Posts Tagged ‘Commercial Pet Food’
Dangers of commercial dog food
Do you know that the commercial dog food that you are giving your dog is reducing your loved pet’s lifetime daily? Do you know that the commercial food that you are giving is slowly killing your dog because you have not had time to find the right kind of food for your pet?
If you had known this you certainly would not be feeding your pet with slow poison. Yes that is what you have been doing to your pet by feeding him highly processed commercial pet food. You might be finding it to hard to believe but that is the fact. Consult a good veterinarian to understand how artificial commercial food can affect your dog. All pets that consume commercial dog food are highly susceptible for premature death.
Do you know what most of the popular dog food brands are concerned about? They are certainly not concerned about your pet’s good health; they are just concerned about the money they make by the end of the day. So when you shop next time for pet food do not just pick the first pack that you see in your grocery store, spend some time to identify the right kind of food for your pet. Make sure that the product you are selecting does not have any chemical preservatives or genetically modified products in them. However, dog food that is marked ‘chemical-free’ can still have high concentration of chemicals in them. By the label ‘chemical-free’ all that they are certifying is that they have not added any special chemicals during the manufacturing process in their factory. It does not vouch that the product is totally chemical free. Chemicals can be in the form of chemically treated raw materials that is used in manufacturing the pet food. So your pet is not totally safe.
If you want to save your pet that is totally relying on you, from all these risks, you must opt for safer pet food such as natural pet food products. You can get quality dog food and cat food products that are totally made of natural products. These natural food products are not heavily processed so the taste is not taken away from the food, they are carefully prepared to retain the flavor and taste that your pets would love. You can also find oven-baked food. As they do not contain any regular chemical preservatives that are normally found in commercial dog food they are manufactured in small batches and you can get them shipped fresh to your door. Reliable natural dog food companies like Flint River Ranch supply fresh food within 30 days from the date of manufacturing. You do not have to pay for the door delivery.
You don’t have to feel guilty anymore about feeding your pet with slow poison. Say good bye to all those pet food companies that are out there to just get your money and kill your dog. Opt for natural pet food that your dog will enjoy and save your pet from all risks.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Dupree Rubin is author of this article on Flint River Ranch Dog Food. Find more information about Flint River Ranch Cat Food here.
It goes without saying that your dog needs suitable nutrition to remain healthy. Vets and pet food manufacturers often have differing views on appropriate nutrition for your dog. Although commercial pet food manufacturers are motivated in large part by profits, commercially prepared foods are routinely recommended as part of an adequate, or good, diet for your dog. Sometimes your vet or dog breeder may approve of commercially prepared foods as your dog’s sole diet. Many experts, however, tend to prefer a largely natural diet which for dogs is invariably comprised of meat and bones. Raw is preferable to cooked, as some of the minerals are definitely lost in the cooking process.
The reason why the commercially prepared pet food is so often fed to our dogs, is because, apart from the convenience, it can (depending upon the quality) actually contain many of the nutrients which are essential to your dog’s wellbeing. The key word here is quality. There are in fact very, very few commercial manufacturers which produce nutrient-rich food. And they’re not the brands you find in your supermarket, or even in most pet stores or vetinarians.
Raw bones with a little dry food as well as occasional rice or pasta, and perhaps the odd quality food scrap from your table, will generally contain most of the nutrients which your dog needs.
All dogs must obtain reasonable nutrition from their food to maintain excellent health and performance. The main nutrients required by your dog are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Vitamin or mineral deficiency in dogs fed a commercially manufactured diet today is not widely publicised. But then again, the slosh and dried formulae which are readily available from your vet or the local supermarket are not your dog’s natural diet. If your dog was left to fend for itself in the wild (assuming it could manage to adapt, that is), would choose raw meat. And one of the reasons why meat, and especially bones, are so good, is the chewing action and the teeth cleaning function which the bones perform. Of course, there are also commercially prepared substitutes which can also effectively clean your dog‘s teeth and satisfy his/her need to chew.
A lesser known fact is that to feed your dog only meat (with no bones and no cereals or other carbohydrate source) can cause severe deficiencies: your dog is likely to become lethargic, sick, and even death has been known to occur from an all meat diet. But what about dogs in the wild, I hear you ask? Isn’t meat a dog’s natural diet? Isn’t that what you just said, Brigitte? Well, yes and no: in the wild dogs eat the whole of their prey, not simply muscle meat – they thus obtain vegetable matter from the digestive tract of their prey, and calcium from the bones. As well, wild dogs occasionally, but routinely, add to their diet with plants, fruit and berries.
