7 Top Tips to Improve Your Dog’s Diet

Your dog’s diet isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Just in a similar way that you wouldn’t feed yourself, below-par, substandard food, you should ensure that your dog also consumes only the best.

The biggest contributing factors to a dog’s health and welling are exercise, mental health and you guessed it, diet.

Your dog’s eating habits can have a very real impact on not only their present health, but also the longevity of their life.

Below are my top tips to follow to make sure your canine companion gets all the nutrients they need to live a long and happy life:

Quality over Brand

Each and every time you turn on the television or open a magazine there’s a good chance that you’ll see an advert for [insert generic dog food brand here]. These companies that mass produce dog food, package them in shiny, colourful foil and relentlessly shove them under your nose spend millions on branding and advertising each year. However, it may be worth them spending some more time on creating a product that’s better for your dog.

Many well know dog food brands include a large amount of grain within their product. This grain is not good for your dog as their digestive system can often struggle to break it down.

By switching to a quality grain free dog food that contains a higher meat content your pup will be avoid many digestive issues.

Fresh Foods

Introducing fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet will provide your dog with lots of live enzymes that will contribute to better overall health.

 

Fresh fruit and vegetables are also rich in fibre will help to conquer any of your dog’s digestive issues.

Avoid Cooked Meats

We’ve all been known to pop a little bit of our leftovers/extra dinner into the dog’s bowl; and whilst this won’t do much real harm, these foods would be far more beneficial to them if they weren’t cooked.

Organic is Best

This seems obvious, but organic fruit and veg is no doubt more beneficial for you dog than food that is pumped full of preservatives. Even though many non-organic foods are labelled fit for consumption, studies do indicate that they aren’t particularly safe.

Gluten is a no no

A lot of generic dried pet food contain gluten. This gluten is included in the food to stop lower class fats from going off and becoming rancid.

Gluten can be very harmful to your dog’s liver and kidneys as it forces waste products to be retained rather than excreted. On top of this, gluten is one of the main reasons that your dogs ‘passing of wind’ can often kick up such a stench – which is no good for anybody.

No Over Feeding

We’re guilty of over feeding our pups every now and again, but we really shouldn’t. Over feeding your dog will of course bring on weight gain, and as they grow older (and less active) this weight gain will accelerate leading to muscle and joint problems.

If you dog is overweight then feed him/her earlier in the day. This will give them more time to burn it off walking etc. Similarly, if your dog is in a position where they need to gain a little weight, then increase the amount of feeds per day, and feed them before bed time – this means they won’t have the chance to burn off the food.

Is your tap water good enough?

One thing that is rarely considered when it comes to dog’s diets is the quality of water that they take on. In my experience, the vast majority just fill their dog’s water bowl up with tap water; and there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, tap water contains a number of chemicals that aren’t great for dogs. So, it’s a good idea to either filter your dog’s water before filling up their bowl, or even buy in some quality bottled water for your dog. Trust me, they’ll thank you for it.

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Easy Crockpot Chicken Homemade Dog Food Recipe

When we talk about dog food, we usually think about canned food or food that comes in a bag.

But, did you know that homemade dog food is much more nutritious and good for your doggy friend? 

It’s true!

And making food for your dog is really easy. It’s also a healthier and a cheaper alternative to the store bought dog foods. The recipe that I’ll teach you today is freezer-friendly, so let’s start cooking! I’ll share my dog’s favorite crockpot chicken recipe with you today!

Let’s get started!

Chicken Noodle Soup Crockpot by Lesley Show, CC-BY 2.0

Ingredients: Crockpot Chicken Homemade Dog Food

The things that I really like about homemade dog food is that all the ingredients that you use come from a trusted source. 

And a lot of trusted dog food brands have been recalled over the years for bad ingredients and what not. 

So, making your own dog food at home does have a lot of advantages. And dogs love it! And this recipe is a known high protein dog food for pitbulls! For this recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups of brown rice
• 2 1/2 pounds of ground chicken
• 1 can of drained and rinsed kidney beans
• 1/2 cup of peas, frozen or canned
• 1 1/2 cups of chopped carrots
• 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped butternut squash

Make sure that all the ingredients are fresh and are fit for human consumption. 

