Good Dog Food Advice

DOG FOOD ADVICE

From www.EasyGoodDogFood.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
How To Pick the Right Dog Food ......................................................................3
Your Dogs Diet - Feeding Fables That Every Dog Owner Should Know........5
Nutritional Content Of Commercial Dog Foods ...............................................6
Dog Food for the Older Dog...............................................................................8
Could A Homemade Diet Be Best for Your Dog?...........................................10
Tips For Making Your Own Homemade Dog Meals and Treats ....................12


How To Pick the Right Dog Food

As the pet industry becomes larger, so do the pet owner's choices in dog food.
So, how do you know if the dog food you choose is right for your pet?

If you are like most dog owners, your goal is to keep your pet healthy while
satisfying his appetite. But just like no two dogs are the same, there is no such
thing as an ideal canine diet. Instead, owners should look take a studied look at
their pets. Things such as species, activity level, age, and whether the dog is
undergoing any physiological changes such as growth, pregnancy, or nursing
should all be considered when deciding upon dog food.

Consider Nutrients
However, there are some basic rules of thumb. First of all, pick a high-quality dog
food that is rich in nutrients, including energy, protein, essential fatty acids,
vitamins, minerals, and water. Pay particular attention to the protein ratio.
Typically, dog food with a 20 to 30 percent protein content is ideal.

To ensure your dog's health, choose a dog food that is easily digestible. A
combination of wet and dry dog food will promote healthy teeth and gums. And
while it is difficult to turn down a cute and hungry dog, be wary of overfeeding.
Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which can cause a number of health problems
in your dog. How do you know if you've been overfeeding your dog? Just try to
feel his ribs. If you can't feel them, it's time to cut back a bit!

If your dog has special health or dietary issues you will want to make sure that
the dog food meets your pet's special needs. Check with your veterinarian if you
have questions. Or look online for pet retailers who carry dog food. Many of their
sites contain excellent articles and other information that can help you choose
the right dog food for your pet.

High-Quality Pet Food Popular with Owners
One of today's popular trends is an increase in high-quality pet foods. As pets
replace children and dogs become a part of the family, people who pamper their
pooches tend to do so at mealtime as well. Just about every major brand of dog
food is coming out with a high-end line, and there are also many smaller
companies devoted to the manufacture of high-end, fresh, and healthy dog food.
These meals are not only nutritionally balanced, they are delicious and nice to
look at. Some dog foods are incorporating human-grade ingredients such as
pasta, rice, vegetables, tuna fish, and peanut butter. Others are all-natural or
organic.


Even the packaging on high-end dog food is different. Pouring dry kibble out of
the bag just won't do anymore! Many high-end dog foods are now packaged in
see-through deli containers. These are attractive but also functional. Owners of
small dogs who can't eat the entire 10 oz. portion at once can reseal the
container to keep the contents fresh.

For more advice on dogs and top-selling dog products visit Savvy Dog Lovers |
Dog Supplies - where the best bones are buried.

The Truth About Dog Food – Click To Learn The Truth


Your Dogs Diet - Feeding Fables That Every Dog Owner
Should Know
Canine nutrition hasn't become as laden with diet fads as have human meal
planning. But it has accumulated a number of myths which survive the ridicule of
the veterinary profession. As you acquire a dog, your more experienced friends
will shower you with advice, which may include some of the following
affirmations:

- "A clove of garlic keeps worms away" Garlic has enjoyed a reputation for
centuries in the folk medicine of many cultures as an antiseptic, a treatment for
high blood pressure, etc. But if your dog really does have worms, (and most of
them do at one time or another), the quickest way to get rid of them is to have
your veterinarian give him a specific worming medicine under his supervision.

- "Raw meat makes a dog vicious" Raw or cooked meat is essential to a dogs
nutrition. Fifty percent is the standard ration, and it may compare as much as 75
percent of his diet. If he is fed only meat, he may become high strung, not
because the meat is raw, but because he is being given an unbalanced diet.

- "A sugar cube dipped in coffee is good for a dogs heart" It is particularly good
for his morale, because it probably means that he is sharing your after dinner
coffee with you. Give it occasionally as a harmless treat, but not as a regular
"medicine", and not as a heart remedy.

- "Dogs cannot digest starch" They cannot digest uncooked starch, but they can
cope with most cooked ones such as rice, whole wheat bread, and macaroni.
However, dogs do not receive much nourishment from these foods.

