Questions From the Exam Room

Our doctors get asked many questions every day.  Here is a chance for them to explain
the answers to some of those questions. 

"Aren't all pet foods with corn in them bad foods?"~
   A client asked me, "aren't all pet foods with corn in them bad foods?"  That got me to thinking how to discuss nutrition in an easy to understand, short answer.  This is what I came up with...  
   Food is composed of five items: protein, fat, starch, vitamins, minerals and some water.  Minerals, vitamins and starch are non-changeable - either you have them or you don't.  All reputable foods have enough of these for your pet.  Fat, with some minor variations, is just fat.  Some foods have more of the special fats, such as fish oils.  These special oils help the coat and control some types of inflammation, such as arthritis.  
   People seem to have more problems with understanding protein and what source is the best.  American culture suggests that the more meat you eat the better off you are.  The most important thing is to give food that matches the animal's needs.  For instance, a cow should be fed mostly hay, as it is an herbivore.  Lions, tigers and domestic cats are true carnivores and need mostly a meat diet.  People, bears and dogs are omnivores as they an get their nutritional needs from many sources.
   The problem is which protein source is the best.  The answer lies in what makes up a protein.  Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids.  There are 23 amino acids, eleven of these have to come from the diet and are called "essential" amino acids.  The other twelve can be made by the body.  So the question becomes "Are amino acids from meat protein better than the amino acids from plant protein?"  The answer is a resounding "NO!"  Ask any of your friends who are vegetarians if they get enough protein with the correct building blocks of amino acids.  They do get a good diet.  So does your pet when you feed a good food.  
   So, to answer the opening question, dog foods with corn in them are not bad food, as long as they are a BALANCED diet.
Dr. T. James Taylor  March 5, 2010

 "Does corn cause my pet to have allergies?" ~ 
   The other day a client asked me "Doesn't corn cause allergies?" So I got to thinking about the proper answer, so here it is. For a person, dog or cat to have allergies they have to have received from their parents the genetics that allow allergies to occur. Specifically they have to be able to produce an antibody in the class of "immunoglobulin E". If a body cannot produce this immunoglobulin, allergies cannot develop. So corn does not cause allergies by itself. The corn needs the help for the genetics of the body.
   A protein is the molecule that the body's genetics react with to cause an allergy. A protein can come from almost anywhere. The house dust mites in your carpet are a common source of allergic itching. Ragweed gets many of us in the late summer. Tree or grass pollen is another common cause of allergic itch. BUT remember, if your body or your cat's body or your dog's body cannot produce those immunoglobulins (antibodies) then you cannot have allergies.
   The above client's question should have been "What are common proteins that dogs or cats commonly react to and develop allergies"? In the case of food, wheat is one of the most common causes of food allergies with others on the list being corn, various meats, cow's milk, and even those unneeded dog biscuits I warn against to prevent excessive weight gain. Just remember, a food does not cause allergies. The body allows allergies to happen.
Dr. T. James Taylor February 19, 2010

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