There’s one more thing! If you’ve been feeding your dog strictly store-bought dog food, chances are that your doggy friend might not like the homemade dog food or may not even eat it at all! 

So, like every other new dog food brand, slowly introduce your puppy to the homemade dog food and I promise he’ll grow to love it!

Directions: Crockpot Chicken Homemade Dog Food 

Orange Garlic Chicken by Joel Kramer, CC BY 2.0

I really love how crockpot recipes are simple! For dogs and humans alike. 

Aren’t they just perfect for lazy people (like myself!)? All you have to go is gather all the ingredients and the slow cooker does all the work for you! Let me know your thoughts in the comments section…

Let’s look at the directions:

1. Stir the ground chicken, carrots, kidney beans, brown rice, butternut squash, peas and also add 4 cups water to a 6 qt crockpot.
2. Cover with the lid and cook the ingredients on low heat for about 5-6 hours. You can cook it on high heat for 2-3 hours depending upon the time you have. Stir the pot as much as needed.
3. Let the dog food cool completely.

Macros and Calorie Count for this Crockpot Chicken Homemade Dog Food Recipe

As you may already know, you need to keep your dog’s calories and macros in check. And, for that, you need to make sure you feed them just the right amount of food which depends on the dog’s age, breed, and lifestyle. So, following are the nutritional facts for this recipe:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 
Servings Per Container: 1 cup

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 417.9
Calories from Fat: 217.8

% Daily Value*
Total Fat: 24.2g (37%)
Saturated Fat: 9.8g (49%)
Trans Fat: 0.6g
Cholesterol: 62.5mg (21%)
Sodium: 171.0mg (7%)
Total Carbohydrate: 28.9g (10%)
Dietary Fiber: 3.4g (14%)
Sugars: 1.8g
Protein: 20.5g (41%)

*The Percent Daily Values (PDV) are based on an average 2,000 calorie diet. Your dog’s PDV or daily values may be lower or higher depending on your dog’s calorie needs.

This recipe is higher in fat so keep in mind that this isn’t really the healthiest recipe for inactive/lazy dogs, or for older dogs. 

Make it a point to consult your vet before you make any big changes to your doggy friend’s diet!

Final Words!

I really hope that your doggy enjoys this easy crockpot chicken homemade dog food recipe! Mine just love it! 

But, there are a few thing you should keep in mind.

Let’s go over them, shall we?

1. This recipe is not ideal for old, inactive, and lazy dogs as it’s high in fat and relatively lower in protein.
2. Make sure that you slowly introduce your doggy friend to homemade food. Don’t make an abrupt change!
3. Always consult your vet before making any major changes in your dog’s diet!

Let me know how you doggy liked the recipe in the comments section below! 

Author's Bio:

Hello, everyone, my name is Paula Hughes, Foundation of blog https://lovepetjournal.com. I know a lot about dogs from experience so I provide my readers with first-hand, helpful information on how they can take care of their pets. I have prepared a lot of free information just for you.

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Which High-calorie Dog Foods Should You Feed Your Dog (Guest Post)

Okay... beginning to get a little active these past few weeks. I do miss blogging, but my schedule hasn't permitted me to do so. Hopefully I'm adjusting well and will begin visiting more blogs often.

We miss you, guys! Seriously! We need to implement "Huggies and Cheese" more often. Our guest post for today was brought to us by Carolyn of Petful101.

Humans and Dogs may be physically different, but they have plenty of similarities when it comes to how they get their energy. Dogs need plenty of calories to stay within a healthy weight range. However, regular dog foods may not be enough, especially for dog breeds that are more active than others.

The Importance of High Calorie Dog Food

Low-calorie dog food may keep your dog full for some time, but it doesn’t provide them enough calories that give them energy. This means your dog burns calories more than they can consume and force its body to burn calories stored in the dog’s fat reserves. While keeping your dog from getting too fat is good, losing too much of it could be dangerous.

1953 Ad, Rival Dog Food by Classic Film, CC BY-NC 2.0

If you want to keep your dog at a healthy weight level, you need to know the right high-calorie dog food to give them. To know which brands will work best, you should start by going to the vet and asking the ideal amount of high-calorie food your dog should eat – the bigger and more active your dog, the more they should eat.

Looking for good high-calorie dog food suggestions? Here’s a quick list of the best options. Not only are they rich in calories, but also loaded with other nutrients to keep your pet dog well-nourished.

