Posts Tagged ‘Intestines’
We all want what is best for our pet. Yet sometimes because of your hectic schedules, we tend to put our dog’s care at the bottom of the list or it just becomes a habit of chores we perform every day without giving it much thought.
We stumble out of bed in the morning, let the dog out, fill the water bowl, dump some food in the dish and go on with our daily routine. Are we really thinking about ways to make our dog healthy and happy?
There are no hard and fast rules to maintain your dog’s health but essentially it comes down to 3 main rules you need to follow:
1. A good diet
2. Plenty of fresh water
3. Exercise
A good diet is essential to your dog’s health. Be careful of what you feed your dog! Your dog has very little sense about what’s good and what’s bad for him to eat. So you have to take charge. An all natural dog food is what you should be looking for, try to avoid reconstituted foods that are packed with fillers and by-products. Remember you get what you pay for.
Although an all natural dog food may be more expensive, studies have shown that your dog will in almost all cases eat more of the “bargain brand” than the all natural, nutritious dog food. The “bargain brands” will pass through your dog more quickly because they do not contain as much of the daily nutrients your dog requires. This leads to your dog being hungrier more often and thereby eating more. Your dog will retain more of the nutrients contained in the all natural food which means they will be less hungry, have healthier coats, more energy and better overall health. Do not over-feed your dog – do not feed him between main meals, except for those small treats you reward your dog during training. Avoid feeding your dog with small bones of any kind from chicken, fish, chops etc as they can splinter in the throat or intestines and seriously hurting your dog in the process. Instead, give your dog a very large marrow or knuckle bone to chew on.
Give your dog plenty of fresh water. Change it as often as you can. A good rule to follow is that every time you get yourself something to drink, add new water to your dog’s bowl.
Exercise your dog daily. Most dogs love having playtime with their owners, take long walks, throw a ball or stick around the backyard or park. Remember your dog’s cardiovascular system, heart and muscles need exercise just like yours.
Also it is important to take your dog for regular checks and treatments with the veterinarian including things like worming, proper vaccinations and teeth cleaning. There are many diseases that you dog could face – fleas, ticks, worms, ear mites and infectious pests or parasites. While most of these afflictions are fairly common, preventative techniques and new treatment methods will reduce the discomfort or pain that your dog suffer from and ensure it leads a healthy life.
It is wise to spay or neuter your dog if you are not a breeder or do not wish to deal with a pregnancy. Neutering your male dog will make him less aggressive towards other male dogs but this reduced aggression does not mean you have impaired his ability to be a guard dog. A trained guard dog will do his job irrespective of whether he has been neutered or not. Other health benefits include eliminating crying, whining and irritability, eliminating the vaginal discharge that accompanies heat for a female dog, reducing territorial marking, minimising dominance issues with your family and reducing sexual mounting behaviour (leg-humping) in your dog.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
For more information and tips on Dog advice and care, check out our website: www.dog-advice.net
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
Fiber is very important in our diet. As humans we need it. But what about dogs? Is there a benefit of having fiber in their diet? Is making sure there is adequate fiber in dog food giving them the best dog food possible? At one time fiber was considered a simple filler, however today, we know that adding fiber to a dog`s diet has benefits.
So what is fiber and what are the benefits? Fiber is a carbohydrate and like other carbs too much is not a good thing. Like us, because fiber is not highly digestible, too much can wreck havoc on our digestive system. So it is equally important that dogs get the right amount of fiber in their diet as well for the best possible dog food.
Pets that are overweight can be benefited by having extra fiber in their diet. Because it helps in keeping your dog feeling full they will not pig out on calories. Even though fiber alone cannot achieve weight loss on its own, it can make a difference by maintaining a healthy weight. This will contribute towards a longer and healthier life for your pet.
If your dog needs more fibre in the diet to aid in constipation, then insoluble fibre such as found in fruits and vegetables are fine. Most dogs won’t eat many fruits, but will eat washed raw vegetables – my dog likes carrots, peas and broccoli. Go figure.
