is vital because of its links to digestion, diseases such as obesity, and even how it affects mood and behaviour.” Associate Professor David Thomas of Massey University says finding high levels of the bacteria associated with protein and fat digestion was particularly exciting. “Up until now science has looked at studies on nutrient digestion in humans, mice and rats, and assumed the same is true for dogs in terms of digestion and what is good and bad bacteria in the gut. This study shows this may not be the case and much more needs to be done to
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