Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Dog Food: Healthy Powder Supplement

This supplement recipe is from Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. The Healthy Powder is used in the Doggie Oats recipe and other recipes developed by Dr. Pitcairn.



Healthy Powder


2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 mg calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder)
1,000 mg vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)


Mix all ingredients together in a 1-quart container with lid and refrigerate.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Dog Food, How to Choose??


Choosing a dog food in today’s extensive pet food market can prove challenging. With the vast array of choices in today’s pet food market, how can you tell which food is best?


Factors to address before selecting a dog food




  • Your dog’s age/life stage – make sure you choose a food that’s nutritionally geared to your dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior).


  • Your dog’s body condition – dogs who are overweight or underweight need different nutrition than those who are not. Dogs who get lots of exercise also have different nutritional requirements. Choose a food that fits your dog’s needs, whether it’s weight control, performance, maintenance, or another formula.


  • Your dog’s health history – if your dog has medical conditions such as diabetes, allergies, cancer, or digestive difficulties, you’ll need to choose a food that is appropriate for that condition.


  • Your budget – simply put, feed your dog the best food you can afford. Generally, the more you spend, the better-quality, healthier food you’ll feed.


Consider Your Dog’s Preferences
Keep in mind that no one food is best for every dog. Dogs are individuals, just like people. Some dogs prefer dry food, some canned. Some dogs prefer chicken, some prefer lamb. You could feed a brand of very well-formulated food to a group of dogs and find that most of them do great on it, some do marginally well, and a few actually get sick from it. Luckily, today’s market offers many well-formulated dog foods for dogs at all life stages, and it’s fine to try several to determine which one works best for your dog.


Look Closely at Ingredients
When you’re shopping for a healthy food for your dog, the ingredient list on the back of the bag is a good place to start. By law, pet food labels must list their ingredients in order by weight. Look for dog foods with meat, fish, or eggs listed as the first ingredient. These are very digestible, and if they are listed as the first ingredient, you can assume the food offers a good-quality protein source, and includes several valuable, usable amino acids. If you are switching to a new food, be sure to allow ample time for your dog to adjust to it.


Categories of Pet Foods
When searching for your dog’s next food, keep in mind that pet food is now available in three major categories: “grocery store” foods, premium foods, and healthy foods.




  • “Grocery store” foods – those found in grocery stores and mass-market retailers – are typically made with lower-quality, less-digestible, inexpensive ingredients and are therefore a cheaper alternative. While easy on the pocketbook, “grocery store” foods normally do not provide your dog with the healthiest, most nutrient-dense ingredients.


  • Premium foods – often found in grocery stores, pet stores, and veterinarian offices – contain higher-grade ingredients, but may still include some elements of “grocery store” food, such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and “filler” ingredients. Premium foods are usually more expensive than “grocery store” foods because their ingredients are of a higher quality, and are therefore somewhat more beneficial and digestible.


  • Healthy foods – the newest addition to the pet food market – provide pets with the highest quality, healthiest, and most nutritious ingredients. They are typically available for purchase online or direct from the manufacturer. Foods in the Healthy class – including the Drs. Foster & Smith line of foods, and others – contain nutrient-rich ingredients.


Formulated to provide optimum health benefits for pets, these foods often use whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, real meat as the primary protein source, and carbohydrate-rich whole grains like brown rice and barley. They should not contain artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. They will almost always be fortified with additional vitamins and minerals, and will use the best natural sources for fatty acids to help build healthy skin and a beautiful coat. Because healthy foods use high quality ingredients, you should expect to pay a little more than you would for other types of pet food. Remember, though, with healthy foods you can generally feed less since healthy foods are more nutrient-dense than other types of food.


Check your dog’s health after a month
After you’ve done all you can to make sure a food is healthy and beneficial, take a look at your dog after feeding the food for at least a month. Bright eyes, a shiny coat, and a healthy energy level will let you know you’ve chosen a good source for your dog’s nutrition. If you need assistance selecting a food for your dog, seek veterinary/professional advice.



