Posts Tagged ‘Balanced Diet’
Dog food nutrition is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for your pet. Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs. Dogs lack the ability to communicate their problems, so it’s up to their owners to determine how healthy they are. Diet directly affects your dog’s skin and coat, weight, energy level, and gastrointestinal function. Diet, environmental toxins, pharmaceuticals and stress all play a part in the health of companion animals. Dog nutrition influences overall health, including skin and coat condition.
Feeding your dog can be done in three different ways: dog food purchased at the supermarket, dog food made at home or a combination of both. If you do decide to purchase commercial dog food I would suggest doing some reading up about it, in the past few years many commercial dog foods have had to be recalled due to contaminants that are found in dog food. Many dog owners are increasingly choosing holistic dog food, over the commercially available pet food, in a bid to introduce their dogs to a healthier, more balanced diet. Dog food should contain little or no fillers at all, but most of them do so your actually not giving your dog the correct diet it needs to be healthy. Many recipes can be found on the Internet for dog meals you can make from your home.
Aside from what you choose to feed your dog it is important to ensure that your dog is not be given access to food all the time. This can create obesity, which can create a variety of different illness for your dog. Free-feeding is also very unhelpful for the training of meal times in puppies and leaving food out in hot summer months can bring flies, mites and other various rodents out of the woodwork. It is suggested your dog is on a feeding schedule and remember to only give the amount prescribed by your vet, too much food can also create obesity. Remember, dogs are scavengers; an empty bowl is often a trigger for pleading or browsing behaviour and does not mean that your dog is starving.
Feeding your dog table scraps can also be a bad training and nutrition habit. Your dog will beg while you eat your dinner, which can be uncomfortable for guests but also human fats, and foods are not always good for your dog as they are for you. I suggest feeding your family while your dog eats his food in another room. This way he won’t feel left out.
Dogs have shorter digestive tracts than humans and larger chunks can upset your dogs’ stomach. Your dog needs a meat-based diet, high in protein (which isn’t stored as fat) and fat and low in carbohydrate.
Nutrition isn’t always about diet. Good nutrition leads to good health and so do many other things, such as exercise, keeping its weight down (through good nutrition and regular exercise) keeping its teeth clean (next to obesity, periodontal disease is the one most commonly seen in the vet’s office) getting it to the vet for regular check-ups being observant about symptoms that might indicate a health problem and getting prompt and appropriate veterinary attention (information below).
You might also want to consider alternative treatments for any sickness or allergy your dog has. These may include nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage, as well as traditional medicines. These alternatives are all natural and better for your dog’s body than chemical drugs and have no side effects at all.
As more people understand the importance of nutrition to their own health, they’re starting to consider what’s in their dog’s food bowl as well. Maximum nutrition dog food can do a lot for your dog’s well being by improving its appearance, energy level and general state of health.
Learn what you should be feeding your dog at every stage of its life. By understanding what puppies eat in the wild, you will learn valuable clues as to what you should be feeding your domestic pup. The degree to which modern dogs experience ill health reflects the degree to which they are subjected to biologically inappropriate methods of feeding and exercising. If your dog constantly leaves some food in the bowl, you are probably feeding too much food. Maintain your dog’s nutrition, food, diet, and eating habits and he/she will live a joyful life with you and your loved ones.
Dog food nutrition is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for your pet. Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs. Dogs lack the ability to communicate their problems, so it’s up to their owners to determine how healthy they are. Diet directly affects your dog’s skin and coat, weight, energy level, and gastrointestinal function. Diet, environmental toxins, pharmaceuticals and stress all play a part in the health of companion animals. Dog nutrition influences overall health, including skin and coat condition.
Feeding your dog can be done in three different ways: dog food purchased at the supermarket, dog food made at home or a combination of both. If you do decide to purchase commercial dog food I would suggest doing some reading up about it, in the past few years many commercial dog foods have had to be recalled due to contaminants that are found in dog food. Many dog owners are increasingly choosing holistic dog food, over the commercially available pet food, in a bid to introduce their dogs to a healthier, more balanced diet. Dog food should contain little or no fillers at all, but most of them do so your actually not giving your dog the correct diet it needs to be healthy. Many recipes can be found on the Internet for dog meals you can make from your home.
