Posts Tagged ‘Pet Foods’
Dog constipation can be a problem for many dogs. There are various causes but most are harmless and can be avoided or treated.
First of all your dog needs exercise. If the dog is lying around all day long then dog constipation is more than likely. Give him less food when he does not move much. This brings us to the second most important aspect, dog food. The wrong food can easily cause dog constipation or other symptoms.
Choose the food which is appropriate for your dog, its age and weight. Not all pet food is made similar. In fact there are some pretty bad pet foods out there. You should look out for quality food and also give him fresh food from time to time. Instead of giving him one large amount of food, feed your dog twice a day instead. For constipation is is recommended you increases the amount of fiber in the food.
Stress can be another reason for dog constipation. If your dog has to live outside then weather conditions, cold or heat can cause constipation. A dog is an animal which does not like to be alone but always near you or with other dogs. This can cause stress too.
Before changing the diet for your dog you should also talk with your animal doctor. He knows much more about pet food, especially when it comes to dogs. He can also make a proper diagnosis which helps to find other reasons for your dogs constipation.
Unfortunately it is not always about food and exercise. Sometimes the problem is bigger. Dog constipation can also be caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses for example. Also poisoned food can be a cause. Here the veterinarian can help as well.
Your dog can not really care about himself so you have to do is. One of the best things to do is to check his excrements on a daily basis. While this does not sound like fun, it gives you important information about your dogs situation. It gives you early warning signs when something is wrong.
The ideal dog poop does not smell much, is moist but can easily be taken away without breaking apart. Any major changes in your dog’s poop can indicate an upcoming disease or – in the best case – are just a sign for you to change your dog’s nutrition.
There are many good dog food recipes which you can try out to make your dog healthier. On my web site I have some tips about this. One final word of warning though. When you choose high quality dog food then supplements should not be necessary. They could cause imbalances and also lead to dog constipation.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Learn how to stop dog constipation at www.DogsConstipation.com
Commercial dog foods come in a variety of forms. The most common types are dry, semi-moist, and canned. The moisture content of these foods ranges from 6 to 10% for dry, 15 to 30% for semi-moist, and 75% for canned. Most canned food has relatively more fat and protein and fewer carbohydrates than does dry and semi-moist food, and generally contains much higher levels of animal products.
Most commercial dog foods today lack the nutrients most growing and active dogs require. That is why it is important to consult with your veterinarian to determine if dog nutritional supplements would benefit your dog.
PET FOOD ADDITIVES
Some other substances that might be found in pet foods, which are not required nutrients. This is why it is important that dog owners understand what nutrients are in their dog’s food and how dogs use the various nutrients in food and dog nutritional supplements so they can choose a health diet and supplement program.
Some common yet not required nutrients you might find in your dog’s food are:
Chondroprotective agents are used by the body to make cartilage and joint tissues.
Antioxidants work to prevent oxidative damage to nutrients and other compounds in the body and inhibit or quench the formation of free radicals.
Herbs and botanicals are used in pet foods either to provide flavor or, more often, to have a medicinal effect on the body. This is especially true in the case of extracts, where the classical nutritive components of the plant may be separated from the extract in the process.
Flavors and extracts derived from animal tissues such as poultry or fish are considered “natural” flavors. A wide variety of flavors can be derived from other animal and plant materials, including dairy products, eggs, herbs, and spices. Acceptable processing methods include roasting, extraction, and fermentation. Except for artificial smoke and bacon flavors, synthetic substances are rarely used in most dog and cat foods.
Colors are synthetic compounds used to replace or accentuate the inherent color of the food. Only certified colors approved for use in human foods are allowed in pet foods. Iron oxide is a synthetic but non-certified color that can be used at levels not to exceed 0.25% of the pet food product to give dog food a red, meaty appearance. Titanium dioxide is another common color additive in human and pet foods because it can induce a “brightness” in foods by complementing other color additives. Its use is limited to 1% of the food by weight.
Dog food labels must list the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, and water in the food. When reading labels, it is important to understand the nutritional needs of your dog and determine if dog nutritional supplements should be added to the diet.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Learn how to use dog nutritional supplements to enhance your dog’s life and remedy your dog’s discomforts – almost immediately – guaranteed! by going to www.supplementsforyourdog.com
Your choice of dog food makes a huge difference in the health of your dog. Pet foods range radically in quality from the supercheap to the highly expensive. They are geared for diverse ages, stages, sizes, and even breeds. How the heck do you discern which pet food to select from amongst the many that decorate pet and grocery store shelves?
