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Posted by KingAndysDad on January 29, 2003 at 10:53:14:

In Reply to: Re: Some misinformation here posted by Deerhounds on January 29, 2003 at 02:55:23:

What one says explicitly and implictly are both important. When you wrote "And since dogs have no dietary requirement for carbohydrates at all, you know that ALL those grains are in there for reasons other than your dog's nutrition.." and "I would rather have a diet in which all the ingredients were there for the benefit of the dog eating it!" you are implying that the dog does not benefit nutritionally (i.e. does not digest or utilize nutritionally for energy) grains and complex carbohydrates, which is not true. Our dogs, like humans, have a dietary requirement for energy, which carbs do in fact fill. I assume you realize that humans also do not have a "dietary requirement" for carbohydrates, as we can meet all our energy needs from fats and proteins. But that doesn't mean a carbohydrate free diet is healthy, humans and dogs have the ability and enzymes required to digest and metabolize carbohydrates for a reason, they are clean sources of energy. And both humans and dogs benefit from carbohydrates in that they better replenish muscle stores of glycogen needed during times of exertion.

Again, with beet pulp, you only state what you perceive as a negative attribute of its use as a food ingredient. You further state "dogs don't need it. What "fact" do you disagree with?" Well the fact is dogs do need a source of fiber, and especially partially fermentable fiber that promotes optimal intestinal health. Both needs are filled by beet pulp.

The point of all this is that in order for people to make informed decisions on whether to feed a particular ingredient, it is necessary to provide all the facts, including both the positives and negatives. Isn't what these boards are all about, fully informing people to make their own decisions? Only presenting partial and/or biased information is not the best way to help people, don't you think? I hope so.

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