Best Dog Food Ratings? - Other

The first thing I know about you is that you are a great dog owner - one of the very best, in fact. How do I know this? I know this is true because you found this article while looking to settle the question about who provides the best dog food ratings once and for all.

Now, here's a question I want to ask you. Whose dog food ratings are you interested in? Were you going to get the answer to which commercial pet food maker makes the best product compared to the rest of the commercial pet food companies? You can find plenty of information about which one makes the best product.

The problem is that none of it will be accurate.

Are you going to question what each company says about itself vs all the others? Are you going to compare ads and articles in print in the dog magazines? Are you going to accept the dog food ratings of the person reading off the sales copy on the TV or Radio commercial? How about going to the store and reading all the ingredients and nutrition information on all the different brands of cans and bags?

Are you going to go and visit as many dog or pet related websites as you can find and see who they recommend? This last one will at least give you a small chance of finding out the real facts. The chance is small because you're probably not looking for the right dog food ratings information.

Here's the thing. The commercial pet food makers definitely rate each other (and naturally the one doing the rating wins out). However, they ONLY rate their competitors that are trying to crowd them on the shelf in the store. This includes the so called 'higher quality' foods that cost more and tell you that they are worth more.

It's a formula and a technique used by all of the best magicians in Las Vegas. They distract you with a beautiful girl or an explosion or a fancy passing of one hand while the other hand or stage hand is doing something they don't want you to notice.

Now you ask, "Glenn, what on earth are you talking about? Can you please just get to the point?"

It's this. They only recognize each other as competitors and want you to think that there are no other dog food ratings to take into account; so, they never ever mention them. It's easy and effective because they have the advertising budgets and the competitors they ignore don't.

So, one more time. Who's rating are you interested in? Have you tried this approach?Go to your favorite search engine and search "homemade pet food testimonials" and prepare yourself to be horribly shocked at what you'll learn about commercial pet foods and what a fantastic alternative is available in creating your own recipes in your own kitchen.

After you do a little exploring on the internet; find a local Veterinarian of good reputation and ask his or her opinion about commercial dog foods vs homemade dog food.

Important information all pet owners should know:Commercial dog food products (among the worst dog food ratings) are known to be responsible for a wide variety of debilitating, crippling and life shortening diseases and medical conditions including severe malnutrition, impacted immune systems, stunted growth, reduced vitality, kidney and liver disease, cancer, reduced ability to recover from illness or injury and a greatly fore-shortened life span that can be as much as 50%.

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Dog Food Ratings: Know What You're Feeding Your Dog - Family - Pets

The recent recall of a variety of commercial dog food has highly affected dog food ratings. It has been stated that the lives of dogs across the United States of America have been claimed due to them eating commercial dog food. Some commercial dog foods are tainted with aminopterin, which is a rat poison, and melamine, which is a chemical used for making plastic and fertilizer. Because of these dog food ratings, many dog owners are choosing to make their very own homemade dog food as a safe and nutritious alternative for their canine companion.

Some of the regular ingredients that are placed into commercial dog foods which are manufactured in the United States, Europe and worldwide include:

* Euthanized dogs - Euthanizing agent is what is used to inject dogs to kill them on a daily basis at dog shelters. The dogs may still be wearing a collar which ends up in the plastic bag of dog food.

* Blood

* Downed, dying, diseased and dead animals

* Feathers

* Hooves, beaks, feet and hide

* Undeveloped eggs

There are also many unhealthy and toxic products that go into commercial dog food which can slowly kill your dog. The way in which these dog food ratings have affected the nation are immense.

What is the alternative? Well the best alternative, if you are prepared to spend the time and a little money, is to prepare your very own homemade dog food. The daily toxification can be stopped, and you can provide your dog with a nutritional and healthy diet to increase his lifespan.

There are a wide variety of homemade dog food options to choose from. Some of these include completely natural ingredients that are backed by The Bones and Raw Food (BARF) nutrition experts. These diets include a variety of uncooked foods such as:

* Bones with meat attached* Cereals* Eggs* Enzymes* Fruit* Herbs* Muscle* Organs* Supplements * Vegetables* Yogurt

There are, of course, vegetarian diets for dogs also. Even though primarily dogs were carnivores in the wild 10,000 years ago, dogs would take down their prey and eat not only the meat of the carcass, but also the contents of the stomach, which included undigested berries, grains and grass.

Therefore, a dog's vegetarian diet can consist of:

* Apples* Baked beans* Bread* Brown rice* Carrots* Cottage cheese* Dog biscuits* Eggs* Lentils* Sprouting grains

You could also prepare a combo homemade dog food diet which would include:

* Brown pasta* Brown rice* Eggs* Meat* Vegetables

Therefore, if you choose to do something about the dog food ratings that are present in today's day and age, then why not select to prepare homemade dog food and avoid potentially dangerous commercial dog food.

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The Fatal Weakness of All Dog Food Rating Systems - Family - Pets

Introduction

There are various dog food rating systems on the Internet that claim to provide a listing of the best to worst dog food available on the market.

One popular method assigns points to "good" and "bad" ingredients in dog food to arrive at a final rating for pet food. Other methods allow consumers to rate food based on their pets' preferences or the experience one has had with a particular brand. Still other methods rate food for their meat content or whole vegetable or whole grain content. Some rating entities even contact the manufacturer to determine the sources of their ingredients.

The major weakness of most dog food rating systems

Each one of these methods could be critiqued on their own merits; however even without their proper downsides, most suffer from one overriding weakness: - A majority of the dog foods they rate are not genetically appropriate for your pet.

For starters we must contend with the fact that most conventional pet food is made under highly processed conditions. The resulting kibble, which has gone through an abnormal heating and cooling process, differs dramatically from natural food in its normal state.

You don't need a dog food expert to corroborate this fact for you. You know it instinctively from the foods you prepare daily for human consumption.

For example, if you've ever made lemonade by squeezing the lemons yourself you know it tastes qualitatively different (and is better for you) than some processed concoction you buy at the supermarket (a smiling actor notwithstanding).

Secondly, for all of the positive points or ratings that are given to foods with whole grains, they are still nevertheless starches. Starches are wonderful for plant eaters, but are not a natural food for carnivores. Yet many companies routinely use starches as fillers or as protein substitutes or because it helps the ingredients in the kibble to adhere.

The wonderful carnivore's anatomy (i.e. your dog's body)

Think about your dog's anatomy for a second.

First, it bears repeating often that your dog is a descendant of the wolf, a carnivore if there ever was one. I suspect that if a wolf in the wild came across some splattered kibble left by a camper with a dog, they would not know what to do with it.

Secondly, a dog's teeth are sharp and jagged, which means they are primed to tear through flesh, bones and fat. In addition, they have what is known as a hinged jaw, allowing them to swallow large chunks of food (i.e. the whole tiny, crunchy, pellet thing goes against their very nature.) Finally, there are no flat molars in a dog's mouth, making the grinding of vegetable matter quite difficult.

Thirdly, a dog's digestive system is short, and its powerful stomach acids, allow for the easy digestion of protein and fat. (This is why good homemade recipes call for lots of meat.) Grains, vegetables and other starches, however require further breakdowns which a short digestive tract is not able to handle as well. The result of all the starch in most pet foods is gas and smelly stools.

Conclusion

Dogs are incredible creatures, with amazing anatomies, whose real need is genetically appropriate food. The problem with most dog food rating systems is that they are giving high marks to a manufacturing process that ultimately fails to address this need.

Only a diet of fresh, natural, homemade dog food recipes begins to reverse this critical shortcoming.

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What is a High Dog Food Rating Really Worth - Family - Pets

Introduction

Hello my friend. And thank you for reading this article.

If you have somehow made it to this particular page or site, my guess is that you are looking for the healthiest and most nutritious options for feeding your precious dog.

And I don't blame you! Dogs are a truly special breed (in many homes they are considered part of the family); but if you are truly concerned about your pet's health, you may want to think twice before relying on brands with a high dog food rating.

What is a high dog food rating really worth?

Recently, I ran across a site that rated the top 10 dry dog foods on the market. This site (which shall remain unnamed) had a long list of criteria by which they rated each brand. It was the usual: brands with a high named meat source, whole grains and vegetables and no harmful additives received high marks. Those with meat by-products, high (and substandard) grain content and harmful additives received low grades.

But what was truly shocking is that since their last update, this site had removed four of their top ten pet food brands from their list.

Doesn't that give you pause? Here were four brands, which previous to my hitting this site, had received the highest marks any dog food could receive. We're not talking one out of 100, or 50 or even 25. We're talking about 4 OUT OF THE TOP 10 BRANDS of dog food!

The real problem with dog food ratings

Upon closer inspection, the rating entity had really done nothing wrong in terms of their criteria, their research and their grading of a particular dog food. The real problem is that they were relying on the published ingredients contained on the manufacturer's pet food label. And therein lies the real problem with many of the raters.

Apparently, the manufacturer whose food was removed from the high rate list was under investigation by the Food And Drug Administration for "misbranding" their pet food. A food that was labeled as containing duck, had no such ingredient and one labeled lamb contained bovine material. The pet food company denied the reports, but the FDA continued with their investigation.

