Is beet pulp in dog food really that bad?

[Karie]

I started feeding my dogs Kirkland Chicken and Rice dog foood. I was on DDF and they were posting about this food and about beet pulp. Is it really bad for the dogs? I was feeding them Canidae, but with 3 dogs and their prices getting higher, I swithced them to a cheaper dog food,but still a good dog food. I was told it was a good dog food anways. I am questioning myself now, because of what I read. Any thought!!

Karie

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's a controversial issue, and I don't think the jury is in on this one yet. There is some thinking that beet pulp can cause yeast-type ear infections, (because of the increased sugar content), but I don't know of any hard research on this. My miniature poodle ate food with beet pulp in it for the first fifteen years of her life, and she was healthy as a horse. She did get ear infections occasionally, but that's going to happen with a poodle from show lines because of the excessively wooly fur. If everything else about a food is working for you, I wouldn't stop feeding it because of beet pulp; if the frequency of YEAST type ear infections increases, then you can rethink it.

[Adina P]

Have you read any literature on sugar leading to yeast growth and the mechanism by which this might happen?

[Karie]

No, I haven't Adina.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've read all kinds of articles on the relationship between candida & sugars, but cannot locate any scientific information on it, particularly in dogs. Do a search on Google with "yeast infections", "dogs", and "sugar", and you'll be amazed at what comes up. Pitcairn was referenced in some of the articles I read, but I don't have a copy of it. The Dog Food Ratings Site mentions it repeatedly, and their info is usually pretty accurate, but they themselves say it's controversial. (I'll bet YOU have some info on sugar levels in human's blood, and yeast infections, but I don't know how it relates to dogs.) That's why I say "the jury is still out on this one", lol!

[Adina P]

I was asking, because I don't think there is much of a connection and I'm aware of all the Internet drama about it :-)
Also there is a huge difference between high blood sugar levels and sugar intake. Somebody without diabetes or pre diabetes will not have high blood sugar levels regardless of sugar intake. I'm guessing it's similar in dogs, but I don't know for sure.
The other thing that just confuses me when they talk about this in humans is what the "supposed" difference is between sugar and carbohydrates--because once it's broken down it is all sugar (which by the way is an excellent and wonderful fuel for humans and nothing to be afraid of)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is kind of OT, but funny; I once had a client who was obsessed with her weight, and consulted "nutritionists" (I wonder about their credentials) who sold her dozens of supplements and advised her that she must never, ever eat any fruit in any form, because THAT was what was causing her frequent yeast infections. I was never able to convince her otherwise, probably because it would have been rude to mention the fact that her yeast infections were more likely to be caused by the the tight spandex pants she wore constantly, and the fact that she had, shall we say, a "very active" dating life- LOL!

[Adina P]

LOL--the picture is quite funny.

I think wacko "nutritionists" are more interesting to people sometimes :-/

[2wpu1zztl11wu]

OMG...I am cracking up and running out of air!!!! LOLOLOL!!! Only you Kar. It's like you had an OT brain fart!! LOL! :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, it's not THAT OT! it has to do with sugar in food (fruit, beets) and yeast infections!
(LOL)

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

Very NICELY put...I wish you were around when I want to come up with a polite but accurate analogy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Meanwhile, poor Karie has asked a legitimate question here. can we agree that there doesn't seem to be a reason to switch dog foods because of beet pulp?

[Karie]

Karen, I think your post is quite funny!! I love humor!! I have done some reading on beet pulp and they're mixed feelings about it. I read somewhere, that beet pulp is also in dog food as a filler, like corn. I will keep a close eye on my dogs ears for yeast infection. If everything seems to be going ok with them, I think, I will keep them on this Kirkland dog food then. Things are getting a bit tight with money right now. I no longer have a job and the only income right now is my husbands. I was paying $40.00 for a 35 pounds bag of Canidae. I pay $21.00 for a 40 pound bag of Kirkland. That's a big savings!! At least, I think it is!