Dogs and Bones

By Eric Hartwell

You see this everyday; in cartoons, in pictures of dogs, in dog food advertisements… dogs love bones. Bones, especially the long marrow ones are the distinct symbol for dog happiness. They are relatively seen as dog treats that would send your dog into a frenzy every time you give them some. It can't be helped, really. Even humans attest that meat definitely taste better when they are still attached to bones—think steaks or barbequed ribs! So who are we to argue if dogs find bone treats as delectable and mouth-watering as we ourselves find ribs and steaks?

The Advantages of Giving Bones

Giving your dogs some bones generally have the effect of making you a hero in their eyes. Dogs absolutely love bones and some cartoons even attest to this like when dogs are depicted as hiding their bones under mounds of earth just to keep these treasures to themselves. The bone is tastier for them since it contains the marrow, a fatty network of connective tissue that is the source of blood cells. Chewing on the bone also occupies much of a dog's time and may keep him entertained for hours and hours until he finished everything off. More time eating, and definitely more delectable food—what more can a dog ask for?

Not only are they delicious, chewing on bones help keep a dog's teeth healthier and cleaner than before. Chewing provides stimulation for the salivary glands to work and the saliva of a dog has been proven to help keep his teeth healthier. Chewing also keeps the tartar from building up on the teeth and helps maintain the cleanliness of the teeth too. Puppies are especially fond of chewing anything they get their paws on so giving them some bones to chew will definitely transport them to their happy places!

The Disadvantages of Giving Bones

But are they really treats or do they pose some risks for your beloved dogs? Dogs may see them as a delicacy, but bones have a somewhat sinister effect to them. This is very much the concern for all pet owners. Bones may cause some health problems for dogs like grating the vulnerable linings of the alimentary tract and may even cause some degrees of fecal impaction when not digested properly. Splintering bones are known to damage the alimentary tract especially when given raw or undercooked. This is especially hard for puppies since they still have underdeveloped teeth and digestive systems. As a general rule, it is usually best to give teething puppies some artificial nylon bones first to give them the satisfaction of chewing and keep them away from harm at the same time. It is usually best if you take the time to cook the bones in a pressure cooker first to make them softer for your dogs. This way, you make sure that the bones are safe for your dogs to eat and are properly digested too. You do not want to give your dogs some fecal impaction, right?

Giving your dogs some bone treats are definitely the way to their hearts but keep in mind that you have to be careful when giving them some, too.

Do you want to know more about dog care or anything about the crazy world of dogs? then visit us here

 

Doggy Dinner: Choosing A Quality Dog Food

By: Don Krnel

 

With slick advertising, colorful bags, and multiple aisles of different brands, choosing the right food for your dog can be a confusing and daunting task. However, a number of key factors that contribute to making the right decision can be found right on the dog food label!

The first thing to remember when selecting a food for your dog is to completely ignore the bright and colorful pictures on the fronts of the bags! Many dog food bags are designed to attract the attention of the humans seeking them out and use adorable pictures of dogs and appealing colors to give the impression that the contents of the bag are as wonderful as the outside design. In many cases, however, this is not the case and, in fact, this is usually an indication of the exact opposite! Although people are often fooled by cute pictures, clever slogans, and perfectly shaped and colored nuggets of food, the reality is that the most important aspect of any dog food is its nutritional content and not the clever packaging design or delicious-looking nuggets.

One of the best indicators of the quality of a particular brand of dog food is the list of ingredients and, by far, the most important ingredient to look at is the very first one that appears on the list! Generally, the first ingredient comprises between 70% and 80% of the total content of the food and the first three ingredients combined make up 90% to 95% of the food! Dogs are naturally carnivores and, as such, they require their main staple to be some kind of meat in order to achieve optimum health. Therefore, it is always best to choose a food that uses some type of meat as the first ingredient. The best foods will list meats as all three of the first ingredients and others will list one or more "fillers", or digestible content that adds little or no nutritional value to the food. Nearly all dog food manufacturers use some kind of filler in their food, such as corn or wheat and the general rule is that the highest quality foods will have the least amount of fillers.

