Raw Feeding » Dog Foods

Organic Dog Foods Products – Effortless Does It

editor — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:41:46 +0000

Dogs will eat just about anything they can lay their paws, er teeth on. So switching from the commercial brand of canine foodstuff with a healthier, raw food diet commonly goes smoothly. Occasionally, however, owners are reluctant to believe they are capable of supplying a healthful option for their canine buddies. They hedge their bets by mixing in commercial meal or by including multiple products.

Continuing to feed your dog commercial foodstuff along with uncooked can upset the gastrointestinal tract of some dogs resulting in diarrhea. Chemical additives inside commercial meal is in no way eliminated so the true advantages of a normal diet plan are certainly not really experienced. The dog is short changed. On the other hand, going natural but insisting on including a truck load of supplements into your dog’s weight loss plan this kind of as herbs, oils and nutritional vitamins may backfire. So many foreign ingredients can trigger the canine to refuse the new foodstuff or, if they do eat it, can also cause gastrointestinal issues.

Employing a range of meaty bone and vegetable resources signifies your dog’s weight loss plan will effortlessly balance as time passes. The top quality from the animals and vegetables you decide on is going to be impacted by their respective growing disorders. Animals raised in factory farming ailments are usually not allowed to take in what they’ve been obviously developed to take in, grass, but instead are force fed grain. This results inside a lack of omega 3 necessary fatty acids in their bodies. Crops grown on depleted but chemically fertilized soil have been shown to contain fewer nutrition than those grown in naturally rich soil. Two additional causes to decide on natural or tiny farm sources of foodstuff for yourself and your canine.

If you’re unable to locate very good top quality foodstuff sources you might determine to supplement. But do not supplement indiscriminately. Bones are rich in minerals. Unless the meaty bones you are acquiring are from your factory farm, including minerals to a raw, meaty bones eating habits is most likely unnecessary and possibly even harmful. Excessive calcium, for instance, can result in joint difficulties.

The most beneficial method is always to focus on variety. You’re going for balance over time and not in each meal. A canine from the wild would not pass up a dinner of fresh rabbit just mainly because he happened to have eaten one for breakfast. He takes benefit of what’s offered and in season. A lot more eggs from nesting birds in spring, more berries from the summer. You get the idea.

If you ever definitely feel your food resources are certainly not as very good as they could be take into account adding genuine food items such as eggs, cottage cheese, cod liver oil, kelp and alfalfa for your dog’s menu. And continue to look for better, natural if achievable, sources. Obviously derived vitamins and nutrition in natural entire foods will continually be additional satisfying and much healthier for you and your dog.

Putting Your Dog On A Diabetic Dog Food Diet

editor — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:26:46 +0000

Like humans, dogs too get diabetes. When a dog has diabetes, the best way to keep it in control is by giving it diabetic dog food, which is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Apart from controlling the amount of sugar in a diabetic dog’s food, the amount of food and the frequency in which they are fed also needs to be monitored. The general recommendation is that your diabetic dog should be fed smaller meals twice or thrice a day instead of a single large meal. This is because blood sugar levels can be stabilized by smaller meals, whereas a single large meal results in a high insulin spike, and then for it to drop down in 12 hours. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a series condition.
So what diabetic dog food should you give your dog? Here are a few recommendations that will assist in controlling the diabetic condition of your dog:
Shun Foods That Have Sugar
Most dog owners have very little idea about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because they are metabolized into glucose by the body. Both soft-moist dog food and dry dog food are considered culprits. If you must feed your dog commercially manufactured dog food, it is better to give them a good quality canned food. It is important to check the ingredients, which are printed on the label.
Homemade Diabetic Dog Food
The best solution is to feed your dog homemade dog foods and raw foods. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. Putting your dog on a homemade diabetic dog food diet need not be expensive or hard work. There are plenty of websites on the Internet that have lots of advice and recipes that are nutritious and tasty.
Cut Down On The Fat
Apart from regulating blood sugar and insulin levels in the body, the pancreas also produces enzymes that break down fats. Since it is essential not to put too much stress on the pancreas of a diabetic dog, it is important to choose low-fat meats. Ground beef should not be given, and the extra fat in turkey and chicken should be removed. While some fat is required for good health, according to nutritionists, it is best to minimize the amount as much as possible.
Some Grains Are Good
While you do have to be careful about the quantity of grain you feed your dog, since animals cannot digest grains as easily as humans because their digestive track is shorter, certain grains are beneficial for diabetic dogs. Millet, oats and brown rice provide fiber and also help to control the levels of insulin. Some nutritionists also advise cornmeal, but sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to wheat and corn. But it is best to use grains sparingly, because being carbohydrates they are turned into glucose by the body.
Adding fresh vegetables and raw fruits, which are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugars (which do not have the detrimental effects on insulin levels that processed sugar does), brewer’s yeast which contains a substance known as ‘glucose tolerance factor’ which helps the body to use blood sugar more efficaciously, and Vitamin E which aids in reducing the requirement for insulin, are some of the other recommendations.
Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well. But, as a thumb rule, avoid giving baked foods that contain sugar and flour.

