Dog Food Dos and Don'ts

There are so many different dog food options available for all different kinds of dogs that choosing the right food can be an intimidating task. How do you even begin?


What you see on that label is the key to knowing whether a food is appropriate for your dog. Before you choose a new food, become educated about some common ingredients so you can know what is preferable and what is not.

One quick note: the higher up on a list an ingredient is, the more it makes up that food. Most of your dog's food will be composed of the first few ingredients on the list. This is important to keep in mind if you see any of the below undesirable ingredients.

THE DON'TS:

The number one ingredient to avoid is something labeled “by-products” or “by-product meals.” These are ingredients created from waste parts in the butchering process. These parts contain no muscle tissue, and are classified as unfit for human consumption. Meat by-products are things like lungs, spleen, liver, stomach, and even bone. If a dog food lists any kind of by-product as one of the first ingredients, avoid it. Instead, look for dog food that lists actual meat as an ingredient. And do not confuse an ingredient like plain “chicken meal” for the yucky stuff described above; it is not the same thing as chicken by-product meal.

Anything artificial is best to avoid as well. Many dog foods use artificial colors and flavors. These synthetic additives are unnecessary, since color has little importance for your dog and there are many natural ways to improve flavor. Some artificial dyes, such as FD&C Red #40, can even impact you; they can be so strong that if vomited, they can stain carpets and fabrics.

Dog foods also often contain fillers; that is, parts with little to no nutritional value that are added to food to increase volume or weight. Almost all dog food is sold by weight, so bulking up food with inexpensive ingredients can save companies a lot of money. The issue is that your dog gets absolutely nothing from these ingredients, and in most cases their body cannot even break them down. (It even makes more work for you, since what comes in must go out, if you know what I mean). Common fillers include soybean meal and flour, as well as wheat middlings, wheat gluten, and corn meal gluten.

Try to get a dog food that little to no sweeteners or sugar as well. Excess sugar in your dog's diet can lead to health problems like obesity and diabetes. The sugar on the ingredients list can appear in a number of different ways including cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

On the other hand there are some ingredients that it is good to have in your dog's food. Look for dog foods that name natural ingredients and boast no preservatives or by-products.

THE DOS:

Now that you are aware of ingredients to avoid and if you are considering switching foods, many pet owners are choosing natural foods. There are many healthy options for our pets. The benefits of natural are due to the use of only natural ingredients that can have a positive impact on many areas of your Dog's health.

Dog Food Ingredients

There are so many different options available for all different kinds of dogs that choosing the right food can be an intimidating task. How do you even begin?

Dog food packaging contains ingredient lists just like human food does. What you see on that label is the key to knowing whether a food is appropriate for your dog. Let's get educated about some common ingredients so you can know what is preferable and what is not so good.

One quick note: the higher up on a list an ingredient is, the more it makes up that food. Most of your dog’s food will be composed of the first few ingredients on the list. This is important to keep in mind if you see any of the below undesirable ingredients.

The number one ingredient to avoid is something labeled “by-products” or “by-product meals.” These are ingredients created from waste parts in the butchering process. These parts contain no muscle tissue, and are classified as unfit for human consumption. Meat by-products are things like lungs, spleen, liver, stomach, and even bone. If a dog food lists any kind of by-product as one of the first ingredients, avoid it. Instead, look for dog food that lists actual meat as an ingredient. Do not confuse an ingredient like plain “chicken meal” for chicken by-product meal.

Anything artificial is best to avoid as well. Many dog foods use artificial colors and flavors. These synthetic additives are unnecessary, since color has little importance for your dog and there are many natural ways to improve flavor. Some artificial dyes, such as FD&C Red #40, can even impact you; they can be so strong that if vomited, they can stain carpets and fabrics.

Dog foods also often contain fillers; that is, parts with little to no nutritional value that are added to food to increase volume or weight. Almost all dog food is sold by weight, so bulking up food with inexpensive ingredients can save companies money. The issue is that your dog gets absolutely nothing from these ingredients, and in most cases their body ca not even break them down. Common fillers include soybean meal and flour, as well as wheat middlings, wheat gluten, and corn meal gluten.

Try to get a dog food that little to no sweeteners or sugar as well. Excess sugar in your dog’s diet can lead to health problems like obesity and diabetes. The sugar on the ingredients list can appear in a number of different ways including cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

On the other hand there are some ingredients that it is good to have in your dog’s food. Look for dog foods that name natural ingredients and boast no preservatives or by-products. Fruit such as apples, blueberries, carrots, and cranberries all have benefits for your dog - and they add a more natural flavor and sweetness than many other additives. Certain vegetables and tubers are great for your dog too, such as sweet potato, yucca, and spinach.

Some more ingredients that are good to have in dog food include:

* DHA - an Omega-3 fatty acid that boosts the development of your dog’s brain

* Flaxseed - promotes a healthy digestive system

* Kelp - provides fiber and iodine

* Probiotics - strengthen the digestive system and provide natural antibiotics to boost your dog’s immune system

When you go out to find the perfect dog food, keep this list in mind.

Latest Pet Food Recall

There is a new pet food recall that affect humans in 9 states. Diamond Pet Foods is pulling nine brands and WellPet LLC is recalling one as a precaution.

At least fourteen infected people had contact with dogs or dog food a week prior to them contracting an illness identified as Salmonella. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and fever. To date – no deaths have been reported.

Cases so far have been in Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

These products were sold to 16 states in the US East coast and Canada.

Check pet food recalls for 2012

Please forward this to any family and friends. Let's help prevent any problems before they occur.

