Posts Tagged ‘Food Labels’
Make sure you read dog food labels before you buy any dog food.
Poor diet in dogs could mean many things. Dogs with a poor diet don’t have high energy levels, they may develop health problems down the line, they can be overweight or underweight. They can have teeth problems, bad breath, infections… As a general rule, an unbalanced diet for your dog means a shorter lifespan for him.
It is better to never fed your dog leftovers from the dinner table, unless they are dog healthy choices. Greasy and fried foods can make dogs overweight and ill, while other foods we eat can be toxic for them. Leftovers are generally not good for dogs.
Many dog owners do not give a second thought to what they feed their dog, until they notice that their dog’s coat isn’t looking as shiny as it once did, or until their dog began scratching himself badly or not have much energy. Yet, other dog owners wait for their dog to be so overweight before they realize that there might have been a problem with their dog diet. It is best not to wait for your canine to show signs of disease to put him on a healthy dog diet.
Dogs will get fat and ill if they eat an unhealthy dog diet. Optimal dog health can be achieved through healthy nutrition.
Dogs are mammals, just like us. Dogs get overweight if they eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Dogs will feel tired and depressed if they do not get a proper diet. Eating unhealthy for a dog can cause a whole slew of problems.
Dogs’ coat and skin are affected by diet. Dogs can get most of the same illnesses we do. Dogs can get heart attacks, heat disease, an cancer. Dogs can even get diabetes.
Dogs need a healthy diet. If a dog don’t get enough exercise or eats too much, he will get fat and have many health problems.
This is why you should understand why your dog’s diet is so important to his health. Just like with us, dogs are what they eat. Unfortunately, a dog can’t tell you when he has a stomach ache from the food he ate, or when something doesn’t feel right on him. Oftentimes, dog owners wait until something is wrong with their dogs to make any adjustments in their dog’s diet. You should get your dog on an healthy diet right now, and not wait something goes wrong with your canine!
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Ron Smith is an expert in dog and puppy health. Visit www.dogdieter.com for more information on healthy dog nutrition, best dog vitamins , and dog food label secrets.
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”
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.
Dog food labels are intentionally made confusing so that pet owners don’t realise that they’re feeding their dog some awful, terrible, disgusting ingredients. Dog food companies heartlessly exploit loopholes which allows them to add a very cheap form of protein that has almost zero nutritional value to a dog instead of essential animal protein your dog needs to survive. Did you know that dog foods that claim to be come from bone, blood and animal fat are often derived from animals suffering from various ailments, and probably not the best choice for your dog. These multi-billion dollar companies are actually allowed to mix in euthanized bodies of various animals into the food you might be buying for your dog. Would you eat meat that came from a euthanized animal? Didn’t think so! So why should your dog be subjected to this? Dogs can have food allergies from commercial dog food which long term for your dog can make them very uncomfortable, sick and weak. These euthanized various animals found in dog food and the animal by-products commonly found can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and faecal waste. Pretty disgusting isn’t it?
Dogs, being scavengers, also thrive on eggs, berries, fruit and the food that they might find in the preys stomach, such as grains and vegetable matter. But, in saying this, dog’s bodies are unable to process whole vegetables. So with pet food companies ads showing plump chickens and whole vegetables it makes you wonder if they really know that much about a dogs nutritional needs and digestive system. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog to eat something she/he would normally turn up its nose too. Do you know how they do this? Fat is sprayed directly on the morsels of food, and that is what you and your dog smell and think would taste wonderful – It’s just an illusion. And those wonderfully shaped and coloured treats and morsels are not for your dogs benefit, they are for yours. Don’t be fooled by pretty shapes and rainbow colours and smiling dogs on the packets – Its emotional marketing at its best. All your dog cares about is the way the food smells, tastes and all you should care about is that it is getting its nutritional needs.
Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs and they need proper vitamins and minerals every day. Low quality ingredients, excessive chemical additives, and poor labelling standards all result in problems for your companion pet, from skin allergies to cancer. Commercial pet foods and some pet food ingredients have been implicated in a number of diseases in companion animals. One potential problem with commercial pet food is pesticide residues, antibiotics, and mould contained in pet food ingredients and manufacturers will not disclose very much information about the sources of ingredients, how they are processed, their quality control standards, or, in some cases, even where the food is made. Doesn’t that make you have some doubt as to how trustworthy a company is if it cannot even tell you those things? It makes me very doubtful!