1. High-Calorie Canned Food – Canned dog food is great every now and then, but your dog has to be fed more frequently if it needs to catch up in terms of weight. This is especially true if your dog mostly eats kibble, since the kibble it’s always eating may lack some key nutrients. Good high-calorie canned dog foods include those that feature meat as a primary ingredient (like chicken or bison).

Haopee: Let's face it. I'm still a big fan of Go! Dog Food mixed with cooked white rice. Buchi (bless my little pup's soul) used to love eating this mixed.

2. Raw Egg – Egg is very rich in protein and calories, but more importantly, they are affordable and the dogs love them! Add one raw egg every meal to help your dog gain weight. If your dog prefers something drier, make scrambled egg and chop it to fine bits before adding it to the dog bowl.

3. Full-fat Cottage Cheese – Dairy-based products are well-known for being rich in calories and nutrients. Full-fat cottage cheese offers not just calories and nutrients, but also probiotics that boost your dog’s immune system and calcium that makes their bones stronger. You don’t need to put a lot of cottage cheese to your dog’s food since one or two tablespoons per meal should be enough.

4. Switch Your Kibble Brand – Many people tend to stick to only one brand of kibble for their dogs. However, a dog’s calorie requirements change as it grows older. If your dog is no longer getting enough calories from what it usually eats, take a look at the nutritional content of your current kibble and look for a better alternative. Just remember that switching dog food brands may have to be done gradually or it could throw your dog’s metabolism off.

Proper nutrition is just as important to dogs as it is to humans. Making sure your dog gets enough calories to stay energetic every day is a big part of keeping it healthy and happy throughout its life.

Author's Bio

I am Carolyn, 26 years old and living in California. I graduated from San Diego State University, my major is Business Administration. I am managing the blog www.petful101.com  because I love animals very much, especially dogs. I have 7 dogs, 2 cats and 5 fishes. I walk with my dogs every weekend and I also join the dog club in my area. We often take care of the dogs which are left and have no home. I adopted 4 dogs within my 7 dogs. I hope that you will love my blog as much as you love animals.

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Cornerstone to Your Dog’s Health

I just love a good, informative article about dogs. So, today, although we've been really busy in the household, I'd love to share this with everyone.

Spending on pets continues to exceed almost all other retail sales in the U.S., with an increase of 4.2 percent last year.  Total up owner’s expenses for pet food, veterinary care, services and supplies like over-the-counter medications, beds, bowls, collars and toys, and they top $58 billion – an all-time high, according to the latest industry report.

Owners spent the most money on food – 22 billion, thanks to extending their interest in the quality and source of food to their pets, says the American Pet Products Association, which issues the annual economic review. Veterinary visits were second in expenditures at $15.7 billion.  Noteworthy is the fact that as owners spend more on food; vet visits continue to rise for their dog’s diet related health issues. Experts in canine nutrition surmise that while today’s pet food provides the necessary nutrients for physical well being, dogs struggle to digest essential elements from the food.

The manufacturing of dog food removes native enzymes and various microbes that assist digestion.  This is problematic because dogs lack any digestive enzymes in their saliva leaving them to rely on probiotic components in their food for a healthy digestive process.   To remedy dog food’s limitations health conscious owners are adding probiotic supplements to their dog’s food.  Dog supplements formulated to strengthen the canine digestive process combined with a nutrient dense dog food creates the conditions for superior health.  The veterinarian profession is slow to direct dog owners to adopt supplements, however feeding regimens that include added probiotics are reducing diet related veterinarian visits. 

Selecting a healthy dog food requires a basic idea on the percentages of protein, fat, and fiber required in a dog’s diet and a source for comparing various brands (Visit DogFoodAdvisors.com or see the Dog Infographic on Dog Food below).

Selecting a healthy dog supplement requires choosing a formulation containing specific types of enzymes.  Dogs have very short and acidic GI tracts, the acids neutralize enzymes found in simple pet store supplements, for this reason certain types of enzymes are required in canine formulations (Visit VitaHound.com).

Chronic conditions related to diet develop very slowly over years, selecting the right dog food and dog supplement early in dog ownership prevents the conditions in a dog’s body that produce disease.   A nutritious diet and a vital digestive system is the cornerstone of any dog’s health and typically permits them to age gracefully in their senior years with limited veterinarian care.