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Dog Food?

Are prebiotics and probiotics worthwile food additives
in dog food?

Good question!

Probiotics are microorganisms that help tip the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract toward the types of bacteria that maintain a healthy internal environment in the gut. They are popular supplements in both the human and veterinary markets, and more dog food companies are adding them to their kibble.

Prebiotics are fibers that stimulate the growth and function of the good bacteria and also rank as popular additions to food and supplements.

According to most veterinarians, the problem with adding them to food is that they are hard to quantify. There is no way to know how many are in one diet versus another, or whether the bacteria have survived processing, storage, and stomach acid. Since the amount and efficacy of probiotics in food is hard to measure, pet owners who what to give their dogs probiotics may look to giving them in supplement form.

Sounds similar to our unregulated vitamins issue. How do you know what is on the vitamin label is what is in the bottle or in the right quantities as well as good quality?

Research from Nestle Purina suggest that probiotics boost immunity in young puppies and dogs under great stress, such as working and performance dogs in harsh climates.

Apparently, no one know for sure if the probiotics in dog food are effective.

Finicky Eater?

While some dogs will eat anything, other dogs are extremely picky.

What can you do?

Here are a few tips for dealing with a dog that is a finicky eater:

Make sure your dog is OK. If your dog has developed the habit of being picky about what he eats, the first step to the solution is to take your pooch to the veterinarian for a check-up. This is especially important to do if the finicky eating developed suddenly, if it is accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea, if your dog is showing other signs of illness, or if the finicky eating is associated with weight loss. Visiting the vet will help you rule out any underlying medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal or oral disease that may be causing the finicky eating.

Check the food. If your dog receives a clean bill of health, the next step is to evaluate the food you feed. Make sure it has not spoiled. Both dry and moist foods can expire, and it is also possible to buy a bad batch of food. Check the expiration date and take note of any odd odors in the food.

Feed a good food. You should be feeding a high-quality nutritious diet approved by your veterinarian. A quality brand of food will supply your dog with all the nutrients he needs, eliminating the need for diet variety.

Consistently feed one type of food. Constantly changing foods may cause your dog to "hold out" for something tastier, creating a finicky eater. Change can also cause vomiting and diarrhea in some dogs. Feeding human food snacks can have the same affect and can also lead to obesity.

Tips for getting your dog to eat:

If you have been feeding your dog the same food for an extended period of time, he has always been finicky about eating it and you feel that he is unhappy with the taste, then you could gradually switch to a new quality food. To do this, mix the old food in with small amounts of the new food, then slowly increase the new food and decrease the old. This will prevent gastrointestinal upset. Make the change over at least 2 to 3 days.

When changing foods, pick a new flavor or texture that may better suit your dog's desires. For example, you may want to try feeding a semi-moist food instead of dry, or you may choose lamb and rice rather than beef and rice. If you are selecting a softer food, keep in mind that these foods can cause more tartar build-up on your dog's teeth, and they are generally more expensive. Adding small amounts of a moist food to your dog's dry food may be a better alternative.

Heating the food is another trick that can help finicky dogs to eat. This helps to release the aromas that are appealing to your dog. You might try microwaving your dog's moist food, or adding hot water to the dry food. Stir the mixture around before giving it to your dog to make sure there are no "hot spots" created by the microwave warming.

Mixing something extra into the food can also be helpful - break up a dog biscuit, add a little meat-flavored baby food or sprinkle in a small amount of shredded cheese. This will make the food more appealing. To make it more difficult for your pooch to pick out the goodies, mix the special additives throughout the food. Be careful with this option. Too much of that "something extra" can lead to obesity. Also, do not spoil him so much that he becomes more finicky.


One more thing to remember.....unlike humans, dogs do not need variety in their meals because they have all the nutrients they need in their dog food.

Dog Food Delivery

Recently I learned about a service that can help make pet owners' lives a lot easier.

PetFlow.com is an online pet food delivery site. In addition to having lots of popular brands, they are also offering a special free shipping offer on orders of $75 or more. You can also lock in free shipping for life on all your future orders of $75 or more. They have a program that they call " Free Shipping for Life" that's really simple. Here is how it works. You choose a delivery schedule that fits your needs and they ship the food automatically, so you will never run out!

Having pet food delivered right to your door is great - especially for people that work and for anyone living in an apartment or condo. (Who wants to lug those heavy bags of food around?)

Let's face it - having your pet's food delivered to your door for free is something EVERYONE can love! If you can get the food conveniently and have it delivered to your door with free shipping - why do anything else? It seems like a great idea to me.

Prebiotics - New Trend in Dog Food

Have you heard of "Prebiotics"?

Prebiotics are non-digestible ingredients in food that work to stimulate the growth of good bacteria. The idea is to maximize the good bacteria and minimize the bad bacteria.

Prebiotics have demonstrated positive effects on mineral absorption, including calcium, immune system function and intestinal regularity. In humans, prebiotics have even demonstrated a reduction in the risk for colon cancer and irritable bowel disorders such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Prebiotics help maintain the right balance between good and bad bacteria to aid digestion and absorption of nutrients and encourage strong defenses with a healthy immune system.

Encouraging good digestive tract health through good nutrition can strengthen the dog's immune system, which strengthens his defenses against harmful diseases. Promoting digestive health encourages overall health.

Some dog foods on the market contain prebiotics; check out ingredients next time you by dog food. I will let you know how Ebony likes dog food with prebiotics. But then again, Ebony likes most food!