Once you start to make your own dog food, you're always be aware of the ingredients that are contained in the meals you're putting down for your furry friend. Compared to meals from home cooked dog food recipes which comprise of all-natural ingredients, commercially purchased pet meals and treats often lack the full complement of minerals and vitamins needed by your pet.
These meals are often over-flowing with chemical preservatives, and might even incorporate harmful by-products and food colouring - in high doses, these might cost your pet, her live.
As dogs are by nature carnivorous, recipes for home made dog food are normally made up of various meats. This allows the puppy all the necessary protein, which if insufficient, could cause a weak immune system, ear problems and chronic skin, aggression, excessive shedding, and diarrhoea or vomiting.
Offer your pet quality meats such as lamb, beef, or chicken, which may be mixed in with an assortment of vegetables and other nutrient-filled foods in a variety of meals once your start to make your own dog food.
Vitamins are a significant component in the pet's dietary plan. Make sure that if you prepare food it contains ingredients that are full of vitamins such as Folic Acid, Niacin, Vitamins A, E, K, B12, Niacin and Folic Acid; and minerals such as iron, potassium, sodium, and calcium - to mention a few. Imbalances in these all important minerals and vitamins could cause serious health problems to your family pet.
A deficiency of Vitamin A for instance could lead on to a weak immune system, eyesight problems and weight loss, while insufficient Vitamin B12 may lead to loss of appetite, anaemia, and changes to the bone marrow. In addition, a deficiency in the necessary minerals might lead on to convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, tissue damage and weight-loss.
With all that in mind, it can be more advantageous for you and your four legged friend, to make your own dog food. It might take up a bit more of your time, but that will be well worth the affection you'll get from your pet.
About the Author
If you're interested in getting a more detailed look at dog ownership, including a huge variety of detailed information on canine problem behaviors, dog psychology, a to z dog breed, and the most effective ways to train your dog, take a look at http://www.dogs-for-all.com/
Wednesday
Dog Health Canine Hip Dysplasia - The Free Dog Owner's Special e-Edition
Dog Health Problems
Dog health problems are on the increase and one of the most common is canine hip dysplasia. If you have ever had a pet that exhibits this dog health problem, you'l know how frustrating it can be.
I came upon the following article that covers a lot of ground relating to this dog health problem that afflicts so many of our pets.
Ask any veterinarian what is the hardest and most frustrating dog disease there is and most of them are certain to answer, "canine hip dysplasia." Canine hip dysplasia or CHD is a condition wherein the dog's thigh bone does not properly fit into the hip socket.
In this scenario, the cartilage becomes damaged, the joint slowly gets destroyed, and the dog experiences pain and swelling in the affected area. Hip dysplasia in dogs is not the same as hip arthritis. However, dog hip dysplasia is one cause of hip arthritis in dogs. The pain caused by this dog health problem is severe and very debilitating.
Canine Hip Dysplasia Can Be Inherited
Some experts believe that canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease. If an adult dog has dog hip dysplasia, it will pass the disease on to its offspring. To prevent hip dysplasia in dogs from spreading, the only solution is to not breed dogs that have the disease. One can prevent this dog health problem before it starts. The solution sounds very simple and straightforwards, but it can be a challenge to actually do it because the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia are not easy to identify in dogs. In fact, there are dogs that do have canine hip dysplasia but the symptoms are not visible until it is too late or the dogs have already been bred. In addition, dogs that are perfectly normal can have the gene for canine hip dysplasia, and they are bred, which causes the disease to be passed on. This is a common problem with registered breeds that develope all sorts of genetic dog health problems due to in-breeding.
Symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Usually, dogs with CHD appears lethargic and do not move around much. They often have a hard time getting up when they are sitting, have lameness in the back of their legs, and dislike going up the stairs. Dogs with CHD also tend to hop like a rabbit when they are running. The symptoms of canine hip dysplasia generally don't show themselves until dogs are in their middle age. However, there have been cases when dogs as young as five or six months exhibited the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia.
Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Currently, it is still not possible to determine if a dog is carrying the dog hip dysplasia gene or not. Canine hip dysplasia cannot be determined by a blood test or genetic test. Instead, veterinarians are able to diagnose the condition by physically examining the dog and taking x-rays routinely. X-rays help veterinarians assess how far along the disease is and how effective the treatment is helping. Dogs with hip dysplasia can be x-rayed using two techniques: the hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray, and the PennHIP radiography technique. The hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray gives the veterinarian a frontal view of the hip-joints and pelvis, providing the veterinarian the best view as to how severe the condition is.
PennHIP radiography is an x-ray technique that is often used to see if there are any hip looseness in dogs.
Treatment Options for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Unfortunately, canine hip dysplasia is not yet a curable disease. However, dogs diagnosed with hip dysplasia have non-surgical treatment options available to them in order to relieve them of the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia. One non-surgical treatment option is the use of pain and anti-inflammation medications. Some of the CHD drugs include Deramaxx, Ectogesic and Rimadyl.
These drugs have been found to be effective at relieving dogs of pain and inflammation, enabling them to live normal lives. Other non-surgical treatment options include physical therapy, controlled exercise and weight loss programs.If the non-surgical treatment options are not adequate, surgery is the only other treatment option. With surgery, the malformed joint can be corrected, thus eliminating the cause of the hip pain. When dealing with hip dysplasia in dogs, there are two ways to approach surgery: prophylactic surgery and therapeutic surgery. Prophylactic surgery is undertaken in order to stop the arthritis and joint problems from progressing.