With the assistance of your vet, you can establish what your dog needs to eat. If your dog is healthy, a first-rate adult maintenance diet is most likely just fine. Read the label, look for identifiable meat protein sources listed among the first few ingredients, and get assistance from your vet. If you are not positive about which food is best for your dogs, puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs, and dogs with special needs.
Puppies need a high-quality puppy food, but large breed puppies, even the skinny ones, must grow slowly, therefore after the first few months of life, most of these dogs need to be weaned off puppy food. Large breeds like Labs, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and large mixed breeds are suceptible to bone and joint abnormalities as they get older. If they grow too quickly bones will not be as dense, and joints will not develop well. Feed large-breed puppies a high-quality food with modest amounts of protein, fat and calories.
Senior dogs and dogs with special needs, for instance injuries or diseases, may have specific nutritional needs. Dogs that develop kidney problems might need a low-protein food, but other seniors must have enough protein to keep their muscles nourished. Many good prescription foods focus on specific health problems and chronic diseases. Consult your vet, who can advise you best about prescription diets to meet your pets individual needs.
To a large degree, price is a good indication of quality, but more high-priced premium foods are actually more of a good buy than you might think. Cheap pet foods are packed full of fillers, such as protein sources that are not as digestible, where as the more pricey protein sources include quality muscle meat. When dogs eat cheap foods, their stools are large, soft, messy, and quite bluntly, stinky. When they consume premium foods, their stool is smaller, tighter, easier to clean up, and scarcely smell at all. That is because dogs actually digest more of the food and that means you will not have to feed your dog as much food to get the similar or greater nutritional value.
Quality diets come in dry kibble, canned, frozen raw meats, or dehydrated patties. Every one has its specific benefits, and your decision usually depends on what you are able to spend, how much time you have to take preparing the food, and if your dog in fact eats it. Dry kibble contains greater fiber and helps keep teeth clean, but it contains less water, so dogs might need to drink more water to compensate. Canned food may taste better and contain more water, but some vets think it may donate to tooth decay. It also gets pricey for large dogs because it is less concentrated than kibble, so you feed your dog more of it. For some dogs, frozen and dehydrated raw diets may be healthy, if they are from a reputable company, but they can be costly and need to be defrosted or rehydrated. Raw food is controversial, debate rages over if it is more nutritious or more likely to harbor harmful bacteria, so consult your vet about whether raw food is a good diet for your dog. One type of food that the majority of vets will not recommend is semimoist. While these chewy kibble pieces might taste good to dogs, they are usually packed with sweeteners and artificial colors and are not a good nutritional choice, semimoist dog food would be considered junk food for your dogs.
Your choice of dog food makes a huge difference in the health of your dog. Pet foods range radically in quality from the supercheap to the highly expensive. They are geared for diverse ages, stages, sizes, and even breeds. How the heck do you discern which pet food to select from amongst the many that decorate pet and grocery store shelves?
With the assistance of your vet, you can establish what your dog needs to eat. If your dog is healthy, a first-rate adult maintenance diet is most likely just fine. Read the label, look for identifiable meat protein sources listed among the first few ingredients, and get assistance from your vet. If you are not positive about which food is best for your dogs, puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs, and dogs with special needs.
Puppies need a high-quality puppy food, but large breed puppies, even the skinny ones, must grow slowly, therefore after the first few months of life, most of these dogs need to be weaned off puppy food. Large breeds like Labs, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and large mixed breeds are suceptible to bone and joint abnormalities as they get older. If they grow too quickly bones will not be as dense, and joints will not develop well. Feed large-breed puppies a high-quality food with modest amounts of protein, fat and calories.
Senior dogs and dogs with special needs, for instance injuries or diseases, may have specific nutritional needs. Dogs that develop kidney problems might need a low-protein food, but other seniors must have enough protein to keep their muscles nourished. Many good prescription foods focus on specific health problems and chronic diseases. Consult your vet, who can advise you best about prescription diets to meet your pets individual needs.
