When one protein source is not enough...

A certain myth floats around on many an e-mail list... that it's okay to just feed chicken as the mainstay to any raw carnivore diet.

Is it possible? Sure. Some folks just don't have access to 4 or 5 different protein sources on a weekly basis.

Is it healthy? I think that's the question that most people really would like to see answered.

Feeding chicken as a staple of the diet, meaning more than 75% of the food fed, is common with a lot of raw feeders these days. Some, who live in areas where affordable meats such as beef, lamb and pork just don't exist, have no choice but to rely on chicken and turkey as daily fare for their dogs. And their dogs do just fine.

But is it an optimum diet? My guess? Probably not.

Chicken is high in Omega-6 fatty acids. Now, there's no doubt that dogs need fatty acids in their diet. But when you look further into what these fatty acids do, in terms of digestion, in terms of inflammatory properties, it's easy to see that too much Omega-6 can cause problems.

That's why so many long-time raw feeders recommend adding fish oil supplements to the diet. Fish oils are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, and Omega-3's balance out the inflammatory properties of Omega-6's, and actually have such great anti-inflammatory properties that they have also been recommended for natural treatment of arthritis.

Taken together, it really seems that a diet high in chicken might lead to premature arthritis or worsening of inflammatory diseases such as IBD. The article below is an excerpt from Dr. Shawn Messonier's book, The Arthritis Solution for Dogs.

Oral Fatty Acids -

Fats in the form of fatty acids have recently become a popular supplement
among most veterinarians, not just those interested in holistic care. We
are, in fact, just beginning to see that fatty acids may be valuable in a
variety of conditions. Fatty acids were first purported to work in some pets
with allergic dermatitis, and are in fact an essential part of the pet's
diet. They are also prescribed for pets with dry flaky skin and dull coats.
Recently, they have been advocated in pets with kidney disease, elevated
cholesterol, and arthritis.

When discussing fatty acids, we're not just talking about adding some
vegetable oil to the pet's diet to get a nice, shiny coat. The fatty acids
of most concern are the Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 9 fatty acids
have no known use in treating pets. Omega 3 fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- are derived from fish oils of
coldwater fish such as salmon and trout, and flax seed. Omega 6 fatty
acids -- linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) -- are derived
from the oils of seeds such as primrose, black currant, and borage. Often
fatty acids are added to the diet with other supplements to attain and
additive effect. This is especially common in arthritic dogs, as fatty acid
supplements by themselves usually fail to relieve pain and lameness.

NOTE: Flaxseed oil is a popular source of alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), an
omega 3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. However,
many species of pets and some people cannot convert LNA to these other more
active non-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids. In one study (Hobbs and Bucco,
1999), flaxseed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels
of EPA and DHA. Therefore, because supplementation with EPA and DHA is
important, flaxseed oil is not recommended as a fatty acid supplement for
pets.

A Closer Look
Cell membranes in the joint contain phospholipids. When the membrane is
injured, an enzyme acts on the phospholipids in the cell membranes to
produce fatty acids including arachidonic acid (an omega 6 fatty acid) and
eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega 3 fatty acid). Further metabolism of the
arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid by additional enzymes (the
lipooxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways) produce chemicals called
eicosanoids. The eicosanoids produced by metabolism of arachidonic acid are
pro-inflammatory and cause inflammation, suppress the immune system, and
cause platelets to aggregate and clot. Many disorders are due to
overproduction of the eicosanoids responsible for producing inflammation,
including arthritis. The eicosanoids produced by metabolism of
eicosapentaenoic acid are non-inflammatory, not immunosuppressive, and help
inhibit platelets from clotting.

In general, the products of omega 3 (specifically, EPA) and one omega 6
fatty acid (DGLA) are less inflammatory than the products of arachidonic
acid (another omega 6 fatty acid). By changing dietary fatty acid
consumption, the eicosanoid production changes right at the cellular level,
decreasing inflammation within the body.

While Dr. Messonier's chapter talks about supplements, it's easy to correlate the Omega-6 in chicken to what he's saying about its use as a supplement. If Omega-3 fatty acids are doing more to help dogs with arthritis and skin problems, isn't it likely that feeding a diet with less Omega-6 (i.e., chicken) and more Omega-3 might offer similar benefits?

Let me give you a bit of an example. When I've made a conscious effort to add more red meat into my dogs' diets on a daily basis, I've seen improvements in coat condition, skin condition and even a little bit in terms of movement for my older senior Dane. Coincidence? Maybe. But when I've gone back to feeding more chicken, less red meat, the coats get a little less nice, a little more coarse. Don't get me wrong - they're still nice and shiny. But there is a difference that is noticeable to my eye.

What about long-term effects? Can a dog survive on chicken, chicken and more chicken? ... SURE. Dogs are part scavenger and will eat whatever they can get their paws on. But the bigger question is, for those who don't have access to lots of red meat or who aren't willing to spend the money for it, can dogs THRIVE on a diet made up mainly of chicken? Only time will tell... My guess? No.

As a case in point, I was recently approached by someone who had been feeding their dog a diet consisting of well over 75% chicken, with no other meat source besides the occasional hearts, liver and gizzards bought at the grocery store. The rest of the diet consisted of veggies, kefir and a few odds and ends.

This dog had been on this diet for over a year, and in the beginning had shown a vast improvement in coat condition and shedding, but in the past couple of months, the owner had noticed a decline in coat color and quality, as well as a huge increase in shedding. While they were supplementing with a commercial oil made for improving coat quality, it was no longer helping.

Why? Simple. This dog was being overloaded with Omega-6's, while getting only what little Omega-3 was in the oil. I would guess that the zinc intake level for this dog was near zero, and while the dog showed improvement at the beginning of the diet, obviously its body's mineral reserves had been depleted and it was really beginning to show. Please look at this as a word of caution.