Therapeutic surgery, on the other hand, is undertaken to treat hips that already has arthritis.Currently, the primary preventive surgical procedure for dogs with hip dysplasia is the triple pelvic osteotomy. In this procedure, the pelvis is cut in three different places and the hip sockets are rotated. This type of surgery is recommended for dogs whose arthritis has not yet set in or joint is not yet damaged. Pubic symphysiodesis is another preventive surgery that can be done, but only on very young dogs. This type of surgery involves manipulating the pelvis so that it grows in such a way that the hip is connected tighter. The effectiveness of this procedure is still under study.
Total hip replacement and femoral head ostectomy are two types of therapeutic surgeries available for dogs with hip dysplasia. Larger dogs with canine hip dysplasia are often the recipient of total hip replacement. In this procedure, the socket is replaced with a high density medical plastic and a non-corrosive alloy is used as a ball joint. This type of surgery enjoys a high rate of success. Dogs who undergo total hip replacement are able to resume activity and live a normal life that is free of pain.The femoral head ostectomy, on the other hand, is a type of therapeutic surgery wherein the top of the femur is removed.
As a result, the painful grinding that the dog with hip dysplasia experiences at the hip joint is eliminated. The femur is made to freely float, which causes scar tissue to form. This scar tissue then acts as a false joint. Femoral head ostectomy is not advised for dogs with mild cases of arthritis. It is most effective when done on dogs that are smaller and well-muscled.*
Prevention of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Careful breeding is one of the best way to prevent the spread of hip dysplasia in dogs. Dogs who are predisposed to CHP can be helped by controlling their weight while they are still young and making sure the hips do not take on any undue stress. If the onset of canine hip dysplasia cannot be delayed any longer, dog owners can look into dog insurance packages to help cover costs of CHD surgery. In addition, potential dog owners should look for information on breed risk before acquiring puppies. It is best to make sure that puppies being sold have an OFA, PennHip of GDC certification.
I've hoped you enjoyed this Canine Hip Dysplasia article. Learn more interesting facts about dog health and dog allergies from http://www.dognpuppies.com, an unbiased source of information for dog and puppy lovers.
Dog health problems are on the increase and one of the most common is canine hip dysplasia. If you have ever had a pet that exhibits this dog health problem, you'l know how frustrating it can be.
I came upon the following article that covers a lot of ground relating to this dog health problem that afflicts so many of our pets.
Ask any veterinarian what is the hardest and most frustrating dog disease there is and most of them are certain to answer, "canine hip dysplasia." Canine hip dysplasia or CHD is a condition wherein the dog's thigh bone does not properly fit into the hip socket.
In this scenario, the cartilage becomes damaged, the joint slowly gets destroyed, and the dog experiences pain and swelling in the affected area. Hip dysplasia in dogs is not the same as hip arthritis. However, dog hip dysplasia is one cause of hip arthritis in dogs. The pain caused by this dog health problem is severe and very debilitating.
Canine Hip Dysplasia Can Be Inherited
Some experts believe that canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease. If an adult dog has dog hip dysplasia, it will pass the disease on to its offspring. To prevent hip dysplasia in dogs from spreading, the only solution is to not breed dogs that have the disease. One can prevent this dog health problem before it starts. The solution sounds very simple and straightforwards, but it can be a challenge to actually do it because the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia are not easy to identify in dogs. In fact, there are dogs that do have canine hip dysplasia but the symptoms are not visible until it is too late or the dogs have already been bred. In addition, dogs that are perfectly normal can have the gene for canine hip dysplasia, and they are bred, which causes the disease to be passed on. This is a common problem with registered breeds that develope all sorts of genetic dog health problems due to in-breeding.
Symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Usually, dogs with CHD appears lethargic and do not move around much. They often have a hard time getting up when they are sitting, have lameness in the back of their legs, and dislike going up the stairs. Dogs with CHD also tend to hop like a rabbit when they are running. The symptoms of canine hip dysplasia generally don't show themselves until dogs are in their middle age. However, there have been cases when dogs as young as five or six months exhibited the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia.
Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Currently, it is still not possible to determine if a dog is carrying the dog hip dysplasia gene or not. Canine hip dysplasia cannot be determined by a blood test or genetic test. Instead, veterinarians are able to diagnose the condition by physically examining the dog and taking x-rays routinely. X-rays help veterinarians assess how far along the disease is and how effective the treatment is helping. Dogs with hip dysplasia can be x-rayed using two techniques: the hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray, and the PennHIP radiography technique. The hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray gives the veterinarian a frontal view of the hip-joints and pelvis, providing the veterinarian the best view as to how severe the condition is.
PennHIP radiography is an x-ray technique that is often used to see if there are any hip looseness in dogs.
Treatment Options for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Unfortunately, canine hip dysplasia is not yet a curable disease. However, dogs diagnosed with hip dysplasia have non-surgical treatment options available to them in order to relieve them of the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia. One non-surgical treatment option is the use of pain and anti-inflammation medications. Some of the CHD drugs include Deramaxx, Ectogesic and Rimadyl.