To a large degree, price is a good indication of quality, but more high-priced premium foods are actually more of a good buy than you might think. Cheap pet foods are packed full of fillers, such as protein sources that are not as digestible, where as the more pricey protein sources include quality muscle meat. When dogs eat cheap foods, their stools are large, soft, messy, and quite bluntly, stinky. When they consume premium foods, their stool is smaller, tighter, easier to clean up, and scarcely smell at all. That is because dogs actually digest more of the food and that means you will not have to feed your dog as much food to get the similar or greater nutritional value.
Quality diets come in dry kibble, canned, frozen raw meats, or dehydrated patties. Every one has its specific benefits, and your decision usually depends on what you are able to spend, how much time you have to take preparing the food, and if your dog in fact eats it. Dry kibble contains greater fiber and helps keep teeth clean, but it contains less water, so dogs might need to drink more water to compensate. Canned food may taste better and contain more water, but some vets think it may donate to tooth decay. It also gets pricey for large dogs because it is less concentrated than kibble, so you feed your dog more of it. For some dogs, frozen and dehydrated raw diets may be healthy, if they are from a reputable company, but they can be costly and need to be defrosted or rehydrated. Raw food is controversial, debate rages over if it is more nutritious or more likely to harbor harmful bacteria, so consult your vet about whether raw food is a good diet for your dog. One type of food that the majority of vets will not recommend is semimoist. While these chewy kibble pieces might taste good to dogs, they are usually packed with sweeteners and artificial colors and are not a good nutritional choice, semimoist dog food would be considered junk food for your dogs.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
This author is a huge dog lover, she has several dogs herself, you are invited to visit a couple of her websites at Dog Supplements Dog Food
Feeding your pet a high-quality dog or cat food is the best way to assure a long and healthy life. This article will help you make some of the choices involved in deciding on a dog food or cat food
How do you know what dog/cat food is right? For many the choice is a homemade diet. If you have the time and the resources, I agree that this is the preferred way to go. This is usually the best, and occasionally the only choice for animals with multiple food allergies. The choice is yours whether to go cooked or raw, with bones or without.
Basically, a homemade diet should consist of 40-60% meat for dogs, 60%-90% for cats, 20-50% vegetables (dogs, or 10%-40% for cats), and the rest, optionally, grains. The choice within each category is vast, and depends on your budget, availability, and what the dog or cat prefers. Often allergies to certain foods will determine the diet.
Each dog and cat is unique and what is best for one may not work well for another. Feeding a variety of foods is the best way to provide all or most of the nutrients that your pet needs.
A good quality multi-vitamin and calcium supplements will help make sure the diet is complete. Because it can be tricky to get the right balance of calcium and phosphorus when making your own pet food, you will need to add a calcium supplement.
If you like the idea of homemade pet food, but lack the time, there are pre-mixes available, or complete ready-to-serve meals. Pre-mixes come freeze-dried, dehydrated or frozen. Usually they are grain and vegetable mixes, along with some supplements such as calcium, to which you add the meat. Ground meats, sometimes with bone, are also available where pet foods are sold. You can then add your own vegetables and/or grains if you so desire.
Complete raw-foods diets are also sold as frozen, dry or freeze-dried. Some areas may have local entrepreneurs who make and sell these diets fresh. They may also custom make meals to your pets specifications.
If you prefer to feed a commercial product, choose one of the many premium dog foods now available. though the cost may be higher than grocery store brands, what you save in vet bills will more than make up for the difference.
Whether to feed canned or dry pet food will depend on you and your dog or cat. Canned food is usually more expensive, kibble is more convenient. Pets usually prefer canned foods and some need the softer, wetter consistency. Canned pet foods generally contain higher quality proteins than dry pet food, and a higher percentage of protein and fat. The higher moisture content of canned foods can be beneficial to dogs and cats with kidney or urinary tract problems. Dry pet foods contain more preservatives. Some people choose to use both.
The most important criteria in choosing a pet food is the list of ingredients. Whole meats are always better then meat meals, and meat meals are preferable to by-products. Single source meals, such as “beef meal” or “chicken meal” are more wholesome than those marked simple “meat” or “poultry” meals. Single source meals contain the muscle meat from that animal, along with accompanying tissues, such as nerves, blood vessels and skin. Generic meals may contain other organ tissues and fatty tissue. By-product meal is a catch-all term for anything that doesn’t fit the other meal definitions – avoid these at all costs!