Dog foods can basically be broken down into three separate categories based on nutritional content and quality of ingredients used: Super Premium, Premium, and Generic. Super Premium foods are often manufactured by smaller sized companies and are usually only available in specialized pet stores. They use the highest quality ingredients and have an outstanding nutritional balance that can possibly add years to a dog's life! Some Super Premium brands include, Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Artemis. Premium foods use good quality ingredients and generally have a proper nutritional balance. Some Premium brands include, Iams, Science Diet, and Nutro. With the exception of Iams, Premium brands can usually only be pound in pet stores. Generic foods are usually the least expensive and the easiest to find (these are the one found in grocery stores, Walmarts, etc). They use the least expensive ingredients and some brands change ingredients frequently, based on meat market prices (this can be very detrimental to a dog's digestive system, especially in sensitive breeds). Some Generic brands include Pedigree, Alpo, and Beneful.

When choosing a food for your dog, it is important to understand what each brand offers nutrition and quality-wise. With a quick glance at the ingredient label, you can often make a fairly accurate assessment of the quality of any given brand and make the right choice for you and your dog!

About the Author:

Learn all about Dogs and Puppies on Don Krnel's site http://www.dogsandpuppies.info

Benefits to Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Your Dog's Health

By Karen Chrisman

I am sure you have heard of using apple cider vinegar for natural remedies in people, but have you heard of using it for your dog's health? Apple cider vinegar can help with digestion, gas, constipation, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections. It is used to deter insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and tics. It can relieve skin conditions, and even take away the odor of skunk.

Many herbalists recommend the use of vinegar. It is recommended that you buy vinegar made from cold pressed, organically grown whole apples to get the benefit of the naturally occurring enzymes.

In it's natural form apple cider vinegar is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and deodorant. It helps to remove tooth tartar; prevents tooth decay and hair loss (even mange), prevents and heals gum disease.

Have I listed enough benefits to using apple cider vinegar, yet?

There are many other benefits to using apple cider vinegar. It is known to reduce common infections, aid whelping, improve stamina, prevent muscle fatigue after exercise, increase resistance to disease, and protect against food poisoning. Cider vinegar is rich in the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements found in apples, especially potassium; it normalizes acid levels in the stomach, improves digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, reduces intestinal gas and fecal odors, helps cure constipation, alleviates some of the symptoms of arthritis and helps prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections.

You can feed apple cider vinegar daily to your dog to keep him healthy. Add to the food or water. You may need to gradually increase the amount. Start with a few drops and slowly increase each day until reaching the recommended daily dose below.

The approximate amounts recommended :
1 teaspoon - dogs up to 14 pounds
2 teaspoon - medium dogs -15 to 34 pounds
1Tablespoon - large dogs-35 to 84 pounds

By mixing in the food or water of your dog, apple cider vinegar will restore the acid/alkaline balance of his digestive tract, getting rid of the brown spots in the lawn. A correct PH balance also helps keep away the fleas, black flies, ticks, and other external parasites. Your dog will have less chance of getting ringworm, staph infections, streptococcus, and mange. If your dog already has these problems sponge your dog's skin with a mixture of equal parts of apple cider vinegar with equal amounts of warm water. If you prefer, you can use this mixture in a spray bottle to thoroughly wet your dog.

A NOTE OF CAUTION: Do not use apple cider vinegar if your dog is sensitive or allergic to yeast or if he has a chronic yeast infection. Also, do not give to dogs with irritated intestines.

Karen has been training dogs for over 35 years. She's also helped others learn to train their own dogs. Karen manages several dog web sites to benefit dog owners. Go to 4theLuvofDogs.com for more like this.

Dogs Need Good Food Too – Your Guide To Your Dog’s Diet

Dogs' nutritional needs may differ from ours. What we deem as healthy for us might not sufficient or appropriate for them. To give your dog the best nutrition available you will have to understand their specific needs and how to address them. After all, taking care of man's best friend does take a little preparation and know-how.

Your dog needs the essential nutrients to grow, go, and glow. If your dog does not receive proper nutrients it may result in poor health, stunted growth, lethargy and shortened lifespan.

Dogs like most animal life forms need the six basic nutrients for survival: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients serve different functions in sustaining the health and well-being of your dog. This guide will elaborate on dogs' need of these nutrients.

