Posts Tagged ‘Skin Coat’
You just brought home your new puppy, now, what should you feed him? There are a million types and brands of dog food, from canned to kibble. How do you know how much you should feed your puppy? For medium to large size puppies, they need to be fed a well balanced, quality, dry, puppy formula, 4 small meals a day, up to 4 months of age. They are growing so fast and using up so much energy, they need to be refueled frequently. From 4 months to 8 months of age, they should be fed 3 meals a day, and from 8 months to 12 months, feed 2 times a day. If puppies are started on dry kibble from the time they are weaned, they will have no problem eating dry puppy food.
Treats can be given in moderation, especially small treats for reward during training. Table food and leftovers should be avoided, although the occasional piece of apple or carrot is okay. Certain foods are not safe for puppies or dogs to eat. Most people know chocolate can harm dogs, but raisins, grapes, onions, garlic and certain nuts are also harmful.
It is important for large breed puppies to be fed a dry puppy food specially formulated for large breeds. Also, do not overfeed your puppy to increase or speed growth. This is especially important for large breed puppies because rapid growth causes improper skeletal development, which leads to bone and joint problems. A slower, steady growth rate is better. You should not encourage your puppy to become an oversized adult to make him look more impressive.
There are some key ingredients important for your pups diet. DHA, which is a fish oil has been shown to promote faster learning in puppies. Protein is important for muscle, skin, coat and organ development. Calcium and Phosphorous are needed in the proper ratio for teeth and bones to grow correctly. Omega-3 fatty acids help develop a healthy immune system.
Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so a quality dog or puppy food is crucial for healthy growth and development. An all natural, human grade pet vitamin is also beneficial because it provides an important digestive enzyme lost during the processing of dog food. A quality pet vitamin also provides Essential Fatty Acids not produced in the body. A good pet vitamin also helps protect against allergies and immune disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Disease.
With the proper care and nutrition, your puppy will grow to be strong and healthy. You will be able to enjoy your new best friend for a long time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
You just brought home your new puppy, now, what should you feed him? There are a million types and brands of dog food, from canned to kibble. How do you know how much you should feed your puppy? For medium to large size puppies, they need to be fed a well balanced, quality, dry, puppy formula, 4 small meals a day, up to 4 months of age. They are growing so fast and using up so much energy, they need to be refueled frequently. From 4 months to 8 months of age, they should be fed 3 meals a day, and from 8 months to 12 months, feed 2 times a day. If puppies are started on dry kibble from the time they are weaned, they will have no problem eating dry puppy food.
Treats can be given in moderation, especially small treats for reward during training. Table food and leftovers should be avoided, although the occasional piece of apple or carrot is okay. Certain foods are not safe for puppies or dogs to eat. Most people know chocolate can harm dogs, but raisins, grapes, onions, garlic and certain nuts are also harmful.
It is important for large breed puppies to be fed a dry puppy food specially formulated for large breeds. Also, do not overfeed your puppy to increase or speed growth. This is especially important for large breed puppies because rapid growth causes improper skeletal development, which leads to bone and joint problems. A slower, steady growth rate is better. You should not encourage your puppy to become an oversized adult to make him look more impressive.
There are some key ingredients important for your pups diet. DHA, which is a fish oil has been shown to promote faster learning in puppies. Protein is important for muscle, skin, coat and organ development. Calcium and Phosphorous are needed in the proper ratio for teeth and bones to grow correctly. Omega-3 fatty acids help develop a healthy immune system.
Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so a quality dog or puppy food is crucial for healthy growth and development. An all natural, human grade pet vitamin is also beneficial because it provides an important digestive enzyme lost during the processing of dog food. A quality pet vitamin also provides Essential Fatty Acids not produced in the body. A good pet vitamin also helps protect against allergies and immune disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Disease.
With the proper care and nutrition, your puppy will grow to be strong and healthy. You will be able to enjoy your new best friend for a long time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to petvitamins4u.com or to theroadhousedobes.com for further information
Because every dog is unique, it’s sometimes very difficult to determine what causes food-related allergies and what doesn’t. Common pet food culprits include wheat, corn and soy. Various proteins also create their share of problems in certain dogs. I was shocked to learn that some dogs are allergic to chicken, while I know from first-hand experience that my Jack Russell Terrier Lucy used to be allergic to beef. Here’s an approach worth trying if your dog is exessively itching and scratching.