Most dogs relish some raw fruit and vegetables in their diet, so long as that’s what they’re used to. A dog who has been fed commercially prepared dog food all of its life won’t be used to the taste of fresh food, so may well turn up his/her nose if you introduce such healthy food later in life. But persevere – try hand feeding pieces of carrot or apple to begin with. And if your dog is still very young, all the better. Start as you mean to go on and feed him/her some raw fruit and vegetables from time to time. Your dog’s health will benefit!
(c) 2005, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in natural health for dogs. For your free special report, as well as weekly tips, information, strategies and resources for a healthier happier dog, click here for your dog health report.
Due to the recent pet food recall, millions of pet owners are left feeling daunted and bewildered as to why this incident happened. So many dogs and cats were left sick and worse yet, many more died. And since most pet owners depend on commercial pet food to feed their dogs, they are now skeptical about which brand of food to buy and what type of food is safe for their dogs.
Who Can The Consumers Count On? Commercial pet foods have been contaminated with harmful chemicals, including mycotoxins (toxins produced by fungi). The FDA and food manufacturers have authorized several recalls after a defective food is found. The FDA and the food company join together to find out the main cause of the problem and prevent it from happening again.
Knowledge Is Power: When it comes to getting the best dog food possible, you need to know what to look for and what to avoid. Below are some ways to monitor the food you are giving your dog to ensure its safety:
1. Check the expiration date on all foods and treats before feeding them to your dog. Doing so will help you avoid any items that are scheduled to go bad. While this is a wise consumer action on your part, ironically enough the food could still be poisonous to your animals because of preservatives and other chemicals that are added for taste, longevity, and texture. Try shopping organic if possible.
2. If the food or treat is not yet expired but appears to be stale or has a foul odor, do not feed it to your dog and contact the company/manufacturer. There probably isn’t much you can do in terms of getting your money back, but by contacting the producer of the food themselves, you may be a small part of a larger action to have a recall initiated. Remember, if nobody complains that nothing gets done.
3. Consult with your vet if your dog shows any symptoms of abnormal or unusual behavior. Early treatment will result in a better chance of full recovery. It’s safe to say that some of the dogs and cats that were killed by tainted pet food may have survived had the owners’ brought them to the veterinarian at the first signs of illness. Take the situation seriously if you sense that you are dog is having a reaction. Remember, the threat is real and many pets have died.
4. To ensure the safety of the food that your pet is eating, keep informed of the latest news on pet food recalls. The best way to do this is to go online and type in “pet food recall”. Read through as many articles as possible.
Try to avoid information that is put out by pet food manufacturers themselves. It’s not that the information is not reliable, but consider the fact that these companies are going to sugarcoat the dangers of pet food is best possible. It is their livelihood after all. They are in the business of selling pet food!
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Jane Saeman loves dogs and strives to keep other dog lovers informed. A whole world awaits other dog lovers. Find out how cute the dog in your life is at my website which is at www.PicturesOfMyDogs.com
Busy people generally tend to shy away from home prepared food for themselves as well as their dogs. But relying on others for your and your dog’s nutritional needs is likely to ensure your dog’s health will suffer, if not your own.
What it really boils down to, is time. You think preparing homemade dog food is not time efficient, perhaps messy, and how can you be sure it’s healthy? Don’t commercial pet food manufacturers know more than you do?
No. Commercial pet food manufacturers are chasing the mighty dollar, just as most people are. Generally, they have very little interest in good quality. By the time you have finished reading this article, you’ll know more than they do.
Is homemade dog food preparation going to be messy?
No, not once you have the hang of what you’re doing, which is where I come in. I’m here to help you every step of the way.
Does it take a long time to prepare homemade dog food?
No, once you’ve got the hang of what you’re doing, it incredibly quick and easy.
Just as it can be in preparing your own homemade food.
So I’ve knocked away some of the most common excuses for not preparing your homemade dog food. But, as you still hesitate, there may be one hurdle in the way, which we haven’t covered.
You have been accustomed to believe commercial dog food is better than anything else. Your vet may have told you. Your parents may have told you. You see people feeding commercial pet food all the time. Can they all be wrong?
Yes!
Because none of them are looking to their dog’s origins. Dog evolved in the wild over many thousands of years, hunting in packs in times of plenty and eating carrion or plant matter in times of famine.
In contrast, commercial dog food typically pellets, is not raw or of the quality a hunted animal is. Dogs digestive systems and nutritional requirements have not changed or adapted, just because they are now domestic.
The best way to ensure your dog maintains not just good, but excellent health is to make homemade dog food, based on a wild dog’s diet. Sure, it isn’t possible to exactly duplicate a wild dog’s diet, but we can come so close that it won’t affect your dog’s health.