- "Sugar causes worms" Sugar is quick source of energy for dogs, as it is far us.
Worms are caused by worm larvae. A puppy may get worms from his mother,
and an adult dog may get them from infected food or drink, from the saliva or
feces of an infected dog, or from swallowing fleas and lice which act as hosts to
tapeworm eggs- but never from sugar.

- "Raw eggs improve dog's coat" A raw egg yolk from time to time enriches a
dog's diet. Cooked eggs are an acceptable substitute for meat in an emergency.
But the best coat conditioner is far, especially unsaturated fat, rich in vitamin E,
such as linseed and wheat germ oil. The eggs reputation as a coat conditioner is
probably due to the fact that yolk is mostly fat.

- "Milk causes diarrhea in an adult dog" Milk is healthy for all dogs. A bowl of milk
with a beaten egg yolk and a couple of pieces of whole wheat toast or dog
biscuits is a standard supper dish in many kennels. There are various causes for
diarrhea, including internal parasites, indigestion, a change of diet, food


poisoning, certain contagious diseases- and sometime, but not always, milk.

Knowledge and concern are important in feeding a growing puppy whose
nutrition is the foundation of his future health. But common sense is all you need
to feed an adult dog correctly, as his own experience will help guide you most of
the way.

Nutritional Content Of Commercial Dog Foods
Did you know that most food that is fed to dogs today has extremely low
nutritional content? If you feed your dog commercial dog food, you may be slowly
killing your dog. Perhaps you think this is a little dramatic? Think again. If
humans are fed a diet of unhealthy foods, they probably won't show any adverse
signs for quite some time. But fed over many years, people will become sluggish,
sick, and eventually die from degenerative diseases much earlier than they would
otherwise pass from this life.

The same goes for dogs.

All commercial dog food which is extruded (cooked) at very high temperatures
cannot be anything but bad for our dogs, whose natural diet in the wild is mainly
fresh, raw meat. Even after dogs became domesticated, and then kept as pets,
for decades they were fed home cooked food and table scraps, before anyone
thought of commercialising dog food and selling cans of mush, or pieces of highly
questionable biscuit-looking food called "kibble".

Dogs used to live longer than they do now.

Examine baked and kibbled foods for the presence of burned spots on the
biscuits. The presence of large numbers of burned biscuits indicates that the food
has been cooked at such high temperatures that the nutritients are likely to be
almost non-existent.

On the other hand, if dry products are damp, soft or stale, it means that they
have been improperly processed, become damp in transit, become damp during
storage, or that they are old.

Dry products that become damp quickly deteriorate from the action of mold and
eventually bacteria. Sometimes the only indication that mold is beginning to
attack a dry food is the musty odor smelled when a bag is opened. At other times
it may be seen as a white, hairy beard or a bluish-green or black velvety coating
over the food. Any food found to be moldy should be destroyed immediately and
never fed to dogs.

Does any of this sound like food you would eat yourself???


If not, then even though it's labelled as "dog food" and could possibly have some
form of nutritional content (if you're lucky), why feed such substandard rubbish to
your dog? It really can be harmful over the long term. Why else do you think so
many dogs suffer from degenerative diseases like heart disease, cancer, kidney
failure, and more? These diseases were previously unknown in companion
animals. Now they're commonplace. And the increase in incidence of these
degenerative diseases in dogs and other animals has occurred in direct
proportion to the practise of giving pets raw food or table scraps, to giving them
commercial pet food.

The answer?

Feed your dog a raw, or primarily raw, fresh food diet. The large part of the food
should, of course, be meat. If you're not a fan of raw food, then by all means give
your dog home cooked food, made from premium ingredients which you would
use for your own food. Of course, you can give your dog all the fat and offcuts
from the meat that you don't want. Dogs need some fat (unlike us!)

And if you really need the convenience of a pre-prepared dog food, then go for a
top quality dog food - NOT one of the commercial brands found on your
supermarket, or even pet store shelves. Even many vets have no idea about
correct animal nutrition, believe it or not, and promote commercial dog foods that
are peddled to them as "premium" food, when they're nothing of the kind.

How do you know what a superior quality dog food is? Check for both the
ingredients and the method of cooking. The ingredients should be primarily meat
- not meat byproducts, a small proportion only of grains of all types, and
preferably some fresh vegetables, fruit or herbs. As for the cooking method - the
lower the heat, the better. Don't go for anything that has been extruded (which is
most kibble), or canned at high temperatures. If the method of cooking is not
stated, then make further enquiries of the manufacturer, or go for one that does
state the cooking method - freeze dried or baked are acceptable.