These drugs have been found to be effective at relieving dogs of pain and inflammation, enabling them to live normal lives. Other non-surgical treatment options include physical therapy, controlled exercise and weight loss programs.If the non-surgical treatment options are not adequate, surgery is the only other treatment option. With surgery, the malformed joint can be corrected, thus eliminating the cause of the hip pain. When dealing with hip dysplasia in dogs, there are two ways to approach surgery: prophylactic surgery and therapeutic surgery. Prophylactic surgery is undertaken in order to stop the arthritis and joint problems from progressing.
Therapeutic surgery, on the other hand, is undertaken to treat hips that already has arthritis.Currently, the primary preventive surgical procedure for dogs with hip dysplasia is the triple pelvic osteotomy. In this procedure, the pelvis is cut in three different places and the hip sockets are rotated. This type of surgery is recommended for dogs whose arthritis has not yet set in or joint is not yet damaged. Pubic symphysiodesis is another preventive surgery that can be done, but only on very young dogs. This type of surgery involves manipulating the pelvis so that it grows in such a way that the hip is connected tighter. The effectiveness of this procedure is still under study.
Total hip replacement and femoral head ostectomy are two types of therapeutic surgeries available for dogs with hip dysplasia. Larger dogs with canine hip dysplasia are often the recipient of total hip replacement. In this procedure, the socket is replaced with a high density medical plastic and a non-corrosive alloy is used as a ball joint. This type of surgery enjoys a high rate of success. Dogs who undergo total hip replacement are able to resume activity and live a normal life that is free of pain.The femoral head ostectomy, on the other hand, is a type of therapeutic surgery wherein the top of the femur is removed.
As a result, the painful grinding that the dog with hip dysplasia experiences at the hip joint is eliminated. The femur is made to freely float, which causes scar tissue to form. This scar tissue then acts as a false joint. Femoral head ostectomy is not advised for dogs with mild cases of arthritis. It is most effective when done on dogs that are smaller and well-muscled.*
Prevention of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Careful breeding is one of the best way to prevent the spread of hip dysplasia in dogs. Dogs who are predisposed to CHP can be helped by controlling their weight while they are still young and making sure the hips do not take on any undue stress. If the onset of canine hip dysplasia cannot be delayed any longer, dog owners can look into dog insurance packages to help cover costs of CHD surgery. In addition, potential dog owners should look for information on breed risk before acquiring puppies. It is best to make sure that puppies being sold have an OFA, PennHip of GDC certification.
I've hoped you enjoyed this Canine Hip Dysplasia article. Learn more interesting facts about dog health and dog allergies from http://www.dognpuppies.com, an unbiased source of information for dog and puppy lovers.
Sunday
What's Natural Health For Dogs and Cats?
Hi All,
I get questions quite often about using vegetarian meals for their dogs and cats for better dog health care. This question usually comes from well meaning and sensitive people who care deeply for their animals and also for the lives of farm animals. It goes against their beliefs to kill something for their dog food and they are looking for alternatives that are healthy dog food options.
Well, both cats and dogs are carnivors and there is no getting a round that. If you feed tham a vegetarian dog food diet your animals will suffer all sorts of problems. They need to eat meat in order to survive. Their systems are designed to digest meat and not large quantities of vegetable matter.
The majority of dog food related dog health problems are caused by modern commercial pet food being made of mostly vegetable products. If you want to read more about it then visit this dog food site. They have information that will key you in to what your animals are being exposed to.
The best bet for your dogs and cats is to feed them raw natural dog food food that is species appropriate. The effects on your dogs health problems and general well being will amazing. We feed our animals a healthy raw dog food food diet and they haven't seen the vet in years.
I get questions quite often about using vegetarian meals for their dogs and cats for better dog health care. This question usually comes from well meaning and sensitive people who care deeply for their animals and also for the lives of farm animals. It goes against their beliefs to kill something for their dog food and they are looking for alternatives that are healthy dog food options.
Well, both cats and dogs are carnivors and there is no getting a round that. If you feed tham a vegetarian dog food diet your animals will suffer all sorts of problems. They need to eat meat in order to survive. Their systems are designed to digest meat and not large quantities of vegetable matter.
The majority of dog food related dog health problems are caused by modern commercial pet food being made of mostly vegetable products. If you want to read more about it then visit this dog food site. They have information that will key you in to what your animals are being exposed to.
The best bet for your dogs and cats is to feed them raw natural dog food food that is species appropriate. The effects on your dogs health problems and general well being will amazing. We feed our animals a healthy raw dog food food diet and they haven't seen the vet in years.
Monday
Dog Health Paw Problems Can Be Prevented
If your dog has a paw problem, this needs immediate attention to prevent infection and other serious problems. The dog health paw problem can cause the beloved pet to become aggressive, sad and depressed. Dogs have gained the status of being a part of the family and need special care. Just like you, their health and happiness matters and only you can supply the care.
Causes of the Dog Health Paw Problem
Look at the bottom of your foot and you will see that a dog’s pads are just as soft as your foot. Imagine having a piece of glass suck in your foot. The dog will feel the same pain as you do. Dogs have a third digit bone that appears shorter and accounts for why these breeds of dogs are said to have cat feet.
Doberman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzer, Sheep dogs and Akita’s all share the cat feet along with many more breeds. Some breeds have feet called hare feet such as Samoyed, Greyhounds and some toy breeds. This paw has center toes longer than the side toes.
The paw absorbs the shock when a dog is running or jumping. When a dog runs, the paw allows for flexibility and is able to bear the weight of the animal. Checking the paws regularly for any type of infection or injury is vital to keeping the dog health paw problem from becoming an issue. Not only can the infection affect the paws, but the infection if not treated can spread to the rest of the dog’s body.
