Archive for February, 2010

 

Dog Food Recipes

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
ChefTips


If you’re looking for some natural dog food recipes or homemade dog food, this recipe from the Natural Pet Food Cookbook is a great start. Chef Jason Hill of Chef Tips puts Bandit’s Beef Stew to the test, and this dog food recipe was approved with enthusiasm by his family’s Shih Tzu puppy, Sugar. This recipe can be prepared as an organic dog food with the right ingredients. Just choose canned organic vegetables when preparing this meal. It’s also a human grade dog food, as Chef Jason …

Lewis

 

Using Dog Food Coupons To Save Money

Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Joshua Drew


Using dog food coupons can save you a great deal of money when you have to feed a large dog with a big appetite. It is important, though, to look for coupons for the dog food that is the healthiest that it can be for your dog. There are many ways to find dog food coupons on your dog’s favorite brand.

The first place to find dog food coupons is the Sunday newspaper. Usually there are pages and pages of coupons for a variety of products. It is a great way to save money if you are smart about the coupons that you clip. Don’t clip coupons for something that you don’t use, you will end up spending money on something that you ordinarily would not have purchased. Try to get the dog food coupons that offer you savings on the healthiest brand of dog food. You should not compromise the health of your dog just because the food is on sale.

You can check the website of the dog food that you typically buy for your dog. They may be offering a special deal or dog food coupons for their products. Some dog foods even offer free dog food for trying out the brand. You might find a dog food that your dog likes and save yourself some money at the same time. If your dog is very fussy and only likes one brand of food, it will be more difficult for you to save money with the use of dog food coupons. But you never know, you might find a new brand that your fussy friend will eat.

You can check with your veterinarian’s office for some dog food coupons. They are typically given sample sizes and offers for their patients from the dog food companies. The companies are eager to have their pet food endorsed by the veterinarians and will give special offers to have a new dog food tried by the patients. If your vet does not offer the dog food coupons it can’t hurt to ask. They might just have some samples of food for you to try. This is a good chance to try some very healthy pet foods as well.

Saving money on your dog’s food is important in today’s high food prices and increasing gas costs. You should seek out whatever methods that you can find to cut your costs. Dog food coupons are just one way that you can cut your food bill down and spend the money on something else.



Lewis

 

Nutrition For Dogs - Dog Food Ingredients

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Garry Neale


First we need to recognize that nutrients are not the same thing as ingredients. It’s not the combination of ingredients that determines the quality of your dog’s diet and whether or not the dog’s nutritional needs are being met, it’s the blend of nutrients. The ingredients in dog food only have to do with digestibility and palatability. A given dog food can contain certain ingredients that have no nutritional value or that can’t be digested by your dog. You can find two different dog foods that may both seem to nutritious, but one may have ingredients that are better for your specific breed of dog. You should discuss your dog’s nutritional requirements with your vet in order to select a diet that provides everything needed.

Healthy feeding habits should start as soon as you bring your dog home! Your dog’s diet influences such things as health status, appearance, development and attitude. The way you feed your dog will affect certain behavioral aspects like, potty training and begging. When your dog is a puppy, it is very important to prevent it from gaining a lot of weight, which may contribute to the likelihood of obesity and its related health problems as they age.

Since dogs come in all sizes and shapes, there are specific foods available that you should consider depending upon if it’s a small breed, large breed, puppy or adult. The nutritional needs of dogs will change as they age depending on how active they are. For instance, small dogs tend to require more calories per pound than larger dogs and thus need a dog food that provides a lot of energy.

As of late, many dog owners have become seriously concerned about the safety of commercial pet food. With all the recent pet food recalls, many more dog owners are starting to prepare their own nutritious dog foods. There is more than a little concern about how poorly regulated the pet food industry is concerning preservatives. Commercial dog food makers add all kinds of chemicals to keep their foods from deteriorating while setting on the grocery store shelves. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publications lists 35 known preservatives being used by commercial dog food companies. Some of these have no restriction on amount that can be added to your dog’s food. Chemicals such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Ethoxyquin have controversial safety reputations at best.

Many of the commercial dog food formulations contain meat and bone meal, which has been shown to contain the remains of euthanized cats and dogs. These dead animal bodies are sent to rendering plants, along with road kill and dead live stock. At the plants they are boiled down to get the fat, which is sold to dog food manufacturers as “animal fat.” The leftover animal parts are dried, crushed and sold to the same manufacturers as “meat and bone meal.” Knowing this, many dog owners have put their pets a on raw diet or started making their own homemade dog food.

