Fact is, though, any slob can write a book.

If your fiancé is hardcore and wants peer-reviewed this and that, the books still may not cut it.

Like Connie, I find it funny that the diet of my great grandfather who had a collie live to 18, now has the onus placed on IT to prove how it's better than the recent crap.

Steven: I like your idea of talking to Zoo dietitians. Perhaps they would be able to point to some scientific data explaining why they don't feed carnivores solely kibble.

 Quote: susan tuck

Steven: I like your idea of talking to Zoo dietitians. Perhaps they would be able to point to some scientific data explaining why they don't feed carnivores solely kibble.

Or we could ask those zoo carnivores..... with a bag of kibble in hand and a nice new dish for it ........

But I dont WANNA be the one carrying the kibble on account of I would be the fresher choice.........

 Quote: susan tuck

But I dont WANNA be the one carrying the kibble on account of I would be the fresher choice.........

Big baby......

Chris, I really would gather up a couple of the excellent books written by DVMs and give those to your girlfriend. They are -- at the very least -- a basis for argument.

Human dietary needs are not that much different than those of dogs. Alaskan bush pilots often carry a bag of dog food as emergency survival rations. S-o-o-o ... let her subsist on Ol' Roy for a month. ;D

Include a stop at the local rendering plant -- that's the place that takes in the farmer's dead and diseased livestock, and the road kill, and sometimes the previous day's kill from the local animal shelter. Rendering plants are major suppliers to the commercial dog food industry. It's usually the 'meat meal' on the label. If you are lucky, you can catch the tankage wagon as it comes with the day's load. *evil grin*

Then ask her about the quality of commercial kibble vs a raw diet. **eviler grin**

Seriously though, no one is going to fund studies that prove your product is bad for dogs. It's better to spend the money on a pretty package and marketing. Most of the evidence about home-made being better than most commercial kibble is ancedotal. People switch, problems go away.

It's interesting to note, however, that Purina Mills did a study on cat's dietary needs. They found the diet with the perfect balance of nutrients consisted of ground mouse.

Purina Mills is not the same company that makes Purina dog foods. PM makes the well regarded zoo animal foods. The study I noted was referenced in a Discover magazine article some years back -- early 90's I think.

Steven-

She is hardcore! Sometimes I think I would have better luck with a brick wall . She want admit it, but when I changed his kibble to Canidae and Innova. She said she noticed the dog smell was gone, his coat was healthier looking, less shedding, and no runny eyes. I showed her pics of Yuko's Dog with the white teeth.

I would have thought someone would have done a scientific study by now. Oh well, I guess I lose under the pretense that it is still a theory.

 Quote:

Fact is, though, any slob can write a book

Yes, my brother-in-law wrote a book.

Chris, I hope you find something out there, and I tried with no luck. If you turn up anything post it on here so we can all read it!
Lisa

This might help Chris. Currently, the oldest dog in the world has been fed Kangaroo & Emu all it's life. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-11-2004-56493.asp