Dog health and old beliefs: what should we question again?

Reading time: about 9 min

A conversation with a very good client made me think again about how persistent some claims about dog health are. I don’t mind that people have different opinions. What bothers me is when one experience or one study becomes a rule that is no longer questioned. I have had to change my views myself. Irene and I have been dog owners for over 25 years, and yet when I started my FendaF journey in 2019, I felt like I already knew quite a bit about dogs. Now, what I know most is how much there is still to learn. Ossu has been my most consistent teacher. Giardiasis, skin problems, and other health-related surprises have forced me to ask not only “what to give?” but also “why did this happen?” And now Faddu’s heart problem has been added to this, which has forced me to seek a balance in the world of herbal medicine and conventional medicine. For me, conscious dog ownership begins with this question.

Are vet and nutrition separate?

Veterinarians study the principles of nutrition, but the scope of their curricula and subsequent specializations vary. Just as a doctor does not have to be an orthopedist, cardiologist, and dermatologist at the same time, not every general practitioner veterinarian needs to be a clinical nutritionist. This does not diminish the veterinarian’s ability to diagnose diseases. Rather, it helps to understand when it is worth consulting with a specialist who is also deeply involved in animal nutrition. Karen Shaw Becker, an integrative veterinarian, has emphasized the importance of fresh food, exercise, and environment. I find this holistic view valuable. But even when I agree with an approach, I want to know for each specific recommendation whether it is based on dog research, a reasoned mechanism, or the physician’s practical experience. They are not the same.

Movement: Is more always better?

I used to walk my dogs much less than I do now. I remember Ossu almost ritualistically licking his paws in the evenings. After the addition of walks and activities, this became noticeably less. Faddu has a habit of holding a pillow or his soft toy in his mouth when he gets excited, and Irene’s dog Fenton sucks his blanket. Such activities can serve the role of calming or self-regulation, but paw licking alone cannot diagnose stress. Itching, pain, nerve irritation and skin inflammation are things that need to be considered as well. The goal of exercise is not simply to tire the dog out. Sniffing, a leisurely walk, appropriate play, activities that require strength and balance, and rest form a whole. For an older dog or one with joint disease, a diagnosis does not automatically mean couch potato mode. The American Association of Animal Hospitals AAHA pain guidelines consider weight maintenance and moderate activity to be an important part of a chronic pain treatment plan. However, the load must be adjusted according to the illness, pain, recovery and the specific animal. Sometimes a very precise formula is recommended for puppies: five minutes of walking for every month of life, not a step more. This is a convenient rule of thumb, but its universal safety limit has not been confirmed by dog ​​studies. It seems more reasonable to me to distinguish between the puppy’s own chosen game and repeated running, jumping or long training on hard surfaces forced by a person. In the case of a growing dog, the breed, age, signs of fatigue and the nature of the activity matter. Our puppies have been walking in the forest with us since they were little, or essentially spent hours in the forest with us, the difference is that they walk part of the time in our arms and we also take breaks in between.

Are raw food and bones naturally safe?

I have long believed that offering fresh food is important, but today I would no longer equate the words “raw”, “natural” and “safe”. In the wild, a dog would eat prey if possible, but this does not prove that every bone offered at home is suitable for every dog. Tooth fractures, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal injuries and blockages depend on the size, hardness of the bone and how the dog chews. A raw meaty bone is not risk-free just because it contains meat.

Similarly, a raw egg is not automatically better than a cooked egg. Eggs can be a good food, but cooking reduces the microbial risk. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that raw animal products, including eggs and meat products, can carry Salmonella or Listeria bacteria and pose a risk to humans in the home environment. The risk does not prove that every raw portion will cause illness, but it is not correct to say that there is no risk. When adding homemade foods to a balanced complete food, the energy and nutrients of the entire menu must be considered. A rule of thumb for additives of up to 10% of daily energy is often used, since most of it could come from a complete food. This should not be interpreted as an assertion that any 25% raw is nutritionally safe for all dogs. What is most important is the long-term balance of the entire diet.

Garlic, fat, and other black-and-white thinking about food

Garlic is often discussed in two extremes: either it is always poisonous or it is always beneficial in small amounts. In reality, the dose, method of preparation, size of the dog and individual sensitivity matter. Garlic is a member of the allium family, whose compounds can damage red blood cells, and therefore the recommended universal “safe doses of garlic” may not be right for all dogs. You can find more information about garlic research and possible uses in our separate article. I am equally careful with the protein and fat ratios of raw food. A description of game or an analysis of a single piece of meat does not automatically indicate what a specific commercial complete food contains. You need to compare the same unit of measurement: wet weight or dry matter, if necessary grams per 1000 kcal, and check whether the food is complete food. A very fatty portion can be a problem for a sensitive dog or a dog with pancreatitis, but not every food with a higher fat content automatically causes pancreatitis. For me, this is an important lesson in nutrition: one ingredient cannot take all the responsibility, but no diet can escape the question of whether the dog is getting everything it needs.

Where should I start?

When a dog’s health or behavior changes, I would first put together a timeline. When did the change start? What happened before that? Was it a change in exercise, food, medication, sleep, or home environment? Which symptoms appear together and which separately? This way, it’s easier to avoid a situation where a new problem gets an old label simply out of habit. I remain convinced of one thing: good veterinary care and critical questioning are not in competition with each other. If a dog is in pain, persistent itching, weight loss, or other obvious symptoms, they need to be examined, not waiting for a new "natural" ingredient to fix everything.

> Practical check-up for FendaF. Record the onset of symptoms and changes in diet, exercise, and medication; distinguish between the dog’s self-chosen activity and forced exercise; check the suitability of the food as a complete diet; do not automatically consider raw food safe or processed food bad; in case of pain, weight loss, or recurring inflammation, seek the cause with your veterinarian.

In conclusion

We don’t have to choose between the two slogans: “everything was known in the old days” or “everything old is wrong.” The better question is what does a statement actually prove, what does it not prove, and does it apply to my dog? I’ve learned more from my dogs with this question than from any set rule.

Sources

• AAHA. Nonpharmacologic Modalities for Pain Management (2022). Read source
• CDC. About Pet Food Safety (2025). Read source
• WSAVA. Guidelines for selecting the best food for your pet. Read source
• FendaF. Garlic and the dog. Read source