Treatment of the Dog Paw
If your dog has a paw injury, you need to clean this area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic cream. If the dog licks the area, wrapping the paw until the antibiotic cream has time to work is needed. Most dogs will take care of minor injuries themselves, but injuries that are more serious require your help and sometime a veterinarian.
Unclipped nails grow out and curl under, which will eventually grow into the pads causing open sores and in some cases, the dog cannot walk due to pain. These nails need clipping down to the pinkish part of the nail, which if clipped will bleed and cause pain to the dog. If the nails have grown long, you need to clip weekly and the pinkish part of the nail will recede until you finally have the nails short enough for comfort. Dog health paw problem issues do not have to be an issue when the dog is properly cared for.
Do not allow the dog to walk on hot sand or blacktop ground during extremely hot days. If you know what it feels like for you, it feels the same for the dog. This can burn their pads and cause a great deal of pain. Slivers of glass or fissile bushes that become embedded in the pads need to be removed with a tweezers just as you would do to yourself. Dog you have hair growing between the pads need to have the hair clipped down to prevent pain when walking. This accounts for Pekinese, Shih-Tzu’s, Yorkies and other similar dog breeds.
You can also find more info on Dog's eye care health and puppy health problems. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog's illness symptoms and treatment options.
Causes of the Dog Health Paw Problem
Look at the bottom of your foot and you will see that a dog’s pads are just as soft as your foot. Imagine having a piece of glass suck in your foot. The dog will feel the same pain as you do. Dogs have a third digit bone that appears shorter and accounts for why these breeds of dogs are said to have cat feet.
Doberman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzer, Sheep dogs and Akita’s all share the cat feet along with many more breeds. Some breeds have feet called hare feet such as Samoyed, Greyhounds and some toy breeds. This paw has center toes longer than the side toes.
The paw absorbs the shock when a dog is running or jumping. When a dog runs, the paw allows for flexibility and is able to bear the weight of the animal. Checking the paws regularly for any type of infection or injury is vital to keeping the dog health paw problem from becoming an issue. Not only can the infection affect the paws, but the infection if not treated can spread to the rest of the dog’s body.
Treatment of the Dog Paw
If your dog has a paw injury, you need to clean this area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic cream. If the dog licks the area, wrapping the paw until the antibiotic cream has time to work is needed. Most dogs will take care of minor injuries themselves, but injuries that are more serious require your help and sometime a veterinarian.
Unclipped nails grow out and curl under, which will eventually grow into the pads causing open sores and in some cases, the dog cannot walk due to pain. These nails need clipping down to the pinkish part of the nail, which if clipped will bleed and cause pain to the dog. If the nails have grown long, you need to clip weekly and the pinkish part of the nail will recede until you finally have the nails short enough for comfort. Dog health paw problem issues do not have to be an issue when the dog is properly cared for.
Do not allow the dog to walk on hot sand or blacktop ground during extremely hot days. If you know what it feels like for you, it feels the same for the dog. This can burn their pads and cause a great deal of pain. Slivers of glass or fissile bushes that become embedded in the pads need to be removed with a tweezers just as you would do to yourself. Dog you have hair growing between the pads need to have the hair clipped down to prevent pain when walking. This accounts for Pekinese, Shih-Tzu’s, Yorkies and other similar dog breeds.
You can also find more info on Dog's eye care health and puppy health problems. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog's illness symptoms and treatment options.
Wednesday
Adverse Affects Of Commercial Dog Food
How we love our dogs in the United States! We spend billions of dollars not only on necessities like food and medical care, but on luxuries such as clothing, carriages, and knick-knacks that our forefathers could never have imagined buying for an animal.
We believe that the pet industry has our animals' well-being as its number one priority. The sad fact, though, is that most companies that make and sell animal food and supplies really are concerned with one thing: making money from our devotion to our animals. Stark proof of this came earlier in 2007 when scores of American pets died due to a toxin added to pet food to boost the protein. This event has caused us all to be more skeptical of the commercial dog food industry.
What is in dog food anyway, and is it beneficial or detrimental to our beloved dogs? Any astute dog owner is wise to ask this question, and will most likely be shocked by the answer: lots of garbage, waste, fillers, and toxins go into FiFi and Fido's kibbles.
First of all, many dog foods contain grains, such as wheat, oats, rice, barley, and corn, as the main ingredient, rather than animal protein. Dogs are carnivores and were not designed by Mother Nature to digest and use large amounts of grains.
Carnivores' diets should consist almost exclusively of animal products. In the wild, you see wolves eating animals that are vegetarians. That is, given the choice, they kill and eat deer, elk, buffalo, and other hoofed mammals. They resort to smaller mammals like rodents and rabbits when large game is unavailable. Wolves just don't raid our gardens or destroy our wheat and corn fields.
Nature intended for canines to eat animal protein. Forcing our dogs to eat lots of grains causes all sorts of digestive problems and is thought to be a major reason why dogs develop allergies.
As bad as it is for our dogs to be subsisting on grains long-term, the animal products used to make commercial dog food are often much worse. Read the label on any dog food you purchase. You want to see the word "meat" first in the list of ingredients. That word can only be used to refer to the muscle tissue of cows, pigs, sheep and goats. So far, so good. After all, that's what humans are eating when we enjoy steak or pork chops, the muscle tissue of the animal.