When you’re shopping in the supermarket, it’s just as easy to buy raw meat and bones as it is to purchase a packet. You can buy enough to keep your dog going until the next time you shop. Freezing food is an acceptable way to keep it, as it is not so destructive as cooking. Three or four days of fresh food and the rest thawed frozen food will be absolutely adequate to maintain good health.
Once you’ve measured out the food the first time, it’s just a matter of routine.
Keeping all the ingredients together means it’s convenient.
By making your own homemade dog food, you have control over the quality and the ingredients. This is critical to your dog’s good health as many ingredients in commercial pet food is toxic, not natural, not nutritious and certainly isn’t raw.
Try your dog on raw meat and bones for a month and you’ll see a big smile on his face!
Couple that with his drastically reduced health bills, and you’ll be the next one grinning.
Warning: in older dogs there can be an initial clearing period. This is natural and normal, but can look alarming if you don’t know what’s happening.
Busy people generally tend to shy away from home prepared food for themselves as well as their dogs. But relying on others for your and your dog’s nutritional needs is likely to ensure your dog’s health will suffer, if not your own.
What it really boils down to, is time. You think preparing homemade dog food is not time efficient, perhaps messy, and how can you be sure it’s healthy? Don’t commercial pet food manufacturers know more than you do?
No. Commercial pet food manufacturers are chasing the mighty dollar, just as most people are. Generally, they have very little interest in good quality. By the time you have finished reading this article, you’ll know more than they do.
Is homemade dog food preparation going to be messy?
No, not once you have the hang of what you’re doing, which is where I come in. I’m here to help you every step of the way.
Does it take a long time to prepare homemade dog food?
No, once you’ve got the hang of what you’re doing, it incredibly quick and easy.
Just as it can be in preparing your own homemade food.
So I’ve knocked away some of the most common excuses for not preparing your homemade dog food. But, as you still hesitate, there may be one hurdle in the way, which we haven’t covered.
You have been accustomed to believe commercial dog food is better than anything else. Your vet may have told you. Your parents may have told you. You see people feeding commercial pet food all the time. Can they all be wrong?
Yes!
Because none of them are looking to their dog’s origins. Dog evolved in the wild over many thousands of years, hunting in packs in times of plenty and eating carrion or plant matter in times of famine.
In contrast, commercial dog food typically pellets, is not raw or of the quality a hunted animal is. Dogs digestive systems and nutritional requirements have not changed or adapted, just because they are now domestic.
The best way to ensure your dog maintains not just good, but excellent health is to make homemade dog food, based on a wild dog’s diet. Sure, it isn’t possible to exactly duplicate a wild dog’s diet, but we can come so close that it won’t affect your dog’s health.
When you’re shopping in the supermarket, it’s just as easy to buy raw meat and bones as it is to purchase a packet. You can buy enough to keep your dog going until the next time you shop. Freezing food is an acceptable way to keep it, as it is not so destructive as cooking. Three or four days of fresh food and the rest thawed frozen food will be absolutely adequate to maintain good health.
Once you’ve measured out the food the first time, it’s just a matter of routine.
Keeping all the ingredients together means it’s convenient.
By making your own homemade dog food, you have control over the quality and the ingredients. This is critical to your dog’s good health as many ingredients in commercial pet food is toxic, not natural, not nutritious and certainly isn’t raw.
Try your dog on raw meat and bones for a month and you’ll see a big smile on his face!
Couple that with his drastically reduced health bills, and you’ll be the next one grinning.
Warning: in older dogs there can be an initial clearing period. This is natural and normal, but can look alarming if you don’t know what’s happening.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Madeleine Innocent is a practicing homeopath, a specialised modality of natural health care. She treats both people and animals in her busy West Australian practice. Madeleine loves to spread the good work of homeopathy and other areas of natural health care and writes extensively on the subject. For a complimentary ebook on how to have a healthy dog, starting today, visit naturallyhealthydogs.com or www.bestdoghealth.blogspot.com
What you feed your dog is really SO important for your dog’s ultimate health, susceptibility to illness, and longevity.
You know, if you really want your dog to be as healthy as s/he can be, you should stop feeding ANY of the widely available commercial dog foods.
I’m talking here about the types of dog food commonly found in supermarkets, and even about most of the supposedly superior brands sold in some supermarkets, pet food shops, and even by many vets.
The cheaper the brand, then generally the more full of garbage it is, but even many of the more expensive brands leave much to be desired.
What do you think is an ideal diet for your dog?
– plump chickens?
– choice cuts of juicy beef and lamb?
– maybe a few healthy fresh grains for variety?
– the odd fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit?