Free Dog Food Report


Dog Food for the Older Dog
What changes do you need to make to your dog feeding regime as your dog gets
older?
The changes you make to your dog feeding regime, and when you make them
will vary depending on the age of your dog, and the breed of your dog.
It is considered that the larger and giant breeds of dog age earlier than the
smaller and toy breeds of dog.
Your objective in managing the nutrition of the older dog is to enhance his quality
of life, delay further ageing changes, and to extend his life whilst maintaining his
optimal weight.
You are also trying to slow down the onset of disease and improve immune
function.

Older dogs will generally be less active than younger dogs so as a rule will
require a less energy dense dog food, unless of course the dog's appetite is
reduced for some reason.
Continuing to feed a dog the same amount of food with less exercise will
inevitably result in obesity, a problem all too common in many dogs today.
In the old dog obesity can be a bigger problem than in the young dog as there
may also be concurrent arthritis and organ problems which will be made worse.
A keen eye is needed to assess the energy needs of your dog as it ages, so be
aware and switch brands if your dog's weight shows marked changes as it ages.

For the older dog a good quality animal protein based on meat, fish eggs, milk or
cheese is better than cereal protein.
A balance needs to be struck between providing too much protein which may be
a problem for dogs with renal failure (a common problem in older dogs), and
providing too little.
As ageing dogs tend to have less muscle and bone they will have less of a tissue
protein reserve and need a certain level of protein in their diet to avoid a negative
nitrogen balance.
Your veterinarian is the best person to monitor your ageing dog's renal function
and advise the appropriate level of protein in his diet.
When your dog's protein intake is low due to inappetance, this can be increased
by heating the food to increase palatability and release more aromas, and by
feeding smaller more frequent meals and by supplementing with vitamins.

Carbohydrates are mainly provided by cereals and legumes in the diet, and these
are a cheap source of energy.
Care should be taken with the sugar content of some of these foods

Fats are essential in the diet to provide a vehicle for fat soluble vitamins, and are
essential for the health of old dogs.
However too much may result in obesity, so again moderation is the rule.


Fibre has a role too in the elderly dog as many are predisposed to constipation.
Adding fibre in the form of wheat bran or cooked vegetables two or three times a
week will help to keep your elderly dog regular!

Most dog foods will have more than adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus
for the older dog.
There may be a case for reduced levels of phosphorus and salt in the diet.
Some supplementation of zinc and vitamins may be helpful in the older dog,
particularly the vitamin B complex.

The main food types for the older dog are - dry, semi-moist or canned.
Diet changes should be made slowly to prevent tummy upsets and diarrhoea.
Be sure to have plenty of water available for your dog, particularly if fed a dried
food, and also if kidney and liver disease is a problem.

Reduced appetite in older dogs may be helped by feeding them 2 or more times
per day with smaller portions so that they get their full daily requirement.

There are many commercial senior dog food diets now available.
It will pay you to thoroughly examine the different types to increase the life span
and vitality of your older dog.



Could A Homemade Diet Be Best for Your Dog?
A good formula for a homemade diet is one half cereal, rice, or kibbles, and one
half meat, including its natural fat, with green or yellow vegetables added from
time to time. Since they can be made to measure for each individual dog, these
combinations would be ideal if they weren't to much bother. Aside from taking
more time and trouble than the other methods, a homemade diet requires a
sound knowledge of canine nutrition.

Table scraps are definitely insufficient for modern pets who we want to thrive, not
merely survive. They are often the direct cause of obesity and various allied skin
disorders too. Dogs with unusually big appetites or with a tendency to obesity will
keep their figures if you cut down on the starch and increase the vegetables, to
the proportion of one meat, one fourth kibbles, and one fourth vegetables. Older
dogs may need reduced protein to spare their kidneys the task of nitrogen
elimination.