Author: Brent Harte

We are dog lovers, in the business of developing superior canine health care products.  Google Author Brent Harte

Want to learn more about the Dog Food Industry? Check this infographic out.

More Dog Infographics at our Pinterest Board.

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Is Leftover Food Safe or Risky for Dogs? (Guest Post by Jordan Walker)

Jordan Walker has always been passionate for animals. He loves to share his knowledge and expertise about the animal kingdom through pet-related blogs. He leads the content team of Coops and Cages. In this article, he discusses whether leftover food is safe or risky for dogs.

You might have probably heard that giving leftover food to dogs isn’t really a good thing. Although sharing table scraps directly from your plate isn’t advisable, several human foods are considered safe to share with your furry pal. As a matter of fact, some households make their own dog food.

Moderation is the solution

Many people are worried with feeding table scraps to their pets as it only causes obesity. Though this is really concerning, especially when the food you give is high in sugar, calories, and fat content.

For smaller dogs, the risk is pretty high. Even a small amount of added calories can already cause them to gain weight. However, if you only share with them healthy foods in small amounts, then you are already preventing them from having an added weight.

Foods that have high fat content may also be a risk to dogs. These will only result in pancreatitis, a kind of disease in the pancreas that is distinguished through symptoms, such as internal bleeding and blood infection. If you don’t want them to suffer from this, make sure you do not feed them sausage, beef trimmings, poultry skin, bacon, and other fatty dishes.

If your pooch has diabetes, you must absolutely avoid feeding them with table scraps that have high carbohydrate-content like rice and pasta. Also, if your pet is suffering chronic kidney problems, a high salt intake may put them at risk for other chronic health issues.

How to feed leftover food

Many people would just dump leftover food from their plate in their dog’s bowl. This isn’t really a healthy way to share table scraps. Even though it has been a common practice for several years already, pet owners must keep in mind that putting in massive amounts of leftovers would lead to complications.

If your dog is accustomed to kibble diet, there are possibilities that he may have an upset stomach. Thus, you can always start with small amounts of food.

What to feed your dog

Generally, food that is considered healthy for humans is also safe for dogs, which means that fresh vegetables and fruits are also excellent dog treats. However, pet owners have to remember that too much of everything won’t do any good, such that large amounts of fruits that contain fiber will only result in gastrointestinal upset for dogs.

In addition, lean meat, such as fish, beef, turkey, and chicken, is also a great treat for your faithful friend because they are sources of protein. Hence, the next time you prepare breakfast for your dog, you can save several small pieces of leftover meat that don’t have sauce.

For special treats, foods like marshmallows, frozen yogurts, and ice cream, are preferred by dogs. And, what’s best about these is that they are safe to be shared with them. Still, owners must ensure not to make these foods a part of their pet’s daily diet. These must only be given as rewards or to celebrate special occasions.

At the end of the day, the overall health of a dog depends on their owner. Therefore, every pet owner has to know his responsibilities, particularly when feeding leftover food. By knowing these things, they will not just extend the lives of their pets; they’ll also be keeping them happy and healthy.

Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Author: Jordan Walker

Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for 'attempting' to play the guitar. If you would like to catch him, you can reach him via Google+ or Twitter.

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Feeling Blessed: Dog Food and Schnauzer Parcel

We Got a Schnauzer Package!

We got a package from our dear friend, Magic. It was real sweet of Magic and her mom to include Asti in their letter. The squeaking duck is driving them crazy, by the way.

Thanks Magic and Mom L from Life in the Doghouse for the wonderful presents.

We got ourselves a nice schnauzer schnauzer pin and keychain. We even have a schnauzer pad to match the pretty pins. Now, I feel like a bonafide schnauzer fan! HAHAHA

Switching Shih Tzu Diets

I did mention about changing Buchi's diet. 

Two weeks ago, we started him on Eagle Pro. So far, he's responded positively to it. He's more active. As for the skin condition, it didn't seem to get worse--neither did it get better.

However, we also had him groomed, so it may be a major factor as to why he looks better these days.