1. Proteins: the building blocks of your dog's health
Proteins are chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can produce some of these chemicals in their own bodies. The rest has to be supplied through food. The best sources of these amino acids are meat and its byproducts. Dogs can extract proteins from these sources a lot easier than it would with plant sources.

Choose feeds that have an adequate amount of protein in them to help your puppies and working dogs grow. Too much of this, however, may cause kidney problems and has been known to cause temperament problems.

2. Fats: delivering other nutrients to the body
Fat sound like a bad word – everyone tries to avoid it because it causes tons of health problems. Dogs, however, just like man, also have a need for these nutrients – albeit in a moderate amount.

The right amount of fat is needed to promote good skin health, and to transport fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are also essential to kidney function and reproductive health. They make food tastier too. Too much fat will result in obesity and lethargy.

3. Carbohydrates: doggie fuel
Fifty percent of your dog's diet should consist of carbohydrates since they need it for their energy. Corn is one of the more popular sources of this nutrient, along with soybeans. If this source is clean and of good nutritional quality then that should be fine as well.

4. Vitamins and Minerals: keeping your dog healthy
It would have been easier if your dog only had to splurge on vitamins and minerals to get optimal health. However, the opposite is true. Your dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Although, your dog may receive these nutrients from food, vitamin supplements for your dogs could be helpful. Specially formulated commercial feeds also make it easier for dog owners to give their dogs good nutrition.

About the Author:

Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare

 

Dog Food Nutrition Basics

by Derek Young

Dog food nutrition is a basic skill that would greatly benefit pet owners to know. Knowing what kind of nutrition your dog needs, and giving your dog the best mix of nutrition will give your dog a longer, healthier, and more energetic life. Read on the learn more about dog food nutrition, and what you can do for your dog.

A word about commercialized pet foods. Commercialized pet foods generally don't contain the nutrients your dog needs, and also contains many harmful chemicals. Preservatives, taste and coloring agents, texturizers, among other chemicals have been proven to damage your pet's livers, kidneys, destroy red blood cells and are also suspected to cause cancer.

To give your dog the best dog food nutrition, it's best to prepare your meals for your dog at home. When preparing food for your dog, always serve at room temperature, not cold from the fridge or hot off the stove. Don't salt homemade dog food. Avoid feeding table scraps at dinner, which promotes excessive eating and also tells your dog its okay to beg. If you're feeding table scraps, be sure to put it in a dog bowl.

Your dog needs to have about 75% carbohydrates and about 25% fats and proteins. Carbohydrates include vegetables and grains, fats and proteins include meats, bones, and nutritional supplements.

A dog that's healthy is abundant with energy, lean and muscled, has little to no odor, and generally exudes a love of life and health. A dog that's eating a diet with low dog food nutrition is low energy, dull, has dog skin odors, and is much more susceptible to infections and diseases.

About the Author

Learn more about the best foods for your dog, how to boost your dog's energy, and how to extend your dog's life, at: http://find-out-inside.com/dog-foods/

 

Feeding Your Pit Bull Terrier The Right Dog Food

By: Tim Amherst

Pit Bull owners who love their pets obviously want to do what is best for them. They want them to have the best care possible and be happy. Part of providing the best care comes with providing the best nutrition. All of the different types of dog food produced can make deciding what is best difficult for owners. There are many selections that are very healthy and nutritional, while others are very unhealthy with little to no nutritional value. The most nutritional foods seem to be those offered by the larger companies, in part, because they routinely test for food quality and nutritional worth.

Out of all the different types of food available, dry food tends to be the least pricey. Many owners prefer dry food because they have several dogs and it costs significantly less to feed them. The quality and nutrition of dry food varies dependent on the manufacturer. One advantage to dry food is that it can be purchased in large quantities and stored for quite some time, allowing the owner to avoid trips to the store. Being able to store the food also helps the wallet, if you purchase it in bulk when it is on sale. Dry food also is easier to prepare for your dog, as all you do is pour it into a bowl. It also doesn't smell bad, which is a plus for owners of indoor dogs. Storing dry foods for long periods of time may affect the nutritional worth of the food.