This entry was posted on July 2, 2011, 5:21 am and is filed under Food, Hygiene. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Fresh, Raw and Whole Food For Your Dog"s Health - What to Select, Preparation, Mistakes to Avoid




 


In this article understand what whole, fresh, raw foods are good for your dog;
How to prepare and feed these foods to your dog;
Mistakes to avoid making.


Fresh whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat, healthy oils, herbs and spices offer our dogs digestible, nutrient rich food without the dangerous ingredients, additives, toxins and carcinogens found in many pet store food products.




My dogs get homemade cooked dog food  and homemade treats in the morning and early evening and then, later in the evening they get their bowl of fresh food. It is best not to mix fresh fruit and fresh vegetables with your dog;s main protein meal – I will discuss the reason for that further below.




As an example – per day:


  • My larger dogs (German Shepherds and my Boxer) eat 11/8  to 11/4 cup of home made cooked dog food but they eat about 3 cups of various fresh foods a day;


  • My medium size dogs (Australian Shepherd and a smaller female GSD) eat 3/4 cup of cup of home made cooked dog food and 21/2 cups of various fresh foods a day;


  • My small dogs (Sheltie and a Cocker Spaniel) eat 1/2 cup of home made cooked dog food and 1 cup of various fresh foods.


  • My Chihuahua eats 1/8 cup home made cooked dog food and 1/2 cup fresh food a day. 


  • My 4lb Pomeranian eats 2 tbs of home made cooked dog food and 1/4 cup various fresh foods. 










Feeding your dog fresh whole foods as part of a balanced diet can have a profoundly positive affect on a dog’s overall health and can be a great aid in avoiding, treating and remedying many health issues – for example periodontal problems and GI tract problems.


Protein




Meat is a rich source of protein, amino acids and contains many nutrients necessary for the health of dogs. Protein is the primary and species appropriate food for a dog. Dogs can survive without carbohydrates but they cannot survive without protein and fat in their diet. Organically raised, pasture fed chemical free (no antibiotics, no growth hormones, none GMO grain feed, etc) raised is always a better choice than meat coming from farms that use antibiotics, steroids, pesticide and herbicide, GMO feed. Some people like to feed their dog raw meat, while others prefer to provide their dog with cooked meat. I feed my dogs cooked meat rather than raw meat. My dogs also eat hard cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and fish on a daily basis.

Appropriate and Safe Protein Sources for Dogs






Lean red muscle and organ meat such as:
Beef
Lamb


Pork




Poultry such as:
Chicken
Duck
Turkey





Fish (cooked or canned) in particular fatty fish such as:

Anchovies

Salmon

Sardines

Shad

Smelt

Mackerel




You can also add other forms of protein such as:




Eggs

Raw – make sure you wash the eggshell before cracking open
Cooked


Dairy

Cottage Cheese

Hard Cheese such as cheddar cheese, mozzarella for example

Yogurt
Kefir




Seeds
Flax Seeds (brown or golden, use ground flax seed as opposed to whole flax seed)


Pumpkin Seeds (best if pulverized or ground)


Legumes

Split Peas (cooked)

Lentils (cooked)
Chickpeas (cooked)

Peanuts – Peanut Butter
Please note that while the seeds and nuts mentioned above are very beneficial for dogs – most other seeds and nuts can pose serious danger to a dog’s health.




There are some facts that you need to be aware of when it comes to whole food protein…




Raw pork…Never feed your dog raw pork as doing so can cause trichinosis – a parasitic disease caused by eating raw of undercooked pork or wild game infected with the larvae of one species of round worm.




Raw fish…Never feed your dog raw fish as it may contain flukes – a parasite that infests the liver.




Dairy products…Just like with people, some dogs are lactose intolerant. None of my dogs have any adverse reaction to cheese or yogurt. Yogurt is a good source of protein and also a source of acidophilus which helps to prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the digestive track. Plain yogurt or yogurt with natural fruit sweetened with honey is best. Yogurt sweetened with sugar is alright but your dog does not require sugar. Yogurt sweetened with artificial sweeteners should be avoided. Xylitol is especially dangerous for dogs and can result in liver damage.