Those who advocate raw diets say it is the most natural because canines in the wild are carnivores and have survived and thrived for millions of years. They indicate that ever since commercial dog food appeared on the scene about 60 years ago, the increase in dysplasia, allergies and other health conditions in dogs has increased dramatically. However, proponents of homemade dog food say that dogs are actually omnivores and they need the nutritional benefits of grain. They intimate that dog owners who use only raw food are depriving their dogs of valuable nutrients. In addition, with homemade foods you can be creative while making your own healthy dog food. Proponents of homemade food report the activity as a fun way to feel even closer to their dogs. Especially if they really like what you make. And the debate goes on.



Cindy

 

Dog Food Secrets - What you Need to Know About Commercial Dog Food!

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
stephen


You really need to think twice before feeding your beloved pets commercial dog food, why?, well apart from the fact that commercial dog foods vary in what ingredients they put into their dog foods, they also vary in the quality of the different dog foods and dog food companies!

Some of the big nasty ingredients that can be put into commercial dog foods are Slaughterhouse Waste, Heavy Metals, Toxic Materials, Pestacides, Junk Fillers, Additives, Herbicides and other dangerous chemicals!

As you can see from the above nasty ingredients your dog is not getting any of the healthy ingredients it should be getting to keep him or her in tip-top condition.

Another crucial point to consider before buying commercial dog food is whether it is the right kind of dog food for your particular dog, dogs just like humans can have allergies to certain dog foods and the secret hidden ingredients inside them, some breeds of dogs are well known for having sensitive stomachs which prevent them from digesting their food properly and so do not get the nutritional benefits from their dog food as they should.

To make sure your dog is having the right food for him it is best to make the dog food yourself so that you know exactly what your dog is eating and what ingredients it is getting, It is not as hard as you might think to prepare your own homemade dog food, you can make a batch up in one go and freeze it so it lasts the whole week!

What you need to do is look into the various healthy dog food recipes and ingredients to make sure you are feeding your dog the right type of food and you are away! You should also notice that your dog looks a lot more healthy and has more energy than before when it was on commercial food, and it will most likely live a lot longer too.



Robert

 

Dog Food Comparisons Can Make Healthier Dogs

Friday, February 5th, 2010
Ted Batron


Dog food comparisons can and should be made concerning brand and type of dog food. There are a lot of factors to think about. The process of selecting the right food involves making sure your pets health is protected. Fortunately there are dog food comparisons that can help you decide what is best for your dog.

What we want to look at are dog food products that contain natural ingredients and no preservatives or additives. Natural dog foods should contain human grade all natural chicken, organic brown rice, organic carrots, probiotics and other high nutrient products. In dog food comparisons we can readily see the advantages of natural balance dog foods. The carbohydrate and organic proteins are easier to digest, and probiotics are more easier absorbed by the body.

Many scientific studies have shown that a meat based diet is best for your dog. Many major commercial brand dog foods contain miscellaneous meat products mixed together with gluten and corn meal. Organic products contain primarily quality meat products.

When we look at dog food comparisons, we find that a dogs fur is healthier and thicker when eating a natural food diet. The dog also looses less fur through shedding. Along with that, your dog will have fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. The kinds of meat-based proteins you should look for in your dogs food is chicken, turkey, and white rice or brown rice.

Some dog food brands claim to be organic but contain only partially organic products. They may include some brown rice but also include the typical commercially produced “mystery meat” combination. Of the serveral organic products available, dog food comparisons show that the Newmans Own brand is high in nutrients and organics. Over 70% of all ingredients in Newmans Own foods are organic and include human grade all natural chicken and high levels of antioxidants. The “Newmans Own” brand carries an average price which is extremely reasonable and the quality of the products is high.

Natures Logic is the first commercially prepared 100% natural pet foods that doesn’t contain chemically synthesized nutrients.

Northwest Naturals makes a raw dog food meal that is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and are grain-free. They add ground bone as a calcium source. To add flavor to the European style pet food, you can add meat and raw or steamed veges. You can add ingredients to your dogs food to make it a tastier choice. Organically produced vegetables and meats make healthy choices. The best choice is sometimes to make your own dog food. There are several guides available on how to make a healthy and nutritious meal.

There are a lot of choices available when it comes to dog food, the healthiest meals for your dog can be found by reviewing many different dog food comparisons. The higher the percentage of meat protein, the more your dog will enjoy it, and the better the health benefits.

The health and long life of your friend is always the first consideration when choosing a dog food. And you don’t have to make a choice between health and taste. Make sure your friend is with you for a long time, and make healthy choices.



Lewis

 

Are You Killing Your Dog With Dog Foods?

Friday, February 5th, 2010
Jim McGiveron


Are you killing your dog with dog foods? That is a question that dog owners everywhere should carefully consider. Several different types of dog foods that are sold on a commercial basis have been found to have a devastating effect on the health of these pets. Research has been conducted for many years regarding this very important topic, and the evidence indicates extremely devastating results - the dog food that we purchase for our pets may be doing more harm, than good! Premature death may be experienced by dogs that consume products sold on a commercial basis. In this article, you will be given the information in order to determine are you killing your dog with dog foods?