Think about this … have you ever seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he/she enjoys a good meaty bone? I never have and I have had a lot of dogs in my lifetime and through my business care for all different breeds of dogs, sizes and ages. Do you know why? It is because bones are fresh meat, exactly as you purchase them is exactly what you give your dog. However, with commercial dog food some companies may list real meat as their number one ingredient, but they may actually have more fillers, which reduces the ratio of quality ingredients to useless ones. Ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fibre, and have no significant nutritional value. Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to begin with. Cereal grains are the primary ingredients in most commercial pet foods. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. And to top that off, sometimes a manufacturer may not have added any preservatives, but the meat or other ingredients may have had preservatives added to them by suppliers. So, by the time the food gets to your dogs plate the good quality that may have been slightly present in the beginning has disappeared. And not every batch of dog food is the same because meat by-products and meat and bone meals vary from batch to batch creating an unstable source of nutrition for pets.
The multinational pet food companies have increased bulk-purchasing power; those that make human food products have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products, and pet food divisions have a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of ingredients. The ingredients listed on the label are very much less as to what is actually present in the food – they are tiny; and the items themselves are usually scraps and rejects from processors of human foods-certainly not the whole, fresh ingredients they want you to picture. The labelling of dog food is a confusing discussion to say the least and very much a tell half-truth scenario. Many label rules exist such as; the “Flavour” Rule that states that a food may be labelled as “Beef Flavoured Dog Food” even if it does not contain any beef, as long as the flavour is “sufficiently detectable. When a label reads “With Real Turkey,” a consumer may assume that he is purchasing quality turkey dog food for his pet. If the label reads “Beef and Liver for Dogs,” the food must contain a combined amount of beef and liver to total 95%, and again there must be more beef since it is listed first. However, as I outlined above the amounts in there are based on tiny morsels and weight – weight is inclusive of water content too.
Now, of course, not all pet food companies operate this way. Today there are a few all natural companies and dog diets on the market which pride themselves on human grade ingredients in their dog food, but remember the definition of “natural” is very broad, and allows for artificially processed ingredients that most of us would consider very unnatural indeed. You have to be very careful in your selection and educate yourself on the harmful ingredients and preservatives on the labels of these dog-canned foods. I always go by the rule that if there are no nutrients in the soil = no nutrients in the plants = no nutrients in the dog food and I cant imagine they would be getting their plant sources from the same crops as humans do.
Quality dog food is crucial for your dogs well being as it is their one source of nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the organic process of nourishing or being nourished, the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and nutriment: a source of materials to nourish the body. The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. So, please when your searching through all the dog food at the supermarket, forget the ads and ignore the glossy pictures and fancy titles on the cans and packages and always look for natural organic dog food with” natural” preservatives. Given the high possibility that your favourite pet foods may be slowly poisoning your dog, it’s crucial that you find brands you can trust to be animal friendly and have natural ingredients and low additives and colouring. Many listed ingredients don’t provide a significant health benefit and are really a marketing gimmick. Remember you are looking for ingredients that you recognize and you would eat. In fact, just as is true for humans, fresh foods can provide much better nutrition for pets than highly processed “fast foods. ”
The reality is that there are only two nutritional standards against which all pet foods are measured (adult and growth/gestation/lactation)-everything else is marketing. Don’t fall into the marketing trap and a side note, generally, the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality. Dogs may not need the most expensive foods out there to survive… but they do need the correct nutritional value in their diet everyday.
Dog food labels are intentionally made confusing so that pet owners don’t realise that they’re feeding their dog some awful, terrible, disgusting ingredients. Dog food companies heartlessly exploit loopholes which allows them to add a very cheap form of protein that has almost zero nutritional value to a dog instead of essential animal protein your dog needs to survive. Did you know that dog foods that claim to be come from bone, blood and animal fat are often derived from animals suffering from various ailments, and probably not the best choice for your dog. These multi-billion dollar companies are actually allowed to mix in euthanized bodies of various animals into the food you might be buying for your dog. Would you eat meat that came from a euthanized animal? Didn’t think so! So why should your dog be subjected to this? Dogs can have food allergies from commercial dog food which long term for your dog can make them very uncomfortable, sick and weak. These euthanized various animals found in dog food and the animal by-products commonly found can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and faecal waste. Pretty disgusting isn’t it?
Dogs, being scavengers, also thrive on eggs, berries, fruit and the food that they might find in the preys stomach, such as grains and vegetable matter. But, in saying this, dog’s bodies are unable to process whole vegetables. So with pet food companies ads showing plump chickens and whole vegetables it makes you wonder if they really know that much about a dogs nutritional needs and digestive system. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog to eat something she/he would normally turn up its nose too. Do you know how they do this? Fat is sprayed directly on the morsels of food, and that is what you and your dog smell and think would taste wonderful – It’s just an illusion. And those wonderfully shaped and coloured treats and morsels are not for your dogs benefit, they are for yours. Don’t be fooled by pretty shapes and rainbow colours and smiling dogs on the packets – Its emotional marketing at its best. All your dog cares about is the way the food smells, tastes and all you should care about is that it is getting its nutritional needs.
Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional needs and they need proper vitamins and minerals every day. Low quality ingredients, excessive chemical additives, and poor labelling standards all result in problems for your companion pet, from skin allergies to cancer. Commercial pet foods and some pet food ingredients have been implicated in a number of diseases in companion animals. One potential problem with commercial pet food is pesticide residues, antibiotics, and mould contained in pet food ingredients and manufacturers will not disclose very much information about the sources of ingredients, how they are processed, their quality control standards, or, in some cases, even where the food is made. Doesn’t that make you have some doubt as to how trustworthy a company is if it cannot even tell you those things? It makes me very doubtful!
Think about this … have you ever seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he/she enjoys a good meaty bone? I never have and I have had a lot of dogs in my lifetime and through my business care for all different breeds of dogs, sizes and ages. Do you know why? It is because bones are fresh meat, exactly as you purchase them is exactly what you give your dog. However, with commercial dog food some companies may list real meat as their number one ingredient, but they may actually have more fillers, which reduces the ratio of quality ingredients to useless ones. Ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fibre, and have no significant nutritional value. Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to begin with. Cereal grains are the primary ingredients in most commercial pet foods. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. And to top that off, sometimes a manufacturer may not have added any preservatives, but the meat or other ingredients may have had preservatives added to them by suppliers. So, by the time the food gets to your dogs plate the good quality that may have been slightly present in the beginning has disappeared. And not every batch of dog food is the same because meat by-products and meat and bone meals vary from batch to batch creating an unstable source of nutrition for pets.
The multinational pet food companies have increased bulk-purchasing power; those that make human food products have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products, and pet food divisions have a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of ingredients. The ingredients listed on the label are very much less as to what is actually present in the food – they are tiny; and the items themselves are usually scraps and rejects from processors of human foods-certainly not the whole, fresh ingredients they want you to picture. The labelling of dog food is a confusing discussion to say the least and very much a tell half-truth scenario. Many label rules exist such as; the “Flavour” Rule that states that a food may be labelled as “Beef Flavoured Dog Food” even if it does not contain any beef, as long as the flavour is “sufficiently detectable. When a label reads “With Real Turkey,” a consumer may assume that he is purchasing quality turkey dog food for his pet. If the label reads “Beef and Liver for Dogs,” the food must contain a combined amount of beef and liver to total 95%, and again there must be more beef since it is listed first. However, as I outlined above the amounts in there are based on tiny morsels and weight – weight is inclusive of water content too.
Now, of course, not all pet food companies operate this way. Today there are a few all natural companies and dog diets on the market which pride themselves on human grade ingredients in their dog food, but remember the definition of “natural” is very broad, and allows for artificially processed ingredients that most of us would consider very unnatural indeed. You have to be very careful in your selection and educate yourself on the harmful ingredients and preservatives on the labels of these dog-canned foods. I always go by the rule that if there are no nutrients in the soil = no nutrients in the plants = no nutrients in the dog food and I cant imagine they would be getting their plant sources from the same crops as humans do.
Quality dog food is crucial for your dogs well being as it is their one source of nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the organic process of nourishing or being nourished, the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and nutriment: a source of materials to nourish the body. The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. So, please when your searching through all the dog food at the supermarket, forget the ads and ignore the glossy pictures and fancy titles on the cans and packages and always look for natural organic dog food with” natural” preservatives. Given the high possibility that your favourite pet foods may be slowly poisoning your dog, it’s crucial that you find brands you can trust to be animal friendly and have natural ingredients and low additives and colouring. Many listed ingredients don’t provide a significant health benefit and are really a marketing gimmick. Remember you are looking for ingredients that you recognize and you would eat. In fact, just as is true for humans, fresh foods can provide much better nutrition for pets than highly processed “fast foods. ”
The reality is that there are only two nutritional standards against which all pet foods are measured (adult and growth/gestation/lactation)-everything else is marketing. Don’t fall into the marketing trap and a side note, generally, the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality. Dogs may not need the most expensive foods out there to survive… but they do need the correct nutritional value in their diet everyday.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
By Wilhelmina Ford To Read More About The Secrets, Myths and Truths of Commercial Dog Food, Check Out, Commercial Dog Food: Myths, Secrets & Truths.