You’d be right.
But how many of the above ingredients do you think go into commercial pet food?
A lot? Only a little? If you said yes to either of these, you’d be dead wrong.
The average commercial dog food bears NO relation to the above list of choice ingredients, despite what pet food manufacturers display in some of their marketing, and despite what the list of ingredients on the pack or can might tend to indicate.
There is very, very little (if any) of the above ingredients in the average commercial dog food, and by the time it’s been overcooked at sustained high temperatures, and sprayed with preservative agents, the resultant “food” can be very harmful to your dog’s health and wellbeing indeed.
Suffice to say that if you’re feeding your dog ANY commercially available dog food, you’re exposing your dog to a source of chemically enhanced, overprocessed, garbage, the meat source for which includes diseased carcasses which have been left for up to 5 days before being processed.
Enough to turn you off for life? It was for me. As you know, I’ve always fed my dogs a diet of mainly raw meat and bones. But I like to give them a little treat in the mornings rather than just feed them once a day (which, by the way, IS all a dog NEEDS). I used to give them a handful of dry dog food each morning, sometimes the cheaper supermarket brands, and sometimes the “brand” names which cost 4 or 5 times as much. Now that I know better, I never give my dogs any of that garbage.
I should say that SOME of the expensive pet foods which are readily available ARE better than the cheaper brands. BUT, most are still far from an ideal diet for your dog, so query whether the extra money is money well spent.
If the product says it’s “with real chicken”, did you know that it only needs to contain 3% of chicken? Neither did I.
If the first item listed is meat or chicken, did you know that this doesn’t mean that’s the main ingredient? Neither did I.
Take a close look at the label. It’s likely to list a meat first, and then 2, 3, 4 or 5 types of grains. This is a very misleading tactic used by the commercial pet food manufacturers. Each of the grains individually may be slightly less in quantity than the meat. But added together? They’re probably nearly 2, 3, 4 or 5 times the quantity of the meat ingredient.
After having looked into this issue in a great deal of detail, I’m convinced that the most healthy diet for your dog is mainly fresh meat, with some fresh veges and a little grain thrown in. And this alone is NOT enough. You need to give your dog a vitamin supplement always, for optimal health.
And for the very best health, there ARE some reputable HEALTHY, wholesome, holistic dog food manufacturers, which really DO provide wonderfully healthy food for our dogs.
(c) 2004, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in holistic health for dogs. For your free dog health report, click here. For info on HEALTHY dog foods, click here.
People tend to think that commercial dog food, especially if it has been recommended by their veterinarian is of good quality and is giving your dog the best chance in life. Right?
Wrong!
While vets should be the best people to advise about dog food, sadly they’re not. Why? Because the top commercial pet food manufacturers now financially contribute to many veterinary schools. They have a foot in the door. They can, and do, influence the students.
After all you generally don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
In most countries of the world, there are, at least some basic laws governing the quality of human food, whether it’s fresh produce, meat or fast food.
In no country are there laws (which are enforced) that insist commercial pet food manufacturers use quality ingredients. That means anything can, and does, go.
After all, if meat is of good quality, wouldn’t you sell it to the highest market – the human market? So, it’s only the poorest quality meat, more often meat by-products (such as hair, intestines and contents, chicken feet, brain, skin, grizzle, fat, etc) that goes for dog food.
This means that the overall nutrient quality is as poor as it gets, as different proteins have different nutritional absorbability.
Pet food is always bulked out with inert (or not as the melamine scam from China testifies) filler. Typically, this filler will be the current cheapest carbohydrate. There’s often a world glut of something, driving down the price. It may be sugar one year, wheat the next.
Do you think the addition of sugar into your dog’s diet will serve to improve his health?
Why do you think that diabetes in dogs is on the increase?
Dogs may bulk out their food in the wild, but it would be on fresh plant matter that’s available, such as fruit or leaves.
Cooking destroys many vitamins and enzymes which are critical to the overall health of your dog.
As most dog food is dried pellets, which keep indefinitely at room temperature, preservatives must be used. Some manufacturers claim they have not added preservatives. Look carefully at the wording. They did not add it. This may be true. But preservatives will always have been added to the meat before it was delivered to the manufacturers.
It’s impossible to keep meat products at room temperature indefinitely without the use of strong preservatives. Preservatives that would never be allowed in human food, because of their poisonous effect.
So your dog may be well fed as far as volume is concerned, but will be starving for quality food. How can your dog remain healthy if he’s fed garbage?
Most people would be appalled at the process that goes into the making of commercial pet food. That would be a really good incentive not to feed it. I’m attempting to give you a glimpse behind the scenes, so you can give your dog the best dog food available within your budget and within your time available.