Look for the meat source (or sources) to be listed first on the label. If grains are included (which they always are in kibbles), they should be whole grains, rather than fractions, such as wheat bran, brewer’s rice, etc. Watch out for multiple listings of grains, they may add up to be more than the meat portion!
Avoid artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Colors are added for your benefit, not to appeal to dogs. Artificial flavors are added to enhance palatability or cover up off tastes of poorer quality ingredients. Most natural foods stores and holistic pet supply stores will carry premium brands of pet food. If you are unable to find a satisfactory dog food in stores near you, many of them can be found on the internet.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Elyse Grau founded The Original Dog Biscuit Company, a natural dog biscuit producer. She is a herbalist, preferring to treat her animals holistically. She has made it a point to learn as much about animal nutrition as possible. You can read more of her articles at: www.pethealthresource.com
With the recent recalls of commercial dog food, it is time to assess your dog’s health. And if you consider your pet dog to be part of the family, then it is time to improve the health of your dog.
If you are not aware by now, most commercial dog food contains meat ‘by products’ which are often unwanted parts of an animal. What’s left is the bones, tendons, cartilage, beaks, feet and innards.
Visit: http://dogfoodsecrets.imgenius.org to find your Free mini course.
Also, the cooking process used in pet foods KILLS off a vital component: enzymes.
Enzymes are necessary in the breaking down the food for digestion. And since it is ‘cooked away’, it adds the entire burden for digestion on your pet’s pancreas to supply the enzymes necessary for breaking down nutrients for absorption!
No wonder the dog’s are not living to their fullest potential.
If you want your dog to live longer, listed below are “Dog Food Secrets” to boost a dog’s health-
1) A balanced proportion of nutrients that consists of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, healthy fats and minerals. These nutrients are essential for growth and development in a dog.
Too much or too little nutrients will harm a dog’s health.
2) Protein is one of the most important nutrients, and a healthy dog diet must contain a minimum of 40% protein diet. The amino acid in protein is beneficial for muscle development and regulation of antibodies.
Meat, fish and soy beans are great sources of protein.
3) Carbohydrates is considered an energy component in a dog’s diet. Sources of carbohydrates
can be found in rice, oatmeal, corn, yams, sweet potatoes and wheat.
Brown rice is an excellent source of highly digestible carbohydrates dietary fiber that is gentle on the stomach.
A recommended range of 40-60% of carbohydrates are essential for your dog’s health.
However, too much carbohydrates is harmful to a dog’s health, as excess carbohydrates will be stored as fat which leads to obesity and maldigestion, and other health problems.
4) Healthy animal fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 is another requirement for a healthy dog food.
Omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat, and also reduces the likelihood of inflammation and blood clotting.
Sources of fatty acids can be found in vegetable oil, fish and meat.
5) Dogs requires good doses of vitamins and minerals; it is an absolute nutritional necessity for dogs.
Without sufficient vitamins and minerals, your dog’s health will suffer and as a result will be vulnerable to a range of diseases.
Vitamins and minerals are good sources for muscle development and fighting diseases.
6) Like humans, dogs must drink plenty of water. Water not only helps to regulate a dog’s body temperature, it is also beneficial for digestion and transportation of nutrients
A healthy dog food is necessary to maintain a dog’s health and improving it.
At times, not knowing what to feed a dog can be difficult, but with the recent pet food recall it is more important than ever that the quality of food for a dog is paramount.
Dog Food Secrets has a list of homemade dog food recipes that is easy and simple to follow, and more importantly healthy for a dog. The fact is that the life span of your dog can be increased by up to 8 years just by changing and improving the diet of the food.
With the recent recalls of commercial dog food, it is time to assess your dog’s health. And if you consider your pet dog to be part of the family, then it is time to improve the health of your dog.
If you are not aware by now, most commercial dog food contains meat ‘by products’ which are often unwanted parts of an animal. What’s left is the bones, tendons, cartilage, beaks, feet and innards.
Visit: http://dogfoodsecrets.imgenius.org to find your Free mini course.
Also, the cooking process used in pet foods KILLS off a vital component: enzymes.
Enzymes are necessary in the breaking down the food for digestion. And since it is ‘cooked away’, it adds the entire burden for digestion on your pet’s pancreas to supply the enzymes necessary for breaking down nutrients for absorption!
No wonder the dog’s are not living to their fullest potential.
