Where to Find the Best Healthy Dog Food for Your Pooch
Healthy dog food – end the confusion
When selecting a healthy dog food for your pet, try not to let the clever marketing and shiny packaging influence your decision. It is easy to be misled by nutrition claims on the package or can, but it’s in the list of ingredients that the truth can be found. A healthy diet will keep your dog in peak condition for the rest of his life, so it’s important to find the best dog food for your pooch from the start.
It can be confusing when comparing the different types of dog food on the market today. There are canned foods and dried foods and foods claiming to be natural. So where does a dog owner start to narrow down the various choices? This article will help you do just that.
Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid dog food that’s sold in the supermarket or grocery store. Even if it’s advertised on TV! That simply means that the company has a large advertising budget, not that the food is of good quality. One good tip is to look for food in a produce store, or a store that supplies food for other animals. TSC is a good example and would also be able to give good advice on dog nutrition, as well as breed specific nutritional needs.
Another potential source of healthy dog food is the internet. You can search for “healthy dog food”, or “natural dog food”, or even “dog food for 10 year old poodle”. You can even order straight from the store and have it delivered to your door if you like. Make sure to check the ingredients first though. You could even do all your research on the internet and then go and buy at your local store if you prefer.
Can you give your dog raw food? Yes of course. You can buy the meat from your butcher and other ingredients from the grocery store. Turkey is a clean meat and should not pose any problems to your dog’s health. Be aware that if making your own dog food, you will have to add vitamins and other supplements, unless you are very clever at food combining.
Homemade dog food should be a combination of meat, vegetables and some whole-grains. With home cooked dog food, you will have the advantage of always knowing what your dog is eating. This options is probably best suited to those with a bit of time, however. If you grow your own vegetables, these will make an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.
The age of your dog is also a consideration when selecting a good dog food. Puppies have different nutritional need to adult dogs. Senior dogs may require a different type of food again. Overweight dogs are another area that may require a lighter type of diet. Some quality dog food manufacturers have different diets for specific breeds and even different sizes of dog.
Last but not least. Your vet can be a wealth of information when it comes to your dog’s diet. Some vets sell quality dog food at their consulting rooms, although this could be an expensive way to go. Your vet knows your dog’s requirements better than anyone, so he would be a good place to start if you’re confused as to which food to select.
The correct diet for your dog is one of the most important things to take into consideration when it comes to your dog’s health. Get this right and you’ll have a happy healthy dog who’ll be your companion for many years to come.
Super Secret Benefits of Dog Acupuncture
Acupuncture for dogs is becoming increasingly popular each and every day and its also very fascinating. Chinese wisdom from thousands of years ago proclaims every thing alive contains a “bioenergy” called “QI”. The Chinese word “QI” sounds a bit like “chee”. The Chinese have been using acupuncture for over 3000 years. Acupuncture for dogs unblocks their QI energy which allows the canine’s body to self heal. When you use acupuncture for dogs together with healthy dog food, you give your canine’s body the best chance at healing itself.
Dr. Barbara Royal, a Veterinarian and practicing dog acupuncturist, says that dog acupuncture decreases pain, decreases inflammation, increases circulation and stimulates or relaxes brain and nerve function.
Acupuncture for dogs makes possible what medicines and drugs sometimes can’t. Dog acupuncture makes your canine’s overall health better, relaxes the muscles, improves circulation, improves immune function and improves digestion which all contribute to making it possible for your dog’s body to heal itself from injury, surgery or chronic pain.
Common problems that have been proven to respond well to dog acupuncture are digestive disorders, arthritis, immune system disorders, skin conditions, urological diseases, liver or kidney disease and neurological problems.
The needles used in acupuncture for dogs are very small compared to other needles and your dog will feel no pain as long as its performed by a qualified dog acupuncturist. Dr. Royal says “I have found that dog acupuncture is often an effective alternative for many conditions….This is particularly true for animals who are older, have multiple health problems and maybe can’t tolerate medications or surgery”.
If you combine acupuncture for dogs while feeding your canine a healthy dog food then you have a pretty good combination for a naturally healthy dog. Giving your canine a totally healthy dog food is complicated today because there is tons of false advertising and marketing being used on us by the huge commercial dog food makers. Therefore, its entirely up to you to do a little bit of research to find out if the dog food you are feeding your canine is really healthy or just fast food disguised as healthy dog food.
Anyone Ever Had A Dog That Just Seemed To Stay Thin, Even If They Receive More Than Adequate Nutrition?
I have a 7 month old hound mixed breed who is extremely active. She runs constantly when she’s outside, playing with our larger dog (a hound/Ridgeback mix), and she hates coming inside unless it’s to eat. After that, she’s ready to go back out and play until it’s time to come in for the afternoon.
The problem is, Daisy (the little dog), always looks underweight. She has long, skinny legs, and she has very little body fat. You can see her ribs a bit when she’s standing still, and even more so when she starts eating. I feed her approx 3.5 cups of dry puppy food per day, but she never seems to put on any weight. I’m a Humane Society volunteer, so my neighbors are used to seeing me walking the neighborhood w/ underweight foster dogs, but I don’t want anyone to think I’m mistreating my own dog by underfeeding her.
Should I give her more food to “fatten” her up, or could she just be a naturally “slender” dog and more food would make her unhealthy?http://i8.tinypic.com/625cb38.jpg