Eagle Pro Original Herring for Buchi, Micodine Anti-Fungal Shampoo for Asti,  Le Salon Groomer's Scissors for Chooey 

After talking to Dr. MSB about Eagle Pro, she suggested we give Lamb and Rice a try because Eagle Pro's main ingredient is fish. It could worsen his skin condition.

Eagle Pro's Original Herring's ingredients include:

Herring, White Fish Meal, Pork Meal, Pure Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Natural Fish Oil (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil, Green Peas, Cranberries, Blueberries, Tomatoes, Carrots, Kelp, Alfalfa, Glucosamine, Parsley Leaf, Chondroitin, Rosemary Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lecithin, Choline Chloride

So, for the next two weeks, we will be trying Holistic Recipe, whose main ingredient include Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, and Ground Corn (shoot, I didn't notice the corn before!).

Here's an excerpt from a letter sent by the company that makes Holistic in response to the green tea in dog food concern.

Holistic Recipe is one of the best Lamb & Rice formulas for dogs. It contains lamb as the only animal protein source and excludes the possible allergens for dogs, such as beef, egg, fish, wheat, corn, etc. Besides, it's naturally preserved with vitamin E & C, not to mention the anit-free-radicals function from green tea. 

What do you think, guys? Which is better between the two?

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A Treat that Helps the Canine Teeth Keeps the Dogs Happy and Healthy All the Way

I just love giving the dogs large pig leg bones and whole pig skulls. The bones help scrape the plaque off their teeth. Unfortunately, because it's not available here, I have to look for other alternatives.

Asti's old owners used to give her Pedigree's Dentastix. I continued doing so.

Slobber, slobber, slobber, slobber!

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth...

Now that you're in the zone, why don't we start our day by singing the Happy song.

Happy weekend, everybody!

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Most Frequent Dog Allergies (Guest Post)

I know I promised myself a blogging break, but I decided to post this one anyway. Will see you guys in May.

It has been shown that in the recent years, the number of allergies has increased and that the human sensitivity to them has been on the rise. Unfortunately, the same goes for our canine friends. There are several types of allergies that they can suffer from, but there are some important facts about them. First, when you are not sure, you should always take your pet to the vet and let them determine the causes of your dog’s scratching, sniffing, diarrhea and the like. The second thing is to avoid treating your pet on your own and providing them with the best possible care. Here are the most common allergies in dogs, their symptoms and the tips on how to avoid them altogether. The most common symptoms of all types of allergies include itching, running nose, redness of skin, hair loss, swollen paws and the like.

Scratching by Lee Haywood, CC BY-SA 2.0

Chemicals and Environmental Allergies

When your dog suffers from these kinds of allergies, the symptoms are usually present throughout the year. The chemicals that you should watch out are different cleaning products for your dog and its toys and beddings alike, cigarette smoke, perfumes, mold spores, rubber and plastic. As for the natural environment, the allergy causes can be different plants or pollen. Since this is a very wide range of allergens, the cause can be determined only my lab tests performed by a professional.

Flea and Parasite Allergies

Fleas can become real pests and they can cause great discomfort for your dog. Allergy to flea saliva is a really common allergen in dogs. Only two or three fleas can cause your dog to be experiencing very severe symptoms. Similar problems can happen with tick bites, bacterial infections or dust mites. In case of bacterial allergies, besides the usual symptoms, there will be red blotches and puss. In order to check for fleas, it is advisable to comb the dog and collect the residue on the tissue. Flea excrement looks like dust but it dissolves in alcohol releasing red color. Prevention is regular bathing using anti-parasite shampoos.

Food Allergies

Besides the usual symptoms, these kinds of allergies also cause diarrhea and vomiting. The vet will perform the number of tests to see what sort of food your dog should avoid, but you can do the elimination test, closely watching for the symptoms in process. Especially if you suspect that some particular food is causing that. Once you figure that out, make sure that you carefully study the contents of all dog food before you buy it.

Babis Eating Dog Food by Kiewic, CC-BY-2.0

Whatever, you do, if you see any of these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Even if it is not allergy, these are definitely symptoms that should not be ignored and that require the help of the professional. The best you can do to avoid them altogether is to give your dog the food you are sure about, and keep it clean and parasite-free. In that way, the probability of it getting an allergy are reduced to a minimum.

Author's Bio:

Catherine Daniels, huge animal lover, loves writing about them in spare time, enjoys hiking with her dog Cookie and cuddling with her cat Zoe.