If excessive itching and scratching are the problems, that may simply be the lack of Omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids in your dog’s diet that’s making their skin and coat dry. Winter indoor heating may also be exacerbating the condition. Adding simple food additives to your dog’s food may be the key without switching diets. Supplements like Mrs. Allen’s Shed Stop, Flaxseed Oil, Pet Botanics Skin & Coat supplement, Royal Coat from Ark Naturals or Health & Shine from Dr. Harvey’s are all viable solutions for supplementing your dog’s diet with the needed Omegas that dog’s and cats need to lubricate their skin and coats.
Excessive and compulsive foot licking, or chewing and biting other parts of the body, are generally a sign that allergies are to blame.
Assuming it’s food allergies and not environmental, many vets and pet nutritionists recommend substituting a protein source that your dog doesn’t normally eat. Lamb is often used for this purpose, because it’s not as common a dog food ingredient. Lamb, in and of itself, is not “non-allergic”, but it’s less common than chicken and beef so it enables you to introduce something new into your dog’s diet, in effect, starting with a clean slate.
Some vets sell expensive “allergy free formulas” but there are ways to figure this out on your own and a lot less expensively. Increasingly, pet owners who have dogs with food allergies are feeding various pet food mixes like Dr. Harvey’s, Solid Gold Holistique Blendz or The Honest Kitchen’s FORCE formula, which is grain free, or Sojourner Farms’ new grain free Europa formula.
Mixes, while a bit more work, allow you to more closely control what your dog is eating by beginning with a good “base” that contains the proper nutrients and vitamins especially formulated for dogs. Then, you can experiment by introducing your own protein sources (whether raw or cooked) and seeing how your dog reacts over the next few days.
Because The Honest Kitchen FORCE Formula is grain free but chicken-based, I would stick to the Dr. Harveys or the Europa which have no protein or grain sources. The Solid Gold Holistique Blendz formula is also a good choice but that already contains fish protein. Because fish-based protein is an unlikely protein source for your dog to begin with, it’s unlikely that it will cause allergy problems now — same theory with the lamb or any other uncommon protein like venison or buffalo or rabbit. If later you find that chicken is ok, I would give The Honest Kitchen FORCE Formula a second look, too.
Beginning with one of these neutral, grain-free formulas, try adding chicken for a week. If that goes well, than your dog is probably ok with chicken. Then try beef. Then lamb. Try, fish, too. If that goes well, than it was probably one or more of the grains.
Now a picture is starting to form. Your dog’s allergies have improved with a grain free diet that includes certain proteins.
As we mentioned before, the point of introducing a different protein source to test your dog’s tolerance is because if your dog is suffering some type of food-related reaction, common sense tells you it’s something she’s already eating. Can’t be having reactions to something she never had yet, right?
Please note that when switching a dog’s food, do it gradually over 5 to 6 days. Begin a 4 to 1 ration, old to new food, than 3 to 2 on day 2, than half and half on day 3, than 2 to 3 on day 4 and 1 to 4 on day 5. Day six, you’re switched over completely. Than the real allergy testing can begin in earnest by sticking with the new protein source for a week and than introducing a new one every week taking note of your dog’s reaction or, hopefully, lack of one.
As you’ve probably figured out by now, there’s no one answer or “Silver Bullet” that will miraculously solve all your dog’s allergy problems overnight. You have to break the cycle by moving your dog to a neutral, grain-free food and begin experimenting with different proteins. Once you find a protein or combination of proteins that work, try slowly introducing grain formulas back into the diet to see if there’s a reaction or not. Using this gradual, common sense method combined with a good quality dog food should have your dog on the road to a happy, itch-free life.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Gene Sower is the publisher of the DOG BYTES newsletter and owner of www.naturalpetsworld.com, a site devoted to offering a huge selection of natural pet foods at discount prices.