The semi-moist dog foods are usually made up of about twenty five percent water and meat products, making them very popular with most dogs, however, they are not very good for the dog's teeth as they tend to be very high in sugar content. They are also high in preservatives and additives, which most owners would prefer to avoid. Semi moist food is usually the most expensive food to purchase. As with the dry food, it all varies with each manufacturer; ingredients, nutrition, quality, taste, are all different from brand to brand.

Canned foods win the popularity bonus hands down. Canned foods offer a full meal in one can, which is often convenient for pet owners. They usually are made from animal by products, and contain more moisture than other dog foods. They often contain the least preservatives, and are the easiest food for dogs to digest. Purchasing canned food can be expensive, especially if your dog eats a lot, or if you have several to feed.

As with buying any food, it is always recommended to read the labels, so that you know what the ingredients are. You don't have to buy the most expensive food for it to be nutritional; you just need to be a smart shopper. It is important not to feed your Pit Bull too much, and to make sure he gets a lot of exercise. If you are still confused about the type of food that would be best, your veterinarian should be able to help.

About the Author:

To learn all about American Pitbull Terriers and how to train a Pitbull puppy, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/  today.

 

Bones for Dogs - Are They Good Or Bad?

We used to get lots of bones for dogs. Practically every cartoon showing a dog reveals that dogs like bones. But then, some time ago, veterinarians said that bones for dogs are not good. And all of a sudden, we stopped giving our dogs some of their favorite foods in the world.

So Which Is It -Bones Or No Bones

Actually, there is a disagreement over the health effects of bones for dogs. Are they good or bad? Some veterinarians cling to the belief that bones for dogs may cause some risks, while others believe bones are actually essential to a dog's diet.

The Good Thing About Bones

According to Tom Lonssdale, BVSc, MRCVS, a veterinarian in New South Wales, Australia and author of Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health, raw bones are but a natural, healthy food for dogs.

Bones for dogs, especially those that contain some meat, provide your canine pet with protein. What's more, they contain a balance of essential minerals which your dog needs.

"They also serve as nature's toothbrush," Lonssdale adds.

According to Lonssdale in his book, providing your canine friend with bones for dogs helps prevent periodontal disease and can even reverse its effects. Lonssdale further states, "My No. 1 safety warning would be to read up about dietary needs before taking on the responsibility of keeping a carnivore."

"Bones for Dogs are Bad for Canine Health"

On the other hand, another veterinarian, Ed Sullivan, DVM, of Animal Medical Center, a 24 hour emergency clinic located in Bellingham, Washington, says the exact opposite about bones for dogs. In fact, he outright advises against bones.

He says, "The potential for complications is always there, including bones lodged in the mouth or throat, intestinal obstruction, fractured teeth, and digestive upset."

Then again, Sullivan adds that he rarely encounters dogs with injury or illness due to eating bones for dogs. He says, "We see way more complications with toys, rocks, plastic bags, clothing, and string than with bones."

So What's the Moral of the Story?

The important thing to remember then is to distinguish between the good bones and the bad. Based on the discussion above, it appears that your dog stands to gain more by eating the occasional bone than not avoiding it completely. Accidents involving bones are rare so it should not stop you from trying to provide your dog with as much nutrients and minerals as only a bone can provide.

Just make certain that the bones you get from the butcher or the grocer are not sharply angled or sawed. Instead, try beef tails and ribs, necks of lamb, chicken, turkey and beef. And get bones for dogs that contain lots of meat attached to them but the fat removed.

Jeremiah O'Connell has put together 10 Gourmet Dog Recipes, 7 Dog Health Tips, A Dog Training Video and 7 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Absolutely Nothing! So head on over to http://ChummyDog.com an pick-up your Free Gourmet Dog Recipes today - before he comes to his senses :)

 

BARF Diet For Dogs - Not As Gross As It Sounds!

By Tara Pearce

Are you just starting to research the BARF diet for dogs – also known as "bones and raw food" or the RAW diet? It can be confusing – I remember asking TONS of questions when I first started. How do you know how much to feed? WHAT do you feed? Can you mix the BARF diet with processed food? How long does it take to prepare the raw food? How much does it cost to buy all the BARF products necessary? Should you feed raw meat and vegetables? Well, on the last question, only you can decide what's right for your dog, but I'll answer the rest of your questions as best I can.