If you want your dog to live longer, listed below are “Dog Food Secrets” to boost a dog’s health-
1) A balanced proportion of nutrients that consists of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, healthy fats and minerals. These nutrients are essential for growth and development in a dog.
Too much or too little nutrients will harm a dog’s health.
2) Protein is one of the most important nutrients, and a healthy dog diet must contain a minimum of 40% protein diet. The amino acid in protein is beneficial for muscle development and regulation of antibodies.
Meat, fish and soy beans are great sources of protein.
3) Carbohydrates is considered an energy component in a dog’s diet. Sources of carbohydrates
can be found in rice, oatmeal, corn, yams, sweet potatoes and wheat.
Brown rice is an excellent source of highly digestible carbohydrates dietary fiber that is gentle on the stomach.
A recommended range of 40-60% of carbohydrates are essential for your dog’s health.
However, too much carbohydrates is harmful to a dog’s health, as excess carbohydrates will be stored as fat which leads to obesity and maldigestion, and other health problems.
4) Healthy animal fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 is another requirement for a healthy dog food.
Omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat, and also reduces the likelihood of inflammation and blood clotting.
Sources of fatty acids can be found in vegetable oil, fish and meat.
5) Dogs requires good doses of vitamins and minerals; it is an absolute nutritional necessity for dogs.
Without sufficient vitamins and minerals, your dog’s health will suffer and as a result will be vulnerable to a range of diseases.
Vitamins and minerals are good sources for muscle development and fighting diseases.
6) Like humans, dogs must drink plenty of water. Water not only helps to regulate a dog’s body temperature, it is also beneficial for digestion and transportation of nutrients
A healthy dog food is necessary to maintain a dog’s health and improving it.
At times, not knowing what to feed a dog can be difficult, but with the recent pet food recall it is more important than ever that the quality of food for a dog is paramount.
Dog Food Secrets has a list of homemade dog food recipes that is easy and simple to follow, and more importantly healthy for a dog. The fact is that the life span of your dog can be increased by up to 8 years just by changing and improving the diet of the food.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Discover the 5 very first things you must do for your dog to extend it’s life by up to 134%. Get your free copy before it banned at dogfoodsecrets.imgenius.org
Just a few years ago, feeding your dog was so much simpler compared to today’s nutritional advice. I remember when my parent’s dog ate whatever the whole family would eat, including dessert! In addition to table scraps, he also ate commercial dog food. That dog had a happy life and lived well into his mid-teens without contracting any serious illness or disease.
Picking a commercial dog food was also easy back then. There were only a handful of brands to choose from and these pet foods all had practically the same ingredients, only varying in color and flavor.
Nowadays, there are so many varieties to choose from. Below is a list of some of the popular commercial foods available for your dog:
Organic Dog Food: Most dog food products found in the market today contain pesticides and other chemicals. If you want to give your dog food that is free of these chemicals, consider organic dog food. However, the term “organic” can be misleading, so read the ingredients carefully before making your purchase.
No Preservative or Natural Preservative Dog Food: Most dog foods contain preservatives in the form of artificial chemicals such as ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA. These are added for two reasons: To prevent the food from spoiling and keep the taste lasting longer. Some dog foods, however, have natural preservatives like vitamin C (often listed as ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (often listed as tocopherols).
Before you buy a dog food with natural preservatives, be sure to read the ingredients first to make sure that the preservatives are actually derived from nature instead of it being artificially synthesized.
You may also buy dog foods that are free of any kind of preservatives. These products must be properly sealed in a cool, dry, bug-free place and used promptly to assure freshness.
Vegetarian Dog Food: Vegetarian dog foods allow vegetarian dog owners to exercise their dietary beliefs with their dogs. These foods contain all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients that your pet needs, so long as they are properly made. A vegetarian diet is also beneficial for dogs that are allergic to meat.
Raw Dog Food: Many dog owners believe that a diet of raw food is the healthiest way to feed their pet because this is the way wolves and other wild dog species ate. This belief has no scientific facts to value its accuracy. However, a diet of raw food can expose both you and your pet to dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.
Therapeutic Dog Food: Therapeutic dog foods, along with necessary medical care, have been the growing trend in dog food products today. It is only available through a veterinarian and is usually prescribed for cases of preventive treatment, as an after-surgery diet, or for certain health problems like food allergies.
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