The other three brands were also deleted from the top 10 list because the manufacturer was bought out by another pet food maker with a not so great reputation.

The real problem is trust

Let me step back for a moment and ask you. Are you really confident that a giant conglomerate, that makes everything from soap, to motor oil, can do a better job of feeding your dog than you can? Do you know what the sources of the ingredients in your dog food are? Do you even know what those ingredients on the label mean? When did feeding our pets become so complicated that we must now rely on pet food formulas that only a chemist would love?

Are we that sold on convenience that we would turn over our pet's health to an industry that has serious credibility issues. How convenient are those vet visits you constantly make, which are likely caused by the processed food your pet is consuming daily.

The true highest rated dog food

There is one sure fire way to escape the ratings madness, and that is to make your own dog food recipes.

Once you truly take control of your dog's nutrition you will never go back to feeding them processed food day after day. And I can promise you that anything you put together yourself, made with only the freshest ingredients will always have a 10 top rating and will never be struck from the list.

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Dog Food Choices - Family - Pets

Our dogs are our special friends, our companions. They rely on us to provide them with a loving home where they can feed safe, and they can get the best care we can afford. To do this, we need to feed them good food.

There are many opinions about dog food, what is good and what is bad. The media often provides us with huge amounts of advertising regarding just what is best for our pets. However, do they really have our dogs as a top priority or do they have their bottom line, as their priority? You decide after this brief review.

I believe we most often find ourselves at the supermarket, realize we need dog food, look for a name brand commercial food, check the price or see what is on sale, grab a bag and take it home. I have found that I have read the advertising on the label like 'nutritious', 'top quality', 'high protein', 'high energy', or any other leading slogan, and those slogans catch my eye. I feel that I am purchasing something good for my dog, and I don't take the time to read the ingredients because the slogans wouldn't lie. I feel I am an educated shopper because I have seen the ads in magazines or on TV. Most of the time, however, these supermarket specials are not the high quality dog food we are lead to believe they are and we should take the time to understand just what the ingredients really are.

In my research, I have discovered what some of the terms of ingredients actually mean. On the surface, they sound good; however, they are not as good as we think they are. Here are a few of the most common and important ingredients that we need to be aware of when purchasing good quality dog food.

Meat or Poultry: These sounds good, but ask yourself, "What kind of meat or poultry?" Meat and poultry are general terms without using any specifics, so you really don't know what is in the dog food. Is it beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, geese, or duck or some other animal? Is this ingredient human grade or leftovers from some processing source? The meat source is unknown. Meal: Meat meal or poultry meal still does not specify the protein source. Meal means the water has been removed so you get a more condensed product, but the animal is not specified, and is the animal source palatable for our pets? If it says 'chicken meal', 'turkey meal', or some other specific animal meal, that is good quality. Rendered meat: These meats can be any meat from animals that are dead, diseased, dying or disabled. The animals may have some medicines or chemicals in them before they are processed. These should not be eaten by our pets. By-products: This term is misleading because you don 't know what the by-products are from. It could be hoofs, beaks, ears, etc. It is unknown. Not too edible! Grains: Grains are often fillers and they do not have good protein value for our dogs. Our pets need more meat, such as beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, etc. Grains like corn, wheat, corn gluten, or wheat gluten are not good for dogs because dogs can be allergic to these grains. Other grains such as oats or barley are okay. The grains, however, should not be listed within the top 4 or 5 ingredients. Animal fat: Again, from which animal? From fish and chips? Skimmed off of the top of a processing source? Dogs need fat, and chicken fat is good. Brewer's yeast: Brewers yeast is a good ingredient, but don't get it confused with brewer's rice. They are 2 different things, and brewer's rice is not very nutritious. Preservatives: What kind of preservatives? BHA or BHT are often linked to cancer. Vitamin C and vitamin E are good sources of preservatives.

You can do further research and make your own decisions. I was in a nationally known pet store recently, and they had several well known commercial pet foods that you would see at your supermarket, so don't be fooled. Read the ingredients.

Remember also, that a puppy food is often quite different from adult dog food, and puppies and dogs should not usually be fed the same food. They have different needs.

If you decide to change your dog's diet, do it over a period of 7-10 days so it doesn't upset his system. Slowly introduce his new food in small quantities, at first, with his current diet. Increase the new food every couple of days, and decrease his current food until you have made the switch completely.

Dry dog food is the most convenient way to feed your dog, and always have plenty of water available for him to drink. Using a combination of dry and canned food is a very acceptable decision, and you don't need to use the same brand for both. As long as you feel you are selecting good quality food and your dog likes the flavor, you have made a great decision! Changing occasionally to another high quality food for variety is also a good choice.

If you find a dog food that has human grade ingredients, you have found a quality product. Don't be afraid to check out the manufacture on their website. The price tag may be more, but you will have healthier dogs and fewer visits to the vet. Also, a dog eating a high quality dog food will not have a desire to eat as much, so you will save there. Your dog will have more energy, be healthier, and have a more beautiful, shiny coat.

Happy shopping! Your dog will appreciate feeling better and looking better. You will know you are providing excellent care for your special dog.

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian nor do I have any formal training in any medical field. This article is not to replace the advice of your veterinarian. I am only providing options and ideas that you may want to discuss with your veterinarian

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Dog Food Rating Systems: A Critique of the Points / Formula Method - Family - Pets

Introduction

When searching for the term "dog food rating" on Google recently, I was flabbergasted to receive over 55 million hits.

Since it is no longer possible to live without information overload, I thought it would be helpful to provide a review / critique of the point / formula grading method.

This is one of the more popular dog food rating systems used by many of these aforementioned websites.

The Point / Formula Grading Method

Essentially, one begins with a grade of 100 for each pet food. Points are then subtracted for ingredients that are considered substandard.

For example, a listing of "by-product" on the dog food label would reduce the above score by 10 points, as would foods that contain BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin.

On the flip side, points would be added for meat sources that were organic or food that contained probiotics, as examples.

Major Strength of The Point Method

One of the aspects that is commendable about this dog food rating system is that it has brought attention to many of the substandard ingredients in our pets' food.

Foods that use by-products instead of whole meats, unnamed meat sources, harmful additives, protein from grains instead of from meat and artificial ingredients are essentially downgraded.

Thus, the points / formula system teaches dog owners how to begin spotting these ingredients in the dog food labels, and avoid foods that contain them.

Major Weaknesses of the Point Method

In my estimation, however, there are some major weaknesses with the points / formula approach to rating dog food:

1. The criteria for the subtraction and addition of points are far too numerous.

On one website, I counted 29 different calculations that I would need to perform to receive a final score. Only the hardiest souls (or math majors) would be able to sit down with pen and ingredient label and carry out that many additions and subtractions. (And what if someone missed a number?)

Granted, many dog foods had already been rated using this method, which would save time; however, many others had not been rated and new pet foods are being developed all the time.

In addition, there are other weaknesses which go beyond being able to save time.

2. The presence of a few bad ingredients can be masked by many good ones

Even if a dog food contains 95% whole meat sources, few grains, lots of pro-biotics and no additives, the presence of several substandard ingredients would not tip the scale towards an unfavorable rating.

Why would you want to feed your dog 95% good stuff and 5% junk?

3. Some of the criteria do not go deep enough and can yield a false rating

Many of the dog foods that were rated using the points / formula method received scores well over 120, an A+ rating. Yet upon closer inspection, these foods did not deserve their high rating.

As an example, one brand in particular had a named meat source as its first ingredient (chicken). This is a huge plus, both because it is a named meat source (vs. a by-product) and because it is the first ingredient, signifying that this is the largest ingredient the food contains.

However, the meat was inclusive of its water content, which once removed, slid this ingredient further down the list.

Secondly, even though the grain ingredients were whole (considered a plus in the rating system), once the chicken slid down the list, these grains made up a larger portion of the food.

This is a big no-no in feeding dogs, since their digestive systems are set up to feed on meat, not grains. In addition, many dogs are allergic to wheat, which became one of the main ingredients in this particular dog food now that it made up a larger percentage of the content.

Conclusion

As you can see, the cons of the dog food rating system based on points easily outweigh its strengths.

In the future, I hope to review / critique some of the other systems that exist for rating dog food.

Til then, give your dog a hug for me!

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Ingredients in Dog Food: Additives to Avoid - Part 1 - Family - Pets

Introduction

Reading a typical dog food label can leave most pet owners feeling mentally exhausted.

Once you are past the recognizable ingredients in dog food (which says nothing about their quality) you are often left with various chemical components, which can be difficult to pronounce and decipher: BHA, BHT, propylene glycol, propyl gallate, ethoxquin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, dl methionine, and so on.

To assess every ingredient in your pet's food would require several pages of explanation, and would be about as fun to read as an actual dog food label. Thus, in this article, I will only highlight very specific additives that should be avoided.

