Is Natural Cat Food the Best?

Article by Luvi Marie

People who love their cats want the best food available for them and many cat owners think natural cat foods are the best available products for their loveable cats. Numerous cat food companies have worked with experts in veterinary nutrition along with cat breeders and nutritionists to formulate healthy foods for cats.

The overwhelming conclusion has been that cats thrive when they eat food that is as close to natural as can be made. Whole foods are preferable, just as they are for humans. Numerous natural cat food companies use ingredients such as chicken, lamb, turkey meat, whole grain barley and rice. They add fruits, a variety of vegetables and dairy products that are of the finest grade.

Cat Food and Nutrition

If you have decided to purchase natural cat food make sure the product you choose contains whole grains, good fats, fiber, healthy carbohydrates and necessary vitamins and minerals. A lot of the cat foods you find at the grocery store include grains that have been heavily processed and are not considered whole grains and therefore do not provide your cat the nutrition he needs.

Cooking and Processing

Companies that are sincere about making quality natural food for your cat have put a lot of time and research into making sure the cooking methods and processes they use preserve the nutrients from the natural foods they are using. Natura Pet products, for example, claim their natural pet foods must pass 121 quality control checks before they will sell the items. Check the label on cat food items and make sure they do not contain any additives, artificial preservatives or any unnecessary colors.

High quality natural cat foods usually contain a high level of meat and top quality fats and oils along with sufficient levels of nutrients in order to provide your cat attractive fur and healthy skin. Avoid cat food that contains vegetable protein fillers and inexpensive fats.

Most of the high quality natural cat foods do not contain chemical additives or artificial flavors. They usually do not contain preservatives such as BHA/BHT or Ethoxyquin which are often used in pet foods but are not allowed in food items for people in numerous countries.

In order to keep your cat healthy, the diet your cat eats is just as important as the diet that you eat. Natural cat foods have a much higher nutritional level that most of the cat foods available at the grocery store and other places. If the health of your cat is something you consider to be very important, you might want to consider only feeding him natural cat food.

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

Article by Jacob Akshire

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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Does Gourmet Cat Food Really Taste Better

Article by Derek Rogers

In recent years, there has been a serious surge in the production of so called “premium cat food” or “gourmet cat food”, and people are beginning to wonder if these more expensive brands on the market are actually worth all the hype, and of course the money. These gourmet cat food brands are meant to taste more lavish than the traditional brands of cat food found in the average supermarket. Gourmet cat food sales are increasing at a pretty alarming rate in an industry that is consistently evolving to produce higher quality products.

One of the primary reasons why there is such an increase in demand for these products is because consumers are looking for cat food products that are closer to the quality of home prepared foods. Current research is supporting that inferior ingredients in cat food can be detrimental to the health of the cat; more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives. Many gourmet cat food brands are touting the ability to provide high quality, natural cat food products based on ingredients that are more wholesome than traditional commercially prepared foods.

Every year we seem to see an increase in cat disease, obesity and other serious issues which can now be rectified to a degree by the healthfulness of gourmet cat food products. Most gourmet cat food products come in smaller packages which tend to discourage over feeding in order to fight obesity. These small packages are attractive both to consumers who are looking for dietary management, and for those who are looking for convenience when feeding their pets.

Many cat food brands, like Purina for example, offer a variety of different types of gourmet cat food, these include “Fancy Feast” and “Gourmet Gold” for example. These brands claim to be restaurant quality, and come in a variety of different types and choices. The obvious benefit to the pet food company is that they can demand a higher price for these luxury cat food products. This is by putting increased care into the design, presentation and manufacturing of the cat food, the company can fetch increased profits. Because consumers know the products are of a higher quality, they are generally willing to pay more.

There seems to be an implied understanding that the higher price means the higher quality when it comes to cat food products. This is not completely true, because gourmet cat food is not always offering a healthy balanced diet. Common brands of cat food can still create a balanced and healthy diet when mixed with the right ingredients. Cat owners should not assume that the gourmet brands are necessarily better.

Instead, they should consult their veterinarian to appraise which brand and food is ideal for each individual cat’s needs. This is the most ideal way to determine which type of cat food will best suit their needs nutritionally. While improved taste may be the greatest feature of many gourmet cat foods, gourmet cat food does not necessarily mean it contains improved nutrition.