Build your dogs meals around the foods that are highly recommended for dogs:
Beef: (ground or chopped for puppies in chunks for adult dogs, raw or cooked.
Dogs prefer their meat a little tough, and they need the fat found in cheaper
cuts).
Lamb and mutton
Chicken
Horse Meat
Beef Hearts and Kidneys
Beef Liver (no more than once a week, as too much or too often causes loose
stools.
Eggs, hard-boiled or scrambled (The yolk may be given raw, but not the white,
which in its raw state destroys biotin, a useful vitamin in the dogs intestine).
Rice, whole wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat
While wheat biscuits or toast
Carrots (cooked or raw, grated and mixed with his meal, or whole for chewing)
String Beans, spinach (chopped or mashed)
Cottage Cheese (excellent for weaning puppies)
Unfermented natural cheese, such as Swiss and Edam Apples and Pears

On the other hand, certain foods should be considered taboo:
White commercial bread
Cabbage (which causes flatulence and is difficult to digest)
Potatoes (hard to digest and not very nourishing)
Starchy Vegetables, such as dried beans
Spicy dishes and sauces
Uncooked egg white
Processed cheese
Pork (unless it is lean, well cooked, and served infrequently)
Raw fish


Delicatessen meats
Unboned chicken, rabbit and fish
Cake and candy
Alcoholic beverages
Chocolate of any kind

Which ever method you choose for feeding your dog, it is best to stick to it. Once
he has become accustomed to a certain diet, he will be upset by any sudden
change. The upset is apt to take the form of constipation if you change from
prepared products to fresh ones, and diarrhea in the opposite case. If a change
is needed, make it gradual by mixing the old with the new until his body adapts to
the change.



Tips For Making Your Own Homemade Dog Meals and
Treats
Dog meals and snacks don't have to hard to make or take a lot of time. Many
snacks can be grabbed straight out of your refrigerator and are much healthier
than baked goods.

However, there are a few things that I have noticed regarding many homemade
dog food recipes that you should avoid doing.

1. Don't microwave your dog's food. Microwaving kills vitamins, minerals and
nutrients. The radiation also alters the cell structure of the food. Scientific studies
have shown that humans that eat microwaved foods have significant and
disturbing changes in their blood cells. Microwaving has many serious side-
effects, including altering the minerals in vegetables into cancerous free radicals.
It's bad enough that we humans continue to use microwaves to cook our food...
let's not subject our animals to it as well.

2. Many recipes that I've seen promote using beef/chicken bouillon cubes and/or
canned beef/chicken broth. These products have very high and unhealthy
sodium levels. Either use sodium reduced broths or better yet make your own.

3. Obviously, some sort of flour is needed to bind together baked dog biscuits.
However, instead of using white flour, whole wheat flour and/or cornmeal in your
recipes, substitute spelt flour instead. It's much more easily digestible for both
humans and animals. Flour and cornmeal are hard for animals to digest and
many are or can become allergic to these grains.

4. Don't feed your dog too many "baked" treats that contain flour and cornmeal.
Opt for more natural, healthy, and uncooked treats (some recipes are listed
below).

Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
You can make up several days worth of dog food at one time or cook them up
while you prepare your own supper. Here are a few recipes to try out:

*****

Shepherd Pie

6 oz beef or chicken broth (low sodium or make your own)
1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey
1 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup mixed vegetables (no onions or mushrooms)


Mix broth, meat and vegetables together. Grease casserole dish and pat mixture
into dish. Top with potatoes. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.

*****
Sometimes your dog may have a slightly upset stomach with possibly some
diarrhea involved. The following recipe is a nice bland mixture that still tastes
good and should help to solve your pup's tummy problems.

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut up (either raw or cooked)
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup cooked carrots
1 cup non or low-fat cottage cheese

Mix together and serve according to you’re dog’s size, weight and activity level. This
recipe should be good for one large dog for 1 main meal or 2 smaller meals. If you desire,
you can also add 1 tbsp of flax seed oil for added essential fatty acids.

*****

Quick Dog Treats

Dogs, like humans, like to have their snacks. The following two snacks are
healthy and quick to prepare:

*****

Frosty Cube Treats

1 large container plain yogurt (make sure it contains live acidophilus cultures and
no sugar or artificial sweeteners)
1 cup ground carrots OR ground apples OR lightly cooked ground liver

Mix together and fill ice-cube trays. Freeze. Pop one out for a treat when frozen.

*****

Banana Mash

1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
1 ripe banana, mashed
1 tbsp flax seed oil

Mix together and serve for a nice, quick, healthy snack.



APPENDIX



Tags: homemade dog food, natural dog food, canine nutrition, dog, dogs, puppy,
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dog food, healthy dog food, premium dog food, raw dog food, superior dog food


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