Be aware that when you see the words "meal" or "by-product," your dog could be eating heads, hooves, organs, or any part of any animal. Now for the worst part: these two terms encompass not only beef, pork, or sheep, but may refer to road-kill, waste products (yup, feces), or even euthanized pets. Any number of poisons, toxins, and bacteria can be present in dog food that has been made using such waste and detritus. Don't feed your dog any food that lists meal or by-products in the ingredients! Your dog can suffer illness, poisoning, stomach upset, diarrhea, disorientation, or even death from ingesting these ingredients.
Finally, watch out for fillers and preservatives. These ingredients aren't even good for omnivores, like humans, who have digestive systems designed to handle variety. But for dogs, who are supposed to be eating only meat, these additives are unnecessary and unhealthy. Additives in dog food are good for one thing: to boost the bottom line of the manufacturer. They certainly aren't intended to enhance your dog's health.
For additional information on how to keep your dog healthy and happy, please visit http://www.dogearyeastinfection.com, a website that features helpful dog-related articles, information, resources, and E-books for health-conscious and loving dog owners who want the best for their canine companion
We believe that the pet industry has our animals' well-being as its number one priority. The sad fact, though, is that most companies that make and sell animal food and supplies really are concerned with one thing: making money from our devotion to our animals. Stark proof of this came earlier in 2007 when scores of American pets died due to a toxin added to pet food to boost the protein. This event has caused us all to be more skeptical of the commercial dog food industry.
What is in dog food anyway, and is it beneficial or detrimental to our beloved dogs? Any astute dog owner is wise to ask this question, and will most likely be shocked by the answer: lots of garbage, waste, fillers, and toxins go into FiFi and Fido's kibbles.
First of all, many dog foods contain grains, such as wheat, oats, rice, barley, and corn, as the main ingredient, rather than animal protein. Dogs are carnivores and were not designed by Mother Nature to digest and use large amounts of grains.
Carnivores' diets should consist almost exclusively of animal products. In the wild, you see wolves eating animals that are vegetarians. That is, given the choice, they kill and eat deer, elk, buffalo, and other hoofed mammals. They resort to smaller mammals like rodents and rabbits when large game is unavailable. Wolves just don't raid our gardens or destroy our wheat and corn fields.
Nature intended for canines to eat animal protein. Forcing our dogs to eat lots of grains causes all sorts of digestive problems and is thought to be a major reason why dogs develop allergies.
As bad as it is for our dogs to be subsisting on grains long-term, the animal products used to make commercial dog food are often much worse. Read the label on any dog food you purchase. You want to see the word "meat" first in the list of ingredients. That word can only be used to refer to the muscle tissue of cows, pigs, sheep and goats. So far, so good. After all, that's what humans are eating when we enjoy steak or pork chops, the muscle tissue of the animal.
Be aware that when you see the words "meal" or "by-product," your dog could be eating heads, hooves, organs, or any part of any animal. Now for the worst part: these two terms encompass not only beef, pork, or sheep, but may refer to road-kill, waste products (yup, feces), or even euthanized pets. Any number of poisons, toxins, and bacteria can be present in dog food that has been made using such waste and detritus. Don't feed your dog any food that lists meal or by-products in the ingredients! Your dog can suffer illness, poisoning, stomach upset, diarrhea, disorientation, or even death from ingesting these ingredients.
Finally, watch out for fillers and preservatives. These ingredients aren't even good for omnivores, like humans, who have digestive systems designed to handle variety. But for dogs, who are supposed to be eating only meat, these additives are unnecessary and unhealthy. Additives in dog food are good for one thing: to boost the bottom line of the manufacturer. They certainly aren't intended to enhance your dog's health.
For additional information on how to keep your dog healthy and happy, please visit http://www.dogearyeastinfection.com, a website that features helpful dog-related articles, information, resources, and E-books for health-conscious and loving dog owners who want the best for their canine companion
Monday
Is Dog Health Insurance As Stupid As It Sounds
I came across the following article which I thought you may be interested in. It puts forward the notion that as with humans, the costs of caring for your dog or other pets are getting so high that you will require medical insurance to meet the costs. I will post a comment later on what my take on this is. For now, just have a read through and let me know what you think...
You can insure your house, your car, your boat, and your life, and now, thanks to dog and cat health insurance, Fluffy and Fido can have their own protection, too. But what exactly is it, and is it really as stupid as it sounds? Maybe not. In fact, it could be quite sensible; read on.
This form of insurance isn't about paying you money if the pet dies; it's about giving the pet (or, more realistically, the person taking care of the animal) some money should you die. This option is particularly favored among the elderly, people who are fond of their pets, and know that there is a good chance that their animal will outlive them.
In essence, you pay a certain amount of money monthly to a trust, and, should you die before your animal does, the trust will then pay a certain amount of money monthly to the person designated your pet's guardian in your will. This is an especially desirable option if you already know who you want to look after your pet should you die--someone both you and your pet like--but you're concerned that they not be saddled with the cost of caring for your pet. This can be a wise investment choice for both you and Fluffy or Fido.
But dog and cat health insurance must be handled carefully. Don't purchase it and then start looking for someone to manage the money and care for your pet when you're gone; greed may cause your animal to get the rotten end of the stick. Instead, find someone you trust. Discuss the possibility of their taking care of your pet when you die. If it's someone you feel comfortable with, and someone your pet seems to genuinely like, then you may wish to let them know that you've purchased pet insurance to help with the costs of pet care after you're gone. Before that, however, it's never a good idea.