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Healthy Dog Food For A Healthy Shih Tzu

Article by Richard Cussons

You definitely know that what your shih tzu eats affects his health. Feeding of appropriate dog food guarantees you a health and happy shih tzu, while poor or low quality food will only cause health issues. Now, as a responsible dog owner who wants nothing but his dog to be healthy and happy, you have to make sure that he is getting the right foods with nutrients he needed to grow.

Know that a shih tzu is a picture of a lively, alert, proud and somewhat stubborn little dog with luxurious coat. If you want your shih tzu to remain in this condition, you have to be wary of what he is putting into his mouth.

In the olden days, and even until now, dogs are fed with table scraps. Who can say no to begging eyes and floppy ears? These expressions will surely steal your heart and prompt you to toss him one half of the chocolate you are eating. But you will definitely promise not to give Fluffy even just a slice of cadbury when you will find out that chocolates contain theobromine and caffeine that are toxic to dogs. Ingestion of chocolate can cause vomiting, excessive urination, hyperactivity, fast breathing, weakness and seizures. Other table scraps to avoid are onions and garlics, spicy, salty or fried foods, rich foods that are high in fat such as meats with heavy sauces.

When feeding commercial dog foods, examine the ingredients carefully to make sure it is healthy. The most important are the first five or ten ingredients which include chicken meal, lamb meal and venison meal. Grains are good source of energy, however, if the first ingredient is corn or rice, that food is not recommended. The best grains for dogs are rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet and brown rice. These grains should be used in whole form so that it supplies more fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Shih tzus are prone to health issues such as portosystemic liver funck, anal dysplasia, hip dysplasia as well as ear, eye and respiratory problems. This breed also gain weight easily. Special dietary should be provided if a dog is suffering from any of these health issues.

There are various brands of pet foods available in the market. But the bottom line is, don’t be deceive by the colorful, glossy pack and great advertisements. Find out what’s best for your dog.

www.dinovite.com Are you tired of all of these pet food recalls? Let Cindy show how YOU can control what goes into your pet’s food in a very affordable way. *We are not saying that this is the only way to feed your pets…it’s just the healthiest thing that we have seen yet, and it works for us. We just wanted to share this with you all. This recipe would feed a 22lb dog for about 2 weeks. Dinovite’s Homemade Raw Diet Recipe – 5lbs of Ground Beef – 9 Hardboiled Eggs (with the shells) – 2-3 cups of White Rice – 1/2 a Tube of LickOchops – Dinovite Liquid Daily Packs To figure out how much to make for more or bigger dogs, here is the formula for the diet: (Dog’s Weight) X .02 (a couch potato dog) .025 (a dog of normal activity) = the amount of food per day .03 (super active dog) = the amount of food to feed your dog per day
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Dry Cat Food Advantages

Article by Virgilio Vallecera

Using dry cat food to feed your cat has many benefits. Unless your cat has quality of life issues that require the use of canned foods, dry food is usually the best selection for the majority of reasons.

Dry food helps maintain your cat’s dental health. As the cat chews the food, her teeth are also cleaned that lowers the buildup of tartar and exercises your cat’s teeth and gums.

Price is a major factor. Dry cat food is seriously less pricey than canned foods often less than side as costly. And, your cat will eat proportionally less food that will make your feeding dollars stretch even more.

Dry food is much more effortless to store. If the storage container is air-tight and covered, the food should last until the expiration date listed on the package, usually months or decades into the future. An opened can of cat food must be placed in the refridgerator and used during one day to hold off spoilage.

Feeding dry cat food to your cats is easier. You can put the day’s find of food in a bowl, and you don’t have to worry about food spoiling. You can even use automatic feeders in case you are not always consistently on hand to feed your cat at mealtimes. Canned cat food can only be left in bowls for a short period of time.

Cats that eat dry food produce less waste in the litter boxes. So, you will invest a reduced amount of in cat litter and in scooping time.