How do you know how much to feed?

It really depends on the weight of your dog. Most people recommend 2-5% of their body weight. Just make sure you know your dog's weight before starting, and then watch their weight and adjust depending if they gain/lose/maintain.

WHAT do you feed?

Raw meaty bones, like chicken necks and backs for example. Muscle meat which has no bones. Organ meat, like lungs, liver, kidneys, etc. Some people also include raw vegetables.

Can you mix the BARF diet with processed food?

It's not recommended as processed food, or kibble, is digested in about 10-12 hours, and raw food in about 4-6. This can lead to serious health problems. That being said, some people do it quite successfully – but I wouldn't.

How long does it take to prepare the raw food?

If you buy pre-prepared BARF for your dog, it only takes the time to defrost and put in their bowl. If you prefer the DIY (do it yourself) method, this would depend on what you're serving and to how many dogs. Most people recommend pre-packaging once a week in the serving sizes necessary for your dog. You could probably safely count on a half hour per dog, less if you can get your butcher to do some of the cutting for you.

How much does it cost to buy all the BARF products necessary?

This would also depend on whether you're going with the DIY or buying the packaged food. DIY usually requires hunting for bargains and can be time consuming. What I prefer to do (with only 2 dogs) is buy my BARF pre-packaged from a reputable company and I serve that. It can be more expensive, but with our busy lives, I don't mind paying a few bucks more.

Visit our website, http://www.a1-dog-info.com/barf-diet-for-dogs.htm for more information.

Tara Pearce is the author and webmaster of A1-Dog-Info.com. Please visit us for all kinds of information about dog food, toys, health, books, supplies and clothes. http://www.a1-dog-info.com webmaster@a1-dog-info.com

Raw Dog Food And Your Pet

You've probably heard about raw dog food and wondered what all the hub-bub is about and if you should feed it to your dog. The truth is that a raw food diet is very good for your dog. This is because their natural diet in the wild was mainly raw meat.

Even when they were domesticated by man to be companions and working dogs, they thrived on healthy scraps that usually included raw off cuts and bones. As our modern diet has deteriorated to be a high sugar, high fat and high processed food diet, so, too, have the diets of our animals. It should therefore be no surprise that the diseases that increasingly afflict us have also spiraled to near epidemic levels in dogs.

Canine diabetes is one such example of a modern illness that has seriously impacted dogs. The incidence of cancer in dogs is even higher. Domestic pets are dependent upon their owners to feed them and care for them and the majority of dog owners have blithely trusted modern marketing and modern thinking and fed their animals a diabetes inducing diet. Combined with lack of exercise, this modern, processed diet has led to our dog's sharing in our illnesses. Feeding your dog raw dog food along with vegetable scraps, crushed egg shells, sardines for the essential fatty acids and the occasional cooked whole grains (complex carbohydrates) sets your dog up for the best possible health.

Here are three good reasons to feed your pet raw dog food:

1. Dogs thrive on a raw dog food diet. Scientific studies have been conducted to show the difference in health between dogs given a raw dog food diet with some healthful additions and those fed cooked meat as well as the same nutritional additions. These studies were not even comparing commercial dog foods with a raw dog food diet. The studies found that dogs on a raw dog food diet had stronger immune systems, did not experience illness, were less likely to be infected by worms and parasites and had lower incidence of fleas. Some of these results were surprising to say the least. However, they indicate the benefit of sticking to a natural diet for dogs as much as possible.

2. Three are no harmful additives. We live in a sea of chemicals. We breathe them, we drink them and we eat them. The more processed our diet, the more chemicals we ingest and this is the same for our pets. We can't do much as individuals about the air we breathe or even the water we drink, unless we buy a high quality purifier or trust suppliers of pure water, but we can certainly reduce our exposure to chemicals in our diets. Commercial dog foods rely on preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and flavor enhancers such as sodium. By giving our dogs a raw dog food diet, we are protecting them against harmful chemicals as best we can.

