I agree Richard. These web conversations have a way of degrading to the lowest common denominator-- a world where norms are the rule and new techniques or approaches are often shouted down by the masses. It seems that we stand to benefit from diversity of thought.

Thank you for your words of wisdom, Richard. The attack on Chad was uncalled for.

I personally do not like to read the personal attacks made to others either. I thought this was a discussion board, not a dictating board. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it be based factually or on experience. The reason people come to these boards is to get a wealth of information from those that know. Then they can take that information and formulate their own opinions, decide for themselves which route to take. We've all been there, information coming from both sides and confused as to which is right and which is wrong. We all want what's best for our dogs, and we may not always make the right choice but we learn from it. That's called experience. We also learn from those who have done panestaking research for us, eliminating the trial and error methods on our part. That's called book knowledge. We shouldn't be condemning those, like Chad, who make a living of doing research and becoming more knowledgeable on the subject at hand. I remember when Ed himself swore up and down that Eukanuba was the BEST dog food out there. And now he is condemning it due to lack of research on his part. But he also took research from others, like Billinghurst, Goldstein and Schultze to formulate a new diet for his dogs. Yes, his assumptions are based on relatively short-term experience because he hasn't always fed the BARF diet to his dogs, but they are also based on long-term research from, you got it...books, authored by scientists and professionals. They just happen to be scientists and professionals with opposite theories as Chad and his colleagues.

So I vote that we keep the information coming from both sides. Chad, if you haven't left yet, please don't go. I give more credibility to a well-written, knowledgeable posting based on facts AND experience than I do to those that only try to get their point across with childish antics and expletives.

Is all that directed towards me? I valued Chads thoughts, and told him so. If I got a little aggressive(and I did)it's because I felt like I was being talked down to. That was my point. Not many people are going to listen to somebody that they feel is talking down to them.

Jason,

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. That was the whole point of my posting, that we give and take the information for what it's worth and stop bickering back and forth.

And like you said...Now, let's get back to the dogs!

Just to add one more comment. I don't feed BARF, and I vaccinate. I'm not sold on either theory. I don't 100% agree with every single thing Ed says all the time.(I along with others on this board have been accused of "following the leader" so I hope this dispells that myth)!LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


PS.....OK Maybe 99.99%LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hold on there? The gastrointestinal tracts of HUMANs and PIGs are similar. In fact, that is why students of human anatomy do fetal pig dissections to study HUMAN structures. Many human and pig organs/systems
are very similar. BUT, the dogs digestive anatomy is different in a few very important ways. One, dogs have a much shorter system than humans or pigs. This is not just because of size relation either. The dog gastrointestinal tract is that of a carnivore- much shorter. It is a little different in form and function. Piggies and us are omnivores- longer more efficient. The difference is in how we digest and absorb nutrients from our foods. Thats why I can eat all kinds of different foods (grains, raw sugar, lactose, veggies) and digest and metabolize them in ways that fido can't. Two, digestion is acomplished using certain enzymes. If people, pigs, AND DOGS are so similar why do dogs lack MOST of the same types of enzymes that humans and pigs do? I just read this in some book or magazine some-where though (University of Washington's quarterly journal of Vet. Medicine, published by their Medical Sciences Dept.) maybe someone with experience can tell me if it is true? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

correction-that people and pigs HAVE.

enzymes that is