Raw eggs…Some people advise that dogs should not be given raw eggs due to the chance of salmonella poisoning. It is also true that a dog’s stomach acids are stronger than a human’s and a dog produces more bile than a human does. While dogs are better at fighting salmonella than humans, dogs still get salmonella poisoning, but they can tolerate higher levels of salmonella than we can. If you want to be on the safe side you can cook your dog’s egg. Also, it is important to note that eggs contain avidin, an enzyme that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). Bioten deficiency can lead to hair and coat problems – so don’t give your dog eggs on a daily basis – once a week is ok.




Peanuts… Aflatoxins grow mainly on grains but they also grow on legumes – like peanuts, walnuts and pecans. aflatoxins cause liver cancer. This is one reason why you will hear some people say do not give your dogs nuts. While there are some nuts that you should never give your dogs ( like walnuts and macadamia nuts) it is fine to give your dog peanuts and peanut butter – they are a good source of nutrition – just make sure you are giving them human grade peanuts products. Peanuts sold for bird and livestock feed are permitted to contain aflatoxins, while human grade peanuts are banned from containing aflatoxins.




Too much protein? Yes, the ongoing debate about how much protein is too much for a dog’s diet. While I think it is best to provide a variety of foods to dogs, I think we need to fixate less on worrying about too much protein and be more concerned about the quality of the protein. In particular the protein source in kibble! Ingesting and processing high quality protein does not strain and damage a dog’s organs the way poor quality protein does. This is one reason why you need to be mindful of the protein source in the kibble you feed your dog. If you would like to learn a little more about this subject you can click here. 




Fruits and Vegetables


Many people think that giving a dog fruit and/or vegetables will give the dog diarrhea. In actual fact high quality soluble fibre helps prevent diarrhea and constipation. 
 
Soluble fibers attract water and form a gel, which slows down digestion thereby delaying the emptying of the stomach and makes a dog feel full, which helps control hunger and weight. Slower stomach emptying can also have a beneficial affect on controlling blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, which helps control diabetes. Apples, oranges, pears, berries, cucumbers, celery, and carrots are examples of fruits and vegetables that provide soluble fibres.




Insoluble fibers are gastrointestinal tract (GI Tract) friendly as they have a laxative effect, add bulk to the diet and help prevent constipation. Insoluble fibers do not dissolve in water, so they pass through the GI tract primarily intact speeding up the passage of food and waste. Insoluble fibers are mainly found in whole grains and vegetables zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, fruit, and root vegetable skins are examples of fruits and vegetables that provide unsoluble fibres. 





As noted above, fruit and veggies contain a lot of good soluble and unsoluble fibre, but they are also rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and are naturally low in fat while being filling.  

Eating fresh fruit and vegetables also plays an important role in:



  • Helping to boost the immune system;

  • Helping the body eliminate toxins;

  • Keeping organs, eyes, teeth etc. healthy;

  • Preventing colon cancer;


  • Reducing the risk of developing heart and vascular problems, stroke and cancer;

  • Reducing the risk of inflamed anal glands (which result in ‘scudding’, burst glands and discharge);

  • Aiding in good oral health;


If your dog is overweight one of the best ways to help it to lose weight is to add veggies to the dog’s diet. The herb turmeric can also help as can coconut oil. While delivering great quality nutrients they also help:



  • Keep weight under control – thereby reducing risk of:

  • Diabetes, and:

  • Stress on joints. 

  • Inflammation of joints is another contributing factor to the onset of cancer. 


These are just a few of the many benefits that fruits and veggies offer to our dog’s health.




In the wild, dogs eat pre-digested fruits and vegetables when the consume the digestive organs of herbaceous prey, as well they also consume some plants, fruits, vegetables to self-heal and boost their immune systems. Grass is one such example.

  

The fruits and vegetables that I give to me dogs on a daily basis vary a little depending on the season, for instance watermelon in the summer and oranges in the winter. The following provides a partial list of fruits and vegetables that are good for dogs. You can use fresh, canned or frozen fruit. If you are going to give your dog canned fruit, make sure it is packed in juice not syrup – sugar is not good for dogs. You can use fresh, canned, frozen and/or cooked veggies. 






