In view of our dogs lovely habits of eating what comes out does anyone know whether any research has been done to see whether the presence of parasites, their eggs etc makes it more attractive to our dogs to eat? Just a thought!
Bec

JMO, I don't believe it's the prescence of parasites that make it more attractive, but, undigested food.
Before feeding raw, my girl would eat 'select' morsels :rolleyes:...now that what comes out has very little nutrients left undigested, she leaves well alone <phew> What a topic for a Sunday morning!! :D

Are you aware of any research into 'undigested' food being passed in this manner (for want of a better phrase!)?
Bec

Not really, no, (though I'm sure there's some out there) only what I've read up on when first starting to feed a raw diet, (smaller stool volumes = all nutrients being used instead of passed).
If I'm in a rush or have forgotten to defrost something, I feed naturediet. I occasionally catch Luca being tempted to 'taste' again. It's just my own conclusions that I've come to as you very rarely hear of a raw fed dog with this 'habit' :)

That`s what I`ve found since feeding my lot raw as well JacquiN :) The times before I used to puree their veg, stuff like carrots, garlic, apples etc, used to come out the same way they went in so I think that must mean they weren`t digested.
Christine, Spain.

Well I've had it all! Whether barf, complete or meat and biscuit fed some have always eaten poo. However, I wasn't specifically referring to eating their own but other species as well such as fox and cat which seem to be favourites!
Bec

bit tetchy aren`t you????

Bit of a trouble maker aren't you? I didn't ask about BARF!
Bec

says you!!!! heard of kettle---and black????????

roflol@dizzy :) :)
Christine, Spain

What the *^%#....No you didn't ask about BARF, but neither did you mention fox or cat droppings!!!! :rolleyes:

Christine, In reference to your comment on fruit and veg coming out the same, according to Ian Billinghurst (give your dog a bone etc) there is an enzyme in fruit and veg that they cannot break down and absorb so if you feed fruit and veg it needs to be liquidised, pureed (sp?), to break it down enough for them to absorb the nutrinets etc. Have you heard that at all?

Hi Sarah, maybe I haven`t explained it very well. Before I used to feed my lot raw,when they were fed complete, I used to give them raw fruit, veg etc. whole, & thats the way it came out. Now I feed them raw I always puree/or cook their fruit & veg & it gets digested. But I still give them whole stuff as well for a treat. Hope that`s clearer :)
Christine, Spain.

Christine,
Have you ever noticed now that they've got used to liquidised fruit and veg, that they're more able to digest the whole pieces of fruit and veg? (that they swiped from the basket ;) )

Yes Jacqui!!!!! I thought it was just me, well my lot I mean :) & never bothered to mention it. I read somewhere that once a dog starts being fed raw food, the stomach juices work more efficiently, do you think that`s maybe why?
Christine, Spain.

No, it's not just you and your lot, mine do the same and a few others I know....it's a good a reason as any :)

Nice to know they`re normal then :) I`ve thought about it now & again but it`s not the kind of thing that comes up in conversation a lot! :) :)
Christine, Spain.

I remember once a few years back being told that to dogs Cat poo was like Chocolate and if I could find a way of stopping them diggin the garden up to eat it I'd be a rich woman ----- can't see the point in depriving a poor dog of a choccie snack especially at 'THAT' time lol