Best Food For Dogs

Tag: Food Choices

  • Prescription Dog Food

    Does your vet prescribe a dog food for your dog?  It is good advice to always follow your vet’s advice, but be sure to continue to find the right information as well.  Often, my vet would prescribe a dog food for our dog, and it would not be accepted by my dog, or it just didn’t seem to work for her digestive system.  If you are looking to have a good conversation with your vet about your dog’s food, be sure to arrive with some questions and information.

    Prescribed Dog Food Choices

    Sometimes, the dog food that is used for prescription, is very quietly full of corn, soybean, or rice.  Even white potatoes have been a main ingredient in this list.  The confusing part to this ingredient list is the fact that it is often hard to digest.  I have had good results with less carbohydrates in a time of stress, illness or injury, than the prescribed dog food choices offered.

    In most cases, a very lean protein, like venison or 100% organic chicken, will be better for your dog.  Even a green vegetable, like green beans, and some dried sweet potato, can be much better for the pancreas, the liver, the bladder and kidneys.  The dog in stress, should not be given any sugar or starch, as the glucose created can be hard to digest or manage.

    Be kind to your dog, and question your vet, so that you can bring the best results to your dog.  Clearly, in times of disease or illness, they may find the higher starches laden prescription foods, will be accepted by your dog more readily, so a mix could be considered, but working towards a holistic solution, will in the end assist your dog to actually solve the related problem, and be the great solution that you require.

    A genuine discussion with your vet, should be a way to actually try to find a solution, provide health and happiness, versus covering up the symptoms and problems that are occurring.  The keys to health all reside with appropriate levels of nutrition, interactivity with drugs and medicine, and great prescription dog food information.

  • Why Organic Food is So Important

    If you are feeding a puppy for the first time, are searching for great dog food,  search no further than a organic or holistic dog food choice.  The fact that they take the time to certify the ingredients of the product will, create a better result for nutrition.

    Great Dog Food is Often Organic Dog Food

    The reason that organic dog food holds good nutrition, is that the ingredients are certified to be labeled organic, and this creates more of a valid reason for the food to be controlled and safe.  In the pet food world, the dog and cat food industry is largely unregulated, but, if it is labeled organic, there are a series of rules that a company must follow to use this label.

    The rules are very strict, and are properly regulated by the USDA, and the FDA.  The uniform standards for labeling and processing of organic foods, have a series of rules that they must follow to use the label.

    • No genetic altering or radiation
    • No fertilizer
    • No Synthetic Fertilizer
    • No Pesticides in producing the product, or in the process of organic produce

     

    As well, some products can be labeled in the following manner:

    • 100% Organic is all organic in ingredients
    • Organic on the label is at least 95% organic
    • Made with Organic Ingredients must be at least 70% organic
    • Anything less than 70% organic can not have organic on the package, but may use the organic ingredients in the label ingredient list

    This means you must use the term organic as a true indicator of properly controlled items, and it will be important to rely on the label for good nutrition information.  If you use the list as shown above, you should be able to come up with some good options for your dog food choices, and bring great results to your dog’s food choices.

  • Dog Nutritional Supplements and Food Choices

    Commercial dog foods come in a variety of forms. The most common types are dry, semi-moist, and canned. The moisture content of these foods ranges from 6 to 10% for dry, 15 to 30% for semi-moist, and 75% for canned. Most canned food has relatively more fat and protein and fewer carbohydrates than does dry and semi-moist food, and generally contains much higher levels of animal products.


    Most commercial dog foods today lack the nutrients most growing and active dogs require. That is why it is important to consult with your veterinarian to determine if dog nutritional supplements would benefit your dog.


    PET FOOD ADDITIVES

    Some other substances that might be found in pet foods, which are not required nutrients. This is why it is important that dog owners understand what nutrients are in their dog’s food and how dogs use the various nutrients in food and dog nutritional supplements so they can choose a health diet and supplement program.


    Some common yet not required nutrients you might find in your dog’s food are:


    Chondroprotective agents are used by the body to make cartilage and joint tissues.


    Antioxidants work to prevent oxidative damage to nutrients and other compounds in the body and inhibit or quench the formation of free radicals.


    Herbs and botanicals are used in pet foods either to provide flavor or, more often, to have a medicinal effect on the body. This is especially true in the case of extracts, where the classical nutritive components of the plant may be separated from the extract in the process.


    Flavors and extracts derived from animal tissues such as poultry or fish are considered “natural” flavors. A wide variety of flavors can be derived from other animal and plant materials, including dairy products, eggs, herbs, and spices. Acceptable processing methods include roasting, extraction, and fermentation. Except for artificial smoke and bacon flavors, synthetic substances are rarely used in most dog and cat foods.


    Colors are synthetic compounds used to replace or accentuate the inherent color of the food. Only certified colors approved for use in human foods are allowed in pet foods. Iron oxide is a synthetic but non-certified color that can be used at levels not to exceed 0.25% of the pet food product to give dog food a red, meaty appearance. Titanium dioxide is another common color additive in human and pet foods because it can induce a “brightness” in foods by complementing other color additives. Its use is limited to 1% of the food by weight.


    Dog food labels must list the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, and water in the food. When reading labels, it is important to understand the nutritional needs of your dog and determine if dog nutritional supplements should be added to the diet.

    Learn how to use dog nutritional supplements to enhance your dog’s life and remedy your dog’s discomforts – almost immediately – guaranteed! by going to http://www.supplementsforyourdog.com

    Article from articlesbase.com

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