Commercial dog food that claims to provide animals with nutrition, a healthy coat, and a high level of physical fitness has actually been found to be quite harmful. Diseases and even death may be experienced by the pet that consumes this type of food. Unsuspecting pet owners go out into the market and various stores on a daily basis in order to purchase food for their pets. These individuals will typically see several different types of dog foods on the shelves. Many will claim nutritional balance, while others include advertisements such as those that state that the dog food will be efficient in developing the health of the pet. These pet owners have no idea of the dangerous ingredients and toxins that are used in the processing of the dog food.

There are several chemicals and toxins that are contained in standard dog foods. These are considered to be so potent that they are no longer permitted to be used in foods that are consumed by humans. However, they are approved for our pet dogs - which is very unfortunate. The following medical conditions have been experienced by people who consumed the same toxins, and chemicals that dogs consume on a daily basis if they are fed commercial based dog foods:

? Failure of, or the development of cancer in the kidneys

? Cancer that forms in the bladder of the individual

? Cancers that were located in the spleen and stomach

? The loss of hair ranging from mild to severe

? Gastrointestinal complications such as diarrhea

? Visual problems, such as blindness

? The development of Leukemia

? The dysfunction and failure of the liver, and other major organs in the body

? The weakening of the immunity

? Allergies that can be mild to severe in nature

? Many have given birth to children with birth defects

As you can see, these substances really resulted in many problems when it came to human consumption. The same issue is likely to occur when it comes to pets that consume it. However, dogs are much smaller than people. It can result in a quicker onset of symptoms, and even death!

If you want to ensure the health of your pet, you can bypass all the commercial foods and simply create your own dog food. If you want to learn dog food secrets that can educate you on the health of your pet,and teach you how to create healthy foods.Remember, the health of your pet is depending on this!



Donald

 

Homemade Dog Food For The Busy Human

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Madeleine Innocent


Busy people generally tend to shy away from home prepared food for themselves as well as their dogs. But relying on others for your and your dog’s nutritional needs is likely to ensure your dog’s health will suffer, if not your own.

What it really boils down to, is time. You think preparing homemade dog food is not time efficient, perhaps messy, and how can you be sure it’s healthy? Don’t commercial pet food manufacturers know more than you do?

No. Commercial pet food manufacturers are chasing the mighty dollar, just as most people are. Generally, they have very little interest in good quality. By the time you have finished reading this article, you’ll know more than they do.

Is homemade dog food preparation going to be messy?

No, not once you have the hang of what you’re doing, which is where I come in. I’m here to help you every step of the way.

Does it take a long time to prepare homemade dog food?

No, once you’ve got the hang of what you’re doing, it incredibly quick and easy.

Just as it can be in preparing your own homemade food.

So I’ve knocked away some of the most common excuses for not preparing your homemade dog food. But, as you still hesitate, there may be one hurdle in the way, which we haven’t covered.

You have been accustomed to believe commercial dog food is better than anything else. Your vet may have told you. Your parents may have told you. You see people feeding commercial pet food all the time. Can they all be wrong?

Yes!

Because none of them are looking to their dog’s origins. Dog evolved in the wild over many thousands of years, hunting in packs in times of plenty and eating carrion or plant matter in times of famine.

In contrast, commercial dog food typically pellets, is not raw or of the quality a hunted animal is. Dogs digestive systems and nutritional requirements have not changed or adapted, just because they are now domestic.

The best way to ensure your dog maintains not just good, but excellent health is to make homemade dog food, based on a wild dog’s diet. Sure, it isn’t possible to exactly duplicate a wild dog’s diet, but we can come so close that it won’t affect your dog’s health.

When you’re shopping in the supermarket, it’s just as easy to buy raw meat and bones as it is to purchase a packet. You can buy enough to keep your dog going until the next time you shop. Freezing food is an acceptable way to keep it, as it is not so destructive as cooking. Three or four days of fresh food and the rest thawed frozen food will be absolutely adequate to maintain good health.

Once you’ve measured out the food the first time, it’s just a matter of routine.

Keeping all the ingredients together means it’s convenient.

By making your own homemade dog food, you have control over the quality and the ingredients. This is critical to your dog’s good health as many ingredients in commercial pet food is toxic, not natural, not nutritious and certainly isn’t raw.

Try your dog on raw meat and bones for a month and you’ll see a big smile on his face!

Couple that with his drastically reduced health bills, and you’ll be the next one grinning.

Warning: in older dogs there can be an initial clearing period. This is natural and normal, but can look alarming if you don’t know what’s happening.



Cormac
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