Some Important Caveats

Before jumping in, I wanted to share two important items:

1) First, I am a huge, huge fan of feeding your dog a diet of homemade recipes. Testimony after testimony confirms the dramatic changes that occur in dogs when owners make the switch from commercial to homemade recipes. However, since not everyone is inclined to prepare meals for their pets, then the next best option is to be aware of the ingredients in your pet's food.

2) Secondly, we should have a healthy skepticism regarding the ingredients in dog food, but not an overstimulated one. Not everything that has a strange-sounding name is harmful or even potentially dangerous. Pyridoxine hydrochloride, for example, is simply another name for vitamin B6. We should be informed consumers not easily scared ones.

Some Additives to Avoid

All right then, the five additives that you should avoid in pet food are: BHA, BTA, ethoxquin, propylene glycol and propyl gallate. Many dog food rating systems will downgrade any food that contains these ingredients.

In this first article, we will concentrate on BHA & BHT together, since they have similar functions. Let's take a closer look at each:

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) & BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene)

BHA and BHT are antioxidants used to keep the fat additives in pet food from becoming rancid. (Again, we will set aside this unpleasant notion of having to spray fat on dog food to make it taste good.)

The U.S. National Institute of Health reports that BHA is reasonably expected to be a human carcinogen. (See Report on Carcinogens, CAS No. 25013-16-5) In high doses, it has been linked to cancer in rats and hamsters. Thus far, BHA remains on the FDA's Generally Accepted As Safe list (GRAS).

BHT is a controversial ingredient, which has been linked to elevated cancer risks (See Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)", IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 1986;40:161-206.)

Both BHA and BHT have been banned as food additives in many countries for decades.

Conclusion

Even this cursory review of these preservatives should give any dog lover pause when feeding their pet a steady diet of processed commercial pet food.

As I continue to mention, homemade recipes put you in charge of the ingredients in your dog food and will steer you clear of so many damaging additives. But barring that, it is imperative that you read your dog food labels and avoid the above-mentioned chemicals.

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Which dog food to choose? - Family - Pets

Traditionally dogs are considered to be carnivorous, and that is not really so. It is more correct to say predator. When eating mammals dogs eat not only meat, but also bones and bowels and thus they get minerals (calcium, phosphorus). Moreover, carbohydrates and mineral salts. So, no wonder pet food should correspond to this composition as much as possible. Good dog food consists of: - meat (and this really means meat, not "meat and byproducts of animal origin"). Also, there should be indicated type of meat. For example, chicken or beef.- maximum 50% (better if 25-3-%) of cereals and/or vegetables;- a long list of vitamins and minerals;- natural preservatives. Dog food mustn't contain:- low quality sources of protein (for example, minced beef skin);- chemical preservatives and antioxidants (Ethoxyquin, , , Propylgallate);- coloring agents;- sugar, caramel;- shallow fillers such as nut shells, cellulose. They have no useful elements that can be used by organism. Moreover, they can cause serious problems with digestion. Today there are hundreds of companies that offer a wide range of food for dogs. There are two kinds of it: dry and wet food. The first one is convenient as it doesn't get spoiled for a long time (especially it's good for dog owners who leave their pets for a long time), and the second one resembles real meat. Well, it depends on owner's lifestyle, budget and dog's food preferences what food to choose. Manufacturers of dog food provide products for not mobile dogs, dogs with certain health problems etc. About half of dogs' problems with health are connected with food. Owners should think twice before buying dog food. If you are not sure what dog food to choose, here are some tips that will help you to make a right choice. First of all carefully read the list of all ingredients. Make sure there are no forbidden elements that can damage your pet's health. Don't forget to consult with a vet before buying dog food . Doctor will ask you several questions, find out the total health state of your dog, ask about pet's level of activity and then will help to choose food that fits your little buddy the most. Do not buy huge packs of dog food at a time. Definitely, this is convenient and allows saving money, but there is a chance your pet will not like it. If time allows you cooking for your pet that will be the best solution. Not a single pet food can replace natural products. If your schedule is irregular, you can sometimes pamper your little friend with pet food. Remember that dry food is not really healthy and it's bad for the liver. Wet food is much better, so if your pet likes it, it's more preferable. Ask other dog owners what dog food they buy. It's quite possible that you will get many pieces of useful advice.

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Ingredients in Dog Food: Additives to Avoid - Part 2 - Family - Pets

Introduction

In my previous article on this subject I looked at some controversial ingredients in dog that should be avoided. Specifically, I spoke about BHA and BHT, two additives which are used to preserve kibble.

In this article, I want to focus on three additional ingredients that should have no part in your dog's consumption: these are ethoxquin, propyl gallate and propylene glycol.

Some Important Reminders

First, it is important to make two disclaimers:

1) Your best bet for your pet's health is the homemade dog food recipe route. The testimonies of thousands of dog owners who have switched bear out this fact. I urge you to look into this alternative method of feeding your pet.

2) Not every ingredient in a dog food label that is unpronounceable is dangerous. We should be wise consumers, not easily frightened ones. With a bit of homework we can become quite astute in deciding what is best for our pets.

Additives to Avoid

All right then, there are five additives that you should avoid in dog food: BHA, BTA, ethoxquin, propylene glycol and propyl gallate.

We will examine ethoxquin, propylene glycol and propyl gallate in this article:

1) Ethoxquin

Ethoxquin is a chemical preservative that keeps the fat additives in pet food from going rancid. Come again? Does it not seem strange to you that fat flavoring must be added to your pet's food in order to make it appealing? Such are the extreme processing conditions of most manufactured dog food.

The FDA has rated ethoxquin a safe food additive, however, there is much speculation and controversy that surrounds this chemical. The Department of Pathology at Nagoya City University Medical school in Japan has found ethoxyquin to promote kidney and bladder cancer as well as stomach tumors.

2) Propyl gallate

Propyl gallate is used as a dog food preservative. It is a controversial ingredient, which has also been linked to cancer.

3) Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is a chemical compound with many commercial applications. Among other things, it is used as a solvent in many pharmaceuticals, as a moisturizer in cosmetics, as a non-toxic antifreeze and of course, as an additive to dog food to preserve soft-moist foods and treats. To be fair, it is also used as an additive in some human foods as well.

Though propylene glycol appears on the FDA's "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) list of dog food additives, it has been banned for use in cat food because of its adverse affect on feline red blood cells.

The bottom line is that it remains a controversial ingredient with many pet experts and the toxicity to cats (particularly in its connection to cat food) provides reason enough to avoid this ingredient in their pet's food.

Conclusion

As you can see, even this cursory review of these preservatives should give any dog lover pause when feeding their pet a steady diet of processed commercial pet food.

If you are unable to follow through with a diet of fresh, homemade dog food recipes then it is critically important that you read your dog food labels and stay clear of the above-mentioned chemicals.

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Delicious Dog Diet Review - Family - Pets

If your dog is still on a commercial food diet, you need to switch your dog immediately. The dangers associated with a commercial dog food diet is overwhelming - from immediate effects like a dull coat and foul smelling dog's breath, to longer term effects like increasing the risk for canine cancers and a shorter life span.Dogs on a raw food diet have very shiny coat without needing special coat care products. They also smells better! No doggie breath. No doggie body odor. Dogs on a raw food diet have a good weight and body figure - neither too fat nor too thin. They are also more active and energetic.Cooking changes the properties of food. Not only are precious vitamins and minerals lost in cooking, but the cooking of food can cause carcinogens in your dog's body. That's why giving your dogs table scraps is not recommended for their daily meals. What's good for humans is not always well-tolerated by a dog's body.

That's right, this amazing, well-researched and meaty book is available to you at less than the cost of a bag of kibble. That's because I really want this book to reach as many dog owners as possible and benefit as many dogs as possible.And that's the sad truth that the commercial pet food companies don't want you to know. The amount of processing and additives that go into the preparation of the commercial dog food contain chemicals that are not optimal for your dog and may even make them sickly and die early.

Long before commercial pet food, dogs were thriving on a diet that is free from cooking and other artificial processes. Eating a diet that they are optimally built for will mean that they digest it better and get more energy and nutrients from those types of food. Unprocessed raw meat, fruits and vegetables contain the right amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and other nutrients that dogs need to thrive. These components are not only present in the right proportions, but are also in the form that are easily digestible by their bodies.Grab A Copy Click hereDogs on a raw food diet have very shiny coat without needing special coat care products. They also smells better! No doggie breath. No doggie body odor. Dogs on a raw food diet have a good weight and body figure - neither too fat nor too thin. They are also more active and energetic.Cooking changes the properties of food. Not only are precious vitamins and minerals lost in cooking, but the cooking of food can cause ca rcinogens in your dog's body. That's why giving your dogs table scraps is not recommended for their daily meals. What's good for humans is not always well-tolerated by a dog's body.

That's right, this amazing, well-researched and meaty book is available to you at less than the cost of a bag of kibble. That's because I really want this book to reach as many dog owners as possible and benefit as many dogs as possible.

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Creative Dog Food Recipes for Your Dog's Health - Other

People naturally feel responsible for monitoring their own health by taking care of their bodies and ensuring they get sufficient daily exercise. Though the same is not expected for our pets, the fact remains that we, as their owners, are responsible for their health as well. Homemade dog food, and its many benefits, are increasing in popularity with many dog owners. Though some veterinarians may recommend store-bought brand foods, homemade meals are vasty superior in terms of pets' health.