A similar idea, with similar problems, is a pet trust, where a certain amount of money is put into a special savings account, with the interest going to help pay for pet care after your death. The same problems exist here as with insurance--namely, finding someone you can trust to care for the pet--but there are some significant differences. For instance, with a trust, a large lump sum is generally required to start the trust, with the option of adding to it later on; with insurance, you make monthly payments.
Over time they can add up to more than the trust would cost, but the money is spread out. Plus, depending on the interest rate you've gone with, you can have to come up with quite a large sum of money to begin with, just to make those cat food payments. With insurance, you're guaranteed the amount you signed up for, no matter what.
But, in the end, it isn't as much about trust funds versus dog and cat health insurance as it is setting aside a little something ensure that your best friend isn't forgotten after you're gone.
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on pet insurance and pet medical insurance at http://www.petinsurancegroup.com
Let me know what you think about these pet dog health issues. Because I think that something is drastically wrong when you've got start insuring against diseases and disorders that are the result of incorrect feeding and poor quality dog food.
You can insure your house, your car, your boat, and your life, and now, thanks to dog and cat health insurance, Fluffy and Fido can have their own protection, too. But what exactly is it, and is it really as stupid as it sounds? Maybe not. In fact, it could be quite sensible; read on.
This form of insurance isn't about paying you money if the pet dies; it's about giving the pet (or, more realistically, the person taking care of the animal) some money should you die. This option is particularly favored among the elderly, people who are fond of their pets, and know that there is a good chance that their animal will outlive them.
In essence, you pay a certain amount of money monthly to a trust, and, should you die before your animal does, the trust will then pay a certain amount of money monthly to the person designated your pet's guardian in your will. This is an especially desirable option if you already know who you want to look after your pet should you die--someone both you and your pet like--but you're concerned that they not be saddled with the cost of caring for your pet. This can be a wise investment choice for both you and Fluffy or Fido.
But dog and cat health insurance must be handled carefully. Don't purchase it and then start looking for someone to manage the money and care for your pet when you're gone; greed may cause your animal to get the rotten end of the stick. Instead, find someone you trust. Discuss the possibility of their taking care of your pet when you die. If it's someone you feel comfortable with, and someone your pet seems to genuinely like, then you may wish to let them know that you've purchased pet insurance to help with the costs of pet care after you're gone. Before that, however, it's never a good idea.
A similar idea, with similar problems, is a pet trust, where a certain amount of money is put into a special savings account, with the interest going to help pay for pet care after your death. The same problems exist here as with insurance--namely, finding someone you can trust to care for the pet--but there are some significant differences. For instance, with a trust, a large lump sum is generally required to start the trust, with the option of adding to it later on; with insurance, you make monthly payments.
Over time they can add up to more than the trust would cost, but the money is spread out. Plus, depending on the interest rate you've gone with, you can have to come up with quite a large sum of money to begin with, just to make those cat food payments. With insurance, you're guaranteed the amount you signed up for, no matter what.
But, in the end, it isn't as much about trust funds versus dog and cat health insurance as it is setting aside a little something ensure that your best friend isn't forgotten after you're gone.
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on pet insurance and pet medical insurance at http://www.petinsurancegroup.com
Let me know what you think about these pet dog health issues. Because I think that something is drastically wrong when you've got start insuring against diseases and disorders that are the result of incorrect feeding and poor quality dog food.
Saturday
What I've Just Learn't About Dog Health Care
Hi all,
If you have the time then may I suggest that you pop over to this Dog Health Care site. I've been reading up on what is in our commercial foods and it makes for very interesting reading.
The information here could literally save your dog's life.
I've always advocated feeding a natural and healthy diet to my dogs and the information here does a better job of convincing you than I could.
Have a great weekend and speak to you next week.
If you have the time then may I suggest that you pop over to this Dog Health Care site. I've been reading up on what is in our commercial foods and it makes for very interesting reading.
The information here could literally save your dog's life.
I've always advocated feeding a natural and healthy diet to my dogs and the information here does a better job of convincing you than I could.
Have a great weekend and speak to you next week.
So What's the Best Dog Health Food?
I just thought I'd comment on my last post. I am constantly having discusions with dog owners about the pros and cons of feeding a raw food diet. Virtualy every pet owner has bought into the advertising hype surrounding the so-called veterinary brand foods. They and their vets are so blinded by the advertising message that they fail to use common sense.
The facts are that if you visit a dog food manufacturing facility and watch your pets food being made, you'll see that it is cooked at high temperature and then is either coated with an oily substance or put into a negative pressure vessel where the oils are injected in. It stands to reason that most of the goodness is being cooked out of the food to start with and secondly the oxidation process starts the minute the oils are introduced to the cooked biscuit.
The product is denuded of it's vitimins and nutrients before it is even put in the bag! How many times have you heard nutritionist tell you to eat your fresh fruit and vegetables. The reason is that your body needs live healthy nutrients to survivor and fight off disease. Your pets are no different in this requirement. The only difference is that they are carnivores that require fresh meat and fat followed by small amounts of vegetable matter.
You'll know by now that I hate the idea of my animals eating dead, nutrientless cooked food. The answer is to feed them what mother nature intended. And that is raw meat, bones and vegetable matter. The resource I have found introduces you to the best dog health food. Go and take a look, your pets will thank you for it with improved health and extended care-free years.