Be ensured to choose a premium type of cat food. Cheaper brands often are not made investing in superiority ingredients which could affect your cat’s health. Also, cats that eat dry food make more water since they are getting especially little based on what i read in their food. Fresh water should be available at all times. Your cat can still occasionally undergo premium canned food as a treat, but for most cats, a predominately dry cat food diet is the right alternative.

Andrew explains demonstrates how to make a backpacking stove using a Fancy Feast cat food can.
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Can Healthy Cat Food Contain Preservatives?

Article by Madeleine Innocent

In this day and age of the mighty dollar masquerading as king, it becomes more and more difficult to trust businesses who have a vested interest in gaining your sale. As cats can’t talk to us, or perhaps I should say, as we can’t hear what cats are telling us, we don’t have that all important input to know if we are providing our cats with a healthy cat food.

If you do a quick search on the internet, you’ll come across practically all pet food manufacturers proclaiming their brand is ‘all natural’, ‘healthy’, ‘holistic’, even ‘organic’, but in every single case they are selling dry food.

Just think about it for a minute. Dried food which contains any form of meat just won’t keep at room temperature. Try keeping your steak out of the refrigerator for a few days and see what happens.

So how do pet food manufacturers keep cat food indefinitely at room temperature?

The only possible way to do this is to add preservatives. Despite many claims saying there are no preservatives, logic tells you there has to be.

Cooking in itself may preserve meat a little longer than raw meat, but not for weeks, or even years.

So what, you may be thinking, I know there are preservatives in some of the foods I eat and I seem to be OK. Surely a few preservatives doesn’t mean I’m not feeding my cat a healthy cat food?

I personally don’t think any preservative is OK. It may appear to be harmless in the short term, but in the long term there will be consequences.

But apart from my personal opinion, there are some laws, perhaps rather basic or not well enforced, in almost every country around the world, that protects human food. So all preservatives used in human food has to be considered ‘reasonably safe’ by some standards.

Unfortunately, there are no such safe guards in pet food. Or the laws are even less effectively enforced than the human laws.

So the preservatives used in cat food can be the most toxic. Does cat food containing highly toxic preservatives sound like a healthy cat food to you?

Ever heard of formalin? Embalmers use it to preserve dead bodies.

Formalin, also known as formaldehyde, is widely used in pet food to preserve it.

You probably haven’t heard of ethoxyquin. That’s a preservative used in the rubber industry. It’s in the tyres of your car. So what on earth is it doing in your cat food?

Lets look at ethoxyquin’s history. When factory workers were exposed to it, they exhibited side effects similar to those of agent orange:

constant diarrhoeavision disorders including blindnessorgan failureorgan cancersleukaemia

Are you getting a bit concerned? Perhaps your cat is suffering from some kind of organ damage? Here are a few other common preservatives used in cat food to keep it at room temperature indefinitely;

sodium nitrite, which gives a nice rosy colour to food and can produce powerful carcinogenic substances known as nitrosaminespropyl gallate – is now suspected of causing liver damagepropylene glycol used to maintain the right texture and moisture content is used as coolant antifreeze in enginesup to 1000 times more salt than occurs naturally

No manufacturer can keep preservatives out of dry cat food if it has a long shelf life.

So, if you don’t feed your cat a commercial cat food, what can you feed her?

To my way of thinking, the only sure way of knowing you are providing a healthy cat food is to prepare it yourself.

Before you throw your hands up in horror, saying you don’t know how, you don’t have time, that’s where I come in.

I’ve done the research for a balanced, healthy cat food.

I’ve made all the mistakes and can show how not to fall into the traps I did.

By feeding your cat a healthy cat food, you’ll have fewer trips to your veterinarian and your cat will live longer.

Wet food is a rare treat for our kitties.
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Find a Hypoallergenic Dog Food Just Right for Your Dog

Article by Ce Esdhelman

What’s the best hypoallergenic dog food for your dog? In fact, the reply to that question happens to be the reason behind this article. You may believe it’s actually to offer you a particular brand of dog food, nevertheless it isn’t. Our dog is definitely a dog that requires particular ingredients with regards to emotional concerns. I recognize that sounds absurd: He’s a Dog! You bet, he is a Dog and we all really love OUR DOG!