The ingredients listed on the back of prepackaged pet foods are enough to make pet owners think twice before feeding it to their dogs. Ingredients like bone meal and animal byproducts are discouraging and unappetizing. Ingredients such as these certainly may benefit compost piles, providing plants with nutrition, but they are not the healthiest for a pet's internal systems. A pet's digestive system becomes compromised when trace remnants of these materials remain undigested and unused, lingering in their system. High protein contents may be listed on dog food packaging to appeal to the common pet-owning consumer. The amount of digestible protein, however, can be as low as 60%, to the surprise of many owners.

Furthermore, the fat content in prepackaged dog food is alarming, as it often fails to meet a healthy dog's nutritional needs. The body's systems rely on fat - dogs require it for both energy and for maintaining proper kidney function. You can better monitor your dog's fat and protein intake, as well as its overall health, by taking responsibility for preparing its food at home using creative dog food recipes.

Take into account how much artificial coloring and flavoring is added to prepackaged food items found in supermarkets. A dog's health is in no way served by the substantial amounts of additives and preservatives found in this dry food, though they do keep the food fresh for longer periods of time. Pets are not unlike children, their health and well-being is our responsibility and should be taken seriously.

There is no need to spend too much time, energy, or money on making your own pet food at home. Your dog will definitely love any number of easy, tasty, and nutritious recipes you can make at home. Healthy ingredients like honey, peanut butter, vegetables, and fresh meats are simple, and most popular pet foods require such standbys. See pet food reviews to make good decisions. Healthy staples to keep on hand for your homemade recipes include honey, peanut butter, vegetables and fresh meats, all of which are fairly simple and included in most dog foods.

Find out the many health and economic benefits of making your own dog food at home; there is no need to entrust your beloved pet's health to a factory line. See also cat food coupons. The long-term benefits to your pet's health make the extra effort of creating a routine that incorporates your dog's meal preparations with your own totally worthwhile.

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The Pros and Cons of Buying Chicken Soup Dog Food - Family - Pets

We were so happy when we got our eight week old Chocolate Labrador from a breeder. We sat and talked with her for almost an hour. She said she had done a great deal of research and that she preferred to give her puppies Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul. When we arrived back home and started looking for places to find the food, we realized it was going to be difficult. Unfortunately, we didn't have very much from the breeder and needed to find more fast. This ruled out buying it online as we may have preferred.

Our puppy did very well on Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul. His coat was absolutely beautiful and he always got great comments from our veterinarian. Once he reached 11 months, we started realizing that it was time to switch them to an adult food. Since we had such good luck with the puppy version, we decided to try Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul.

After two weeks of eating the new dog food, we started noticing hair loss around his eyes. We weren't exactly sure of the cause, but since he had a vet appointment coming up, we decided to talk to the vet about it.

The vet recommended that we try an antihistamine for a few days and said that it would give him some relief and we could see what happened. Once he started taking the antihistamine, a lot of the scratching went away. He seemed to have some relief. Unfortunately once we took him off the antihistamine, the dog allergy symptoms returned.

We heard from a friend of ours of a woman who was very knowledgeable about dog allergies. We decided to go see her shop in the next town. We took our puppy with us, and after she saw him, one for first questions was "What type of food are you feeding him?".

We told her that it was Chicken Soup Dog Food and she said that she sold that food and most dogs did well on it. However it appeared that our puppy had a reaction with something in the food. She recommended that we try a grain free dog food for three months and see if the symptoms improved.

I'm very happy to report that after the first few weeks we noticed a lot of this itchiness seemed to go away. After a month or so, the hair around his eyes started to grow back. It turns out he had dog food allergies and we believe he was allergic to grains.

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Choosing Healthy Dog Food For Puppies - Family

It is essential to have a special dog food for puppies especially in their formative years. As opposed to full grown dogs, puppies have unique dietary and nutritional requirements that can be better catered to by certain kinds of meals that are especially formulated for their life stage. As a matter of fact, most puppy meals have higher protein content than adult maintenance canine food because these proteins are crucial for their rapid growth and development. So, by now, you're probably wondering how you can be sure that you're getting the right pet food formula for your puppies.A walk-through the isle of local supermarkets and you'll find yourself face to face with wide arrays of dog food products intentionally marketed for puppies. But, as a pet owner, you must bear in mind that not all of these edible products are ideal for your pets' health. It is vital that you choose a special formula that would suffice the health needs of your pups so that they would grow properly and will enable them to sustain their energy levels. As a rule based on practice, it is suggested to opt for puppy meals that have no more than 25 percent of protein, does not have fillers, are especially tailored for puppies and their breed size, contains highly digestible protein sources rather than bone meals, have passed the quality standards of AAFCO, and are specifically recommended by your pets' veterinarian.The products manufactured by Honest Kitchen dog meals are sufficient enough to meet the nutritional and health requirements of your puppies. This dog food line is known for their unique approach to dog health and nutrition--all natural, delicious and raw dog meals that your puppies will definitely enjoy. All their dog food formulas integrate the wholesomeness of homemade diet packed with scientifically balanced blend of nutritious ingredients in easy-to-prepare packages, all approved by AAFCO. As they are committed to providing pet owners with the healthiest meal options for their pets, the ingredients and manufacturing procedures they use are 100% human-grade in quality.It is worth mentioning that two of the dehydrated canine food formulas produced by Honest Kitchen are ideal for puppies: Embark and Thrive dog meals. These formulas are intentionally designed to work for canine pets of different life stages including puppies, active adults, pregnancy and nursing. Embark is made up of low carbohydrate recipe that is full of vegetables, fruits and cage-free turkey and free from grains, making it one of the most referred meals by veterinarians as an addition to cancer recovery program for dogs. On the other hand, their Thrive dog meal is also low in carbohydrates and gluten-free, making it ideal for pets that have sensitive stomachs.Aside from their holistic dog food products, Honest Kitchen also offers a revolutionary treat called 'ice pups,' which is specifically designed with puppies in mind. Rather than the shaped gourmet treats tha t we usually see in the market, the people behind Honest Kitchen products made ice pups as a powdered mix that can be combined with water to create a liquid treat for puppies. This treat can be served as a warm broth during winter months, as a chilled refreshing beverage or freeze sorbet during the summer. Ice pups is made from dehydrated chicken, whey, Turkey, asparagus, watercress, parsley, dandelion and honey, which makes it a perfectly nourishing and delicious treat for puppies. Accordingly, this Honest Kitchen treat is not only beneficial for puppies, it is also highly recommended for canines with kidney problems, low appetite and are recovering from surgery. It is also acknowledged to increase palatability, which makes it an ideal reinforcement if you would like to transition your dog to a new diet.Of course, Honest Kitchen is not the only canine food company that offers premium quality meals for puppies. There are myriads of canine food brands that provide nutritional meals that could boost dog health and wellness. Before you hit the market for your puppies' meals, it is always best to discuss your pups' dietary needs with your veterinarian as he or she is the most qualified person to give you an advice about the type, serving amount and sometimes the brand that would befit your puppies. Nonetheless, you should also do some researching on your part to become an informed dog owner so that you can provide the best meals to your puppies that would warrant their growth and development.

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Dog Food Ingredients: Merrick Dog Food - Family - Pets

Merrick Dog Food has buffalo as its first ingredient. 80% of water is included in raw buffalo but moisture is lost during cooking that results in reduced meat contain than its original state. Probably this product has lower position in the market as compare to the raw meat product.

The next ingredient in this brand food is salmon and lamb meals which are dominant food supplement in this food. They are considered as the meat concentrate with the meat protein concentration of nearly 300% than that in the fresh salmon and lamb respectively. Unlike other fish meals, these items are supposed to be free of ethoxyquin.

The next one is ground rice that is supposed not to judge the quality by the name only. Similarly the other ingredient in this dog food is oatmeal, a whole grain that is made from coarsely ground oats. This is rich in fiber, vitamins B which is mostly free of gluten.

Now comes barley that is rich in starchy carbohydrates that supply fiber and many other health nutrients. The main function of the barley is to support the stable sugar level in blood of dogs because of the glycemic index contained in it.

Beef fat is next ingredient in Merrick Dog Food. Even this sound indigestible, but actually it is quality ingredient. Mostly the beef fat is obtained from rendering the beef like that in the process of making soap.

Venison is another protein ingredient in this dog food. This is considered as the important element in the pet food.

Although including these entire ingredients in the dog food, the food is not fully nutritional. So the manufacturers have to add some other bacterial products at the time of cooking in order to enhance the dog's immune and digestive system. The next nutrient substance that is later added in this food is chelated minerals. These minerals are attached chemically to amino acids. Chelated minerals are generally added in most of the Merrick pet food.

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5 Pet Food Ingredients Not Included in Holistic Fromm Dog Food - Family - Pets

There are only few veterinarians who well know about the pet nutrition, so while feeding your pet, you are on yourself. It is hard to find proper pet nutritionist from the classified section or from the yellow pages. And also, your vet will only recommend for the food that is in his clinic. That's why you have to think well for your pet nutrition.