3. Raw dog food is environmentally friendly. A raw dog food diet is a part of the natural process and ends up back in the ground to rot. Every time we use a can of commercial dog food, we are adding to the global non-biodegradable waste problem. Commercial manufacturing is ruining the earth in the quest for markets and profits. Commercial dog food is one unnecessary market and the product is not the best food for dogs. If enough people made the simple decision to feed their dogs a raw dog food diet, the benefits would be significant, not only for their pet but also for the wider community.

Our dogs are very dependent upon us to make the best decisions for them. We need to use wisdom and not just follow the common wisdom. After all, this common wisdom isn't really very wise.

Lee Dobbins writes for Dog Breeds 123 where you can learn more about different dog breeds and their care including more about different types of dog food.

Raw Food Diet for Cats

By Thomas Allen

There are several reasons why cat owners might want to provide a raw food diet for their cats. The number one reason is that raw foods are typically healthier. Commercial cat food is heavily processed so it is often a good idea to at least supplement your cat's diet with raw foods.

This makes sense when you consider that raw foods are an important part of human diets. Imagine if all the food you ate came from a can or bag. People need non-processed foods in their diets in order to remain healthy. The same can be said for animals.

Some people choose to provide their cats with a 100% raw food diet. It is important to research a 100% raw diet before taking this route. There are many excellent resources online and in books that provide specific outlines and meal plans for raw food diets.

Cats often enjoy raw meats such as chicken and beef. They are natural carnivores so their digestive systems are shorter than humans. Therefore cats are not as susceptible to many of the bacteria (such as Salmonella) that we humans are.

Cooking meats for your cat is another option. Though this takes more effort than a simple raw meat diet. Studies have also shown that it is actually less healthy to feed your cat cooked meets.

If keeping your cat healthy is your main concern, you should know that the quality of nutrients in commercial cat food is less than ideal. The meat portion in many animal foods on the market consist of animal parts that would make hot dogs look like grade-A steak!

In summary, it is a good idea to at least supplement your cat's diet with raw foods. Many people who have tried raw food diets say they notice a visible improvement in their cat's health right away. Consider that a raw food diet for your cat could be exactly what they need for optimal well being.

Did you know that a raw food diet can help your cat live a longer healthier life? Visit catutah.com to get 100 free recipes for your cat.

 

Should Your Dog Eat Table Scraps?

It's a familiar sight to every pet owner who has sat down to a meal with their dog in the room: Your furry friend scoots as close to the table as he can get. His big, pitiful eyes stare longingly - first at you, then at your plate. He licks his chops over and over again, hoping to get just one bite of whatever you are eating. As hard as it is not to give in to those sad, soulful eyes, there are many reasons NOT to feed your dog table scraps.

The most obvious reason is because many of the foods that humans eat are just not good for dogs. The best diet for a dog is a consistent diet. Talk to your vet about how much food to give your dog, and then feed the same amount at the same time each day. There are ways to make his meals more interesting, such as adding gravy that is made for dogs, without sacrificing his good health.

Dogs that eat a lot of table scraps tend to be overweight. If you are eating a steak and want to give your dog a treat, what part of the steak does he usually get? The fat. Eating pure fat isn't good for your dog's weight. Dogs that are overweight have less energy and are at greater risk for developing health problems such as cardiovascular diseases.

Some foods are a direct threat to your dog's health. Chocolate is the best example of this. Chocolate contains a substance that is toxic to dogs. While humans love this sweet treat, it can cause great harm, even death, to your dog.

Digestive disorders are another common problem among dogs that eat a lot of table scraps. Again, the healthiest diet for dogs is a consistent diet. You're not doing your dog any favors if you feed him scraps that cause him to vomit or have diarrhea. Even a food that isn't always toxic to a dog can upset his digestive tract enough to cause these unpleasant symptoms.

Table scraps do not provide the nutrition that dogs need. Tossing your dog a scrap of chicken now and then is different than feeding your dog a diet that consists mainly of table scraps. Dogs need different things nutritionally than humans do, and the best way for dogs to get what they need is to eat a food that has been formulated for dogs. Even if you offer him nutritious dog food along with an abundance of table scraps, he is less likely to eat his own food if he is filling up on yours.

