Archive for the ‘Dog Food’ Category
Finding a convenient dog food storage container has always seemed to be an issue. We have two dogs and each has their own special diet. We were looking for a container that could fit in a small space and accommodate both types of dog food.
We came across a dog food storage bin that fit the bill perfectly. It is made from heavy duty plastic with a door in the front and is made to stack. Each container holds a large bag of dog food and since they can stack, they do not take up very much room.
Celebrating Thanksgiving centers around football and food; with turkey, ham, and all the fixings a desire among dog owners and certainly anticipated by our dogs is a Thanksgiving plate just for them. While the meal generally has all the food groups from protein, starch, and vegetables, the menu would certainly be healthy for your dog.
However, if your dog is not use to a homemade dog food diet than the consequences of fixing a plate can send your dog’s digestive system in a tailspin. It is never a good idea to change your dogs’ diet all at once, but rather a gradual change will allow him or her to acclimate to the change.
So unless you regularly prepare a homemade all natural dog food diet, resist the temptation of fixing a plate for dog. If not you will be cleaning up more than the nights dirty dishes.
Your dog’s health and wellbeing depends on the type of dog food you purchase. The first challenge for dog and pet owners is choosing a quality dog food. In determining a quality dog food the term that seems to rise to the top is “human grade.”
Human Grade refers to the ingredients used to manufacture the dog food. These ingredients are considered suitable for human consumption as opposed to some commercial grade dog food ingredients unacceptable for humans. They use less desirable and unusable cuts of meat that cannot be used for anything but dog food.
Today, dog and pet owners have a wide range of all-nature quality dog food to choose from. Reading the labels of these products reveals all by stating meat, chicken, or fish as the first ingredient instead of meat by-product or protein substitute. Beware of first ingredients that say soy-protein, corn or corn meal. These are usually from cheap dog foods that offer little to no nutritional value for your dog.
Pet nutrition experts agree that quality dog food contains ingredients fit for human consumption. Studies have shown a direct link in a healthy coat, firmer stools, and over-all health to a diet from a quality dog food. Remember the old adage “you get what you pay for” purchasing a quality dog food with wholesome ingredients will provide a better quality of life for both you and your dog.
Overweight Dogs – Helping Your Dog Shed the Gain
During your last Vet visit did you receive a scolding about your dog’s weight; perhaps you noticed
your dog is a little plumper these days. Well you are not alone; many dog owners have experienced the health problem of overweight dogs.
One of the easiest ways you can help your overweight dog is by not giving them people food. Most dog owners know that giving your dog chocolate is harmful even fatal in some cases, but there are a host of other people foods as well that can cause severe dog health problems.
If this is not the reason for your overweight dog, then you will need to adjust his/hers intact of dog food as well as perhaps change to a leaner dog food. A dog weighting 50lbs. should eat about 2 to 2.5 cups of dry dog food a day. If you are feeding 3 to 4 cups you will need to very gradually cut back to help your overweight dog.
This will take time, start by cutting back 10% for example if you give your dog 4 cups cut it down to 3 ¾ cups of dry dog food for their daily feeding. Leave it that way for about 30 days or for the length of time recommended by your Vet for your dog. Continue to cut back by another 10% for the next 30 days and so on until they are receiving the proper amount of food. This program will prevent a shock to your dog’s system.
Remember no people food. Following this plan will bring your overweight dog back to a healthier size further reducing other dog health problems.
Changing your dog food is something that should be a part of your dogs life. Dry dog food today, comes mixed based on the dog’s age, breed size, general dog health, and activity level. After your dog reaches the age of one year old, it is time to move them into adult dog food.
Should your dog experience obesity, then a lean dog food is in order or for older dogs that are less active a leaner dry dog food will aid in preventing weight gain. As dog owners, reading the labels on the dog food bag is something we should take to heart, as a quality dog food diet is a key component in their overall health.
Radically changing dog food is the main cause of diarrhea and other intestinal issues in dog health. When it is necessary to introduce a new dog food to your dog diet, make the change gradual. Begin by adding 25% of the new dog food mixed with the old. Over the period of two to three weeks, slowly increase the percentage of new dog food until the old is no longer part of their diet.