Being a rescue pup, Frank has long been highly anxious as a result of maltreatment when he was developing. That blended with being a Labrador Retriever breed, he is literally twice as uneasy. His nervousness, by itself, is not the issue. The complication is that has started to be aggressive each time he is afraid. That frightens everyone.

As soon as we engaged a K9 Behaviorist to assist us with this, she set about paying attention to the dog food we used. Get the dog away from Refined Food. I didn’t recognize there’s such a thing as Junk Dog Food. She clarified by telling me this: Some canines really are extremely sensitive to a number of things in their dog food. The typical family pet person has no idea what they are providing for their beloved dogs when they pick up the lowest cost, biggest bag in the market. If these folks realized, they would be shocked. Now that we know a little about Hypoallergenic Dog Food, I’m sort of appalled and I also feel bad that a variety of Frank’s issues has to do with the unhealthy food I had been giving him. Live and also learn.

Our personal Canine Behaviorist pointed out that we were to order food with simply no corn resources. Buy food devoid of chemical compounds. Look for organic, purely natural, whole grain foods for him first. In essence, start him on good quality hypo-allergenic dog food. Easier said than completed, I discovered. Even the Dog Behaviorist was loath to jump into the “Best Dog Food in the Whole World” controversy. She shrugged, “Read labels.” Wow, uh, ok.

Presently, evidently attached to the 20th century, I slipped into the “car” (it’s at least a Prius if that counts in the slightest degree for operating a motor vehicle in lieu of net surfing) and set out to the pet shop in order to get Frank a bunch of corn-free, chemical-free, wholesome, hypo-allergenic food. I pretty much couldn’t track down any item I needed in PetCo, PetSmart, or the Feed and Grain Barn Outlet and I absolutely discovered nothing worthy at Target, Wal-mart, Safeway, or Raleys. Whole Foods did have a handful of small sack labels, which seemed to cost a fortune. Do you know how much Frank eats? Goodness! He weighs in at 83 pounds.

Oh yeah, by the way, it turns out dog eats also come in lots of feeding styles. One knows this somehow? Kibble, Holistic, BARF (this is a spectacular acronym describing Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), Mix-It-Yourself, Raw, Fresh Frozen, Free Range, Complete, Tinned, Pouched, Trayed, Organically Grown, Healthy, Hypo-allergenic, and so on. On top of that, you will discover as many viewpoints on the preferred dog food as there are products and styles of dog food. Some thoughts and opinions are definitely more like emotionally charged reactions than advice. No kidding around. My head was a swirling dervish throughout this research. Poor Frank, in the meantime, was just waiting “anxiously” to get calming food.

I did serious investigation on hypoallergenic dog food components by means of dog enthusiasts, championship canine owners, trainers, and, yes, several were even via the internet. This is really what I uncovered and what we all at Hypo-Allergenic Dog Food Home are proposing you start out with for your best dog pal.

One does need to examine the particular product labels. My Dog Behaviorist was exactly right. It is only through inspecting the ingredients that a person can purchase the most desirable hypo-allergenic dog food for the specific dog’s health needs. The one factor that is apparently a general opinion is this, “Major dog food manufacturers generate inexpensive, lower quality canine foods.” Dog nibbles are definitely items where you seriously get the quality you pay for: High quality meat, fish, fowl, as well as natural and organic whole grain products, vegetables and fruits are costly. Mega big bag food companies make use of fillers, colorants, as well as chemical preservatives to be able to give you a box of pet food that has a significant display life. That is not the finest course of action to sustain the life span of your dog; it is, nonetheless, the ultimate way to sustain the shelf-life of the dog food. We all love our dog and want him to survive longer than the standard eleven or so short years. For that reason, the foods on the next paragraphs warrant your examination. These are the Hypoallergenic Dog Food brands which rose to the top ranks in my research.

Acana – Organic, colors-dies-chemical freeArden Grange – Kibble, HypoallergenicNatureDiet – BARF Raw Frozen

You can get up-to-date information about safe hypoallergenic dog food at http://www.hypoallergenicdog foodhome.com.

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When You Feed Beefeaters Dog Food Treats – A Happy Dog Is Also A Healthy Dog

Article by Seo5 Consulting

Responsible dog owners want their pets to be healthy and happy, and an excellent way to achieve that goal is to feed Beefeaters Dog Food Treats. These treats will keep the dog entertained and satisfied for hours on end, and come with the assurance of all natural ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors, additives or preservatives.