All Dog Foods Are Not The Same

editor — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:52:33 +0000

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

Raw Diets and Your Dog: Know What’s Best

editor — Sun, 23 May 2010 21:58:14 +0000

There has been a lot of debate recently over what types of food are best for dogs, commercial food versus homemade food, raw food, cooked food, etc. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with all of these diets, and in this article, we will cover the views on the raw food diet for your dog, covering both sides of the issue, so that you can make your own decision.There are many benefits that your dog will receive from being on a raw diet, according to some vets. If you choose to allow your dog to have bones, then some say that their teeth will stay in better shape, and will be cleaner, than those on other diets. This could potentially mean less money that you have to spend on dental care at the vet’s office, which is considered to be an added bonus for you, the dog’s owner.Many dogs’ digestive systems are better able to tolerate raw food than commercial dog foods that are filled with by-products and preservatives. You also don’t have to worry as much about potential food allergies, since you know exactly what is in the food that you are giving to your dog.Another belief is that dogs that are on raw diets have significantly reduced risk of becoming obese, which can cause many serious health problems, just as it does for humans. They are only eating what they need, without getting all of the fillers that many commercial dog foods contain, which cuts out excess calories.One of the most common complaints that dog owners have about a raw diet is that it takes a lot longer for them to prepare their dog’s food than normal. They can’t just go to a bag and scoop out kibble into a bowl; they have to actually prepare the food, much as they would for themselves. You have to have enough meat on hand to feed your dog, you have to measure out the correct amount, and then mix it with the proper amount of vegetables, and bones if you choose to go that route. You have to determine how much food your dog should eat each day, depending on his or her ideal body weight, and then either prepare the food on a daily basis, or prepare it in batches and store it in the freezer until it is needed. Either way, you have a lot more time invested in the entire process, and for busy families, this isn’t always an option.When you purchase meat, depending on where you live, it can be pretty expensive, so you will likely have to spend more money on a raw diet than you would a commercial dog food diet. To make this option more affordable, you will need to look for sales and then buy as much as you can afford and store it appropriately, which could also mean investing in a separate freezer, if you don’t already have one on hand.Anytime you think about raw meat, you have to think about parasites and bacteria, which could be potentially harmful for your dog. Some meats are more dangerous than others, for example pork, but in general, you should be okay. Raw beef and chicken usually don’t pose any problems for dogs, as long as it is stored properly at the correct temperatures.You will need to decide whether or not to give your dog bones. Some vets say that you should never give your dog any kind of bone, because they could choke, or the bones could damage their digestive system, but others say as long as you are careful about the types of bones you give, this isn’t a problem. Many advocates of the raw diet grind bones up and mix them in, but again, that is your choice.If you are thinking about putting your dog on a raw diet, you need to take the time to look at all of the information you can find, and then make your own decision based on your findings. The raw diet requires a commitment from you the dog owner, both financially, and time-wise, if you aren’t prepared for that, or aren’t certain that is the way you want to go, then you might want to think about other options.