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Feeding Your Puppy: The Ins and Outs

Now that's we've talked about raw food *cough* Mr. Giant Rat in our previous post titled 'Whose Blood is It?', 'time to discuss other matters.

When it comes to feeding your puppy, there are many different feeding routines you can choose from. There are dry complete diets, semi-moist diets, canned diets, and even homemade dog food diets. With each different option there are pros and cons, which we’re going to go into a little more detail about. Above all else, you need to make sure that your dogs diet is stable, as this will make sure he has good digestion. If you plan on making any changes, this should be done over the course of a week in order to avoid any tummy upsets. Read on to learn more:

Puppy's Dream by smerikal, CC BY-SA 2.0

A Puppy’s Diet

Puppies grow 20 times the rate of adult dogs so it’s important that they have a special diet to help them develop physically. They need to be fed at evenly spaced intervals, otherwise you can stretch their small stomachs. You should take the advice your breeder has given you about your puppy’s diet. Your puppy should have 4 meals up to 4 months, 3 meals up to 6 months, and then 2 meals a day for the rest of it’s life.

Dry Complete Foods

The quality and range of dry complete foods out there vary widely. To get the most out of your dog’s food you should buy the best you can afford for them. ‘Premium’ foods based on chicken or corn tend to have the highest quality ingredients. Puppy food from Wuffitmix is a great choice.

Semi Moist Canned Foods

When it comes to quality, the same goes for semi moist canned foods. A good quality food with good quality ingredients is essential for your puppy.

The Difference Between Dry and Fresh

The difference between dry and fresh foods is the water content. It’s up to you which you choose to feed your dog - choose the kind he responds best to!

a dog eating bananas by ViZZZual.com, CC-BY-2.0

Home Made Food

It’s difficult to get the balance right with homemade food, so it’s important you only decide to feed them homemade food if you know what you’re doing. A tiny imbalance could throw your puppy’s whole digestive system out of whack!

Treats

You need to take a careful look at the ingredients when it comes to treats too, as the ingredients in them can include sugar, milk, and fat. Even food described as ‘puppy chocolate’ can contain these ingredients, so make sure you check it out. All treats should be given in moderation to avoid obesity, and never feed your dog human food!

Feeding Tips

• Don’t feed your dog before travelling, as this can cause sickness.

• Always make changes gradually in a dog’s diet to avoid tummy upset.

• Leave your dog alone while they’re eating from their bowl.

• Never feed your dog from the table or your plate, as this will make them beg in future and sit by you and drool (gross!).

It’s important that you’re prepared to do everything it takes to keep your puppy healthy and happy - follow our advice and you can’t go wrong!

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Whose Blood is It?

Is it Cheezy's blood?

Puppy, is it your blood?

Is it my blood?

Hey, you! Yes, you-- the one using the Doritos foil as a cadaver bag. Is it your blood?

Apparently, it is.

Note to self: Don't show the niece this post again. She says it's disgusting... And yet, the dogs fought over it like a bag of treasure.

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Should You Feed A Raw Food Diet To Your Dog?

Before anything else, please don't forget to drop by Daisy Downunder. Kindly check our Bulletin Board (on the upper right) for the details.

This guest post is brought to us by Bill Rogan. Do you feed your dog raw diet? I know My Rotten Dogs does. They even post pictures of their meals.

Many people gasp in shock at the thought of feeding a raw food diet to their dog. Isn’t raw food bad for dogs? Won’t my dog get sick? What about salmonella and other types of bacterial infection?

Commercial Dog Food Is Still A New Concept

Remember, for thousands of years, dogs have been eating raw food. Cooked commercial dog food has only existed for about 100 years or so and didn’t get very popular until about WWII. Since then, feeding commercial dog food such as canned food or kibble has become the norm.

By Denhulde (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL],
via Wikimedia Commons

The biggest health threat when it comes to a raw food diet for dogs is contaminating human food. When preparing a raw meal for your dog, it is imperative to take precautions so you do not contaminate surfaces, eating instruments, or human food supplies. While your dog’s digestive system is designed to handle raw meat, your digestive system is not. Salmonella is highly spreadable, so you must wash all surfaces that the raw meat came into contact with and remember to wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you are finished handling the raw food.