In addition to the health problems, there are behavioral problems that can develop as a result of feeding your dog table scraps. You need to ask yourself the following questions.

Do you really want him to beg? You need to ask yourself this question every time you are tempted to give in to your dog. If you start feeding your dogs scraps from the table, he is going to sit there like Old Faithful at every single meal. Do not reward begging at the table unless you WANT him to beg at the table. Rewarding that behavior even one time may make it difficult to train your dog to stay away from the table. Even if it doesn't bother you terribly, you may want to entertain guests in the future who won't appreciate Fido sniffing their plates as they try to eat.

Help your pet be a good dog by NOT rewarding bad behavior such as begging.

Do you want your dog to be a picky eater? Since the healthiest food for you dog is dog food, it's a good idea to make that dog food as appealing as possible. Setting his dry kibble next to a juicy steak probably isn't the most effective way to accomplish that. By feeding your dog a lot of table scraps, you are helping him develop a taste for your food. In some cases, this will cause your dog to become finicky about what he eats, and his dry food will not seem as appealing as it once did.

Do you want a dog who steals? A dog who is allowed to eat human food on a regular basis will begin to assume it is his right to eat the pot of spaghetti you left on the counter. He may also be more apt to rummage through the garbage to get a hold of some of the scraps you neglected to give him. This may cause serious problems as many items found in the trash are very harmful to your pet.

There are many good reasons not to give table scraps to your dog on a regular basis, but there are ways to treat your dog that are not harmful and that will not encourage bad behavior.

If you want to give your pet an occasional treat of leftover meat, just follow a few rules.

• Be sure that small bones are removed. Never give your dog chicken bones. Some dogs have a bad reaction (severe vomiting and diarrhea) to other types of bones, so it's best to remove the meat from the bones completely.

• Do not feed directly from the table. After the meal, when the dog has stopped begging, take the leftovers to his normal eating place and put them in his bowl. Do not let him see you walk directly from the table to his bowl.

• Do not do anything that causes your dog to see a relationship between his begging and you giving him table food. Do not feed him table scraps every day. His main diet should be of a food that contains all the nutrition he needs. In other words: dog food. Only feed hand selected table scraps as an occasional treat.

As much as you might want to give in to his begging, you must keep his best interest in mind. Dogs don't know what is good for them. It's your job to help keep them healthy and to help them behave, not give in to their every whim.

David Beart is the owner of www.professorshouse.com. Our site covers dog information, household finances, family forums, recipes and other household issues.

 

Feeding Your Cat

Feeding your cat is a simple endeavor. With loving attention and care you will discover which foods your cat likes best. Buying name brand and upmarket cat food will ensure the best nutrition, health and longevity for your furry friend.

Cats can be fed in two ways. You can either leave out a bowl of dry food for your cat to eat at its leisure or feed it wet/canned food once or twice a day and dispose of the uneaten remainder after 30 minutes. Kittens need to eat more than adult cats. When your kitten is 6-12 weeks old, feeding it four times a day is optimal. A kitten that is three to six months old needs to be fed three times per day.

Adult cats need to be fed smaller meals, two or three times each day. Kittens sometimes refuse to eat or don't eat enough. To help them out, you can heat up the cat food or feed your kitten human baby food (turkey and chicken for babies six months and older), eventually phasing out the baby food as you mix with cat food over a short period of time.

Cats need to drink plenty of clean, fresh water. Make sure their water bowls are washed on a daily basis and refilled at all times.

Feeding your cat a saucer of milk is detrimental to them as the digestive system of cats and kittens are not suited for cow's milk, sometimes causing diarrhea.

Most cats love treats and it is acceptable to offer a special snack to them every now and then. Treats can also cause weight gain in cats, which is unhealthy, and should be given to them sparingly. Some cats go crazy for fruits and vegetables such as peas or carrots. You will have to experiment to see which people food treats your cat enjoys.