Y Wife Feeds Raw Ground Beef To Our Jack Russel Pup-is This Ok?

editor — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:39:18 +0000

~ Yes it is ok. I would recommend that if your wife is not doing a full raw diet that she is also feeding your JRT a high quality kibble.
www.barfworld.com
+All dog foods are not created equal. There is a huge difference in ingredients, quality of ingredients and company standards. When wondering what to get or comparing your current food it is best to do as much research as possible.
Your options are a raw diet, which is one of the greatest diets for dogs. To learn more go to www.barfworld.com. Raw really means nothing cooked; meat, bones and organs. This is not to be confused with allowing your dog to eat cooked bones, cooked bones are harmful, raw bones are not. This is the dog’s ancestral diet. If you think a dog should not be eating raw meat, go back and study wolves. Ask yourself what year was dog food made and then how long have dogs been around without our help of over processed dog food and gravy.
Another option is kibble and wet food. You can do both or just Kibble, but avoid doing just wet food. Feeding Kibble 2x a day 12 hours apart and wet food 2x a week in place of 1 feeding of equal calories is a good balance. DO NOT OVER Do WET FOOD. When you are looking for a healthy dog food it is important that not only the kibble be high quality but the wet food, treats and chews be high quality as well.
Foods to avoid: Pedigree, Beneful, Purina, Iams, Nutro, Alpo, Ol Roy, Mighty Dog, Ceser, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, Eagle Pack (not to be confused with Eagle Pack Holistic) and of course all grocery store brands of dog food!
These foods have low quality ingredients that can cause allergies, diabetes, bloat, overweight, oily skin, excessive and or runny stool and a myriad of other problems.
Most of these brands are owned by companies like Del Monte, Proctor and Gamble, Mars and Nestle. Do you really believe that a company like Proctor and Gamble who makes beauty products, household cleaning supplies, baby items,prescription drugs and many others is the best suited company to make quality products for dogs? 50% of Mars is pet food, 45% is unhealthy snacks like candy bars. Science Diet is promoted by vets who in return make a profit on every bag they sell. Hill’s is the largest employer of veterinarians outside of academia. They sponsor many pet nutrition related veterinary school programs and hold seminars and training sessions on the subject of pet nutrition for practicing veterinarians. So of course Hill’s is going to say they are the best, they are teaching the vets pet nutrition, they want to make a profit, not healthy cat and dog food. Does this sound like the best company to make dog food? All of these companies have one thing in common, they have the advertising to make you believe pictures of meat and veggies and healthy dogs running around on the commercials is what you will get. Knowing the truth about what is in these foods is devastating.
Quality dog foods: Innova, California Natural, EVO, Karma, Wellness, Wellness Core, Orijen, Canidae, Merricks, Artemis, Taste of the Wild, Nature’s Variety, Solid Gold-Barking at the Moon, Go!, Now! and Timberwolf.
Here are several websites to do your own research, which I highly suggest. A lot of questions here about dog’s health problems are a direct result of the food you are feeding. Read the ingredients label on the back, go to the website and see who owns the dog food, look up the ingredients and learn why it is used and what the pros and cons are. Changing to a healthy low grain, no grain dog food will relieve most of your dog aliments and give you a healthier and happier dog.
www.naturapet.com
www.dogfoodproject.com
www.dogfoodanalysis.com
www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&mo…
www.feedmypet.com/dog-food-comparison.…
www.canidae.com

Can Someone Help Me With Dog Food Please? I Was Feeding Orijen Which Says 41% Protein, But Switched To Raw In?

editor — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:24:39 +0000

dehydrated form. Both are human-grade excellent grain-freed dog foods but wondered why the dehydrated was only from 21% to 29% protein, depending on the flavor. I wondered also if the drop in protein is responsible for my dog suddenly having a insatiable appetite since I switched.
Can anyone who knows about nutrition please give me your thoughts on if the new food with less protein is what might be making my dog very hungry, and also why so little protein compared to Orijen, is Orijen too high, or is the raw too low?
Thanks so much if you can help!