The large menu of Beefeaters Dog Food Treats is your guarantee that regardless of your dog’s breed, size or age, you’ll find a favorite from among the many flavors, sizes and shapes of treats available. As every dog owner knows, their pets have taste and texture preferences just like they do.

Beefeaters Rawhide Dog Treats are healthy, wholesome and fun. These all natural treatsprovide the added dental benefit of helping to reduce tartar build-up. Rawhide provides hours of chewing enjoyment – and at the same time – stimulate the jaw and gums. Rawhide treats are particularly helpful with teething puppies. All rawhide treats are oven-baked to seal in flavor and free of additives and preservatives.

For power chewers or dogs prone to anxiety or boredom, consider Beefeaters Compressed Beefhide. These treats are as delicious as they are long lasting. The secret: they’re made from 100% natural rawhide strips – never scraps.

You are sure to find a compressed beefhide treat perfect for your dog. They are available in 6 flavors: natural, beef, chicken, hickory-smoked, lamb & rice and peanut butter. There are 5 different sizes 6 different shapes: bones, sticks, twists, rolls and donuts.

If pork is your pet’s preferred taste, look no further than Beefeaters.

Piggy treats are made from 100% all natural pork hide and slow roasted in their own juices to seal in flavor. There are no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors added.

All Piggy treats are shaped, woven and twisted by hand. Pet favorites include:

• Piggy Bones

• Piggy Rolls and Roll Twists

• Piggy Twists

For special occasion treats, nothing beats pigs ears. Beefeaters uses only natural, extra lean pork. The ears are oven-roasted to lock in flavor, preservative free and 100% digestible.

For a total change of pace, try Beefeaters Sweet Potato Shapes. They are rich in antioxidants, and packed with all the goodness of calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and C. Dogs love their sweet taste. Like all Beefeaters products, they are 100% natural, contain no additives, preservatives or fillers.

Sweet potato shapes include: discs, chips, bones, fries and lollipops.

Beefeaters has been making dog food treats for over two decades. It has the impressive tradition of providing nutritious treats and chews that dogs love. They are available at popular pet stores and major retailers, and can be purchased online. For more information on Beefeaters dog food treats visit, Beefeaters.

Chili dogs can be both filling and friendly to the waistline with clever usage of vegetables in the chili mix. Cook up a healthy chili dog and a low fat side salad with help from professional chef Jennifer Iserloh in this free video on healthy cooking.

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Healthy Dog Food Secrets

Article by dr.market

Dog food is not manufactured for Dogs at all.Dog food is produced and marketed for you.It is nothing more than an elaborately marketed product designed to give you well being that you are giving your Dog the best when in fact the opposite may be true.

Recently a World Wide Scare struck virtually every Dog Owner Alive. Have we been poisoning our Dogs with Store bought Dog Food over and over again for years?!Now not all store bought Dog food is bad but there is no way you should ever risk the life of your Dog by providing manufactured Dog food as the only Nutritional source!Can you Guarantee that the very food you have been giving your Dog for Life is not causing Death?I couldn’t.

So I set out to create my own recipes to give my Dog the Real sustenance of Life I thought I had been providing before.you’ll get everything you need to safely provide a lifetime Of Safe and Nutritious food, even if you know nothing about Dog Nutrition now…”

Over 60 Meals, Beverages, Deserts and Snacks that anyone can make. More than enough Homemade Recipes to feed your Dog for an entire lifetime with Real Nutrition and Ingredients you can depend on…Never Play Dog food Roulette with your Dog Again!I hope you take advantage of my over 60 recipes that will have your dog, like mine, lining for the next Nutritional Meal or Snack! Give your Dog the gift of Real Nutrition Now.

The only way you can ever be sure of what you are really feeding your Dog is to see the Ingredients yourself as they come together into a safe and healthy meal, snack, beverage or dessert.In fact once you see how easy it is to feed your Dog the healthy way you will wonder why you ever bought manufactured Dog food in the first place!

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Recommended Dog Food – What is Best?