Always bear in mind that your vet is not a trained nutritionist. He is most likely paid big money by the pet food manufacturers to market specific brand name foods. Try asking what the labels on the packet mean and you'll find, like did that he can't even answer the basic questions about why the ingredients are in the food and what they do. I'm not saying that they are all bad, all I'm saying is that commercial interests sometimes play a greater role in how your pet is treated than concern for their long term health and happiness.
Have a great day, thanks for reading and come visit again soon.
The facts are that if you visit a dog food manufacturing facility and watch your pets food being made, you'll see that it is cooked at high temperature and then is either coated with an oily substance or put into a negative pressure vessel where the oils are injected in. It stands to reason that most of the goodness is being cooked out of the food to start with and secondly the oxidation process starts the minute the oils are introduced to the cooked biscuit.
The product is denuded of it's vitimins and nutrients before it is even put in the bag! How many times have you heard nutritionist tell you to eat your fresh fruit and vegetables. The reason is that your body needs live healthy nutrients to survivor and fight off disease. Your pets are no different in this requirement. The only difference is that they are carnivores that require fresh meat and fat followed by small amounts of vegetable matter.
You'll know by now that I hate the idea of my animals eating dead, nutrientless cooked food. The answer is to feed them what mother nature intended. And that is raw meat, bones and vegetable matter. The resource I have found introduces you to the best dog health food. Go and take a look, your pets will thank you for it with improved health and extended care-free years.
Always bear in mind that your vet is not a trained nutritionist. He is most likely paid big money by the pet food manufacturers to market specific brand name foods. Try asking what the labels on the packet mean and you'll find, like did that he can't even answer the basic questions about why the ingredients are in the food and what they do. I'm not saying that they are all bad, all I'm saying is that commercial interests sometimes play a greater role in how your pet is treated than concern for their long term health and happiness.
Have a great day, thanks for reading and come visit again soon.
Friday
Pet Food Safety - Home Made Can Eliminate Uncertainty
The latest outbreak of dog food and cat food contamination has shaken the confidence of pet owners the world over, but nowhere as much as in the United States where illness and reported deaths took its highest toll of family pets. Now, in the aftermath of large scale pet food recalls, many are asking questions about the ingredients that they've always trusted to provide optimum health for their family pets.
It comes as no real surprise now that many pet owners are choosing to make their own homegrown variety of pet nutrition. When made properly, it has to be a better option than all that imported stuff with unknown ingredients of suspicious composition and origin. In fact, many say it's not too difficult at all and fairly inexpensive to make. But, a number of experts caution that homemade diets won't work for every pet or its owner. Some dogs and cats have a more difficult time adjusting to a new diet and the new process itself may simply be too labor intensive and inconvenient for many owners. The choice should be made only after careful consideration.
For starters, you can have your family vet or a recommended veterinary nutritionist put together a starter diet for you to try. On the other hand, if you prefer, do the nutritional research yourself. It's unfortunate, but the rap against vets today, is similar to what doctors experienced in years past, that they know a lot about medicine, but were never taught much about nutrition. And, the veterinary nutritionists are accused of being little more than puppets, with the pet food manufacturers pulling the strings. There may be an element of truth to both, but in any case you'll have to use your own judgment. However, having a few sample diets to follow while getting started will most likely be helpful.
The most responsible advice is to suggest paying close attention to your dog or cat. You know your pet better than anyone, so you should quickly notice changes in the quality of their health, such as energy levels, condition of their coat and stool texture. So, keep a close eye out for any subtle changes during the transition, as you would with changes to any food. When you decide to begin with your homemade dog foods, do it gradually by mixing the new food into the old food for a couple of weeks. Slowly increase the ratio of new to old each day as you monitor your pet's adjustment.
Another trend of late has some owners feeding their pets a diet based largely on raw meat, vegetables and fruits. In fact, many people believe it's the most natural and therefore the healthiest choice for pets. Melinda Miller, president of the North American Raw Pet Food Association recently stated, "There are a wide variety of benefits. Animals with arthritis and longstanding gastrointestinal ailments or a dogs skin problems often improve significantly after being placed on grain-free raw diets".
For those who might be concerned about introducing contaminants into their own diets, it's important to note here that the more common phobias and issues related to food borne microbes, such as salmonella are largely unfounded, with no real evidence of actual cases of illness to animals or humans when the meat is fresh and handled in an appropriate manner. Melinda Miller added, "no study has ever correlated human illness with raw-fed dogs or cats." Raw food diets are popular in Europe and have gained significant interest in America over the past twenty years, so it can be considered yet another possible alternative over the store bought brands.
A Word of Caution:
Don't just think that you can feed your pet table scraps and assume it to be a viable nutritional alternative. It's not! Pets have special needs just as we do, so do your homework. There are many online resources, and even pet food cookbooks to help make things a lot easier. But, in the meantime, don't just feed them what you're eating. At the very least, they won't be getting the nutrition they need, and the things you're giving them could make them sick or even kill them.
Here's a short list of foods that can be toxic for animals and should always be avoided, even in small quantities: chocolate, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, grapes, raisins, potato peelings, tomatoes (cats) and drinks containing caffeine or alcohol. The list for your particular pet may include other dangerous or sickening foods, so think before you toss.
Making your own pet foods can certainly be a loving and caring way to guarantee that your pet gets the healthy nutrition it deserves and without the risk of unknown contaminants. But, do your cost/benefit research first as to ensure a situation that you're comfortable with including dollars, time and balanced nutrition. Carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages for both you and your pet before deciding on this trendy alternative.