As a dog reaches the senior years, constipation can become a problem. An increase in fiber can help this condition become manageable. How does fiber help in the aid of constipation? Fiber absorbs water which gives the contents in the intestines more bulk and this causes movement within the intestines.
You will know if your dog is getting too much or too little fiber in there diet by their consistency. Too much fiber will result in a loose and messy stool but the right balance will result in a normal regular movement. Another benefit of fiber is that it can assist in the management of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is frequently diagnosed in pets five years of age or older. This is also known as Type II or adult-onset diabetes.
Simply put, diabetes mellitus is a failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Diets high in fiber are preferred because they are generally lower in sugar and slower to be digested. This means that the dog does not have to process a large amount of sugar at one time. Additionally, the fiber may help stimulate insulin secretion in Type II diabetes.
Because too much fiber can be harmful to your pets it is important that you buy the best dog food available that contains just the right amount. Better yet consider making your own dog food. It is easy and affordable and you will then know exactly what your dog is getting.
Other types of foods that contain fiber would be Beet pulp, Soybean hulls, Rice bran, Apple and Tomato pomace and Peanut hulls. Grains such as oats and rice are also types of digestible fiber. If your dog needs fibre for some sort of bowel disease, then soluble fibre, such as psyllium or oat bran should be used.
Yes fiber does have benefits for our pets when used in moderation.
Fiber is very important in our diet. As humans we need it. But what about dogs? Is there a benefit of having fiber in their diet? Is making sure there is adequate fiber in dog food giving them the best dog food possible? At one time fiber was considered a simple filler, however today, we know that adding fiber to a dog`s diet has benefits.
So what is fiber and what are the benefits? Fiber is a carbohydrate and like other carbs too much is not a good thing. Like us, because fiber is not highly digestible, too much can wreck havoc on our digestive system. So it is equally important that dogs get the right amount of fiber in their diet as well for the best possible dog food.
Pets that are overweight can be benefited by having extra fiber in their diet. Because it helps in keeping your dog feeling full they will not pig out on calories. Even though fiber alone cannot achieve weight loss on its own, it can make a difference by maintaining a healthy weight. This will contribute towards a longer and healthier life for your pet.
If your dog needs more fibre in the diet to aid in constipation, then insoluble fibre such as found in fruits and vegetables are fine. Most dogs won’t eat many fruits, but will eat washed raw vegetables – my dog likes carrots, peas and broccoli. Go figure.
As a dog reaches the senior years, constipation can become a problem. An increase in fiber can help this condition become manageable. How does fiber help in the aid of constipation? Fiber absorbs water which gives the contents in the intestines more bulk and this causes movement within the intestines.
You will know if your dog is getting too much or too little fiber in there diet by their consistency. Too much fiber will result in a loose and messy stool but the right balance will result in a normal regular movement. Another benefit of fiber is that it can assist in the management of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is frequently diagnosed in pets five years of age or older. This is also known as Type II or adult-onset diabetes.
Simply put, diabetes mellitus is a failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Diets high in fiber are preferred because they are generally lower in sugar and slower to be digested. This means that the dog does not have to process a large amount of sugar at one time. Additionally, the fiber may help stimulate insulin secretion in Type II diabetes.
Because too much fiber can be harmful to your pets it is important that you buy the best dog food available that contains just the right amount. Better yet consider making your own dog food. It is easy and affordable and you will then know exactly what your dog is getting.
Other types of foods that contain fiber would be Beet pulp, Soybean hulls, Rice bran, Apple and Tomato pomace and Peanut hulls. Grains such as oats and rice are also types of digestible fiber. If your dog needs fibre for some sort of bowel disease, then soluble fibre, such as psyllium or oat bran should be used.
Yes fiber does have benefits for our pets when used in moderation.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Written by Troy Foote. Pet advocate and owner of Pamper Pet Care Your online resource for pet health care and nutrition.