So think twice while buying dog food. There are various types of dog food. You will find both of the substance, good and bad, that will affect the dog's health. Especially while purchasing the good food for your pet you have to consider for the content of the following ingredient. These ingredients will negatively affect your pet's health. But if you choose Holistic Fromm Dog Food that never includes these substances, you are ensured about the optimum health of your dog.

1. Corn: Corn basically is filler that is in food. This is added in the pet food in order to expand the content in the product without addition of the overall cost while manufacturing which is in fact less expensive than meats. It will cause allergic reaction in the dog creating itchy skin, runny eyes, dandruff, and also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

2. Soy: Soy is added in the dog food as replacement for meats and other grains. Though this will also create an allergic reaction in the dog, it will be slightly less subtle like other grain. It will cause gastronomical distress in dogs that will directly affect the animal digestion.

3. Wheat: The next ingredient that shouldn't be included in pet diet is Wheat. Wheat is extremely common in dog treats both organic and natural. This is basically added to expand the quantity of the product. As corn, it is also filler and can cause same allergic effect as that of the corn.

4. Animal Digest: Basically this is stomach content like chicken digest is the chicken's stomach content. Mainly chicken eat bugs and corn. But these are not the ingredient that you want to use in your dog diet. Though pets commonly eat bugs while playing out, it will be unlikely to grab the corn plant during a run through corn field.

5. Preservatives: There are natural as well as manmade preservatives. These include BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin which are extremely toxic to liver of dogs. It is used to lower the oxidation of oils and fats. Tocopherols and vitamin E along with some natural ingredients are considered good for the pet's health. So if you tend to go to market to buy food for your dog, you can choose Holistic Fromm Dog Food that has never included these harmful preservatives.

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Wellness Brand Dog Food: Feeding During Pregnancy - Family - Pets

The female must be at least one year of age before they are first bred which doesn't depend on the type of dog breed. In the case of male, the dog mustn't be overweight as they can anatomically and mentally inefficient for mating and the females overweight can cause low rate of conception and more problem in whelping. So the dog should be fed with quality pet food like Wellness Brand Dog Food individually for achieving normal body condition.

During the pregnancy, the dog's requirements for nutrients and calorie increases and during this period the female food intake must be increase accordingly. The Diets with more metabolizing calorie in each pound of the food and at least 20 % of protein is recommended for pregnant. The easiest way to acquire a proper health of the dog is to give them better quality food like wellness Brand Dog food which is labeled for balanced and complete growth and reproduction and for all stages of life.

You can provide all those food to the pregnant dog if they are not supposed to gain excessive weight. It is usual t decrease the food intake temporarily by female at about 2 or 3 weeks before pregnancy. They will eat more at the latter stage of the pregnancy but however if this doesn't happen and the female body get deteriorating, then you have to take some serious step. Some of the feeding tips are like moistening dry food in warm water to increase palatability or you can also add some canned food in their normal dry food and continue to feed like this for several days. As the whelping time appears near, the pregnant female can lose their appetite which is normal behavior, unless they have some serious health problems, you don't have to implement feeding programs. In the most case, the refusal to food indicates that the whelping is about to begin within 48 hours and within 24 hours after giving birth, the appetite will return and should be given all that food she desire f or.

Water is basic during reproduction which serves as the nutrients carrier to the fetus and also removes wastes for elimination. Fresh water should be provided before birth and after birth along with the nutritious diets like Wellness Brand Dog Food.

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Is Raw or Cooked Dog Food a Better Choice for Your Pet? - Home

Feeding dogs raw food is a topic that has been hotly debated a great deal by its advocates and critics. The real issue that needs to be the topic of conversation is processed versus fresh food for dogs and not so much whether the food is raw or cooked.

But because of the unique qualities that characterize each of our pets, there are probably as many distinct nutritional requirements as there are dogs on the planet. With that said, I believe that pet nutrition, in order to keep your dog healthy, should be based on some common sense principles.

Principle #1: Only feed your dog ingredients that are packed with nutrients of the highest quality.

Principle #2: Your dog's meals should be prepared in accordance with a precise formula so that the nutrition it provides is balanced and complete.

Principle #3: To retain as much of the nutrient value of the food as possible so that the nutrients are readily absorbed by your dog's body, serve it food that is processed as little as possible.

Principle #4: Another way to preserve the food's nutrient value and keep it from spoiling is to feed your dog immediately after the food is prepared.

I would really like to hear an explanation from anyone who does not agree with these common sense principles.

The degree to which your dog's food is processed (Principle #3) is at the heart of the matter. The main reason why fresh food advocates like myself dislike processed dog food so much, whether it is canned or dry, is that the high temperatures required to manufacture commercial dog food destroys the nutrients in it. To rectify this problem, dog food manufacturers add synthetic vitamins to the food, artificial chemicals that a dog's body has a hard time absorbing. "Organic" or "natural" kibble to me is an oxymoron, and I have a good laugh whenever I see those words on a dog food package because all of the valuable nutrients one would expect to find in organic or natural dog food are destroyed by the processing required to create commercial kibble.

Individuals who feed their dogs only raw food argue that any kind of processing, including light cooking, jeopardizes the food's nutritional value. On the other hand, critics of the raw food diet would argue that dogs who eat it are more likely to consume pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella that are often found in uncooked meat. There is probably some value to each argument, but when deciding which way to go, you have to consider what you are going to give up by choosing one diet over the other.

The digestive system of a dog, according to trustworthy experts I have spoken with, is quite capable of handling the normal quantities of bacteria that may be found in uncooked meat. On the other hand, a lot of those same experts will tell you that only a small amount of damage occurs to nutrients that are the most sensitive to heat when meals are cooked lightly enough to get rid of any harmful pathogens.

Therefore, you really don't have to make a choice between the two approaches. Each pet owners has to decide on his or her own what to feed their dogs.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to feed your dog food that has been processed as little as possible. Most dogs can handle eating raw food that has been subjected to no processing whatsoever.

But there are a few dogs who need to be fed cooked food because their sensitive digestive systems simply cannot break down raw food very easily. Nor should dogs that have a high risk of getting sick from pathogens be fed raw food, and this would include dogs whose immune systems are in a weakened state or who live with people who have weak immune systems. And then you have those finicky dogs who insist on eating only cooked food. The best way to go with these dogs is to serve them food that has been lightly cooked.

Approximately two thirds of our customers whom we surveyed report that they feed their dogs raw food, while a third of them serve cooked meals to their dogs. Not only did neither group report that their dogs suffered any health complications, but they also saw significant improvements in the health of their pets compared to when they were fed dry dog food.

Working up a lather over whether you should feed your dog cooked or raw food is unnecessary. It's absolutely okay if you feel more at ease serving your dog food that you have lightly cooked. Do your best to avoid highly processed dry dog food and, instead, serve your pets fresh food, whether you cook it lightly or feed it to them raw.

Jamie is a dog health authority who strongly believes that transferring your canine to barf dog food is the most healthy call you can make for your dog. Find out much more about feeding fresh food.

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Homemade Dog Food Recipes - Which Ingredients Must You Include? - Family - Pets

To ensure that your dog stays in optimum health, it's crucial to include the correct amounts of the right ingredients your pooch needs for a nutritionally balanced diet that is suitable for dogs.

That's why using any old recipe you stumble across on the Internet to prepare your best friend's homemade dog food can be problematic.

It is vital to closely analyze any homemade dog food recipe you are considering using for the right amount of the right ingredients to ensure that you are providing your dog with a healthy well-balanced, nutritious homemade diet.

What are the key ingredients should be included in your homemade dinners for your dog?

The formula for well-balanced nutritious homemade dog food is about 50% protein, 25% vegetables (finely chopped up or pureed for easy digestion), and 25% grain (oatmeal or brown rice are great options). Add in some supplements of vitamins, minerals, and oils rich in omega-3 for healthy skin and coat as well.

Exactly what types of ingredients should be included in the homemade dog food recipes you use?

Great ingredient choices to include in your homemade dog food recipes include raw and cooked meats (mix it up a little!), cooked grains, cooked eggs, as well as veggies and fruit - not grapes though. Here are some more specific suggestions.

1. Dogs need a lot of protein, and meat is the best way for them to get it, so dish your pooch up some generous helpings of chicken, turkey, fish, lamb and beef. In fact, meats should make up most of your pet's diet. Ground beef and turkey are particularly simple to use because they're already chopped up for you. Be sure to cook all ground meats to kill any unhealthy bacteria.

2. Eggs - Eggs are an awesome protein source and they are as good for your dog as they are for you. Raw eggs are renowned for haboring bacterial growth, so it's best to scramble or hard-boil them first to avoid contaminating your homemade dog food recipe with a potentially unsafe ingredient.

3. Chopped Veggies - We all know how packed with essential vitamins and minerals vegetables are, so be sure to deliver your dog a wide variety of them to keep him or her in great health. As mentioned earlier, finely chop or puree them to enable easy digestion. Go with dog favorites like celery, kale, zucchini and cucumbers. You can also add in some spinach and/or peas.

