What should you feed your dog? Which diet will give them the best chance of a long and healthy life? Is the growing popularity of raw feeding justified by the evidence? Radio journalists and dog lovers Penny Boreham and Seb Masters investigate the world of dog food with the help of vets, scientists and nutritionists.
Interview subjects include Dr Ian Billingshurst, Dr Conor Brady, Professor Anna Hielm-Björkman, Dr Richard Doyle, Dr Brendan Clarke, Dr Conor O’Halloran, Dr Nick Thompson – a host of dog lovers – and many others.
Made with the financial support from Honey’s, the producers had complete editorial control.
Episode 1
What nutrition do dogs actually need? With the help of vets, biologists and other experts we consider different feeding options, why so many dogs suffer from obesity, cancer and diabetes and how dogs and wolves are related. We also look at research into where dog lovers go to for feeding advice and discuss the growing popularity of raw diets.
Episode 2
Dr Richard Doyle describes the canine digestive system. Dr Conor Brady explains why dogs are carnivores. Dr Ian Billingshurst warns against carbohydrates. We look at what really goes into ultra-processed commercial dog food, how it may be damaging our dogs’ health and why ‘real’ ingredients are so vital to canine well-being.
Episode 3
More on the high levels of carbohydrate in most dog food and how it causes dangerous insulin spikes. Dr Conor Brady on the difference between cheap and expensive processed dog food (essentially the packaging). Dr Nick Thompson on why kibble causes obesity and worse. Rachel asks our experts if she should be serving her dog cooked or raw food. We also reveal how little vets learn about canine nutrition at university and discuss grain free dog food.
Episode 4
The fascinating history of dog food. The danger of modern, ultra-processed dog food. How to reduce your dog’s chance of getting cancer. A survey of 12,000 dogs shows how diet affects their health. Atopy in dogs. More on the scientifically proven benefits of a raw diet thanks to research carried out by the University of Helsinki.
Episode 5
The vet who charges less to look after raw fed dogs. How vets fail their canine patients. Making sure your dog has a healthy microbiome. Indisputable evidence in favour of certain diets. Whether raw feeding really poses a human health risk. How some dog foods cause dangerous levels of inflammation.
Episode 6
The importance of real food and variety in your dog’s diet. Why you should give your dog a bone. Transitioning to a raw diet. When raw may not be the best choice. What a balanced diet looks like and why it is so important. Dr Ian Billingshurst’s message to young vets and nurses.
Episode 7
We interview Jonathan Self, author of The Natural Feeding Handbook, about why he believes raw feeding is best for dogs, how to make your own food, the importance of high welfare meat, his concerns about farm animal welfare and the environment, as well as the free advice offered by his company: Honey’s Real Dog Food.