People tend to think that commercial dog food, especially if it has been recommended by their veterinarian is of good quality and is giving your dog the best chance in life. Right?
Wrong!
While vets should be the best people to advise about dog food, sadly they’re not. Why? Because the top commercial pet food manufacturers now financially contribute to many veterinary schools. They have a foot in the door. They can, and do, influence the students.
After all you generally don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
In most countries of the world, there are, at least some basic laws governing the quality of human food, whether it’s fresh produce, meat or fast food.
In no country are there laws (which are enforced) that insist commercial pet food manufacturers use quality ingredients. That means anything can, and does, go.
After all, if meat is of good quality, wouldn’t you sell it to the highest market – the human market? So, it’s only the poorest quality meat, more often meat by-products (such as hair, intestines and contents, chicken feet, brain, skin, grizzle, fat, etc) that goes for dog food.
This means that the overall nutrient quality is as poor as it gets, as different proteins have different nutritional absorbability.
Pet food is always bulked out with inert (or not as the melamine scam from China testifies) filler. Typically, this filler will be the current cheapest carbohydrate. There’s often a world glut of something, driving down the price. It may be sugar one year, wheat the next.
Do you think the addition of sugar into your dog’s diet will serve to improve his health?
Why do you think that diabetes in dogs is on the increase?
Dogs may bulk out their food in the wild, but it would be on fresh plant matter that’s available, such as fruit or leaves.
Cooking destroys many vitamins and enzymes which are critical to the overall health of your dog.
As most dog food is dried pellets, which keep indefinitely at room temperature, preservatives must be used. Some manufacturers claim they have not added preservatives. Look carefully at the wording. They did not add it. This may be true. But preservatives will always have been added to the meat before it was delivered to the manufacturers.
It’s impossible to keep meat products at room temperature indefinitely without the use of strong preservatives. Preservatives that would never be allowed in human food, because of their poisonous effect.
So your dog may be well fed as far as volume is concerned, but will be starving for quality food. How can your dog remain healthy if he’s fed garbage?
Most people would be appalled at the process that goes into the making of commercial pet food. That would be a really good incentive not to feed it. I’m attempting to give you a glimpse behind the scenes, so you can give your dog the best dog food available within your budget and within your time available.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Madeleine Innocent is a practicing homeopath, a specialised modality of natural health care. She treats both people and animals in her busy West Australian practice. Madeleine loves to spread the good work of homeopathy and other areas of natural health care and writes extensively on the subject. For a complimentary ebook on how to have a healthy dog, starting today, visit naturallyhealthydogs.com or www.bestdoghealth.blogspot.com
You have just got yourself a cute little Golden Retriever puppy. You are now part of a global family of dog owners. When you get a pup home, you will have to feed it as well. Here we will discuss the combination approach to feeding a Golden Retriever.
People say many different things about dog food, and its actual health value to your pet. Some say that is made up of primarily excess food grain and animal fat which cannot be used anywhere else. It also lacks essential vitamins and nutrients. Others advocate the use of dog food saying it is healthy, nutritious and wholesome.
Whatever be the case, it is always better to take up the combination approach to feeding for your Golden Retriever. This combines both fresh food along with commercial pet food. The best fresh or real food for your Golden Retriever is chicken, beef, turkey and a host of fresh raw veggies and fruits. You can also give curd, eggs, cottage cheese and brown rice to your Golden Retriever. Of these, chicken and meat contain lots of proteins and minerals.
Dogs need to have variety in their diet. You can alternate meals with fresh food twice a day and dog food once a day. This will give the dog all the nutrition it needs. Make sure to keep changing their food to get them to eat different kinds of fruits and veggies as well. Mix it in with the meat.
That is why the combination approach to feeding allows you to ensure that your Golden Retriever gets all the nourishment it needs to stay healthy. Also, be sure to include a decent amount of animal protein while feeding your dog, as they need it as part of their diet regime.
Be sure to check the label of the commercial dog food you have chosen, as there are many companies that use USFDA failed grains and rejected food grains. Be sure to avoid these products. The same applies to meat products available commercially for dogs.
Also, be careful that there are not too many preservatives in the dog food, and if there are, see that they are of natural origin. If you would not like to eat chemically rich food, why would you want your dog to eat it?
Give your Golden Retriever good food, and if you have any doubts ask your vet to suggest what he should have. He is the best person to guide you in this matter. We must remember that this combination approach to feeding is just a guideline to encompass all Golden Retrievers.
It may happen that in your particular case, the vet may suggest a different approach. It would be best to listen to him. For example, I met a Golden Retriever who had lactose intolerance. So he could not have milk. His vet realized this, and told the owner to avoid milk and related products. He is fine now.