4. Starches - Homemade dog food recipes should always include some starch, but many people fail to include it. So be sure to pop in some energy-producing boiled or baked potatoes (or sweet potatoes), or some ultra nutritious boiled or steamed brown rice. Carbohydrates like these provide sustained energy that will help ensure your dog has plenty of energy between meals.

Are there ingredients to avoid when you make your own dog food?

Absolutely. You shouldn't ever include things like onions, chocolate, avocados, garlic or nuts in your dog's food. Never include grapes or raisins either. All of these foods can potentially make your dog ill in various ways and to various degrees. There's lots more to know about what ingredients to avoid in order to keep your dog safe and healthy. Visit the more information link at the bottom of this article to read a comprehensive list of 33 human foods that are toxic to dogs.

If you want to skip the learning curve, or you simply don't want to take any chances with your dog's health, get these expertly-developed homemade dog food recipes now.

Will your pooch be glad to make the switch over to homemade food?

Sure, but you'll need to do it gradually. No doubt your dog will soon be extremely grateful for the delicous, better quality food you are dishing up, made from fresh natural ingredients, prepared using carefully selected healthy homemade dog food recipes.

Please note though, it's quite common for dogs to encounter a temporary stomach upset during a diet change. If so, it's likely that you're attempting to make the diet change too fast. In most cases, you will be able to make the switch in 3 or 4 days, but if you dog has any issues, it's best to play it safe and take a little longer. Slowly increase the quantity of homemade dog food you mix into his or her old food each day.

Select the best ingredients you can find, avoid things that are harmful and make the change over go as smoothly as possible. Once you start using healthy homemade dog food recipes to make your pet's meals, your dog will be healthier and happier, and he or she will live years longer than dogs who are fed commercial dog food full of harmful preservatives and chemicals.

If you haven't done so already, make the change to healthy homemade dog food today and relish the additional years you'll have with your precious pooch.

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How To Choose A Safe Dog Food Storage Container - Other

If you have ever wondered why certain foods are deemed unfit for consumption, be aware that you are not alone with your thoughts. The reason why foods may be deemed inappropriate for consumption is because overtime certain contaminants can make their way into your supply. Insects, rodents and other organisms can find a way to wreak havoc on your supply, thus making it unsuitable for consumption. If you have a pet, you must also watch out for the types of foods that you are feeding them. Therefore, you need to always ensure that you use a dog food storage container for your k9s supply.

Most pet foods are made with organic substances. Typically, your pet's edible materials are made from the same substances that you would consume. The only difference is their food is designed to taste good to them, and not good to a human.

With this in mind, you are going to want to ensure that the substances that you are feeding your animal are free from any outside contaminants. If you want your pet's food to last longer then it is important that you keep it stored away in a safe fashion. Generally, substances that are set out in warm temperatures have the tendency of going bad; therefore you need to keep this factor in mind.

Your animal's meals should be put into containers that are air tight. Believe it or not, there are many particles in the air that can contaminant your animals meals, thus harming them physically and putting a hole into your pocket whenever these substances have to be replaced.

A dog food storage container can help eliminate the invasion of outside pests, worms, bacteria and fungi. By eliminating these disease causing factors you can ensure that your pet is obtaining the best meals that you can possibly give them.

Pet owners need to ensure that their meals and their pet's meals are kept at appropriate temperatures as well. There are a lot of environmental forces that can harm your animal. As a pet owner it is up to you to ensure the health of your pet is kept as one of your primary concerns.

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Give Your Dog a Balanced Diet with the Right Dog Food - Family - Pets

So, you just got a dog, or perhaps have had one for some time already and are thinking about your faithful companion's nutrition for the first time. Standing in the pet store or looking at an online pet shop looking at cans and bags of dog food can be a bit overwhelming if you don't know just what you're looking for. In order to know just what you need, there are four things you need to consider; age, health, taste and budget.

A Dogs AgeThe first factor to consider is age. How old is your dog? If you have a puppy (up to five months old) you will require something specific to pups with a high nutrient density for their growing bodies. On average, for every three pounds of food eaten, there is one pound of growth. It should be noted, however, that a low nutrient density dog food is better for larger breeds, as growing too fast can lead to hip problems as they get older. Adult dogs are omnivores, and require a mix of four parts meat, five parts vegetables and one part carbs in their food to stay healthy.

Canine HealthThe next factor in choosing nutrition for your pet is health. Dogs have health problems that affect what they should eat, just like people do. Dogs with diabetes need to have the sugars and carbohydrates reduced, if not removed entirely from their diets. Cancer is unfortunate, but it is a factor. Dogs with cancer are healing on a massive level and require the right building blocks to do so. High concentrations of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids are just the tools for the job. In fact, denied these a cancerous dog will waste away while it's body gets what it needs from other things...like muscle and organ tissue. Allergies, and other digestive issues spring up all the time, and should be handled on a case by case basis.

Flavour If your dog won't eat it, there's probably a good reason that he or she simply can't communicate with you. It should be noted here that obesity is more likely to be a behavioural problem than a dietary one. In these instances, make sure Fido gets fewer table scraps and more exercise. Eating food designed for him or her is whats best.

BudgetThe final factor is budget. It's mighty tempting to purchase the cheapest thing the pet store carries just to save yourself a pound or two. Turn that bag over and look at the ingredients...notice the high meat content? Remember that only forty percent of your dog's diet is supposed to be meat. Don't worry, you won't need to break the bank to keep your dog healthy and happy, just as you don't need to keep yourself healthy. Dropping an extra few pounds annually on quality dog food will ensure your canine will be around for years to come to be ever so grateful for it.

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Grain-free Dog Food: Go for the Best - Home

Dogs are very adorable animals and they are very good companions. They can be used for different purposes as watch dogs, guard dogs, guide dogs, police dogs, army dogs, and pet dogs. A dog owner must take good care of his pet and he should be careful with the foods that he gives it. A good way of providing the essential nutrients that a dog needs is by feeding it grain-free dog food.

A lot of dog owners are probably puzzled as to why grains are now considered as bad food for their pets. Grain-free dog foods are becoming very popular nowadays and are posing as a threat to the industry of processed dog foods. Because of the abrupt change in dogs diets, many dog owners are having second thoughts about feeding grains to their pets. But whats wrong with feeding dogs grains?

The reality is that grains do not have any life-threatening effects on dogs health, but the digestive system of canines is not suitable for processing these kinds of substances. Grains are rich in carbohydrates, and for these compounds to be broken down, they should first be broken down by enzymes. Dogs saliva does not contain the sufficient enzyme for this specific task, which is why dogs find breaking down grains difficult.

If the grains are not digested, they can cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs. Their bodies detect these substances and in order to digest them, their pancreases secrete excessive amounts of enzymes. This may cause them to experience discomfort, even intestinal inflammations and allergies, and this is also the primary reason why the stool of grain-fed dogs is sometimes loose.

Researchers and doctors aimed to address the recently discovered problem in the diet of canines, which is why they created natural food for dogs. Dogs are actually members of the family wherein wolves, foxes, coyotes, and jackals belong, so their diet should be similar to these animals. To put it simply, canines diet should be composed mostly of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and have no carbohydrates.

The growing trend in dog feeding today makes use of raw foods. Although they are packed, these raw dog foods are packed fresh and frozen or distributed immediately to prevent spoilage. The composition of these foods may differ depending on the distributors and manufacturers, but most of these foods include pure proteins, fruits, vegetables, and absolutely no grains.

Look for pet foods that are made of pure, 100% fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. The companys products do not contain even a trace of grains or artificial additives. The composition of their products include 70% human-quality meat from chicken, beef, turkey, or duck, with some ground bone, heart, and liver; 30% fresh and organic vegetables like carrots, squash, yams, zucchini, celery, romaine, and apple cider vinegar and; trace minerals like amino acids, salt, and vitamin E.

With raw dog food products, your pets will receive the best and healthiest diet that is properly suited for their carnivorous nature. And because grain-free dog food is exactly what raw dog food products are, youre sure that there are no undesirable substances in your pets meals; only the essential nutrients that their canine bodies need.

Jamie is a pet medical practitioner who passionately feels that switching your dog to raw dog food is the healthiest call you can make for your dog. Find out more about grain free dog food.

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California Companies Tackle Dog Food Allergies - Family - Pets

California resident Joe Lascola was ecstatic. He said his Italian Greyhound, Guido, had recently celebrated its eleventh birthday. According to Lascola, a veterinarian told him to put the dog to sleep when it was only one year old. Guido had major health problems.

But Lascola never gave up on his pet. He started making home-cooked meals for Guido. "Someone told me, 'You ought to think about cooking for your dog,'" he said. "So I did."

Despite the vet's grim prognosis, Guido survived. And now Joe Lascola runs California K9 Kitchen, a company that makes homemade food for dogs.

Lascola learned about pet nutrition the hard way. He said Guido had a stomach ulcer caused by inflammatory bowel disease. He attributed Guido's stomach problems to the meat proteins in commercial pet food. "Most of the foods were made with chicken or beef or lamb," he said. "He was rejecting those proteins."

