Posts Tagged ‘dog food’

Dog Food Allergies Are Not Invisible

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

It’s not hard to understand why people go to big box stores and buy one of the cheapest dog foods they have. I’ll be the first to agree that times are hard for some people and they have to cut corners any and every way they can. But, let’s think about that cheap dog food and what it really costs.

It’s not a surprise to most people that companies are trying to stay profitable in these trying times and are cutting corners with the ingredients of their food to facilitate this. An example might be reducing the amount of quality meat in the dog food and replacing it with a less expensive alternative. They know that fillers like corn meal and wheat can make a dog feel just as full as a quality protein. To make sure they eat it, the companies will even add more fat to give it flavor so dogs are sure to gobble it up.

The key is that “some dogs” are not bothered by these cheaper made foods with fillers. They can eat these foods day in and day out without any noticeable side effect. So, what is the problem?

What if we think about this from a human perspective and ask, “Would you want to eat cheap food for the remainder of your life?” Perhaps you would not notice any changes within a few days, but what about week after eating that junk? We’re condemning our dogs in the same way by feeding them the fillers and by-products found in some cheaply made dog foods. Some dogs will eat the food and enjoy it because of the added fat. Boy, wouldn’t that be delicious?

Sometimes though, the dog allergy symptoms might take weeks to occur with your dog scratching at places where there wasn’t a problem earlier. Maybe this itching was caused by other issues like fleas and no one thinks of the food as a suspect. Eventually, the subtle scratching becomes worse and before you know it, a dog food allergy is in full effect.

By the time your dog is due for his next vet appointment, he may be scratching almost the entire day but you don’t comprehend why. While at the vet, your dog gets a steroid shot, but once it wears off the dog allergy symptoms return.

I’ll admit that I’ve painted a grim picture here, but I have seen it happen with my own eyes. Sometimes, that inexpensive bag of dog food can cause dog food allergies which, a month or two down the road, you may not relate to changing your pet’s food.

Joseph Reeton enjoys writing about how to find a good allergy dog food and also helping people end dog food allergy.

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High Fiber Dog Food: Is it A Good Option?

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Dogs are put on high fiber dog food diets for a few different reasons, but most often it is to help with digestive and intestinal problems. Of course all pet foods contain at least some fiber, and some contain far more than others, and from much healthier sources. Regular brands of commercial dog food typically contain fewer than 4% crude fiber, but those specifically formulated with additional sources of fiber will contain a minimum of 10%.

Some of the ingredients you will find in high fiber dog food include corn and its byproducts, soybean hulls, beet pulp, rice, and whole grains and cereals like barley and oats. Fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes are also often included in dog foods with higher fiber content.

You’ve probably heard of the importance of fiber in our diet but many pet owners don’t realize the impact it can have on their dogs. Problems like obesity, constipation, and anal gland disease are all often treated with a high fiber diet, which is said to reduce the risk of colon cancer. High fiber ingredients are usually lower in calories and will cause your dog to feel fuller longer, but without the added calories that contribute to weight gain.

As a general rule, the bulkier a dog’s stools are, the easier time it will have digesting food as the intestinal tract will be more stimulated than usual. Fiber is necessary for regulating bowel movements as it works to absorb liquids from foods. Anal gland disease is yet another reason dogs need a certain amount of fiber to be healthy. Anal glands, also called scent glands, secrete fluid and may become infected, abscessed, and impacted. However, with a high fiber diet that puts excess pressure on the intestines and glands, the problem may be eliminated. Fuller, bulkier stools that come after switching to a high fiber diet are actually helpful as they stimulate the dog’s intestinal tract, which in turn usually helps to eliminate the problem of constipation.

But, as is the case with just about anything, too much fiber can be bad for your dog’s health. Besides diarrhea and excessive flatulence, too much fiber can inhibit the way the body absorbs the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs.

Three of the Best Choices When It Comes To Dog Food With High Fiber Content:

Here are three of the best brands of high fiber food based on ingredients, price, and consumer opinion:

- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet High Fiber Dog Food: Royal Canin’s Calorie Control CC 26 dog food is formulated to aid with weight loss and contains more than eighteen percent of crude fiber. To purchase this food from Royal Canin you will need a prescription from your veterinarian. For the large 33-pound bag, expect to pay an average of around $74 and $20 for the small six-pound bag.

- Adult Lite Formula from Doctors Foster and Smith: This chicken and brown rice blend includes whole grains like brown rice and barley as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and reduced calories in comparison to other, similar dog foods. This brand contains thirteen percent crude fiber and averages around $10 for a five pound package and $35 for the larger 23 pound bag.

- Hill’s Science Diet: Averaging around $14 for a small, 5 pound bag and $50 for the 40 pound size, Adult Lite Dog Food from Hill’s Science Diet contains 18.5% of crude fiber thanks to ingredients like whole grain corn that’s been ground, soybean meal, and soybean mill run. This high fiber food also contains added vitamins and minerals.