Fruit that is Safe & Beneficial for Dog‘s to Consume
 

 Apples (remove the seeds, as they contain arsenic which is toxic to dogs)
Apricots
Avocado in small amounts is OK for dogs. Avocados contain persin – a fungicidal toxin. When a dog is fed large amounts of the fruit vomiting and diarreha can result from overdose of persin.   The pit of the avocado is toxic to dogs and should never be consumed by dogs.

Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Canary Melon
Cherries (remove the pit)
Clementines
Cranberries
Coconut (fresh or dry non sweetened, shredded)
Grapefruit
Honeydew Melon
Kiwi
Mangos (remove the pit)
Nectarines (remove the pit)
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches (remove the pit)
Pears (remove the seeds)
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Thimbleberries
Tomatoes
Watermelon







Vegetables that is Safe & Beneficial for Dog‘s to Consume
 

Alfalfa Sprouts
Apricots
Asparagus
Anise
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Celery
Chicory
Cucumber
Green Beans
Green or Red Leaf Lettuce
Kelp
Yellow Beans (wax beans)
Tomatoes
Squash
Sugar Snap Peas (in the pod or out)
Sweet Green Peppers
Sweet Red Peppers (yellow, orange and purple peppers)
Peas
Pumpkin
Romain
Zucchini





Roots Vegetables
Beets
Carrots
Corn
Parsnips
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Yams





How To Feed Your Dog Fruits and Veggies…



    One – Don’t feed a lot of fresh raw fruits and vegetables with a dog’s protein meals…
    The reason for this:


    • Meat is digested at a much slower rate than fresh, uncooked fruit and vegetables; 

    • If you feed your dog raw fruit and vegetables with the dog’s main meat (raw or cooked) feedings, dry kibble feedings – the protein-based food will be pushed (by the raw fruits and vegetables) through the digestive tract faster than the nutrients can be absorbed. 


    Two – Preparation to Ensure Maximum Absorption of Nutrients from Fresh Fruit and
               Vegetables

    In order to make sure your dog gets the full benefit of nutrients from fresh fruit and vegetables you need to understand a little about the difference between a dog’s and a human’s GI Tract…







    • Dogs have a shorter intestine than humans, this means that food moves through the dogs GI  tract faster than it moves through a humans GI Tract;To ensure that your dog’s digestive system has the opportunity to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from vegetables and fruit it is important (especially with vegetables which have a tougher cell wall structure) to help the dog’s GI tract by breaking down the vegetable’s (or fruit’s) cell-walls before you feed it to your dog;




      • You can breakdown the cell walls by choosing one of these three method’s








      1. Finely chop fruit and vegetables – either by hand or with a food processor;





        1. Lightly steam vegetables, or





          1. Freeze the vegetables or fruit first, thaw and then give them to your dog;






            • By choosing one of these three methods to breakdown the food’s cell-wall you:







              • Perform the first stage of digestion, so your dog’s GI tract has the opportunity to absorb nutrients properly, and; 





              • You greatly reduce the chance of your dog choking on a hard piece of vegetable.






          Most fruit has a softer cell wall than vegetables;



          • You don’t have to chop berries such as blackberries and raspberries;



            • But you should cut most other fruit up in smaller pieces, and:


            • Harder fruits like apples and pineapples are best if chopped finely; 



          •  If you are giving your dog frozen fruit:



            •  You should chop the fruit up to avoid a choking hazard; 

            • I add fresh finely minced ginger and ground cinnamon to fresh apples, pears – toss the mixture into the food processor and blend the 3 or 4 items together




          Do‘s and Don’t s:
           

          Don’t…

          1. Don’t give your dog produce that is going bad – moldy, rotting, slimy, you can make your dog very ill.

          2. Don’t feed your dog fresh (not previously cooked or previously frozen) fruit and veggies with their main protein meal – read why below…




            Do…


              • Wash the food item to remove dirt, contaminates, and as much pesticide/herbicide as can be removed if the produce is not organic.



              • As mentioned above do cut/chop/shred fresh vegetables into small pieces – a food processor is great for finely chopping fruits and veggies.