Is Feeding A Dog Raw Chicken Ok?? I Worry About Salmonella Bacteria.?

editor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:28:06 +0000

Yes it is okay to feed them raw chicken; many show breeders feed what is known as a BARF diet; which consists of raw food; particulary chicken.
I don’t myself feed a BARF diet; except for an occasional satin ball (which is raw hamburger meat mixed with a variety of nutrients). I DO feed mine COOKED chicken with no worries about the bones for my dogs; of course the younger and smaller ones get the bones REMOVED but the large breeds get the whole piece of chicken and I’ve never had a problem with the bones splintering.
Most Dog Food really isn’t all that good for your dog anyways; if you really read the labels and understand what you are reading; most of the nutrients are zapped out of the original food and what little if any meat in there is usually just a ground up by product such as necks; innards; etc. But there are some really good dog foods out there that are a little pricey that are made from oven baked dry kibble and then coated in ground up raw meat.

What Is This Whole Big Issue Of Feeding Dogs Raw, Or From A Specific Brand?

editor — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:29:45 +0000

Okay, I have two dogs, a one year old Lab, and a 12 week old Boxer. We switch around their dog foods a lot, depending on what name brand is cheapest, what coupons we have, etc.
Among some of the brands we use include Beneful, Pedigree, Almo (which we prefer not to feed), IAMS, Eukanuba, and some others. Occasionally, they will get a tidbit of a french fry or some hamburger or something, but that’s it.
I am not kidding. To some people, this seems like I am desecrating my poor pups bodies.
What is the big hurrah over the raw food diet? I understand that there was the scare of the dog food being contaminated, but with the economy in the state it is currently, it seems a complete waste of money to provide meats that I can scarcely afford to have, let alone an animal who has a wholesome meal for $.60 a can, plus $18 for an almost 18 pound bag. It is so much more economical, and time saving than working over creating a meal for a dog. I love my pups as much as the next person, do not dare criticize me of that, but when I cannot afford lamb, or enough beef for both me and the dog to eat, than why should the animal win over myself?
I am the one caring for the animal.
Would you cat owners buy a fillet of salmon and some shrimp, and then stop by your local pet food store and stock up on some rats to feed your cat? Probably not. That is what the cat ate before it was domesticized to what it is now, and what they continue to eat when they catch their own prey, but under no circumstances, I believe would a cat owner choose to make cat food over just buying it.
Maybe I ranted, but in any case, I want to know the answer. You can’t really change my mind on how to feed my dogs, but I would like to know why other people see this way of nutrition as the ONLY way.
Thank you.

Dog Eye Infection Allergies And Feeding Raw?

editor — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:42:36 +0000

ok so my dog has allergies but i don’t no what to it gives him really bad eye infections and now he is getting welps on his jowls. the eye infection he has hes had since december its gotten a lot better but won’t fully go away benedryl helps a lot but its still there. antibiotics only work while i’m giving it to him like a week after it goes away and i stop giving him the meds it comes back.
he is a very picky eater the only thing he will eat is nutro large breed adult which i know isn’t all that great but its not the worst. i try giving him higher brand dog foods he won’t eat them and they haven’t seemed to make a differance.
basically i want to try feeding raw the only thing is im 17 and don’t have a job so i would have o feed a mostly vegiterrian diet with as much meat as possible. does anybody have any ideas on what give him he is a canaan (i think we got him from a shelter) mix 20 months has hip dysplacia and might have liver diasese im trying to keep things as natural as possible. what are some sources of protein other than meat like peas an stuff?
thank you for all your answers and i would appreciate it if you kept your negative comment to yourself, thanks

Feeding My Dog Raw Foods?

editor — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:30:33 +0000

I was hoping to get an answer from someone who has experience in this. I have a couple questions about feeding raw foods to my puppy. Is it safe? Is it really better for her than the crappy commercial food like Science Diet and Why?? How do I get started? I read I have to make it balanced and complete, How? Should I be using some sort of vitamin supplements as well? Which meats, veggies and fruits are best? Which things should I NOT be feeding her( ex. onions) ? Is there anything else I should know before considering this? Can you recommend a good site with some sort of recipes or something? Thanks, A best answer will be awarded if there is one