Posts Tagged ‘Lethargy’
Depending on what kind of dog you have, there are so many different recommendations on what types of dog food are and are not good for your dog. It is said that it is best to make dog food with dog food recipes at home by some, and others say that there is no substitute for a good brand of dog food, while others may say that any type of dog food is okay. If you are a first time dog owner, it can be hard to know who to listen to, and to really understand what is best for your dog, but you aren’t alone.
Puppy Food
If you have a puppy, it is always bet to feed him or her puppy food, at least until they get out of the puppy stage of their life. This varies from breed to breed and your veterinarian should be able to tell you for sure, but feeding your dog puppy food for at least one year is the best way to be sure that you aren’t cutting them off too soon. As far as brand names go, there are a lot of great brand name foods that your puppy would love; a few suggestions are Hill’s Science Diet, Eukanuba, Purina Puppy Chow, and more.
Brand Name: Necessity or No?
The less expensive a dog food is, the less likely it is to contain the meat and nutrients necessary for your dog to lead a happy and healthy life. The normal components of good dry dog food are food grease, meat, corn or wheat, rice and then some color extracts to make the dog look appealing. It is okay to buy the occasional bag of off brand food for the budgets’ sake, but making a habit of that is never a good idea. This can lead to weight loss, lethargy and health problems in your pet that are otherwise avoidable.
Should I Prepare Meals for Fido at Home?
Many people think that making home made dog food on the stove is the best thing for your dog, and while it is a good idea to add some variety to your pet’s food repertoire, it is not always a budget conscious or time conscious idea. There are many great recipes on the internet for dog food that you can make for your best friend, but it can get very pricey and time consuming, not to mention the fact that it can really put some weight on your dog, and that goes into a whole separate area of health problems. To keep weight problems down and prevent the ultimate spoiling of your pooch, keep the home cooked meals to a minimum, so they are viewed as a treat and are not something that your dog will expect.
Dog food is more than just what you feed your dog. If you are like any other pet owner, you want your dog to live as long and healthy of a life as possible and feeding them the right stuff is the best thing you can do to increase the quality of your lives together.
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Michael Murray is an author of dog articles. Learn how to increase the lifespan of your dog by up to 134% in this special report: Click Here!
Reduce Dog Obesity
An overweight dog does not look healthy, and this only occurs because of overfeeding, not because they choose this lifestyle. It is only through overfeeding that we make this happen to our pets.
DISEASES CAUSED BY DOG OBESITY
If you want to learn about weight loss for dogs, the first thing you should do is consult your vet and get his approval and advice. That said and done, there are many reasons and tips to help you achieve the goal of a healthy pet.
Obesity in our pets is ultimately our responsibility. After all we are in control of their nutrition. It has become an epidemic that is associated with our own “couch potato” lifestyle. There are many problems that can be caused by obesity in our dogs which can be prevented if they are fed an all natural healthy organic diet. Some of these ailments (which mimic our own problems with over indulgence) include:
JOINT AND WALKING DIFFICULTIES – this is due to added weight and stress put on joints, bones, and muscles. This can cause back problems, hip dysplasia, lethargy, and aggravation of arthritis.
HEART AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES – Obesity causes extra stress on the heart and lungs, making them tork harder than a dog that is physically fit.
DIABETES – This is more prevalent in obese pets.
LIVER DISEASE – This is also associated with obese pets.
SKIN PROBLEMS – Being fat causes difficulty in your pet’s grooming ability. Just as overweight humans have trouble reaching their feet to tie their shoes when a fat belly is in the way, a dog can’t reach all areas that need self cleaning. Dirt and bacteria can become embedded in fat rolls and cause infections.
STOMACH PROBLEMS – There is a painful and life threatening condition, called pancreatitis, which is seen more and more in obese pets.
Just as the above diseases mimic our own obesity related problems, they are curable or preventable if you keep your dog healthy, active and fed nutrionally premium dog food.
WEIGHT LOSS TIPS FOR DOGS
Putting your pet on a fat reducing diet and increasing exercise, as prescribed by your vet, is the best way to show your love to your pet. There are many excellent healthy organic dog foods available that are high in protein and low in fat. Check the labels carefully and make sure you buy the best organic dog food you can afford, with the highest amount of organic ingredients and low fat content.
Elimination of bad high calorie treats and table scraps is the easiest weight loss for dogs tip there is. Extra calories from treats pile up quickly. Choosing the wrong type of high fat, high calorie treat for your dog is not a good practice, so be aware of the difference between good and bad treats. Choose healthy!
TREATS
At 40 kcals is KARMA ORGANIC DOG TREATS
Bonz treats for small dogs 70 kcals
Milk Bone Dog Biscuit – one large 115 kcals
Fresh Carrot – baby size 3 kcals
Green Beans – 1 cup canned (this in my girls favorite) 25 kcals
Air popped popcorn (1/2 ounce) 54 kcals
1 slice Pizza Hut Cheese Pizza (NOT RECOMMENDED) 259 kcals
20 Dorito brand chips (NOT RECOMMENDED) 260 kcals
At 17 kcals is: MOTHER NATURE NATURAL DOG BISCUITS
At 45 kcals is: SOLID GOLD NATUR-BONE BISCUITS
At 50 kcals is: INNOVA HEALTH BARS – SMALL SIZE
Oreo Cookies – 2 (NOT RECOMMENDED) 130 kcals
McDonalds Quarter Pounder with cheese (YUCK!) 525 kcals
A kcal is a kilo calorie per unit or calorie as we call it in every day terms.
(A 20 pound dog needs 690 kcals daily for optimum health.) A few Doritos here, a Oreo cookie there and sharing a Quarter Pounder will equal your dogs total calorie need for a whole day. This on top of his regular dinner is simply unhealthy and easy to change.
Sometimes, just eliminating the unhealthy treats and going on a daily walk is all that is necessary is helping your pet become fit and energetic again.
Remember, we speak for our pets, and taking proper care and giving them the best that we can is what makes our bond with animals so special.
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