By Dr. David Pollack

We just got a new puppy. She’s an amazing White German Shepherd and we couldn’t be happier. As we researched breeders, we couldn't help but notice how many of them made a big deal about the food the dogs were eating. There was no shortage of mentions of organic, raw frozen or freeze-dried meats, raw eggs on top, sardines, fish oils, and other healthy alternatives to traditional grain processed kibble. They all exclaimed these diets offered the puppies healthier stools; calm, yet energetic dispositions; and beautiful, soft coats. 

I’ll be honest, in our household we’ve used decent “better” kibbles but never went too overboard when it came to pet food. Over the past 15 years, we’ve had the privilege of parenting five dogs, in addition to fostering over a dozen. To boost their health, I’ve added a few powdered doggy supplements to their diet that have made a difference. 

One of the things that has always stood out to us whenever we got a new dog was the unpleasantness of their stools. Historically, puppy poop has been gross, often presenting as loose and slimy with a yellowish hue. I figured it was par for the course—until our new addition.

She was the first pet we’ve had that was fed in such a healthy way before she became part of our household. Her stools were smallish, compact and clean, with uniform dark brown coloration. When she had the inevitable accident, it was easy to clean up. The breeder gave us what was remaining of a small bag of her food. As it waned, we began adding a little of our other dogs’ food to it. Suddenly, her clean stools became looser and slimier with that slight yellow tinge. That went on for about three days before we finally got the chance to purchase a similar high quality food product. Within a day her stools turned back to perfect.

I got the chance, yet again, to witness this concept I’ve discussed with my patients for 15 years in real time. It’s amazing how many people out there do not think the quality, source and processing of our food is important. One of the things I often say to new patients: animals (in the wild) do not cook their food. They also never drink milk outside of infancy and never from another animal. And, wild animals rarely get diseases or cancer. Plus, they have stronger bones than us. 

While eating modern, industrial produced food, it’s not a good idea to eat raw. But how we prepare our food is important. We don’t want to destroy the proteins we eat. Overcooking or using temperatures that are too high cause denaturing. When proteins are denatured, it makes them far more difficult for our bodies to digest, break down and process. Anything our body has difficulty breaking down becomes inflammatory. Anything we cannot digest becomes harmful. 

To ensure the digestive process works appropriately, a few important factors must be in alignment. First, our digestive system must be highly functioning. All of our digestive functions must be working optimally. 

Additionally, the food we eat must contain high levels of nutrients. It should be gently, and appropriately cooked. Slow cooking works! It just takes longer to destroy the bacteria and other pathogens. But notice how food cooked in a slow cooker is softer, juicier and more tender than food cooked at temperatures in excess of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, covering food while it cooks helps retain the moisture and limits the overcooking/denaturing of the proteins. 

Our food also must be of high quality. Why do so many people choose organic? What is important about these concepts? In most of Europe all food must be grown organically. The food tastes better and is healthier because it is higher quality, non GMO food that is grown in naturally fertile soil. 

So now my dog poops beautifully again, and my wife and son saw it clearly in real time and took it to heart personally. The quality of our food matters. Not just the production and growth methods, but even how we process it at home.

Dr. David L. Pollack is the founder of Pollack Wellness Institute, located at 66 Commack Rd., #204, Commack, NY. For appointments or information, call 631-462-0801, email [email protected] or visit PollackWellness.com.