For more information regarding the care, development and safety of the family pet, please visit
All About Dogs.
Copyright 2007 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.
It comes as no real surprise now that many pet owners are choosing to make their own homegrown variety of pet nutrition. When made properly, it has to be a better option than all that imported stuff with unknown ingredients of suspicious composition and origin. In fact, many say it's not too difficult at all and fairly inexpensive to make. But, a number of experts caution that homemade diets won't work for every pet or its owner. Some dogs and cats have a more difficult time adjusting to a new diet and the new process itself may simply be too labor intensive and inconvenient for many owners. The choice should be made only after careful consideration.
For starters, you can have your family vet or a recommended veterinary nutritionist put together a starter diet for you to try. On the other hand, if you prefer, do the nutritional research yourself. It's unfortunate, but the rap against vets today, is similar to what doctors experienced in years past, that they know a lot about medicine, but were never taught much about nutrition. And, the veterinary nutritionists are accused of being little more than puppets, with the pet food manufacturers pulling the strings. There may be an element of truth to both, but in any case you'll have to use your own judgment. However, having a few sample diets to follow while getting started will most likely be helpful.
The most responsible advice is to suggest paying close attention to your dog or cat. You know your pet better than anyone, so you should quickly notice changes in the quality of their health, such as energy levels, condition of their coat and stool texture. So, keep a close eye out for any subtle changes during the transition, as you would with changes to any food. When you decide to begin with your homemade dog foods, do it gradually by mixing the new food into the old food for a couple of weeks. Slowly increase the ratio of new to old each day as you monitor your pet's adjustment.
Another trend of late has some owners feeding their pets a diet based largely on raw meat, vegetables and fruits. In fact, many people believe it's the most natural and therefore the healthiest choice for pets. Melinda Miller, president of the North American Raw Pet Food Association recently stated, "There are a wide variety of benefits. Animals with arthritis and longstanding gastrointestinal ailments or a dogs skin problems often improve significantly after being placed on grain-free raw diets".
For those who might be concerned about introducing contaminants into their own diets, it's important to note here that the more common phobias and issues related to food borne microbes, such as salmonella are largely unfounded, with no real evidence of actual cases of illness to animals or humans when the meat is fresh and handled in an appropriate manner. Melinda Miller added, "no study has ever correlated human illness with raw-fed dogs or cats." Raw food diets are popular in Europe and have gained significant interest in America over the past twenty years, so it can be considered yet another possible alternative over the store bought brands.
A Word of Caution:
Don't just think that you can feed your pet table scraps and assume it to be a viable nutritional alternative. It's not! Pets have special needs just as we do, so do your homework. There are many online resources, and even pet food cookbooks to help make things a lot easier. But, in the meantime, don't just feed them what you're eating. At the very least, they won't be getting the nutrition they need, and the things you're giving them could make them sick or even kill them.
Here's a short list of foods that can be toxic for animals and should always be avoided, even in small quantities: chocolate, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, grapes, raisins, potato peelings, tomatoes (cats) and drinks containing caffeine or alcohol. The list for your particular pet may include other dangerous or sickening foods, so think before you toss.
Making your own pet foods can certainly be a loving and caring way to guarantee that your pet gets the healthy nutrition it deserves and without the risk of unknown contaminants. But, do your cost/benefit research first as to ensure a situation that you're comfortable with including dollars, time and balanced nutrition. Carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages for both you and your pet before deciding on this trendy alternative.
For more information regarding the care, development and safety of the family pet, please visit
All About Dogs.
Copyright 2007 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.
You'll Find Info on Dog Training, Dog Food and Dog Health Problems Here
Hi and thanks for visiting. I have always been surrounded by my pets, especially my dogs. They provide hours of joy and attention not to mention being good security. I want to let you know all about the resources I've found to help look after your pet. These resources include books, courses and products that will help you keep your dog healthy and safe.
I came across an excellent resource to help with feeding your dog the right food. With all the problems we have seen lately in the pet food manufacturing industry, it is easy to loose sight of the fact that a large number of diseases and problems that our animals are experiencing are as a result of the pet food industry themselves. Ask a your vet and he or she will tell you that 20 to 30 years ago most of the cancer and problems they deal with didn't exist or were very few in number.
With the poisons, bad quality ingredients, use of corn and other allergens in the manufacturing process and not to mention the fact that it's been a long time since I can remember coming across a pack of dogs have a BBQ or cooking up some porridge for breakfast ;-).
I can really recommend this book on dog food. It is packed with information that you can use right now to reduce your feeding costs yet give your pet the food and nutrients they really need.
Until next time,
I came across an excellent resource to help with feeding your dog the right food. With all the problems we have seen lately in the pet food manufacturing industry, it is easy to loose sight of the fact that a large number of diseases and problems that our animals are experiencing are as a result of the pet food industry themselves. Ask a your vet and he or she will tell you that 20 to 30 years ago most of the cancer and problems they deal with didn't exist or were very few in number.
With the poisons, bad quality ingredients, use of corn and other allergens in the manufacturing process and not to mention the fact that it's been a long time since I can remember coming across a pack of dogs have a BBQ or cooking up some porridge for breakfast ;-).
I can really recommend this book on dog food. It is packed with information that you can use right now to reduce your feeding costs yet give your pet the food and nutrients they really need.
Until next time,
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