While you may be aware of the effects a good diet may have on your dog’s bone and joint development, you may not consider the subtle effect that dog food has on your dog’s weight. Many brand dog foods contain wheat or other ‘fillers’ that can not only cause allergies in your dog but can be harder for their systems to digest. These fillers also do little to actually fill up your pup, causing him or her to need more food to satisfy his or her nutritional needs.
Premium dog foods tend to use less fillers and more ‘real food’ proteins. The result is a food that fulfills your dogs nutritional needs, aids in proper bone and joint growth, and is less likely to cause food allergies. On top of that, dogs that eat premium dog foods often need to consume less food to feel full.
Side by side a dog that eats lower grade dog foods may slowly pack on the pounds, or go around languishing for the nutrition he or she needs. Meanwhile a dog that consumes premium dog food will be able to turn those healthy proteins into energy, allowing them to maintain a fit and active lifestyle. If your dog has been struggling with weight, consider changing to a premium brand dog food with real food ingredients instead of fillers like wheat or corn. The change could be just what your pet needs to tip the scale in his or her favor.
If your dog has ever snuck a little nibble from under the table, or is on a ‘real food’ diet, you may be wondering what the fuss over dogs eating table scraps is about. Unlike ‘real food’ table scraps are actually unhealthy for your dog for a number of reasons. But, when your dog steals a small amount, you may not notice it make much of a difference.
The maid difference between ‘real food’ and table scraps is consistency. Real food is whole, uncooked foods that are healthy for your dog. Table scraps, on the other hand, is often cooked and will stick to your dog’s teeth. Such ‘sticky’ foods can cause periodontal disease, or other health problems.
The other major contributor to the unhealthiness of table scraps is food poisoning. A large number of foods is toxic to dogs, or cause allergies and intolerance if eaten consistently. Wheat and corn are foods that can cause intolerances in dogs, and are often part of what falls of the table. Other foods that are toxic to dogs include onions and onion powders, which are frequently used in seasonings, as well as avocados and eggplants. You may think you know what your dog is scarfing when they get into table scraps but the presence of onion powder or wheat might be unknown to you and will affect your dog’s health in the long term.
Of course, everyone’s dog steals a little extra snack at some point. While the stolen tidbit may result in stomach upset or cramps, and the need for an extra tooth brushing it’s not the end for your beloved dog.
Many new puppy parents may not realize the importance of dog food in their puppy’s health and growth. But the proper dog food, or more precisely puppy food, can keep you out of the Veterinarian’s office in years to come. There are many different options for feeding your puppy, from canned or moist to dry foods, brand, holistic, and organic foods, as well as foods that vary by dog age and breed.
For puppies the most important thing is to buy a premium brand of dog food that matches their age and breed or size. By feeding your dog slightly more expensive foods while they are growing and developing their muscles and bodies you will be saving yourself money in the future. Puppies whose diets are not well designed to fit their growing bodies and breed’s needs often suffer from musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia. Non-premium, or low-cost, store brands can also create food allergies in your pet. Dogs have been shown to become sensitive to the “filler” foods used in lower-cost brand name dog and puppy food, like wheat and corn.
Choosing the best food for your puppy can save you money in the long-term, even though it may seem you’re spending more now. Dog obesity, allergies, and growth and musculoskeletal disorders can be avoided if you start your puppy out right, with a premium dog food designed to meet their needs for growth.
The choice may be made because a dog owner feels that slaughtering animals for dog food is cruel, or are concerned that the meats their dogs consume, in dog food or otherwise, may be contaminated with pathogenic organisms. Some dog owners feel that their dog benefits from a vegetarian diet because a vegetarian diet helps calm their pet. The truth is that, while canines are indeed carnivores, they are capable of digesting vegetables and can be quite healthy on a well-rounded vegetarian diet.
A healthy vegetarian dog food should include vegetable proteins, hard vegetables for teeth health like carrots, healthy carbohydrates such as rice, oatmeal, millet, or sweet potatoes, and vegetable oils like sunflower or canola oil. Some vegetarians recommend adding eggs, milk, honey, or edible mushrooms for protein and extra vitamins.
All dog foods should avoid foods your pet is allergic to and it is important to add new foods to their diet slowly, to avoid poisoning your pet. If your dog shows a sensitivity or allergy to a food, cut it from his meals. Foods to avoid, due to toxicity and common allergies among dogs are: Onions, soy, corn, wheat, flax, and brewer’s yeast. Feeding these foods to your dog could actually harm your dog and many of them provide your pet with no digestible nutrition.
A vegetarian diet can be calming for hyper or aggressive dogs, or help your dog’s meals fit with your dietary habits. Always make sure to supply a variety of vegetables and fruits to ensure that he or she is getting a balanced diet, and add new foods one at a time to make sure your pet is not allergic to it.