Lascola started cooking meals for Guido while still continuing to give the Greyhound some commercial dog food. Then, in 2007, the FDA announced that pet food was being recalled. "He was on one of those brands that was on the recall," Lascola said, describing a threat to Guido's health. "He ended up in the hospital." After that, he added, he didn't give Guido anymore commercial dog food.

The FDA later concluded that an ingredient in dog and cat food had been contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical.

Now, Lascola partners with animal nutritionist Susan Lauten, PhD, to help provide clients with specialized meals for dogs. "After my dog was so sick, the vet referred me to her," said Lascola. "So, she saved my dog's life."

Dr. Lauten noted that she helped formulate several diets for Guido over the years. "He's very sensitive to foods," she said. "And he stays on immunosuppressants all the time to keep his immune system from attacking his body."

Veterinarians refer pet owners to Dr. Lauten, and she formulates recipes for the owners. She says she looks at the medical records and test results and creates an appropriate diet for the pets.

She often works with Joe Lascola, who cooks pet meals from her recipes through his company, California K9 Kitchen. Lascola offers home delivery of pet meals.

Dr. Lauten has her own company -- Pet Nutrition Consulting. Among her services is diet analysis. Her Web site says this form of analysis can be done to make sure home-cooked and commercial pet foods meet standards from AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and NRC (National Research Council).

The study, Nutrition Through the Life Cycle, details AAFCO's nutritional profiles for dogs and cats. The profiles define the amount of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals that these animals need. NRC has created similar guidelines.

According to Dr. Lauten, proteins are a common cause of food allergies in dogs. Authors Elaine Waldorf Gewirtz and Jordan Herod Nuccio say in their book, The Everything Natural Health for Dogs Book, that food allergies can give dogs gastrointestinal problems, ear infections, and skin irritations. When asked about the prevalence of allergies in dogs, Lauten said: "It seems more and more animals are having food allergy and/or immune disease."

Lauten's observation shows that homemade pet food may become increasingly important to pet owners. With her services and those of Joe Lascola's California K9 Kitchen, California residents now have a way to meet the specific dietary needs of allergy-prone dogs.

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Learn The Nutritional Facts You Need To Know When You Read The Dog Food Secrets Review Online - Family - Pets

Read this Dog Food Secrets review that can help your puppy live a very long time. Uncover precisely what food choices are perfect for your dog and also the safeguards you have to pracitce when picking out your pet's food.

In his Ebook, Dog Food Secrets Review, author Andrew Lewis says there are five necessities dogs require to live a long and healthy life.

Love is an essential part any relationship. It's no different with your dog.

Active dogs are healthy dogs. Talk your dog on walks and let them run around whenever. It's the No. 2 ingredient to a long and healthy life.

Having a roof over your head is always reassuring. It's the same for your dog. Just like us they like famaliarity. That's why it's the third factor in determining the length of a dog's life.

We all need H2O, especially in the heat of summer. It's fourth on our list so make sure both you and your dog are hydrated during the warmest time of the year.

Without food, neither humans nor dogs would live very long. Since it is the most significant topic in our discussion, author Lewis presents critical information that we all need to know.

Oddly, although food is the most important element here it is, for some strange reason, the least talked about.

Many owners would be surprised to learn that the products they feed their dogs are substandard.

The Dog Food Secrets Review will help the owner understand what he is actually feeding his dog.

1. 4 reasons why feeding your dog commercial food is not a good idea:

Mr. Lewis emphasizes in this online material that giving your dogs commercial dog food products is one thing that you must avoid doing. The author warns of lingering health condidtions prompted by the chemicals contained in most commercial pet food.

2. 15 diseases resulting from damaging chemicals found in dog food:

Author Lewis notes that after dogs eat commercial canine food products there are 15 common infections or diseases they can contract. Dog owners should educate themselves to become aware of the 15 diseases before the shock hits them.

3. puppy cannibalism:

Most commercial dog food contains the remains of animal carcass, Mr. Lewis suspects. He will even discuss in greater detail the 4 Ds of animal remnants used in manufacturing these dog food products: disabled, dead, dying and diseased.

My Concerns:

Questions about the legitimacy of some materials were raised. Some of the points in the materials could have been debated with experts from both sides weighing in.

Last Harrah:

Dog Food Secrets raises many questions about the dog food industry and whether it needs to be better policed. There may be unanswered questions or puzzling statements that you might want to research. You need these materials as a starting point.

My Advise:

If you want more information about the Andrew Lewis dog food industry revolution, click here today.

Are you fed up with your dog's health issues? Do you want to ensure they live an extended healthy existence? Check out the very best and worst foods for your dog in our dog food secrets review to ensure your dog lives very long and sickness free. Also discover some dog training ebooks which will help.

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3 ways to change your dog food without upsetting your dog - Family - Pets

We all fancy a change from time to time and some dogs can be the same. Here are some handy hints to follow when you want to change your dogs food.

It is not the case that when your dog is on one dog food it can never be changed but care needs to be taken and you do need to ensure that you follow the guidelines set out so and not to cause any upset.You might think that you don't have to make any considerations when changing your dog's diet, that you can simply switch it over and that be that. This however, is not the case as making a total switch all in one go can actually upset your dogs stomach and cause them to be sick or have diarrhoea.

This could end up with accidents in the house which you will have to clear up and so it is best all round, for your dogs wellbeing and for your peace of mind that your dogs health is okay that you read these simple steps which will make the transition much easier for all involved.

1. Changing the type of foodIf you find that what you are feeding your dog doesn't suit it, then maybe it's time for a change. Changing a dog's diet doesn't hurt, as long as the change is done properly. Before choosing a new brand, look at the nutritional information on your current dog food and compare the differences.

2. Are you changing flavour, not brand?If you feed your dog a certain brand and only want to change the flavour then this will be an easy process. For example, if you feed your dog Arden Grange Chicken and Rice dog food and want to change to Arden Grange Lamb and Rice, this can be done over a couple of days and the dog shouldn't suffer any side effects, such as an upset stomach.

3. Timescale for changingWhen the time comes to a change the brand it is best to make the change over a one week period. Make sure you have enough of the old food to last a week when you purchase the new one. Then on day one feed the dog three quarters old food with one quarter new and keep to that formula for two-three days.

Then change to half old food and half new and again do that for two-three days. Once you have done that for a couple of days then change to one quarter old food and three quarters new for the final couple of days. Once the couple of days is up then switch completely to the new brand. By changing your dog's diet this way it will help to keep their stomach settled.

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Advantages Of Changing To Raw Dog Food - Home

Although pets have flourished for hundreds of years on organic foods, lots of animal lovers have gone on to provide them with prepared meals. Basically should one analyze the scenario thoroughly, you may notice that probably none of these creatures might end up being capable to help you make their food the particular manner we tend to do. Consequently, their systems ought to be designed for consuming the nourishment in its uncooked condition. Folks are today acknowledging that raw dog food is actually one of the finest methods to continue to keep ones cherished pet healthful.

If this is not reason enough to make you switch, then you should consider other issues. For instance, making the switch eliminates the hassle of preparing the food. Since you do not need to cook anything, you just need to cut up the meat and mix with some vegetables and the meal is ready. Remember to chop the bones as well other ingredients to smaller pieces to prevent choking.

Another advantage of feeding your pet raw diet is that you will notice a decrease in the amount of feces your pet produces. Moreover, the feces will not be as smelly as they used to be and they will help you understand what the dog needs to be healthy. When the feces are not consistent you will have to give your pet a few bones to chew.

One of the benefits that many people do not know can be derived from this diet is whiter and stronger teeth. The pets breath will also improve compared to when it consumes a commercial diet. This happens due to the enzymes present in the natural foods and also the reduced number of toxins. Bad breath results from such toxins getting stuck in between teeth.

Additionally there is the benefit of using fewer provisions for the animals foods. This is a good point particularly if consumers are looking for each and every means to minimize their expenses. A person may only understand the actual benefit of this if you actually adjust.

Besides the immediate rewards, there will be other indirect gains. As an illustration, any kind of injuries sustained will probably repair quicker whilst allergies will clear away rapidly. The pelt will also be gleaming and the canine may possess a lot more strength and feel lively. All of these can turn to fewer appointments with the veterinarian, which generally is also a good point.

Apart from the raw diet you give your pet, there are some other things that can be beneficial for his health. Remember that it is essential that your pet does some exercise, this does not mean you have to enroll him in gym, just a walk in the park will do.

Though raw dog food offers most of such gains, you ought to not make the switch haphazardly. You must be aware that there will be a few difficulties to anticipate and as a result get ready to deal with these. For example, the stool change specified previously can happen. In case the animal is more mature and has simply been given a conventional diet, it may experience a detox phase. This may occur in the shape of drippy eyes and mucus coatings upon the stool. Nevertheless, these tend to be small concerns that can be resolved effortlessly.

Jamie is a canine medical expert who strongly believes that transferring your dog to all natural dog food is the best choice you can make for your dog. Learn more about raw dog food.

