HI everyone,

I emailed a Shar-pei breeder this weekend about her puppies as I am thinking about getting one in the near future. I have one now and we just love her. But anyway, I told her I feed my dogs a raw diet, minimal vaccines, etc. and she responded that shar peis cannot have a diet more than 21% protein. Am i missing something? I've never heard of that but responded and told her I disagreed, told her everything I feed as part of the raw diet and said I was going to post on this web board and ask the very experienced people here if they have ever heard this.

She said this regarding it

"If you think about Shar-pei evolving with the poor chinese -the rich ones having pekinese, the chinese boat people at white rice (why white rice i have no idea) with little bits of vegetables and meat as a flavoring. That would be why Shar pei cannot handle high protein. And the fact that the dogs who do need high protein either need it to work, or to keep their bodies warm, like sled dogs. Shar-pei certainly do minimal work and dont need to keep their bodies warm since they live on the sofa if given the chance!"

Just wanted to get some views on this because maybe there is some correctness to it?

thanks
kathy

I don't know about shar pei, but my couch potato rescue dog Shyner does minimal work and thrives on the raw diet...

I have known individual dogs that, for whatever reason, were not able to process the raw food properly and did much better on high quality kibble. It's rare, but it does happen.

As far as a whole breed unable to process raw, that I have not heard of... the reasoning doesn't make any sense. For example, it would be like saying that dogs evolving in fishing villages can only thrive on fish and can't eat red meat...

The evolution of a meat eating canid is millions of years in the making. I doubt that a couple hundred years of selective breeding can breed out an innate need of the body... a couple of centuries is barely a blip on the evolutionary scale..

You say you have a shar pei now and are feeding it raw. Does that dog have any problems with the raw? I would think that the raw diet would be good for them, as shar pei are notorious for allergies and other serious health problems that raw diet would eleviate.

I agree, Kelly.

IMO:

There is no such thing as an entire breed that requires a low-protein diet.

I'm looking at my two adopted couch-potato Pugs and one normal GSD -- all raw-fed, all seniors now, and all trim and healthy.


I agree that I've known individual dogs for whom raw was not the right choice. Not a breed.

Gracie our sharpei seems happy and healthy, she will be 2 tomorrow. She is nice and thin and no fat on her whatsoever-lots of muscle and tons of energy-no couch potatoe here.

I told her I found it hard to believe that their digestive tracts could be any different from any other breed. She still was pretty stuck on making the diet 21% protein raw diet or whatever diet. She started talking about adding fat and potatoes or something.

Anyway I was just making sure what I thought was right - thank you for your input. Guess if I do decide to get a new puppy it probably wont be from her. And I guess if I would have said I feed science diet she would have been happy-ugh-sorry just really bugged

I also feed my Sharpei a raw food diet since he is a puppy. He is strongly built, has white teeth and an awesome coat.

http://blessingssharpei.com/carefeeding (scroll down to the Nutrition section)

http://www.taras-sharpei.com/index.html

Examples of two Shar Pei breeders that raw feed.

I reject the assumption that a raw diet is automatically a "high protein" diet (meaning "too high.") A chicken carcass contains a lot of calcium and phosphorus by weight.

A cup of white rice has 4 grams of protein.

Nutrition chemistry is more complex than assuming all animal-based foods are "protein" and all plants are "carbohydrates." Or that an animal's protein needs are the same throughout life. Or that Pekingese have genetically different guts than shar pei based on the prosperity of their historical owners.

This shar pei breeder may be a good breeder, but I don't think she has enough information to be giving expert advice on nutrition.

I totally agree. I am actually terrible at arguing a point to someone and wish I was better at it. I know what I know is correct and I believe I am feeding my dogs one of the best ways but trying to get it across is a differnt story, so I will probably never be able to make her understand.

I wish she would come on this board and start a thread to get more educated about raw natural diets.

Unfortunately she is probably turning away alot of good homes for her puppies because of what they feed them.

Does her puppy contract specify what they must be fed after purchase? If she breeds pups you like, buy one and then feed it what you think best.

This breeder is just ignorant about diet...she is talking about dry food anyway. Just tell her you can adjust the diet whether you actually do or don't....or tell her you've talked to some other Shar-pei breeders/owners about it and tell her what they recommended.