What your dog eats can make a big impact on your dog’s health. Good dog food has been shown to increase your pet’s life span. But how do you choose the best food for your dog?
The first rule in choosing dog food is to know what your pet needs. Has your veterinarian recommended a special diet, is your dog overweight, or is your dog a puppy, senior, or pregnant? Once you’ve answered these basic questions you can move on to selecting the right food for your dog.
What your dog likes may also factor into your choice. Smaller dogs may have trouble chewing large chucks of dry dog food so tiny pieces may be best for smaller breeds. Some dogs prefer dry food, while others may go nuts for wet. If your dog has a preference try to work with him, otherwise it’s time to start looking at labels.
Thanks to the Association of American Feed Control Officials we now have published standards for dog food, which encourages manufacturers to make their food as healthy as we’d like it to be. AAFCO’s website, found at http://aafco.org/, not only has dog food nutrient profiles to aid in your research but also alerts consumers to dog food recalls and other health concerns that are related to feeding your pet.
Now that you know your dog’s eating profile, what should you be looking for on the label? Here’s a list of ingredients that you will find in good dog foods.
- Beef, chicken, lamb, turkey and other specifically named meat proteins. Foods with protein or meat ‘meal’ are made with less actual meat than foods with named whole meats. Also, be aware that foods with fish may contain ethoxguin, a product used to preserve non-human grade fish. Unless a dog food specifically states that the fish they use is ethoxyquin free don’t buy it.
- Rice, Amaranth, Oatmeal, Millet, and Sweet Potatoes are acceptable fillers for dog food. As dog’s utilize protein and meat fats better than they do carbohydrates it’s important to get a dog food that has less carbs than it does protein and meat fats.
- Animal fats are also good for your dog as they promote a healthy, shiny coat. Try to avoid generic fats, and buy dog foods that specifically name which animal fats they use. Also try to avoid foods that use beef tallow, vegetable oil, poultry fat, and mineral oils as they are not as good for your dog.
While these good ingredients can be found in many dog foods, some foods use ingredients that are unhealthy, or downright harmful for your pet. Here are the main bad ingredients to look out for:
- Wheat is often used as filler, and manufacturers like to split it up in the ingredients list so that it looks like there is more quality food in their products. Some dogs are also allergic to wheat, as well as brewer’s yeast, soy, and flax.
- Dogs cannot digest corn, so while it does contain protine and is often used as filler in dog food for that reason, it should be avoided.
- Also, chemical preservatives such as “ethoxyquin,” “BHA,” “BHT,” and “propylene glycol” can cause cancer, liver and kidney failure, and other health issues. They may make the food last longer, but as dogs are easier to poision than humans, they should be avoided at all cost. Choose foods that use natural preservative instead.
- Along the same lines, but with less harmful side effects are foods with food coloring and flavor additives. That is a quick sign that there aren’t enough healthy meats and fats in the dog food.
- Generic ingredients such as animal byproducts, which are no healthier for your dog than they are for you, or unspecific ingredients like ‘poultry meal’ should be avoided because you don’t really know what you’re feeding your pet.
- Brewer’s rice is the leftover of the rice milling process and should be avoided, as it contains no nutrition whatsoever.
- Onion is an ingredient that may seem harmless, but is actually toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. Unfortunately there are some dog foods which use onion or onion powder as flavoring.
Knowing your dog and knowing what to look for on the label will help you in the search for the perfect dog food. Even after you find it, you may desire to rotate your dog’s selection of healthy dog foods every few months to ensure that your pet gets a more balanced diet.
With literally hundreds of different brands and types of dog treats out on the market, how do you select the best? Well, here are a few tips to help you pick the healthiest treats for your dog.
- As with dog food, dog treats that contain real ingredients like chicken or beef as apposed to chicken or beef “meal” are best for your dog.
- Try to choose treats that offer less additives like wheat, artificial colorings and flavors, or ‘animal byproducts.’
- Avoid foods or treats with ingredients that dogs are allergic to like brewer’s yeast, soy, avocado, or onions.
- For overweight dogs many veterinarians recommend feeding them healthy vegetables and grains, like sweet potatoes, rice, amaranth, bananas, peanut butter, millet, or carrots to reduce fat content in your dog’s diet.
- Never give your dog human ‘junk food’ like candies or chocolates as they can be toxic to your pet and also cause dental disease.
Read the label of any treat you are thinking of feeding to your dog to ensure that it is full of healthy, real foods. To avoid causing obesity in your pet, make sure to treat your pet in moderation. Only one treat at a time is a good rule of thumb.