Aside from what you choose to feed your dog it is important to ensure that your dog is not be given access to food all the time. This can create obesity, which can create a variety of different illness for your dog. Free-feeding is also very unhelpful for the training of meal times in puppies and leaving food out in hot summer months can bring flies, mites and other various rodents out of the woodwork. It is suggested your dog is on a feeding schedule and remember to only give the amount prescribed by your vet, too much food can also create obesity. Remember, dogs are scavengers; an empty bowl is often a trigger for pleading or browsing behaviour and does not mean that your dog is starving.
Feeding your dog table scraps can also be a bad training and nutrition habit. Your dog will beg while you eat your dinner, which can be uncomfortable for guests but also human fats, and foods are not always good for your dog as they are for you. I suggest feeding your family while your dog eats his food in another room. This way he won’t feel left out.
Dogs have shorter digestive tracts than humans and larger chunks can upset your dogs’ stomach. Your dog needs a meat-based diet, high in protein (which isn’t stored as fat) and fat and low in carbohydrate.
Nutrition isn’t always about diet. Good nutrition leads to good health and so do many other things, such as exercise, keeping its weight down (through good nutrition and regular exercise) keeping its teeth clean (next to obesity, periodontal disease is the one most commonly seen in the vet’s office) getting it to the vet for regular check-ups being observant about symptoms that might indicate a health problem and getting prompt and appropriate veterinary attention (information below).
You might also want to consider alternative treatments for any sickness or allergy your dog has. These may include nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage, as well as traditional medicines. These alternatives are all natural and better for your dog’s body than chemical drugs and have no side effects at all.
As more people understand the importance of nutrition to their own health, they’re starting to consider what’s in their dog’s food bowl as well. Maximum nutrition dog food can do a lot for your dog’s well being by improving its appearance, energy level and general state of health.
Learn what you should be feeding your dog at every stage of its life. By understanding what puppies eat in the wild, you will learn valuable clues as to what you should be feeding your domestic pup. The degree to which modern dogs experience ill health reflects the degree to which they are subjected to biologically inappropriate methods of feeding and exercising. If your dog constantly leaves some food in the bowl, you are probably feeding too much food. Maintain your dog’s nutrition, food, diet, and eating habits and he/she will live a joyful life with you and your loved ones.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Copyright Ó 2009 Wilhelmina Ford To Learn All About Dog Nutrition, Check Out, Dog Nutrition: Myths, Facts & Reality.
Recently, there has been talk and questions about what is the best thing to feed your dog? Some people advocate the BARF or bones and raw food diet. Some feel that raw bones should be fed as a supplement to the dogs regular diet, and some believe an all meat diet is best. The simple truth is, a meat based, high quality dry food is the best solution. The cheap grocery store brands of dry dog food are made up mostly of grain, usually corn. Read the ingredients on the bag and look for protein, fat and Omega-3 fatty acid content. There should be at least 30% protein and at least 18% fat, as well as the Omega-3 fatty acids for immune system health, cell function, energy production and metabolism. These fatty acids also aid neurological development. Calcium and phosphorous are needed for teeth and bone development.
Some specific ingredients to look for when choosing a dry food for your dog or puppy include, lamb meal, which is better than just lamb because the lamb includes moisture content, which is not as optimal. Also, poultry meal, usually chicken, but not poultry by-product. Fat content is also important, but look for poultry tallow as the fat source as it is more easily digested than animal fat, which could come from anywhere or anything. Keep in mind that if you feed your dog a cheap, grain-based food, you will need to feed him twice as much to satisfy his hunger and you still would not provide the nutritional balance he needs.
If you dog develops a food allergy, it will be due to a specific ingredient, no matter which brand you feed your dog. Your vet will help you pinpoint the problem and decide the best food for your dogs particular allergy. Some indications of food allergy include, coat and skin problems (hotspots) and digestive or even respiratory symptoms. A change of food will take at least 8 weeks before you see an improvement.
