Studies & The Fresh Food Diet

Vets & Science Buffs:  Please reach out to the Raw Feeding Veterinary Association here,  you may also be interested in the Raw Pet Food Research page here

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Below we list a number of studies that relate to canine diets.

Seizures
Multiple studies show if you have a dog suffering from seizures, choosing the right diet can either halt, reduce or manage your pet’s seizure frequency. A brand new study confirms changing the brain’s energy source can have anti-seizure effects on dogs.
Study name:  The role of nutrition in canine idiopathic epilepsy management: Fact or fiction?
Link:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090023322001320?via%3Dihub

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Mushrooms
Multiple studies show medicinal & culinary mushrooms can prevent cancer & increase both you & your pet’s lifespan. A new study shows when added to pet food they improve the gut of aging dogs & prevent obesity. Start 1/4tsp fresh per 10lbs.
Study Name:  Gut microbiota profiling in aged dogs after feeding pet food contained Hericium erinaceus

Link:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36287790/

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Omega-3
Arguably the most important supplement to give to pets is omega-3s. Multiple animal studies show those who consume omega-3’s may live longer. One feline kidney study showed cats who consumed higher levels of omega-3’s lived longer.
Article:  https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/nutrition/fish-oil-dosing-in-pet-diets-and-supplements/?fbclid=IwAR3cz_wxjTJzL95E99N3ByqM1gz75DkTdwoQl8fdr_EjBoAdNg5u7dDMXi4

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Canned Food
A new study shows 53 dry & wet dog foods, dog treats, and cat foods were analyzed and MORE harmful chemicals were found in wet canned pet food diets and dry pet treats than in ultra-processed dry kibble diets.

"The Maillard reaction forms melanoidins that favorably improve food qualities (e.g., color, flavor, aroma), but also form Maillard reaction products (MRP) and advanced glycation end-products that may negatively affecting health. Because commercial pet diets are frequently fed to domestic cats and dogs throughout their lifetimes, it is critical to quantify MRP concentrations and understand the variables that influence their formation so future diets may be formulated with that in mind."

One of the most obvious negative consequences of the Maillard reaction in food is the loss of nutritive value of proteins involved, with a loss of quality and a possible decrease of food safety.

Advanced glycation end products are proteins or lipids that become glycated as a result of exposure to sugars. They are a bio-marker implicated in aging and the development, or worsening, of many degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
Study Name:  Nutrient and Maillard reaction product concentrations of commercially available pet foods and treats
Link:  https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/100/11/skac305/6694783?login=false

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Cranberries
Cranberries not only helps prevent UTIs, kidney stones, inflammation & cancer, but new research shows they improve memory & can help ward off canine cognitive decline. Start with a 1/4 teaspoon🥄 per 10lbs of body weight.
Study Name:  Effects of cranberry extract on prevention of urinary tract infection in dogs and on adhesion of Escherichia coli to Madin-Darby canine kidney cells
Link:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27027843/

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Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the best longevity foods to add to your pet’s diet! They aid in the repair of damaged DNA & modify genes associated with aging. They help reduce the risk of cancer & cognitive decline in aging dogs. Start with 1/4tsp per 10lbs of body weight.
Source:  The Forever Dog page 230

Dry Food
Dogs that eat dry food have significantly higher GlycA levels than dogs that eat other types of pet food. High GlycA levels are associated with a higher risk of developing diseases like heart disease, cancer, & chronic inflammation.
Study  Name:  Age, breed, sex and diet influence serum metabolite profiles of 2000 pet dogs
Link:  https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211642?fbclid=IwAR0g1IanCYk3SNER_27R1v3Bl9bRvNaN8jVQeggKBnyRFT_nhjZH8iqWr_s#d1e526

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Allergies 

Dogs with allergies have a SIGNIFICANTLY different gut microbiome when compared to healthy dogs. This is why it’s so important you work with your vet AND a microbial ecologist when trying to rid your pet of allergies!
Study Name:  Comparison of the Gut Microbiome between Atopic and Healthy Dogs—Preliminary Data
Link:  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2377/htm?fbclid=IwAR000SEnLWPRshKuNWIAPS3s58Eft3e2IwfI8Z72yaxWchc4pUxreJLI6mc

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Immune System
Dogs fed whole fresh foods had a better immune system than dogs fed ultra-processed foods like dry kibble.
Study Name:  Effects of a whole food diet on immune function and inflammatory phenotype in healthy dogs: A randomized, open-labeled, cross-over clinical trial
Link:  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.898056/full?fbclid=IwAR3t5U1disyJBHkI5gZtVBfWcHf3JqzkrkM70yjMsZ--LJhuFM1mKNaCH-4
 

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