'YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT ‘ is a phrase much used by medics and health and fitness gurus as a way of reminding us that our bodies and minds can only be really healthy and functioning to maximum efficiency with minimum strain if we fuel it correctly. As omnivores, our long and complex digestive systems must be provided with a balanced mix of a variety of quality foodstuffs, preferably untainted by chemicals, additives or inappropriate over-cooking from which to extract the nutrients essential to good health and wellbeing.

By the very same token our canine friends, particularly the large , energetic working and hunting breeds can only be as fit and healthy as their given diets allow. DOGS ARE CARNIVORES, anatomically adapted to primarily eat meat. Their teeth are designed for tearing and crushing aided by powerful jaw bones and muscles whilst the small but muscular stomach and the short intestines have extraordinarily powerful digestive juices peculiar to the carnivorous animal in order to break down and extract the required nutrients from bones and tough fibers as well as chunks of raw meat. The saliva and stomach juices are also strongly antiseptic thus allowing them to eat ‘high’ meat without ill effect. Why then faced with these facts, do so many people deprive their beloved companions, hard working, or often stressed show dogs of their natural and preferred diet, yet still expect them to look and perform at their very best?

It is doubtful if any large, active dog can be truly well-muscled, hard . fit . sleek and totally healthy in mind, body and coat when fed solely on commercially prepared flakes and nuggets. I am not for a moment suggesting that commercial ‘complete’ foods are bad or should not be used. Those manufactured from top quality ingredients, scientifically formulated to provide the correct balance of nutrients necessary for life and health are an excellent means of simplifying feeding and ensuring basic nutritional requirements are met. However, since it is acknowledged that most of the large active hound breeds should be fed twice a day to minimize the dangers of bloat or gastric problems, I am convinced from years of owning Irish Wolfhounds, that to maximize health, fitness, potential longevity and general wellbeing, particularly of the internal organs and digestive tract, one of those meals should be meat, preferable fresh and raw rather than cooked.

Because it has a protein content of just 20% and the calcium/phosphorus ratio is almost balanced, tripe is in my opinion, the best meat to feed on a daily basis. Unlike red meat with its’ higher protein content and mineral imbalance tripe can be safely given in virtually unlimited quantities. My hounds all live in the house so they do not need to eat extra to generate body heat and on average take about 3lbs. Of raw, green (unprocessed) tripe each a day for their breakfast meal - a modest amount compared with some outdoor kenneled hounds. Most Irish Wolfhound owners in Ireland feed tripe, usually getting fresh whole tripe direct from the meat factories and giving it in quite large chunks to the adult hounds - youngsters needing it cut up more finely until they have full dentition with which to chew. Tripe can also be safely fed to very young puppies when it should be minced or very finely chopped, and scalded - the resultant broth making a naturally delicious and nutritious meal when added to wholemeal kibble. I allow my hounds of all ages as much tripe as they want, and it is surprising how much even young puppies will eat without any digestive upsets. The stools they pass after tripe meals are invariably firm and well-formed - a good indication of a healthy digestive system. Their growth rate is steady, and musculature well-formed and pronounced from a very early age. Given plenty of tripe to satisfy their appetites they do not get excessively fat or too heavy for fast-developing bones.

The most often voiced excuse for not feeding tripe ‘the Irish way’ is the mess and smell’ and the difficulty of coping with large tripe, but tripe can also be bought in most pet shops or dog food supplies ready minced in blocks or bags either fresh or frozen. Surely the health, well-being and pleasure our hounds derive from a good feed of meat-the food nature intended them to thrive on - is worth a slight smell and small effort required to empty the mince from its bag.

Linda Gover Owemore Irish Wolfhounds, Ireland