What about treats? Are they part of a balanced diet for your dog? The answer is yes. In moderation treats are good for your pet. Try to get treats that do not contain a high amount of soybean and artificial color. Fruit, except for grapes and raisins are a good choice, as they are toxic to dogs. My 3 Dobermans like apples, watermelon and bananas. They can also have bits of cooked beef or chicken. In addition to treats, it is a good idea to provide your dog or puppy with a high quality, human grade pet vitamin. These supplements provide antioxidants, which fight cancer causing free radicals, as well as digestive enzymes needed for digestion that are lost in processing of dry dog food.
The older or senior dog requires some special feeding care. How do you know when your dog should be considered a senior? It actually depends on the size of the dog. Because large dogs do not tend to live as long as small dogs, a dog weighing 91 pounds can be feed a senior formula. Up to 90 pounds, a dog can be considered senior at age 6. Some of the health changes older dogs face are dental problems, obesity and failing eyesight. They require fewer calories but not decreased protein.
I just want to say a word here about nutrition for large breed puppies. The quality dog food brands have developed a special formula for puppies that will grow to be over 65 pounds. This is important because too much development too quickly can cause bone and joint problems as the puppy grows. The puppy should be well fed, but not overweight. The balance of nutrition in the large breed formulas is designed to prevent puppies growing too big too fast. I hope this helps answer some of the questions about what and how to feed your dog or puppy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Recently, there has been talk and questions about what is the best thing to feed your dog? Some people advocate the BARF or bones and raw food diet. Some feel that raw bones should be fed as a supplement to the dogs regular diet, and some believe an all meat diet is best. The simple truth is, a meat based, high quality dry food is the best solution. The cheap grocery store brands of dry dog food are made up mostly of grain, usually corn. Read the ingredients on the bag and look for protein, fat and Omega-3 fatty acid content. There should be at least 30% protein and at least 18% fat, as well as the Omega-3 fatty acids for immune system health, cell function, energy production and metabolism. These fatty acids also aid neurological development. Calcium and phosphorous are needed for teeth and bone development.
Some specific ingredients to look for when choosing a dry food for your dog or puppy include, lamb meal, which is better than just lamb because the lamb includes moisture content, which is not as optimal. Also, poultry meal, usually chicken, but not poultry by-product. Fat content is also important, but look for poultry tallow as the fat source as it is more easily digested than animal fat, which could come from anywhere or anything. Keep in mind that if you feed your dog a cheap, grain-based food, you will need to feed him twice as much to satisfy his hunger and you still would not provide the nutritional balance he needs.
If you dog develops a food allergy, it will be due to a specific ingredient, no matter which brand you feed your dog. Your vet will help you pinpoint the problem and decide the best food for your dogs particular allergy. Some indications of food allergy include, coat and skin problems (hotspots) and digestive or even respiratory symptoms. A change of food will take at least 8 weeks before you see an improvement.
What about treats? Are they part of a balanced diet for your dog? The answer is yes. In moderation treats are good for your pet. Try to get treats that do not contain a high amount of soybean and artificial color. Fruit, except for grapes and raisins are a good choice, as they are toxic to dogs. My 3 Dobermans like apples, watermelon and bananas. They can also have bits of cooked beef or chicken. In addition to treats, it is a good idea to provide your dog or puppy with a high quality, human grade pet vitamin. These supplements provide antioxidants, which fight cancer causing free radicals, as well as digestive enzymes needed for digestion that are lost in processing of dry dog food.
The older or senior dog requires some special feeding care. How do you know when your dog should be considered a senior? It actually depends on the size of the dog. Because large dogs do not tend to live as long as small dogs, a dog weighing 91 pounds can be feed a senior formula. Up to 90 pounds, a dog can be considered senior at age 6. Some of the health changes older dogs face are dental problems, obesity and failing eyesight. They require fewer calories but not decreased protein.