Many of us choose to take vitamins or supplements to improve or maintain our health. We don’t always eat well and we live busy, often stressful lives. This busy lifestyle takes a toll on our bodies. We get run down and tired. Vitamin supplements can help support our immune system and provide nutrients we don’t get in our regular diet. So, if vitamins are beneficial for us, should be give our dogs vitamins too?
Today’s commercial dog foods have improved over the years as more research has been done on the nutritional needs of pets. There are now special formulas for the different stages of your dog’s life, from puppy to senior. You may be wondering, if you feed your dog a high quality, meat based dog food, does he still need vitamins?
Many veterinarians and researchers believe that in the future, we will depend more on vitamins and supplements and less on chemicals and drugs to keep our pets healthy. Since drugs can cause side effects such as kidney or liver damage, natural supplements can be a safe alternative. Vets have determined that free radicals, which are molecules that damage cells, are found everywhere in our environment. Just like for us, they weaken the immune system of our four-legged best friends. A weakened immune system makes us and our pets more susceptible to illness. There are many natural vitamins, herbs and minerals that can fight the effects of free radicals. They protect and shield cells from damage and help repair cells.
Some of the most beneficial vitamin supplements include, Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, and Vitamin B2. Vitamin C improves the function of white blood cells, combats the effects of free radicals and promotes growth and tissue repair. Vitamin B Complex helps the functioning of the nervous system, maintains muscle tone and keeps skin, coat, eyes, mouth and liver healthy. Vitamin B2 is important for antibody and red blood cell formation. These are just a few of the nutritional supplements that are necessary for your dog’s health. There are many other beneficial vitamins and minerals that will improve and maintain a strong immune system for your pet. You can expect to see great improvement in your pet’s overall health several weeks after starting on a high quality, human grade pet vitamin.
Natural herbs used in pet supplements are considered to be pharmacological and can therefore be dangerous if not used properly. Always consult with your veterinarian before you give your furry family member vitamins or supplements. It is important to have the correct combination of ingredients in the correct amount for the best result.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Many of us choose to take vitamins or supplements to improve or maintain our health. We don’t always eat well and we live busy, often stressful lives. This busy lifestyle takes a toll on our bodies. We get run down and tired. Vitamin supplements can help support our immune system and provide nutrients we don’t get in our regular diet. So, if vitamins are beneficial for us, should be give our dogs vitamins too?
Today’s commercial dog foods have improved over the years as more research has been done on the nutritional needs of pets. There are now special formulas for the different stages of your dog’s life, from puppy to senior. You may be wondering, if you feed your dog a high quality, meat based dog food, does he still need vitamins?
Many veterinarians and researchers believe that in the future, we will depend more on vitamins and supplements and less on chemicals and drugs to keep our pets healthy. Since drugs can cause side effects such as kidney or liver damage, natural supplements can be a safe alternative. Vets have determined that free radicals, which are molecules that damage cells, are found everywhere in our environment. Just like for us, they weaken the immune system of our four-legged best friends. A weakened immune system makes us and our pets more susceptible to illness. There are many natural vitamins, herbs and minerals that can fight the effects of free radicals. They protect and shield cells from damage and help repair cells.
Some of the most beneficial vitamin supplements include, Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, and Vitamin B2. Vitamin C improves the function of white blood cells, combats the effects of free radicals and promotes growth and tissue repair. Vitamin B Complex helps the functioning of the nervous system, maintains muscle tone and keeps skin, coat, eyes, mouth and liver healthy. Vitamin B2 is important for antibody and red blood cell formation. These are just a few of the nutritional supplements that are necessary for your dog’s health. There are many other beneficial vitamins and minerals that will improve and maintain a strong immune system for your pet. You can expect to see great improvement in your pet’s overall health several weeks after starting on a high quality, human grade pet vitamin.
Natural herbs used in pet supplements are considered to be pharmacological and can therefore be dangerous if not used properly. Always consult with your veterinarian before you give your furry family member vitamins or supplements. It is important to have the correct combination of ingredients in the correct amount for the best result.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to petvitamins4u.com or to theroadhousedobes.com for further information