Stanley Coren, PhD, published this article in Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/canine-corner/201907/why-have-so-many-people-decided-dogs-cant-eat-grains
He states: “A human eating disorder affecting pet owners is producing consequences that are now impacting the health of pet dogs. ”
Really. Really? REALLY???
I limit my dog’s exposure to grains. I limit my own exposure, my horse’s exposure, and that of everyone in my household. We expend considerable effort and expense to eat as GMO free and as organically, as possible, even to the extent of growing more and more of our own food.
I don’t think my decision reflects an eating disorder. I think I am an informed consumer. Since I have tightened up on my exposure to grains, I have lost weight, gained energy, banished mysterious muscle problems, and generally improved the quality of my life in a number of directions. My horse has conquered a problem with diarrhea that persisted for years, and she is mentally acute again. I have not fed wheat, corn or soy to dogs for the last 20 years. Before that, my dogs were beset with skin problems – which, by the way, can be classic signs of autoimmune reaction to lectins in the gut.
Here is my open letter to Dr. Coren, posted in the comments section of his Psychology Today article.
“Hi Stanley, (we met many years ago, as speakers at a conference)
If you study nutrition and gastrointestinal function, or the gut biome, you might have a different perspective.
I think it is wise to limit our exposure to grains.
In America, where over 80% of the corn and wheat, beets and soy are genetically modified, when we feed those products, to our dogs or to ourselves, we are ingesting genetically modified proteins which can change the function of every single product made from them. The results of modifying the genetics of the grain, on the health of those who eat them as not been sufficiently studied, and significant studies have been suppressed. However, my studies of the literature indicate that huge abdominal tumors are one problem, and cancer is another. If the US courts are awarding billions of dollars against the makers of glyphosate for the health problems of users*, there may be something to the concern that I and others have. If glyphosate can cause cancer in the people who use it as directed, certainly it could affect those who ingest it, and it now contaminates virtually every food tested, including baby formula.
Also, the purpose of the genetic modification, in the case of wheat, is so that the plants can survive being drenched in glyphosate. Not only that, but glyphosate is being used as a dessicating agent in harvested crops. If you check into the effects of glyphosate on exacerbating the effects gluten and other lectins have on your body, you may be wanting to get yourself and your animals off grains. I am speaking as someone trained as: an animal scientist (can formulate animal feeds myself), a cell biology bench scientist, a professional animal manager, and someone with a lifelong interest in optimal health for myself and my animals.
Not only are my dogs off gluten, but so is my horse, and the effects have been dramatic.
As others here note, it dramatically improves skin condition, in my experience. Perhaps the cardiomyopathy problem can be addressed by taurine supplementation. Have to wait and see on that.
The obesity epidemic in the US started right about the same time as we gained the ability to ligate genes. I was working in the field at the time. I guess people just figured the Americans were self-indulgent, so gained weight. But European friends who came to live in America also suddenly started gaining weight. As consumers, we had no idea of the effects of high fructose corn syrup, but now the rates of non-alchoholic cirrhosis of the liver are climbing. There is more. Check it out.”