Article by Rick Lockwood

Good food for your Dog – 9 Rules for Healthy Nutrition

Dog nutrition has always been a popular topic among dog lovers and animal health professionals alike. The importance of the matter has lead to better understanding of the problems associated with nutrition as well as to changes in dogfood products standards. Unfortunately, manufactures are not inclined to make the best food for your dog.

There is no doubt that adequate nutrition is essential for the proper development, health and longevity of dogs. However, many dog owners find it difficult to decide which dog food ingredients and products are beneficial for their pets.

Although there is no universal characteristic of what is good kibble, there are several useful rules that can help dog owners in providing their pets with healthy dog food.

1. Do not “humanize” your dog’s diet. Canines are carnivorous animals and they have unique nutritional needs. Assuming your dog can eat the same food as you is wrong and potentially dangerous. Wrong diet can ruin your dog’s health and even reduce his or hers life span. This is why you need recommended dog food recipes that are reviewed by a vet or authority on the subject. Something someone else just posted may not be good…

2. Make a list of safe dog food ingredients. There are foods a dog can eat, foods that are unsuitable and foods that are strictly forbidden. Dogs can eat any type of meat (chicken, pork, beef, lamb, game meat, and fish), dairy products (cheese, butter, milk, and yoghurt), grains (corn, wheat, rice, etc.) and vegetables. Sugar, cocoa, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, onions, garlic, moldy foods, some fruits and nuts must not be included in a dog’s diet. They can be toxic for them!

3. Stick to hypoallergenic foods. Food-related allergies are common among dogs. They can occur in canines of perfect health without any warning. Although there are no real rules for prevention, certain foods are less likely to cause allergy than others. A diverse diet including varied protein sources also helps keeping allergies away.

4. What is healthy dog food? Good dog food is not only food that contains safe ingredients but food that is well balanced and nutritional. Each meal must consist of 30% meat, 30% grains and 30% vegetables. This balance as well as the amount of daily food consumption must correspond to the dog’s breed, age and any specific health conditions (such as pregnancy, lactation or disease).

5. Homemade vs. commercially manufactured food. There is no rule about which type of food is better. Homemade and ready-made dog foods can be equally beneficial, if they contain dog-friendly ingredients and meet your dog’s nutritional needs, or dangerous, if they are made of low-quality ingredients and are not well-balanced. A healthy dog diet usually consists of a combination of home cooked meals and ready made food products. Though, more and more vets and breeders are jumping on the homemade food band wagon. I can tell you from our experience, Tiny and Mr. Peanut only eat homemade dog food. It’s simple, cheap and healthy without question.

6. Say NO to dog treats. In dog’s world, junk food would be called dog treats – dogs love them but they can hardly be considered good dog food. Usually dog treats contain chemical ingredients, preservatives, sweeteners, aromas, flavors and colorants that have deteriorating effect on dogs’ health. If you want to spoil your dog with a little tasty snack, prepare it at home.

7. Be careful with dog food recipes. Unfortunately many of the dog food recipes you are likely to come across contain unsuitable and even dangerous ingredients or are not well-balanced and thus will not be able to provide adequate nutrition. Make sure the recipe is safe prior to preparing the meal and feeding it to your dog. You should use only home made recipes that have been reviewed by a veterinarian.

8. How to buy good dog food. The key to finding the best food for your dog is in selecting several products suitable for his or hers breed and age and comparing their ingredients. Usually the first five dog food ingredients can indicate whether or not you are looking at quality package of dog food. Avoid foods that contain any chemical substances, artificial flavors, colorants or sweeteners. (Reliable Homemade food has no artificial chemicals). This is not easy to do and most people who discover what they have been feeding their pet begin down the road of preparing it themselves, especially when you look at cost. We all know it’s cheaper to do it yourself 99.9% of the time than have someone else do it and make a profit from it as well.. It’s the way the world works.

9. Create a healthy eating regime. Regardless of its quality, excess food usually leads to excess weight gain, especially in less energetic or older dogs. Weight gain can be avoided by giving your dog only the amount of food it actually needs once a day or divided into several meals.

For further information on good dog foods, we suggest you check out the highly recommended Dog Food Recommended by Vet’s. Click Here to check it out.

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