I just want to say a word here about nutrition for large breed puppies. The quality dog food brands have developed a special formula for puppies that will grow to be over 65 pounds. This is important because too much development too quickly can cause bone and joint problems as the puppy grows. The puppy should be well fed, but not overweight. The balance of nutrition in the large breed formulas is designed to prevent puppies growing too big too fast. I hope this helps answer some of the questions about what and how to feed your dog or puppy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to petvitamins4u.com or to theroadhousedobes.com for further information
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items like treats are very important to their health. They can be used for different purposes. Sometimes you will use them as a reward when training other times just give them something enjoyable just because you love your friend. However you use them it is important to know your choices.
How these snacks can improve and maintain your pet’s health: The most common way is to clean and maintain their teeth. The dog treat should be chewable and encourage your pet to use their teeth. When they do this they will be automatically cleaning their teeth. Examples of these are rawhide (like beef jerky) snacks that take plenty of chewing. Another is a bone that you can get fresh from your local butcher or again in snack form from the pet store.
Any snack you give your pet should be nutritious. For canines protein is the most common as they are primarily meat eaters. There are many varieties of these on the market. They are often in the form of strips and sometimes nuggets or biscuits. Minerals and vitamins should not be forgotten. These are also vital to your pet’s health, and many snacks will include these.
Dog treats come in many shapes and sizes. You can get them in grocery stores, in the pet section or your local pet store. Try to take a quick look at ingredients to be sure that your pet is receiving the best nutrition from their snack and not a whole lot of chemicals. Sometimes there are a surprising amount of chemicals in these products, and the more natural ingredients they have the better they will be for your pet.
One way to ensure your pet is getting healthy ingredients in their snacks is to make them yourself. Remember there is a balanced diet your pet should have in order to stay healthy and happy. 40 percent meat, 30 percent vegetables and 30 percent starch. Exceptions to these catagories are if they are on a vegetarian diet, which should only be done when consulting your vetenarian. There are many recepies on line for snacks and dog food.
As you can see there are many dog treats available for your pet, and even some you can make yourself. Always remember that your pet depends on you to help him keep healthy and happy.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Love your dog with treats today! Learn how to make dog treats at home and find out more about dog treats at Home-made Dog Treats
Is healthy dog food a myth? You’ve probably wondered, since hearing about the recent dog food recalls. Pet lovers like you fear that their dogs will suffer like so many others that ate food containing dangerous ingredients – wheat gluten and a product used in the production of plastics.
If you’re like other dog owners, you’re taking a much closer look at those dog food labels. They claim to offer the top quality, balanced diet for your pet, but how can you know if it’s true? How do you guarantee that your dog eats only healthy food? Is it even possible to get healthy dog food from manufacturers now?
It has become tougher to find inexpensive healthy dog food. They use high levels of preservatives and take a lot of processing that destroys nutrients. Many use filler to make up the quantity but it does nothing for quality. The most common fillers are wheat and corn. Dogs don’t need corn. In fact, it can be slow to digest, giving your dog no nutrients whatsoever.
Corn and wheat can also trigger allergies in some dogs. Any grain product should include the entire grain so your dog gets all the benefits including fiber, vitamins and minerals. Look for rolled oats, barley, millet and brown rice as these will provide the best nutritional value.
When you read the dog food label, look for those with the best ingredient ratio, which is 40% meat, 50% vegetables and 10% grains. The items are listed in order of quantity. You’ll want to make sure meat is at the top of the list.
Watch out for meat by-products as this can include indigestible parts of the animals such as feet and beaks. Also, be aware of manufacturers who list meat as the main product, and then follow it with meat by-products. This alters the nutritional ratio significantly.
Did you know that Vitamins A and B make good preservatives? Look for labels that list these instead of the cancer-causing chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.
Choose a good quality, reputable dog food rather than economy brands as the premium food will contain ingredients of higher nutritional value.
Keep in mind that your dog might benefit more from a specific type of dog food, rather than a one-for-all brand. While both types of food offer value, some dogs have additional needs. Factors include your breed’s inherited health risks, your dog’s activity levels and any other underlying conditions that require certain dog food nutrients.
If you want to ensure your dog receives only healthy dog food, you can make it yourself. There are many recipes available online and in dog recipe books. Run an Internet search and you’re sure to find a wealth of choices. Look for dog-related forums. People love to go online and chat about their favorite subject – their pets – and share recipes.
