Largo

[Giddyuppy]

I've been snoopin' around on the web and found this and thought you may be interested in reading it.

It is a link from this site...one of THE most graphic laden sites I've ever seen, if not THE most graphic laden...and a VERY informative site, to BOOT!

IMO...some pretty intense pedigrees to go along with all the pics.

 

[Largo]

Thank you very much Giddy.

Research into AAFCO's feed trial testing and just what it is exactly is on my agenda. Newfoundlands were by and large fish eaters. Deer, rabit and possibly small fowl were probably included in their diet as well. I've been researching the diet of Newfoundlanders and Native Americans and the wolves and other wild dogs in that part of the world, to get a clearer picture of the natural diet of the Newfoundland.

There is a form of mental retardation that is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in the amino acid phenylalanine hydroxylase. I really think that there is a nutritional link to the diseases, even some of the genetic ones that plague Newfoundlands. And I think some of these can be prevented or corrected with a correction in the nutritional make up their diet. Because fish made up the bulk of the diet for Newfounlands, an excellent source of taurine, I wonder if they have some how become dependent on dietary taurine, if some how it has become an essential amino acid for them?

 

[sarnewfie]

playing the devils advocate, would you not think they would evolve over a number of years?

 

[saddust]

Just wanted to point out also - to keep in mind, that it is not JUST newfoundlands that need taurine for a healthy cardiovascular system, but almost all the large breeds of dogs... i.e., rottweilers did a study as well and found many of them lacking and with similar cardiac issues... some of the best sources of taurine are in red meats - which are typically prohibitively expensive to feed in commercial dog foods.. and - it is heart muscle that has the highest concentrations of taurine.

In terms of AAFCO I think it is important to keep in mind that their recommendations currently encompass only two separate nutrient profiles -- one for growth and reproduction and one for adult maintenance, instead of just one for all lifestages. And their current study focus is on eliminating unnecessary excesses. It also means these same AAFCO suggested complete and balanced profiles are the same for a Mastiff and a rat terrier... they do not distinguish between size and/or breed, etc. ANY other profile "marketed" i.e., large breed, overweight, senior, activity level, etc. is based on nothing other than that specific companies "own" studies... There is no federal or regulatory agency that regulates the pet food industry - only recommendations... A pet food company can claim anything they like and put it on the label as AAFCO only makes "suggestions" on what can be claimed as "Complete and Balanced" - doesn't necessarily have to fit their profile - but that is what is suggested... And for the major food companies - those that actually do testing... often it means they fed the animal for a month and it did not die... has nothing to do with whether the animal thrived or did "well" on it....

Just some points to consider...

Karen

 

[ardeagold]

One thing the article said, which caught my eye, is that taurine is being detected in fairly heavy amounts in some of the Newfs they're seeing. So...does the deficiency really come from improper feed, or the inability of the body to synthesize the taurine?

I think that's part of the focus of the study, if I'm reading it right.

Here's a quote regarding my reference:

Last year Dr. Backus found diet-associated taurine deficiency and cardiac insufficiency in more than half of a group of 21 privately owned Newfoundland dogs, which excreted extraordinary amounts of taurine in their urine. Drs. Backus and Fascetti are now planning a larger project to estimate the prevalence of a possible widespread taurine deficiency in the Newfoundland breed. Non-invasive clinical tests and feeding trials will determine if taurine deficiency in Newfoundlands might result from 1) a reduction in protein digestibility, 2) a diminished capacity to synthesize taurine from sulfur amino acids, or 3) loss of taurine in urine.

[ 06-29-2005, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: Ardeagold ]

 

[Largo]

Karen, yes I know thank you. Those other breeds were also traditionally fed foods high in taurine as well.

Sar, that is what I mean. Perhaps over hundreds of years, taurine has become an essential amino acid completely for them. Like perhaps some sort of error has occured from having it so well supplied dietarily that self synthesis is no longer sufficient. Just speculation.