It is also important to keep your dogs food consistent. Your dogs body has to go through various changes when switching from a cooked diet to a raw food diet. If you want to feed your dog a raw food diet, you should feed raw food exclusively. Also, when first switching to a raw diet your dog may experience diarrhea or even vomiting. Usually, this doesn’t last long and does not harm your dog at all. It simply takes time for your dog’s digestive system to get used to the raw diet instead of a cooked diet.

Reasons To Feed A Raw Food Diet To Your Dog

So why would you want to feed your dog a raw food diet? Most dog owners who feed a raw diet do so because it is far more natural for dogs. While dogs may enjoy eating fruits and vegetables from time to time, in the wild their main diet consists of raw, uncooked meat. When we cook dog food, such as in commercial kibble or with a home cooked diet, many of the beneficial nutrients are cooked off. With a raw food diet, the dogs meal is more natural, like they would get in the wild, and can lead to a much healthier life.

Those who feed a raw diet report a healthier coat, increased energy, reduction in allergy problems, increased dental hygiene, a less smelly stool, and a much higher desire to eat during meal time. Some medical issues seem to completely disappear, especially when it comes to allergies.

By Tiia Monto (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Many dog owners are also upset about the number of poor quality ingredients being used in typical commercial dog food. For example, some dog food manufactures use food coloring that has been linked to cancer or may use very low quality meat byproducts. Some of these meat byproducts can contain animal meat that is not allowed for human consumption. These slaughtered animals include those who are sick, dying, or diseased. And finally, many dog food brands fill their products with “filler ingredients” that provide no nutritional value to your dog. The most common filler ingredients are corn and grain products. Corn is frequently used as the top ingredient in commercial dog food even though it provides no nutritional value and can be difficult for some dogs to digest.

The Disadvantages Of Feeding A Raw Food Diet To Your Dog

Of course, there are negatives to feeding a raw based diet for dogs as well. For one, it’s messy. VERY messy. In addition to possible salmonella contamination in your home, your dog does not care about making a mess. You should have a special area of your home with tarps laid down or feed your dog outdoors in a designated area. You must be diligent about keeping feeding areas clean from bacteria. Again, this is not so much for the safety of your dog as it is for the safety of you and your family.

By Elizabeth from Lansing, MI, USA (Elvis Reviews NutrishUploaded by Dolovis) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

You also need to find a reputable place to obtain raw meat products. Purchasing from a grocery store can get expensive, so many dog owners like to form a relationship with a local butcher. They usually have many types of meat that humans don’t like but dogs love (organ meat, snouts, hearts, liver, etc.). This can usually be obtained for relatively cheap.

If a raw based diet isn’t something you want to feed your dog, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Many who feed a raw based diet refuse to use any commercial dog food at all, but there are several good brands out there. Simply do some research on holistic and grain-free dog food and be prepared to spend a bit more than you might be used to. Generally, the more you pay for commercial dog food, the higher the quality.

Author's Bio:

Bill Rogan a deep passion for dogs. He spends his weekends writing articles on the raw food diet for dogs. He also writes about dog food reviews on www.dogfoodinsider.com

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How to Choose the Right Food for Your Pet (Guest Post)

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their compassionate comments last week. We are touched and blessed to have friends like you.

Today, I am posting a long due guest post from Devika who's also a pet lover. I think it's important for us to understand what we feed our pets.

A couple of years ago, I would just have assumed that buying any pet food is better than feeding them rice and vegetables my family normally eats... Now that I see the amount of fillers that some pet food companies use and the amount inorganic stuff that go in to preserve it longer, I am more aware of what I feed the dogs.

The pet owners usually feel satisfied when they provide commercially manufactured pet foods to their adorable companions. They are convinced about the food being complete in every respect. A balanced diet would ensure a healthy and happy pet and that is what every pet owner wants.

They are guided by the smart marketing strategies that various pet food brands employ. Also it’s more convenient to feed the ready-made varieties of food to the pets.

The pet food market has increased drastically over the years. And as per some surveys, the increase is much more than the relative (estimated) increase in the number of pets. This shows that pet owners have become more and more dependent on them.

The blind trust doesn’t let people observe that the more mechanical stages a food item travels through, the more its quality gets affected.