Knowing how to read dog food labels will help you to identify the best product for your pet, but you can’t beat homemade for your peace of mind and to provide the best nutritional and healthy dog food to your beloved best friend.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Sylvia Dickens is an award-winning journalist who is also a lifelong dog owner. You can read more Dog Training tips on her site. Pick up your free copy of her latest booklet, “Unveiling the Myths & Mysteries of Owning a Puppy”
The philosophy behind this dog diet is to return to the diet So, you have decided to go natural? Good choice. Now that you have turned away from the processed food, what options are available for treats? You can make your own natural dog treats at home. Simply give your dog a baby carrot or piece of apple as a natural treat. Dogs love ice cubes as a snack. This will not alter his diet at all.. ||The dog’s diet can include homemade treats such as frozen vegetable juice or dog biscuits made from organic ingredients. Do remember to subtract the amount of treats from the daily regimen at mealtime to keep the diet balanced properly.|A healthy diet should allow your pet to thrive not simply survive. A vegetarian dog diet will, too frequently, result in a dog who shows signs and indications of a lesser quality of health than a dog fed a well balanced diet contain animal products. ||Your dog’s body requires high amounts of protein. Protein is frequently provided through animal tissue and bones in the wild, as well as, in most varieties of manufactured dog diets. ||Amino acids are also key to your dog’s health. Only 12 of the 22 essential amino acids can be produced by your dog’s body. The other 10 amino acids must be provided to your pet through your dog’s diet. A vegetarian dog diet has trouble meeting the requirements to allow your dog to thrive under these circumstances.} For instance, if the dog’s diet typically includes five baby carrots a day, you may want to subtract this from the meal and use them throughout the day as treats.}||Who knows what is really in that bag of kibble at the grocery store? You have turned over the package and read the ingredients, but still it seems baffling. What do all of those long, scientific words really mean? The only way to really know what your dog’s diet consists of is by making it yourself at home.|You want your furry friend to eat right. You are very aware of the numerous benefits of a healthy and nutritious dog diet, but where can you find the best food for your pet?||So many excellent types of dog food are out on the market today. You can purchase bags or cans of dog food simply and conveniently from your local grocery or department store. Store chains are now beginning to offer varieties of dog food that are higher in quality and lower in cost.|}Is it difficult to make a natural diet from home for your dog? No, a little bit of time and knowledge will leave your dog’s diet healthy and nourishing. And, the best part, you will know what your best friend is eating.
A dog’s diet affects every aspect of their health and well being. You undoubtedly want only the very best for your furry friend. When it comes to choosing the best for your dog’s diet, you have so many options available. It can be hard to determine which food will have the most positive effect on your dog’s diet and health. Which is better, canned dog food or dry kibble?
A significant advantage of canned dog food is the quality. Frequently, you will find that canned dog food offers large chunks of real meat for your pet. Fewer additives and fillers are found in most brands of canned dog food. Knowing the importance of high-quality ingredients, canned dog food certainly has its place in a healthy, balanced dog diet.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
my name is Jeniffer and i am “Pet” enthusiast i write articles and review products related to “Pets” visit my site : sweet puppy dog I think that our pets is a wonderful gift we have. and we must give them love and care I believe that most of us really feel they are part of the family…!!! i am trying to help people learn about those lovely pets as much possible…
How you should be feeding your puppy is perhaps one of the first concerns of the new puppy owner. After all, you want the little guy to grow up big and strong, or at least as big as he will grow. So just how will this puppy feeding be carried out?
First off, realize that your puppy is not just a miniature version of an adult dog. He has his own nutritional requirements that go into puppy feeding. Pound for pound a puppy needs about twice the nutrition of the adult dog. What the requirements are for feeding an adult dog varies with breed, size, activity level, etc.
And although you may have thought dogs were carnivores, understand that they are really omnivores just like us. This means they can and will eat more than just meat. In fact to have a balanced diet, they require more than just meat. So, first off, don’t begin your puppy feeding with just meat. (Have I repeated that enough?)
Dogs, like humans to some extent, require protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Studies have shown that dogs seem to have no need for carbohydrates although many prepared dog foods and puppy foods may be up to 50% or more carbohydrates. This is why it is very important to read puppy food and dog food labels.
