[rawfeeding] Re: Hi...I'm New Too

"marguerite foster" <margueritfoster@...> wrote:

> Are there diet considerations that apply to mature to senior dogs
to
> help with and prevent joint inflamation and pain (and just plain
> arthritis)? I take glucosamine and anti-oxidents which help
> me...what about that for dogs?
*****
Your dogs are not seniors except in the mind of the dogfood
industry. It is to their advantage (and to vets, often) to call them
old so that they can get special "old" care. You should be feeding
them a species appropriate diet, same as always. You can feed less
bone (most people can feed less bone, period), and the dietary bone
they do get can be easier if that seems to help them maintain good
condition, if they need help. I would not recommend making changes
unless/until you see cause.

What prevents joint inflammation is a good diet in a healthy
lifestyle, and genetics. Probably a seven year old dog should not do
high jumps (although my UD golden finished his title at seven years
with nary a hitch in his gitalong); probably some dogs should never
do high jumps. I think a menu that includes naturally occuring
glucosamine from cartilage is basic, but supplemental glucosamine is
not. I do not see the need for supplemental antioxidants, if you do,
feed them.

I've pretty much decided that, as long as supplements do not impact
the effectiveness of a good raw diet OR act suppressively on disease,
whatever supps one wants to feed is just not my concern. So use
whatever you feel, after appropriate research, is necessary.

They are off topic for the rawfeeding list anyway, by and large.
Certainly medical care (traditional or alternative) would be better
discussed on RawChat or DogHealth.

> Finally, the age old question: my dogs eat grass. Not quite
grazing,
> but significant amounts. I know that wolves do not eat stomach
> contents, so what does this behavior indicate nutritionally?
*****
Who knows.
If you are feeding a good raw diet and they choose to eat grass to
add what's missing (assuming something is, which would almost
certainly be a premature conclusion), then they are effectively
dealing with the deficit and you should be pleased that they are.
You don't need to take grass-eating as a personal affront. You may
or may not be doing something "wrong" but the dogs are taking care
it. Done and done.

> don't gag or vomit when they eat it and I'm inclined to just let
> them be, except I worry about leptosporosis.
*****
Why? Where is this grass they eat? In an flooded cow pasture or a
swamp or other low-lying areas likely to accumulate urine? Or in
your yard? What wild animals visit your yard? Standing water is
more usually implicated in lepto than grass, no?

>I promise I'll trim from now on.
*****
Your post is fine. You included no old post since your message was
new; lengthy old posts are what need to be trimmed from one's reply.
New messages should be as long as they need to be to say what one
needs to say.
Chris O

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