              •  It is easier to digest and you would not want your dog to choke on a piece of food  that became lodged in their throat. If the dog is very small – 15lbs to 2 lbs cut the produce in finer pieces. Zoey my 12 lb Pomeranian once got a piece of cauliflower caught in his airway – completely blocked. Zoey quickly became unconscious and if I had not administered the Heimlich manoeuvre and mouth to mouth resuscitation he would have died in front of my eyes;




              • When you introduce new fruits and veggies to your dog’s diet it is best to introduce each new food one at a time. If there is any kind of negative reaction, such as stomach upset or allergies you will be able to pinpoint the culprit. None of my dogs have any allergies to fruits and veggies.








                Herbs

                People have used herbs and spices to add flavour to food and to treat ailments for thousands of years. So it should not be surprising that there are many herbs and spices that are good for our dog’s health. Herbs and spices can boost the  immune system and are rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidents to name just a few benefits. If you would like to find out more about herbs and spices you can add to your dog’s diet click here. Herbs such as Turmeric and/or Curcumin can also help your dog loss weight and maintain a healthy weight.




                Grains


                Grains are not part of a dog’s natural diet, here are some important points to note…

                • I recommend removing all grains from your dog’s diet (including any pre-prepared processed products that contains grains – i.e. grain-in dry dog food or grain-in treats);

                • There are some dog’s that after being on one or more dry dog foods – acquire an auto-immune response  which creates a food sensitivity to many foods that should not normally adversely effect a dog;


                  • In some such cases one of the only food items the dog can still tolerate are grains such as rice.

                  • If you must keep grain in your dog’s diet:


                    • Make sure that you only provide your dog with human quality grains.

                    • If the grains are not human grade they can contain aflatoxins. 

                    • Aflatoxins cause liver cancer. 

                    • Grain that is sold for bird and livestock feed, grain that is used in most commercially manufactured dry and wet dog food is animal feed grade and is not screened for aflatoxins. Always cook the grains. 



                • Grains absorb liquid, so ingesting uncooked or grains that have not been pre-soaked can lead to swelling and bursting of the stomach…dangerous at the least, lethal at worst.


                If you have to use grains in your dog’s diet these are the better grains to use…




                • Oatmeal – steel cut

                • Barley

                • Bulgur

                • Quinoa

                • Millet

                • Brown Rice

                • Pot Barley 



                Grains can be completely replaced by (for example) substituting a combination of sweet potato, chickpeas and lentils as demonstrated in this recipe for homemade dog food.






                Fats

                Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are very important for the overall health of a dog. However the intake of Omega-3 and Omega-6 must be balanced correctly. The ratio should be in the range of 2:1 for Omega-3 to Omega-6. An out-of-balance ratio can disrupt the balance of pro and anti-inflammatory agents in the body and brain resulting in chronic inflammation and elevation of the risk of health issues such allergies, arthritis and diabetes and can adversely effect behaviour.  To read more about the importance of Omega Fatty Acids, what is a balanced intake and what are good as opposed to poor or dangerous sources of these vital nutrients you can read this article.





                Removing Commercially Manufactured Kibble From Your Dog’s Diet

                If you are thinking of completely removing commercially manufactured kibble from your dog’s diet you need to now a few things first. To make sure your dog gets a well balanced diet (without kibble) you need to include the following food stuffs in the right amounts:





                • Protein

                • Carbohydrates (from starchy roots such as sweat potatoes or from grains)

                • Fruits and veggies…you can also include herbs

                • Fats

                • Minerals such as calcium, you may also need to add vitamins such as A, B complex and E and enzymes depending on the type of food you make.


                If you would like to learn more about making your own dog food you can try these simple to make recipes for nutritious homemade dog food.  






                ❀ᵔᴥᵔ❀

                Related Articles

                For related and additional articles on dog and cat, care, health, training, nutrition and animal advocacy go to thispage.




                Feel free to leave a comment below – if your comment is polite, informative etc. I will publish it. If your comment is a quick question, I will answer it if time permits…




                If you require additional assistancewith your dogs you can engage me to…

                1.0) Do an in-person session(see details below)

                2.0)  Do a phone/email consultation (see details below)




                1.0) In-Person Sessions are available to you if you live in the region of Ottawa-Gatineau, the Ottawa Valley and Region.

