Beet pulp?

[rabatsa]

I have seen it mentioned as a bad thing in the dry foods post. I then trawled the sticky post of foods bad for dogs where it does not get a mention. Why is it undesireable? I have been feeding a brand of kibble which contains beet pulp for many years to both german shepherds and greyhounds, all have seemed happy and healthy which is why I have stuck to this kibble. What am I missing?

 

[Clodagh]

It is me who doesn't like it. By many processes of elimination it gives my older lab scurf and a dull coat. It is not a scientific study - she is a mobile dustbin - but of all the common denominators in her diet that seems to be the trigger. Middle lab seems more prone to skanky ears as well, but I am not sure about that as so many things upset her ears.
I asked Skinners once why they put it in and they said to provide roughage.
It must be a cheap ingredient because as soon as you jump to beet pulp free foods the price shoots up! If your dogs look really well on it then I wouldn't worry.

 

[rabatsa]

Thanks Clodagh. I was a little worried there for a while. So far never had a scurf/skin problem except for the initial one that comes as part and parcel of taking on an ex racing greyhounds with bald bottoms. If any problems do arise then I will certainly consider changing to a beet pulp free diet.

 

[Chiffy]

Clodagh, have you tried the Stinky Stuff ear drops? I have found them quite brilliant.

Sorry for the change of subject OP, I feed beat pulp free food too!

 

[Clodagh]

Well not yet... at the moment we are using a vet prescribed cleaner (she recently had a proper bout with ABs and steroids - my fault, she had been swimming and I wasn't straight on it).
I asked my vet about Thornit and he was very not keen so then I ground to a halt. I see Thistle likes stinky stuff too. Do you just use it as a preventative?

 

[Chiffy]

No, I used it on my old dog whose ears annoyed her a lot, always scratching. Had them cleaned at the vets and then used their drops. Did no good. Got stinky stuff as a last resort and cleared up in no time.
Then my liver bitch didn’t scratch but I saw she had a lot of brown gunk in her ears so tried SS as I had it. Cleaned them miraculously, so now put a few drops in each ear every week to 10 days. Just love it!!

 

[skinnydipper]

I found Zymox otic good for troublesome ears. Available with or without hydrocortisone. Expensive and not always easy to get hold of.

There is a seller on Ebay selling an alternative to Zymox. It is called Zimerdox and contains an antibiotic in addition to hydrocortisone. Not something to use every day as it contains hydrocortisone which should be used sparingly. I have it used occasionally and it is good as the hydrocortisone helps with the itching.

I am going to have a look at Stinky Stuff as I would be happier not using hydrocortisone if it can be avoided.

 

[AmyMay]

I've stopped feeding food containing beet pulp because I think it may have been the cause of my dog's skin problems (specifically paw chewing).

If your dog's ate not troubled by the ingredient then I wouldn't worry tbh.

 

[Clodagh]

No, I used it on my old dog whose ears annoyed her a lot, always scratching. Had them cleaned at the vets and then used their drops. Did no good. Got stinky stuff as a last resort and cleared up in no time.
Then my liver bitch didn’t scratch but I saw she had a lot of brown gunk in her ears so tried SS as I had it. Cleaned them miraculously, so now put a few drops in each ear every week to 10 days. Just love it!!

I will give it a try. Having watched the old bitch dog in a hedge this morning (thanks to riaflex) I think you are the non script guru!

 

[Thistle]

I haven't tried it you but I will at some point. Beans has dreadful ears, very tiny ear canals, floppy ears and a love of water, ditches and thick vegetation don't mix. He has repeated ear infections.
Vet prescribed CaniAural (sensitive) made things alot worse so vet suggested a cleaner called Malacetic acid which I now use once a week, together with good hygeine, his ears are well trimmed and I dry after swimming etc. So far so good. Vet told me to source malacetic myself, much cheaper.I don't use any food containing beet pulp.

 

[JillA]

It's mainly fibre, and unlike horses dogs don't have a great requirement for fibre in their diet, they don't have the very long GIT horses have. I can't think of any reason to feed it? to canines?

 

[gunnergundog]

It's mainly fibre, and unlike horses dogs don't have a great requirement for fibre in their diet, they don't have the very long GIT horses have. I can't think of any reason to feed it? to canines?

It's a cheap filler that commercial companies use to bulk up their feeds. Simply keeps their costs down and helps with the profit margin. Of no benefit to the dog.

 

[Clodagh]

I haven't tried it you but I will at some point. Beans has dreadful ears, very tiny ear canals, floppy ears and a love of water, ditches and thick vegetation don't mix. He has repeated ear infections.
Vet prescribed CaniAural (sensitive) made things alot worse so vet suggested a cleaner called Malacetic acid which I now use once a week, together with good hygeine, his ears are well trimmed and I dry after swimming etc. So far so good. Vet told me to source malacetic myself, much cheaper.I don't use any food containing beet pulp.

I use malacetic cleaner on Tawny, it is good stuff, I just need to keep it up!