I hope these ideas will help you get better understanding on the combination approach to feeding.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Don’t get ripped off. If you are looking for information on golden retrievers? or advice on buying a golden retriever or house breaking your golden retriever, visit us now. GoldenRetrieverAdvice.org is a goldmine for information on everything related to golden retrievers.
I am in a relatively unique position in that I own a dog that doesn’t know he’s a dog. My dog “Bugsy Wonderdog” (I just named him Bugsy, he added the Wonderdog part) has had an opinion on everything ever since he was a puppy. Usually he is correct. He recently asked me if he could write a couple of articles for me so, as is the case with most dog lovers, I gave in to my puppy and I let him do it. I have taken the liberty of including his first article in the text of this one and I must admit that as usual I believe he’s right. The need for healthy natural dog food and human grade dog food is a passion of mine and from a scientific perspective can be proven. To look at it from the dog’s perspective is an interesting paradigm shift. So without further ado I bring you words of wisdom from the Wonderdog.
I don’t understand why the concept of Healthy Natural Dog Food is so hard for you humans to grasp. You are finally trying to eat well yourself as is evidenced by the proliferation of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets and assorted other nouveau supermarkets dedicated to providing natural foods for humans so why not for us dogs? I don’t believe there is anyone more qualified to judge what does and what should go into that dog bowl them me, your humble Wonderdog. After all, I am the one who has to eat it.
How would you like to sit down for every breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of your life and be served a bowl of dry processed cereal? Why do it to your dog then? There’s nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and again, according to the label they are fortified and contain tons of vitamins and minerals but you wouldn’t want to live on them. Variety is the spice of life. I will bet that it wasn’t a dog eating a diet of exclusively processed commercial foods that came up with that line.
While we’re talking about it, what’s with the double standard? I’m talking about a legal loophole for commercial pet food manufacturers labelled “Pet Grade”. Why would such a thing even need to exist? I’ll tell you why, it’s because it’s all of the garbage that is deemed not fit for human consumption. Healthy Natural Dog Food is a complete oxymoron with respect to most commercial grade pet foods. Now I know that a dog, even your dog, isn’t human. Thank goodness for that, you people have enough problems but that doesn’t mean we should be deprived of vital nutrients because you can’t see through the marketing propaganda of the commercial pet food companies. Oh, their commercials are wonderful showing happy dogs with great coats and lots of energy. Those dogs are actors. They are probably eating Filet Mignon and traveling first class. They are the Brangelina’s of the canine world. How about making your dog feel like a movie star, or at the very least a Wonderdog. Whether you buy it in a store or you have to cook it yourself please feed your dogs Healthy Natural Dog Food.
Bugsy Wonderdog
Certainly spoken like someone who has never had to cook dog food for himself but overall I think he makes some great points. The innocuous little label “pet grade” in many cases might just as well say, “poison”. One of my favorite rules to live by when feeding my dogs is that if I wouldn’t eat it myself, I won’t feed it to my dog. You might want to listen closely here, it’s not everyday you get info right from the Wonderdog’s mouth. He is an actor, a model, a spokesdog and even an author but most importantly he’s a dog and as such has earned the title of “man’s best friend”. Let’s pay back some of that friendship by feeding Bugsy and all of our canine friends what they really need.
Dr. Janice Elenbaas
Always remember, health comes from the inside out!
I am in a relatively unique position in that I own a dog that doesn’t know he’s a dog. My dog “Bugsy Wonderdog” (I just named him Bugsy, he added the Wonderdog part) has had an opinion on everything ever since he was a puppy. Usually he is correct. He recently asked me if he could write a couple of articles for me so, as is the case with most dog lovers, I gave in to my puppy and I let him do it. I have taken the liberty of including his first article in the text of this one and I must admit that as usual I believe he’s right. The need for healthy natural dog food and human grade dog food is a passion of mine and from a scientific perspective can be proven. To look at it from the dog’s perspective is an interesting paradigm shift. So without further ado I bring you words of wisdom from the Wonderdog.
I don’t understand why the concept of Healthy Natural Dog Food is so hard for you humans to grasp. You are finally trying to eat well yourself as is evidenced by the proliferation of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets and assorted other nouveau supermarkets dedicated to providing natural foods for humans so why not for us dogs? I don’t believe there is anyone more qualified to judge what does and what should go into that dog bowl them me, your humble Wonderdog. After all, I am the one who has to eat it.