                (i.e. Ottawa, Hull, Alymer, Orleans, Bells Corners, Manotick, Vars, Kanata, Stittsville, Smith Falls, Fitzroy, Carp, Arnprior, Renfrew, etc.) 

                  and surrounding areas 

                (i.e. Brockville, Smith Falls, Perth, Kingston, L’Original, Val-des-Monte, St-Pierre-de-Wakefield, etc.)

                or if you will be visiting the area from out-of-town.




                Methods of Payment (for In-Person Sessions):

                Cash, Email Money Transfer and Credit Card via PayPal







                2.0) If you reside elsewhere you can engage my world wide consultation service, details of which are provided just below…




                My Hourly Fee

                $ 100.00/hour in Canadian funds.




                Purchasing Consultation Time:

                Client’s often start out by purchasing an hour of my time and then augment that if required to suit the situation;

                Or you can – if your situation requires it, purchase whatever block of time you want (i.e. multiple hours).




                Methods of Payment:

                Email Money Transfer and Credit Card via PayPal


                1.0 Email Money Transfer:

                1 hour = $ 100.00 in Canadian Funds;

                For payment via email money transfer I provide you with a password (security information).




                2.0 Credit Card via PayPal

                1 hour = $ 100.00 + $ 5.00 PayPal Transaction fee = $ 105.00 Canadian Funds;

                For payment via PayPal I send you a PayPal invoice to enable payment.




                Method of Consultation – Canada, USA and Abroad (i.e. UK, Asia, etc.)




                If You Are Located In:




                1.0 Canada:

                I can work with you via:

                Phone with follow-up by email, or;

                Via email only;

                The choice is yours;

                If you want to work via phone you provide me with your phone number and I will call you at the mutually agreed upon Consultation time.




                2.0 USA:

                I can work with you via:

                Phone with follow-up by email, or;

                Via email only;

                The choice is yours;

                If you want to work via phone:

                You call me at the following number 613-622-7958, at the mutually agreed upon consultation time.




                3.0 ALL OTHER GLOBAL LOCATIONS (i.e. UK. Asia, etc.):

                I can work with you via:

                Via email only, or;

                Phone with follow-up by email…

                The choice is yours;

                If you want to work via phone:

                You call me at the following number 613-622-7958, at the mutually agreed upon consultation time.




                To Set-up a Consultation

                Step 1 – Identify how you would prefer to pay for the consultation;

                  Payment options as noted above are:

                o    email money transfer, or;

                o    Credit card via Paypal.

                Step 2 – Identification of a consultation time that works for both our schedules;

                Step 3 – You then pay the fee for the amount of consultation time you want to purchase;

                Step 4 – Consultation takes place on the agreed upon time.




                Contact me at





                Office 613-622-7958
                Cell 613-293-3707





                Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer Services

                Training;

                Behaviour Modification;

                Rehabilitation;

                Nutrition;

                Health




                Whether you are experiencing dog behavior problems and would like assistance, or just want to bring your dog up to be a well-balanced canine -  I offer both a local and international service for people with one or multiple dogs. 

                I work with all breeds – from small (i.e. Yorkie, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, etc.), medium breeds size (including Pit Bulls) and large breed dogs…








                International e-Consultation 





                Contact me at





                Office 613-622-7958
                Cell 613-293-3707




                If you would like to help feed Shelter Dog’sfor Free… 
                You can do so by clicking on the links provided directly below…when you go to these sites and click on the button corporate sponsors donate kibble to homeless pets on your behalf. I click on all three sites every day.



                The Animal Rescue Site






                Friday, September 20, 2013

                Dog Allergies | Dog Food Allergies

                One of the biggest concerns for a dog owner is dog allergies. Allergies can happen to any dog of any breed, although some breeds are more susceptible than others. Among the most common types of dog allergies is food allergy and can lead to indigestion for one’s dog. The trouble with food allergies however, is that its symptoms tend to be latent for quite some time, even despite the dog’s regular consumption of food.

                Should this happen to your dog, don’t make the mistake of assuming that they are experiencing something akin to human food allergies. Most dogs don’t get food allergies unless they have eaten it food on a regular basis. Dogs are resilient animals and they can eat a type of food which they are allergic to and not show any symptoms until after a month or so. 