Animal lovers, veterinary doctors and nutritionists have often pointed out the nutritional insufficiency of the popular pet foods.

It was only in 2007 that people were literally shaken out of their peaceful slumber. On March 16, 2007 the biggest manufacturer of wet cat and dog food recalled all its products from the markets. It was followed by further recalls by other pet food companies. 

This happened because reports of pets having kidney failures surfaced from across the world. Upon testing it was found that an organic base chemical called Melamine was present in the wheat gluten. Melamine is not poisonous on its own, but its synthesis with another contaminant - cyanuric acid may lead to kidney failure.

World over, people were shocked and they started questioning the standards and processes of manufacturing pet food.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) failed to regulate the pet food segment properly. 

There is an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) which sets the - standards of nutrition, rules for conducting feed-trials and label requirements. This non-governmental association too failed in performing its duties efficiently. Another fact which came to light was that some very prominent brands outsourced the manufacturing of their products. This made the entire operation more cost-effective as the individual brands didn’t have to invest in costly machines. Also, the raw materials and other supplies could be purchased in bulk and this further lead to more savings.

A stricter regulation and examination process need to be implemented by the FDA on the manufacturing of pet foods. 

As a responsible pet parent how should one ensure the health of one’s pet? It is difficult for people to read the food labels on the packages of pet foods. Also, the label generally doesn’t mention the actual source of the ingredients. However the source determines the quality of the food. 

What the pet food makers never want you to know: Find out

One may find words like meat meal, animal digest and meat by-product on the list. Meat by-product consists of the meat which is actually the trash of a slaughterhouse. In other words, it is the meat which is not considered fit enough for human consumption.

There is a category called ‘generic pet food’. The generic ‘meat meal’ comes from animals that have been killed in a road accident or euthanized..

A pet owner should be on the lookout for the best dog food available in the market. One can buy pet foods online in India as well as in most parts of the wo rld. But one should not completely depend on them. There are many home-made nutritious recipes which can be easily made to supplement the diet of your loyal companion. One’s little efforts will prove to be a blessing for one’s pet. 

Byline:

Devika Sharma is a pet lover who loves to share interesting pet related stuffs. She is very enthusiastic to acquire and share knowledge about pet food & accessories etc. Follow her on Google+ to find variety of dog food, products and accessories etc.

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Hmmm... Best Dog Food?

Back when Chooey had her mandible broken because of Rin, we had to change her diet from hard kibble to soft baby food with canned dog food.

Royal Canin Recovery Food plus Cerelac equals Soft Diet to feed the dog with a broken mandible.

It was hard for me to decide what dog food brand to buy because of the fact that I'm not an expert on dog food analysis.

Ingredients, Ingredients... So Many Ingredients

With so many ingredients being used in dog food- from filler-filled to the grain-free type- it figures that owners who aren't aware of these will either choose what their dogs love best, the cheapest among the bunch, or the most advertised in TV.

Dog food selection in Pet Express Cubao.

I asked the sales person what people usually go for and he said that most pet owners choose Pedigree or Alpo. I asked him out of curiosity as I was already eying Petcurean Go! Natural Grain Free Chicken, Turkey+ Trout Stew  and Solid Gold.

Included among the wide variety of dog food displays were Holistic, Orijen, Royal Canin, Optima,  Purina Pro Plan Robust, and a lot more. Honestly, what's a pet owner got to do? Of course, CHECK THE INGREDIENTS.

We've just finished a can of Go! Natural dog food... It had trout in it and Chooey's breath smells like it!

So finally, I decided to juggle between cans of Solid Gold and Go! Natural since the rest were usually kibble packs. 

P.S. I know I must be boring you with these silly dog rambles of mine. I promise to post something interesting on my next one.

Update on Chooey

Chooey's doing fine. We dropped by the vet's office for a check-up. The vet even said that she's one tough cookie. That's after Dr. M reviewed her file thoroughly. Indeed she's super Chooey! After the wart removal and the Rin war, I'm thankful that her mandible's healing is going pretty well.

Update on Buchi

Buchi was due for his second visit to the vet today. We had him groomed there due to the non-functioning clipper. Then, he was treated for the mange which involved a shot of Ivermectin. So far, we're on the path of recovery. And he's such a handsome bald boy now (hihi).

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