Before increasing the fiber in your dog’s diet, always check with your veterinarian to ensure there isn’t another solution that might be more appropriate. Also, if you are switching brands or types of dog foods, only do so gradually to avoid upsetting their stomach or exacerbating any existing digestive problems.

Disclaimer: This article’s content is opinion only and is simply meant to provide the reader with general information. Nothing in this article should be looked upon as being medical advice. Always seek your veterinarian’s opinion before altering your dog’s diet in a major way.

Visit my blog to learn more about high fiber dog food. You’ll also read about how to effectively compare dog foods and ways to make your own dog food.

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An Off-The-Wall Approach to Finding Discount Dog Food

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

By taking advantage of discount dog food you can generally save quite a bit of money. However this type of pet food is not always easily found and you do have to put in the footwork in order to find it.

If you truly want to find discount dog food here are five tips to help make it easier for you to save you a lot of money.

1. Close to Expired

Many pet stores and grocery stores face a constant problem of product expiration. You can use this to your advantage by offering to buy any products that are close to expiration for a steep discount.

2. Buy in Bulk

Just like when you buy groceries for yourself, you can save a lot of money on pet food if you buy it in bulk. By buying a larger bag of food or multiple bags you can often get a good discount. In order to preserve some of this food longer you may want to think about refrigerating it or putting it in the freezer.

3. Ranch Stores

Ranch stores or farm stores often by larger bags of food and offer them at steeper discounts then what you can find at pet stores or grocery stores. You might have to drive a little bit further to find these stores but sometimes they’re worth the trip.

4. Your Local Co-Op

By joining a local co-op you can also have access to discounted products as well. Just like with farm and ranch stores, co-ops generally by their pet food in bulk.

5. Promotions

Be sure to take advantage of local promotions and sales. By combining coupons with these promotions you can usually double what you would normally save by just using a coupon alone.

If you want to save as much money on discount dog food as possible, then you may want to think about trying to employ several of these approaches. While not all of them may be available in your part of the country at least a few of them will be.

To learn even more about discount dog food please visit my website to learn all about how to slash your veterinary bills.

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3 Major Flaws with Canned Dog Foods

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Many people have a hard time deciding whether or not they should feed canned dog foods or dry. Some people make the mistake of only feeding canned dog foods, but this is not usually the best thing to do.

If you’re still having trouble deciding on whether or not to feed dry or canned pet food, here are some facts and recommendations that you really should consider.

1. Dry dog food normally has at least 1.2% fiber as fed which is normally up to six times as much fiber then is found in canned products. Normally canned dog foods have as little as 0.2% fiber on an as fed basis.

2. Canned pet products obviously have a much larger moisture content than dry food. But this should not be one of your determining factors between the two, unless you’re feeding pets that need to be hydrated.

3. Calories is a third major difference between the two different types of products. Because canned dog foods have a lot of moisture content they are much more dense in calories. Whereas canned dog foods normally only have 200 kcal/lb, dry dog foods have about 1600 kcal/lb.

These are the three major differences between the two, and here are several important reasons why it is recommended that you feed dry dog food.

First of all, the harder kibble is much better at keeping your dogs teeth clean and their gums healthy.

Second of all, dry dog food is much higher in fiber and is therefore better for your dog’s digestive tract.

And lastly, dry dog foods are usually much less expensive, because you don’t have to pay for all that water that you get when you buy canned products.

In summary, unless you have very good reasons for feeding canned dog foods, you should start feeding all your dogs a dry product.

For more arguments on the subject of canned dog food, please visit Top Dog Foods today.

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5 Diet Dog Food Tips for Amazing Results

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Diet dog food used to be very high hard to find on store shelves. But now it is becoming more common and certain types of diet dog food can be a great way to help your dog shed some unwanted weight.

The reason for the increase in number of reduced calorie pet products is because up to 40% of the pets in the United States are obese. Pets that are overweight are prone to more diseases like heart problems, liver problems, and respiratory problems.

So if you’re worried about your dog’s weight, here are some diet dog food tips to help you.

1. Look for a product that is made by the same manufacturer as your current dog food. Most pet food manufacturers also make a reduced calorie dog food as well. By sticking with the same company, the new diet should have a very similar taste and your dog should not have been any problem eating the new food.

2. Most people, believe that because they’re feeding a diet dog food that they should feed more of it. When in actuality you should feed less. If you have any questions about how much you should feed follow the instructions on the side of the bag and measure how much your dog eats per day precisely.

3. It’s always best to have your dog examined by a veterinarian before starting them on a weight loss program. You need to make sure your dog is healthy enough to transition into this new lifestyle.

4. Just like with people, exercise combined with diet is the greatest way to reshape your pet’s body. An increase in lean muscle mass and metabolism helps your dog burn fat faster.

5. Although it is always tempting to give your dog table scraps you should not do it when they are on a diet. Table scraps are the worst types of food that you could be feeding you dog because they’re usually high in calories.

Getting your dog back in shape should not be hard if you follow these five tips for diet dog food. The key is to slowly transition your dog to its new lifestyle.

Looking to find the product with the best dog food ratings, then visit www.topdogfoods.org to find the best advice on today’s top dog foods.

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