How would you like to sit down for every breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of your life and be served a bowl of dry processed cereal? Why do it to your dog then? There’s nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and again, according to the label they are fortified and contain tons of vitamins and minerals but you wouldn’t want to live on them. Variety is the spice of life. I will bet that it wasn’t a dog eating a diet of exclusively processed commercial foods that came up with that line.
While we’re talking about it, what’s with the double standard? I’m talking about a legal loophole for commercial pet food manufacturers labelled “Pet Grade”. Why would such a thing even need to exist? I’ll tell you why, it’s because it’s all of the garbage that is deemed not fit for human consumption. Healthy Natural Dog Food is a complete oxymoron with respect to most commercial grade pet foods. Now I know that a dog, even your dog, isn’t human. Thank goodness for that, you people have enough problems but that doesn’t mean we should be deprived of vital nutrients because you can’t see through the marketing propaganda of the commercial pet food companies. Oh, their commercials are wonderful showing happy dogs with great coats and lots of energy. Those dogs are actors. They are probably eating Filet Mignon and traveling first class. They are the Brangelina’s of the canine world. How about making your dog feel like a movie star, or at the very least a Wonderdog. Whether you buy it in a store or you have to cook it yourself please feed your dogs Healthy Natural Dog Food.
Bugsy Wonderdog
Certainly spoken like someone who has never had to cook dog food for himself but overall I think he makes some great points. The innocuous little label “pet grade” in many cases might just as well say, “poison”. One of my favorite rules to live by when feeding my dogs is that if I wouldn’t eat it myself, I won’t feed it to my dog. You might want to listen closely here, it’s not everyday you get info right from the Wonderdog’s mouth. He is an actor, a model, a spokesdog and even an author but most importantly he’s a dog and as such has earned the title of “man’s best friend”. Let’s pay back some of that friendship by feeding Bugsy and all of our canine friends what they really need.
Dr. Janice Elenbaas
Always remember, health comes from the inside out!
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The first woman in Canada certified to perform Chiropractic on animals, DR. JANICE ELENBAAS DC is a long time advocate for “whole foods” for both people and pets. Her passion for dogs is evident in her work as CEO of Lucky Dog Cuisine, a company that makes all natural “human grade” meals for dogs. To receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition please follow => www.luckydogcuisine.com
There is much to recommend feeding your dog homemade dog food if you have the time to prepare it, and make sure you have recipes that give the correct ratio of nutrients, as well as the vitamins and supplements you’ll need to add. These can be mixed up in a bag, stored, and sprinkled in every meal.
Dogs should have a minimum of 18% protein for maintenance when they are adults, and 22% for reproduction and growth. Fat should be a minimum of 5% for adult dogs, and 8% for reproduction and growth. But the more fat that is in the diet, the more protein there should be. Fat makes dogs, as well as people, eat less by making them feel fuller. If they eat less, and there are less of other essential nutrients like protein and vitamins and minerals, the dog will not get the nourishment it needs.
Generally, commercial pet food is made according to the appropriate guidelines, but care should be taken if significant amounts of other food is added to the diet, and it is high in fat.
But whether you’re feeding your dog commercial dog food, or home made dog food, there are a few things to keep in mind so you don’t end up with a fussy dog:
* dogs should be fed once a day once they are no longer puppies, or two small meals, no more. Feeding your dog too frequently when he is older can turn him appear like a fussy eater, when he is actually full.
* feeding your dog too regularly can get him into the routine of expecting to eat at those times, too, and may lead to weight gain. Letting him get hungry, and feeding sensibly, will not harm him. In the wild, dogs would eat for once a day until they were completely full.
* Don’t stand and stare at your dog waiting for him to eat. He will likely think something is wrong, or something else is coming, and won’t eat.
* Don’t give into your dog and give him something else straight away if he refuses his meal, as he’s effectively training you and not the other way around!
* There’s nothing wrong with feeding your dog a varied diet, but don’t keep changing the food because he seems fussy and won’t eat it. Make sure nothing is wrong with him physically first, then if he is healthy, take charge of the situation. Put his food down, leave him to it, and then 30 minutes later go and check to see whether it’s been eaten. If it hasn’t, take it away, then at the end of the day put down some fresh food. Repeat the process, and take it away 30 minutes later if it still isn’t eaten. This way you’ll train your dog to eat his food, and not reinforce his behaviour.
Brian Kilcommons has a very interesting method for teaching dogs to eat their food. When the above fails, he prepared the dog food in front of the dog, making lots of ‘yummy’ noises whilst he did it. He made it slowly, and when the dog still wasn’t interested, he put it down in front of his face, then took it straight away and threw it out. He did this first at breakfast, then at dinner. At dinner, the dog in question was more interested, but he still threw it out after putting it in front of him. The next morning, the dog was jumping up and down whilst the food was being prepared. He put it down, pulled it away, then looked at him for about a minute, then left it for him to eat. That dog now eats anything put down for him.