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How To Start Your Dog On Organic Dog Foods - Business - Affiliate Programs

In this day and age it seems that dog owner are making great efforts when it comes to feeding their dogs the proper food for better health and longevity.

The questions then arises are what you should feed your dog? Is organic dog food the better choice? It's a great question and many opinions on the subject.

It most likely will come down to personal preference and possible educating oneself - after all dogs are meat eaters and their system is created to handle that better than anything else.

One of the challenges is to switch your dog's diet to organic foods and you may discover that it requires baby steps to do so. Here you have several tips that may help you if you choose to go the organic dog food route.

How to set up the feeding schedule. It's important to choose the right time to introduce the organic dog food. The morning feed could be a great opportunity since the dog will be extra hungry especially after the morning walk or other exercise that goes on before breakfast

How much should you feed and when? In the beginning it would be a good practice to set a time limited for the dog to complete the meal. Once the time is up remove the food and this may encourage the dog to finish the food quicker the next time. When you're feeding organic dog food you do not leave any leftovers in the bowl since chances are the food will go bad quickly.

Snacks and treats should be used with caution. It's not a good practice to feed between meals unless it's rewarding a good behavior. We know how cute dogs can be during meal time. However dogs will quickly become a pest especially around meal times if food or treats were handed out. This habit is a challenge to break and it's best to not start it at all.

Once the organic dog food is a regular meal it's a good practice to have several options of food available to the dog, so you're not feeding the same every time.

I discovered a great resource written by Maggie Rhines' "Going Rawr! Dog Lover's Compendium". The information covered in this guide is valuable and gives you many choices when introducing the organic dog food.

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Beneful Dog Food Coupons, Smart Shopping On Dog Food - Shopping

Having a dog is a long term commitment, and keeping your pethealthy throughout their life is important. We all know how importantour pets health and well being are to our families.While there are numerous high quality choice when it comes to feeding your pet, Purina's brand "Beneful" has been a staple of quality.Beneful is a premium quality, nutritious food that helpsensure your pets health and vitality, keeping them strong for life.A premium quality dog food usually costs a little more but we don'twant to feed our pet a sub-standard brand either. That's where using Benefulpet food coupons is a smart choice. We aren't sacrificing quality for alower cost food. By using Beneful dog food coupons, we can give our doga premium food for around the same cost as a lesser quality brand.The savings makes the difference in knowing you're feeding your dog oneof the best foods available.

How do you find Beneful coupons? An internet search for the officialPurina or Beneful websites is a good start. They will have useful informationabout pets, an assortment of pet products,coupons,free trials, and FAQ'S. Alot of special offers they have will be printable directly from their website.The next place I would look would be pet coupon websites. They are more gearedtowards offering coupons and basic information on the brands if that's really allyou need. You can print and clip coupons there to redeem at your localsupermarket.Vets and pet stores may have a supply of Beneful couponsthat you can use during your purchase as well. Weekly newspaper inserts and monthlyclipper magazines could offer coupons too.

Because a premium quality dog food like Beneful costs a few dollars more, usingBeneful dog food coupons can balance the cost so you can feed your dog a healthy,nutritious food.

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Dog food- the natural way! - Family - Pets

Many of us think long and hard about what food we put into our bodies but few people can say they do the same for their pet dogs. In the UK there are currently very few laws regarding the ingredients put into dog food so it can be difficult to know how many additives and unwholesome ingredients are in their food. Some pet foods have been shown to contain high levels of chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, food colouring agents and sugar and salt.

In addition, with increasingly more dogs facing some form of food intolerance or allergy it is important that we know what our dogs are eating. There are a couple of ways to guarantee that you know EXACTLY what you are putting into your dogs body.

Cook Your OwnThe first way to ensure that your dog gets pure, unadulterated food is to cook it yourself. This is both healthy and economical. As dogs are omnivorous, they require a mixture of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates. Either consult your vet for advice or as a general rule of thumb, aim for 30% protein, 40% vegetables and 30% carbohydrate.

Your recipes should avoid uncooked bones, chocolate, onions, macadamia nuts, garlic, avocados, mushrooms, grapes, raisins, and any spicy or greasy foods which can all cause health issues. Suggested proteins can include fish, chicken, lamb or beef. Avoid pork as this is known to be associated with food intolerance in dogs. Carbohydrates can include potatoes, rice, oats or barley and finely chop any vegetables that you use. Cook the ingredients together in a little oil, you can then either serve like this or add a little stock or water and mash. If you want to be adventurous, there are a number of dog food recipe pages to be found on the internet.

Buy wisely

If you do not have the time or energy to cook your dog food yourself, their a few brands that you can buy from your local pet supplies store that have done the hard work for you. Burns dog food was developed by a vet who saw dogs coming to his surgery with food related illnesses caused by poor diets. He recommended that owners make their own food but when he saw that many people were daunted by this, he developed a range of pet foods that are made from high quality, often organic, ingredients with no additives.

Naturediet dog food is another dog food which is made from totally natural ingredients based on strict holistic principles with the main aim being to keep your dog as healthy as possible. They only produce wet dog food which is hypoallergenic and free from artificial ingredients, preservatives and other chemicals making it perfect for fussy eaters or dogs with allergies. Both of these ranges are also produced in the UK so you can rest easy knowing that your dog food has a low carbon footprint too!

Whatever you decide to feed your dog, these tips will ensure your dog leads a long and healthy life.

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Where You Can Get Nutro Dog Food Coupons - Shopping

Nutro is a great type of pet food. All of their products are made of 100 % natural ingredients that is definitely important for your dogs general health and happiness.Nutro dog food can be found in three varieties. Natural Choice stimulates healthful skin, a shiny coat in addition to strong joints. Max has added in minerals and vitamins that offers a 100% complete and balanced diet for every age.

Ultra Holistic is a superfood blend that delivers top quality proteins, anti-oxidant loaded veggies and fruits, whole grains, and healthy essential oils. Each of these brands come in blends for lifestage, breed, overall size, plus health issue of your dog.Nutro can provide it all, as well as excellent benefits by utilizing Nutro dog food coupons.

How would you locate Nutro dog food coupons?Given that Nutro is without a doubt a well known and recognized manufacturer, it's simple to locate savings for the different selection of pet food they sell. The Nutro official internet site is a great method to obtain information and facts addressing a variety of pets. They have coupons directly on their website for Natural Choice, Max, plus Ultra dog foods. They also have a rewards program for first time customers that offers a $10 dog food coupon by mail. What a excellent cost savings! You can find many pet internet sites that offer Nutro dog food coupons.The coupons are everywhere so all you have to do is look at offers and use what works the best for you. You'll find cost savings online through big merchants like PetCo, PetSmart, and PetWorld. Quite oftenthey provide Nutro coupons to cut out and redeem at their particular retail stores for as much as 20% off. Another suggestion would be to keep an eye out for dog food repr esentatives in pet stores that are promoting brands and giving away coupons.

As you can see, there are many ways to find discounts for Nutro pet products simply by being a knowledgeable shopper! Nutro is a great product that provides numerous healthy benefits for your pet. They also provide many benefits for you through using the rewards programs and Nutro coupons. The accessibility of their products in addition to information in stores and on the internet is top notch. Nutro is a great selection in pet food!

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Why Pet Owners Should Use Pet Food Coupons - Business

Pet food is expensive -- every pet owner knows this -- but with the use of dog food coupons, it can become a very affordable thing indeed. For example, you can often find dog food coupons in a variety of magazines. With the use of dog food coupons, you'll be saving enough money that you can then afford to get your special pet the little toy or playhouse that you would not have been able to afford before.

If you use the coupons as a guide for purchasing food for your pet, you can even discover better brands that you wouldn't have tried otherwise. Whether you're dealing with pets or with any other product, a good sale can often get people to buy something new. Your pet may thank you when you come home with a new type of dog food that you got because of the coupons.

You can save a lot of money on your pet's food by entering and participating in a food company's promotional sweepstakes. Of course, cat food companies sponsor these contests as a way to market to a larger group of people. The personal information you provide in order to take part in these contests will only end up providing you with information about more products that can make feeding and caring for your pet a much easier process. The marketing aspect becomes much less sinister when this is considered, and many people enter the contest in order to get better prices on pet food.

If you are observant, you've probably discovered that your pet will prefer one kind of cat food over another, and this may make you reluctant to try a new kind of cat food when you have one that already works. When you've been perusing the grocery store, though, you have probably run across a new kind of pet food that you thought your pet might enjoy eating. You're more liable to give a new type of pet food a try if you have been giving the key to a discount (i.e. a coupon).

For a customer, a coupon may provide either a small bit of savings or a great quantity. Some coupons are designed to just give you a small discount on a type of food you would buy anyway. If it is a new brand of cat food or it is a more expensive kind of food, then companies will cut multiple dollars from the purchase price in an effort to get you to buy their brand of dog food.

As you can see, you can really save a lot of money by using pet food coupons. It's not even a difficult process, as you can take a look in any pet magazine, circular, or store catalog and find all sorts of coupons for all sorts of brands. If you pay too much for pet food, the blame can only rest on you. There are available dog food coupons.

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