Can someone explain to me what is meant by "Hot" foods? Was speaking with a neighbor who owns a pet supply store, and we were discussing what I feed my golden. She mentioned something about X being too "hot" for her during the summer months. I think she was referring to the type of protein?

I didn't have time to get into the conversation any deeper, so I thought I'd ask y'all.

Thanks!

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Kimberley

I found this through Google: hot and cooling foods for pets, yin and yan in dogs, traditional chinese medicine for pets, damp heat in dogs, treating phlegm symptoms in pets, using food to balance yin and yan, allergy remedy for dogs

I am not convinced.. until someone shows me the science behind it..

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Interesting. The next time you talk to her make sure to come back and tell us what she was talking about. Also, the lamb thing you mentioned in the other thread. I am thinking about introducing some raw lamb, so I curious to know what she is talking about.

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"Hot Foods" is a term used by hunters to describe high protein and sometimes high fat foods.

Some believe that feeding high protein in the summer makes a dog hot because when protein is used as a source of calories the chemical reaction creates heat, which is true. Protein is entropic which means that about 30% is lost in the conversion to energy. That 30% loss creates heat.

Hunters will normally use foods with 20 - 24% protein in the summer so energy comes from fat and carbs which are not entropic.

That term is a pretty rural term just like saying "feed" instead of food.

Hmmm... well that was interesting, thanks! That probably answers the lamb question too.

Well, like you said, I doubt there is much of any science behind it. There probably isn't much science behind a lot of Eastern medicine, but sometimes it just works. I'm also not convinced, but I won't discard it either.

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Interesting!

My girl has always been heat intolerant with temps over 70 degrees. I might actually try backing off on the venison and lamb during the summer, and concentrate on fish, rabbit and maybe duck. So the that brings up the whole duck thing. If I am training her in field, do I want her to actually eat duck? I've heard those against it and those that say it really doesn't matter...thoughts on that?

I'll report back if Bella seems to do better in the summer eating these foods. A little experiment.

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Kimberley

I was just reading something about this recently. I forget where. But, I don't think it matters. One suggestion though, was that your dog should not see you slaughter/butcher the animal and then feed it to them. The idea behind that is so they don't put 2 and 2 together; so they don't realize the meat you are feeding them comes from the game in the field.

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There is the term hot foods by hunters and there is warm foods by Chinese medicine and Ayurveda ancient Indian medicine. They are based constitutionally but in cases seasonally, for example you generally want to have cooler foods in the summer and warmer in winter and this can be literal as in salads or less literal like cumin or aloe, there are 3 main constitutions vata, pita, and kapha

Vata is generally smaller build, tendency to be on the thinner side

Pita is lean, medium build and muscular

Kapha is larger build muscular, and tendency to get chubby

Vata individuals tend to be too "cold" and generally need Warmer fattier foods with more protein and less carbs. Highly warming foods include ginger and spices

Pita individuals are too "hot" generally need more carbohydrates less starch though, less fat.

Kapha individuals go with the season and need less carbs and fat and more protein.

My mother is an Ayurvedic doctor so I had a lot of exposure to it in my teens and thought it was total bull but quite frankly when I don't listen to her Ayurvedic diet guidances I feel like **** so I just go with it, lol. As for dogs, I guess the principles could be transferred, I never seen if been used though.


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There is quite a lot of science between many eastern medicines and have been used for thousands of years literally. I have hepatitis and Chinese medicines are the only reason I don't have to take drugs any more and can even have Afew beers without getting liver pain now


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Please ask your mother if she is aware of these principles being transferred to dogs.

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