* If your dog suddenly goes off his food, it could be because he has dental problems, or a stomach problem. Get him checked out by the vet.
* Some dogs do actually prefer a certain type of food, just as people do. Try your dog with a variety of foods, and if he only eats one type, and will starve himself if he doesn’t get it, the best solution can simply be to feed him that type of food.
* Don’t feed your dog a high fat diet, or junk food, including chocolate. It’s not good for them.
References: Brian Kilcommons, Good Owners, Great Dogs
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
For more information on feeding your dog a natural dog food diet, see this article. For information on commercial v’s non commercial dog food that might shock you, see this article.
Preparation for home cooked meals for your dog is simple and need not be a pain at all. I have switched from commercialized pet food to home cooked meals after my family two lovely dogs died of cancer suddenly. They were on premium dried pet food all their life but still, both of them died at a young age at 6 and 7 of cancer. This was way before the pet food recall event.
I knew at that time that their commercial pet food must have contributed somewhat to their condition as both were rather young when passed on. Putting aside my initial struggle with thoughts about how difficult to cook home cooked meals for my dogs and just got started with it.
I do not even cook for myself! How can I cook nutritious meals for my pets! I started reading loads of books on home cooked food and came out with this simple and easy to prepare recipe for dog food. It can be done even for busy people like you and me. If I can do it, so can you! So let us step up and commit to making the lives of our pet a long, happy and healthy one.
Take note that we cannot change our dog diet overnight as it may cause stomach upset. Start gradually and mixing their feed gradually until she is completed switched to home cooked food.
Preparation
Purchase the following ingredients, all the ingredients below in equal proportions, supplements should be added separately. The amount to cook depends on your pet size.
Use your own judgment when it comes to quantity to feed. The suggestion below is meant for a week supply for a 1 medium sized dog, healthy dog with normal weight range.
Please change the quantity for your pet needs (This suggestion provides 1 week food for a 10kg dog):
1) Grains choice: Brown rice, provide for 2-3 cups cooked rice (less if your dog is obese or require some weight loss)
2) Vegetables (Add 3 varieties): Broccoli, cauliflower, any green leafy vegetables and beans. Make about 4 cups of pulp vegetables for easy absorption.
3) Meats 500gms: Choice of Chicken, Lamb, Beef or Kangaroo (rotate weekly).
4) 2 Eggs
Avoid night shade vegetables, onions and cabbage for your pets. Some dogs experience more gas when fed with cabbage.
Quick Easy Cooking Steps
Step 1: Put some olive oil in your pot and cook meats
Step 2: Cook rice (or any grain choice, I personally prefer brown rice)
Step 3: Pulp or chop finely the vegetables
Step 4: When meats are almost cook, add the pulp vegetables into the pot
Step 5: Do not overcook the vegetables. Keep them half raw for the enzymes.
Step 6: Add eggs and cook the vegetables in the pot to make the vegetables palatable.
Storage
For convenience, cook your pet homemade meals up to one week supply. Freeze them in daily portions separately for convenience.
Just remember to place next day food supply from the freezer to chiller compartment of your refrigerator. Place a note at your fridge to remind you to do so everyday if not, your poor pet has not food to eat.
Feeding Preparation
Step 1: Place chilled food in your pet bowl
Step 2: Boil some hot water
Step 3: Warm up the food to room temperature with some hot water.
Step 4: Add necessary supplements such as Vitamin C, Flaxseed oil, Egg shell
meals for calcium.
Step 5: Mix and serve!
Using boiled water to warm up food is a recommended. If you prefer microwaving to warm up food, note that this method may destroy some nutrients.
Emergency meals
In case you have forgotten to defreeze your pet food. Here is a simple guide to a quick no hassle wholesome meal in just 5 minutes!
Ensure you home has these at all times in case you need to whip out a wholesome meal in 5 minutes!
All you need are:
Step 1) Oats (get those quick to cook kind or just add hot boiling water)
Step 2) Eggs (Break an egg for a small/medium sized dog)
Step 3) Supplements (Add your regular supplement)
That is all you need for the emergency meal! To ensure not to upset the digestive system from sudden change in diet, feed this option once a while so she is well adjusted to this diet when the need arises.
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Veronica Eng researched on dog care from various sources for many years and summarized many effective yet simple guides to dog lovers. Her techniques have made her dogs healthy, vibrant and gorgeous coat that many envy. Natural pet health is her passion! More tips at www.dogcarezone.com