When feeding puppy, realize he usually requires about 28 – 30% protein in his diet. Protein can, and should, come from more sources than just meat. Include milk, eggs and cheese along with meat when feeding your puppy.
When considering feeding fat to your dog, the amount you feed varies by the requirements of the dog. An inactive dog may only need 5% fat. A very active working dog may need up to 20% fat. Going with puppies needing generally twice what adults need, you can see you need quite a bit of fat when feeding your puppy but it does vary. Best thing to do when adding fat to your puppy food is to keep an eye on your puppy. Don’t let him start getting fat.
Just like with humans, too many carbohydrates can be bad for your puppy. Usually carbs are used to bulk up a prepared dog food with 50% or more of the food coming from inexpensive carbohydrate, and especially starchy, sources. This is not necessary for dogs and studies have found that dogs do not need carbs as an essential part of their diets.
Reading puppy and dog food labels you may find carbohydrate sources such as grains, potatoes, rice, milk and even sugar in some form. As these usually have been cooked, a dog can digest them somewhat. Give a dog a raw potato or whole grains and you will find a dog that will not be able to handle these. In other words, you will have a dog with an upset digestive system. Some uncooked starches cause diarrhea and some, such as whole grains, pass right through untouched by his digestive system. Not a good thing when puppy feeding.
So read your dog food labels and make sure the puppy food or dog food you buy has these elements within it. Don’t buy anything with too much carbohydates in it as dogs just don’t need it. But do buy puppy food and dog food with protein sources, fat and vitamins and minerals. Some green vegetables in the mix won’t hurt at all.
copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Visit our Puppy Training website at ezpuppytraining.com/ for a free course on “Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training”. Find more puppy training and care tips at our website ezpuppytraining.com.
Natural Dog Food Distributors
Your Flint River Ranch distributor can tell you all about the advantages of a dog food that is natural, about how raw dog food going into a product will give your best friend better digestive health and that natural dog food is the best food to give your pet, because your pet was designed to eat foods from nature. You can get these qualities when you shop for Flint River products, at Flint they know that your pet is an animal and that it was born to eat certain foods found in nature, just as with you and I. The River Ranch team wants your pet to be as healthy as they can be, and their products are especially designed to offer the right caloric and fat balance to enable them to have a well balanced diet and good digestive health to mimic what they were meant to eat in nature. They even have healthful snacks for your pets because, just like humans, our pets do a little snacking now and then, and it pays off to have the right foods to sate that craving. Healthy eating habits are just as important for those of us with four legs.
No pet is made the same, and health issues always arise with animals, just as with humans. With so many advances in research you can find several options to support animal health, but sometimes preventative measures on a daily basis can help keep from having to pursue remedies for severe problems gone unchecked. Any Flint River Ranch distributor can tell you that there are holistic options when you are choosing the variety of FRR foods for your pet. Holistic pet food means that your pet will find comfort from common pet ailments through the natural course of their diet. Your overweight or aging companion will appreciate the gently balanced supplements that can be found in Flint River Ranch pet food varieties. Flint Rive Ranch knows how important that it is for you to provide a quality pet food at a reasonable price, so the nutrient dense formulas reduce waste, enabling you to get more for your spending money when ordering your all natural pet food, and when you’re talking about your pet’s well being, all natural is the way to go.
The reason that you purchase food for your pet is to care for them; they are members of your family and your spiritual caretakers. The link that man has with their pets is one that extends beyond company, they are companions, and they are for some the only social support in their lives. When you care for your pet, you should treat them as the important family member that they are and insist on quality and value to enable them to live a long and happy life with you. To give a pet the best means to give them Flint River Ranch when it’s time to eat, the result of giving them a quality food that cares for them from the inside makes their life more pleasant on the outside.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Safe-T-Pet is the author of this article on Flint River Ranch. Safe-T-Pet is dedicated to providing you with only the finest in pet supply products and is proud to be an independent distributor of Flint River Ranch pet foods (distributor #353K). Find more information about this Distributor at compare dog food brandshere.