                Like all animals dogs can show intolerance to certain food stuffs, but that does not necessarily mean that they are allergic to it. Allergies may result in skin irritation, and may not even illicit any reaction from your dog until it’s too late. Food intolerance on the other hand can be likened to food poisoning. It results in a serious case of indigestion and threat to dog health. 



                A lot of pet gurus these days point to lamb and rice diets as the solution for food allergies from dogs. Unfortunately, this is still a new type of diet and whether or not it’s effective is something which the jury is still out on. It is also possible that given a dog’s tolerance levels, allergies for any new diets will not be known until a certain period of time has passed. So it’s best not to put one’s hopes on a diet alone.

                Sometimes, the only way to overcome dog food allergies is through experimentation. Through the process of elimination, you can try feeding your dog various food stuffs to find out which of them he is allergic to. It’s not going to easy but each dog has different levels of tolerance just like people, and the only way to be sure is to check your dog’s reaction to each type of food you feed him.


                The tricky part is that you may need to wait a month, perhaps longer, to accurately determine if your dog really is allergic to something or not. Allergens tend to stick around especially in animals and it will take some time before they are completely eliminated from your dog’s system.


                And in case your dog does catch allergies and his fur is falling off at a fast rate, the best thing that you can do for him is to bring him to a vet for a medical exam, so that tests may be applied to see what type of health problems your dog may have developed as a result of eating something he is allergic to.



                Friday, September 13, 2013

                How to Choose Healthy Dog Food



                A supermarket’s pet food aisle in Brooklyn, New York



                Have you ever scanned the ingredients in a commercial dog food and thought, “How can this be healthy?” Some may think most pet foods available in stores today are so highly processed and full of preservatives, they aren’t any better for our dogs than potato chips are for humans. However, unlike potato chips, a pet food must prove it can provide all the nutrients needed by the dog, cat, puppy or kitten before it is sold. So before your dog takes another bite, read these tips on how to find the healthiest food for your beloved pooch.


                Read More…


                Homemade Dog Food


                Forget the restaurant doggy bag. These days, more dogs are dining on their own patios, gulping down homemade dog food.


                “We have seen a steady increase in the number of people who are asking for help with making a homemade diet,” says Sarah Abood, DVM, PhD, an assistant professor of small animal clinical sciences at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.


                The trend toward homemade dog food began about 10 years ago, and the “vast majority” of owners still feed their dogs commercial pet foods, Abood says. But she noticed stronger interest in homemade meals after the spring 2007 recall of melamine-tainted pet food.


                Aside from product contamination scares, some pet owners believe that homemade meals are a fresher alternative to commercially made pet food. “There are other pet owners who have a lot of time and have a very strong bond with their animal and feel that if they’re going to eat healthy, they want their animal to eat healthy, too.”


                Read More…


                The Best Dog Food What Are Your Options?


                Is “Premium Dog Food” the answer we’ve been searching for or “Natural Dog Food” or how about “Healthy Dog Food”? Maybe the best dog foods are “Holistic”, “Organic” or even “Lite”? And then there’s “Human Grade All Natural” – does anyone actually know what all these fancy terms mean? And what about “Raw Dog Food”? Is it what our dogs require, or is it dangerous? How about “Raw Meaty Bones”? Are bones safe? Maybe we have to prepare all of our dog’s meals from scratch to ensure its quality and nutritional value?


                Choosing the best dog food can be an overwhelming decision – but why does it have to be so hard? I know from personal experience it can be difficult to see through all of the conflicting views, hype, marketing tactics and secrecy surrounding the dog food industry. After years of experimenting with different dog foods and lots of research I have reached an unfortunate conclusion. I feel that the vast majority of the big commercial dog food companies are far more focussed on extracting the money from our pockets rather than the health and wellbeing of our precious dogs.


                Read More…


                This healing dog food recipe is awesome for all dogs… including those healing from canine lymphoma. Learn some dog health tips to keep your dog health up to par in an easy and manageable way. Diego is in remission from canine lymphoma and loving his new diet, including dog health supplements and vitamins. We share the #1 dog food recipe with you here. Don’t you want a healthy dog?



                Enhanced by Zemanta