Some cats will eat like pigs! If this is your case, terminate the "free-feeding" method (when you leave out dry food all day for your cat to eat when it's hungry) and start your cat on a more precise feeding schedule. To avoid an upset and hungry cat, gradually trim down its meals slowly. If your cat eats too fast and vomits after eating, you can put out a few pieces of dry food and monitor the speed of its intake or place a few clean rock mix in with the food. Make sure the rocks are big enough that it won't eat them accidentally but not too big that it will ignore them. The cat will eat slower as it has to figure out which is the actual food in the bowl, making feeding time a slower operation.

If you have more than one cat or have a house full of cats and one of them requires a specific diet (ask your vet), it is a good idea to put them on a morning/night feeding schedule and supervise the eating process. Some cats are more aggressive and hungrier than others and they may finish off their own bowl and move on to another cat's dish. If this happens, organize different feeding rooms for the greedy ones so every cat gets its proper share of food.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on pet care and visit our associated site articles for free

 

How To Buy The Right Dog Food For Your Pit Bull Terrier

By: Tim Amherst

Knowing exactly which dog food to buy for your Pit Bull terrier can be confusing. There are countless options available when you go to the store and many of them are very unhealthy choices. Dog food is offered in packets, cans, or large bags. Dog foods that are mass prepared can be high in quality and well balanced, it is important that you buy the best you can afford. Most of the larger dog food companies maintain testing laboratories that check for quality and nutritional value.

Basically, there are three different types of dog food.

1. Dry food
2. Semi moist food
3. Canned food.

Dry foods are made up of roughly ten percent water. The raw ingredients used to make dry dog food differs greatly from brand to brand, so stick with a higher quality food.

These dry foods are generally less expensive when compared to semi-moist and canned foods. This is beneficial if you own several dogs or have one that eats more than the typical canine. You can also purchase dry dog food in bulk quantities and store them for several weeks. Storing dry dog foods for too long may reduce the nutritional value of it however.

Semi-moist foods contain more water than dry foods, typically in the range of 25%. Semi moist dog food is usually offered in the form of chunks of meat or simulated hamburger. Given the choice, most dogs prefer semi moist foods over dry foods, however these foods aren't as good for a dog's dental health.

Canned foods are the most popular choice of dog food and it is available in two different forms. The first kind of canned food has a cereal component, making it a complete diet. The second type has a meat only component that doesn't give the dog a very balanced diet unless something like a dog biscuit is given in addition to the bowl of food.

No matter what you choose to feed your dog, be sure to follow the feeding instructions on the packaging as they differ greatly. Don't overfeed your Pit Bull by feeding him extra large portions or extra meals throughout the day and be sure to get your dog out for his daily walk.

About the Author:

To learn all about raising an American Pit Bull Terrier and training Pit Bulls, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/  today.

 

Shih Tzu - Food Allergens

Ingredients that your shih tzu may be allergic to include beef and beef by-products, milk, yeast, yeast-containing foods, brewer's yeast (as given to shih tzu for supposed flea protection), corn and corn oil, pork, turkey, eggs, particularly the whites. Never give eggs raw. You can try a hard boiled egg. I have given my shih tzu hard boiled eggs without seeing an allergic reaction. Other ingredients might be fish and fish oils. To provide omega-3 fatty acids, which are very beneficial, you should look for foods prepared with flaxseed oil. Shih tzu may be allergic to foods containing wheat and wheat by-products (when in combination with other allergens) and soybeans.

Healthy shih tzu may not have trouble eating most foods, however, if you feed the same food daily for years, there is a potential for intolerance to develop. Any shih tzu can become allergic to any food. It might be a protein source, a fruit, a vegetable and just a small amount of the offending food could cause reactions. Food allergies may present with symptoms of intestinal upset such as vomiting or loose stools.

The best food I have ever used for my lines of shih tzu has been HealthyPetNet Life's Abundance which is fomulated by a holistic vet. I have definitely seen healthier puppies as a result of using Life's Abundance in pregnant, nursing moms and weaning puppies. I have witnessed a total "stop" to loose stools and no stomach upsets in the way of "vomiting." I have concluded my lines of shih tzu must have been allergic to some of the ingredients in the foods I was feeding before. Of course, you might have one shih tzu allergic to wheat and another shih tzu never to have a reaction.

The first three ingredients on the label usually make up most of the contents. Avoid any kind of dog food that contains chemical additives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, sweeteners, chemical preservatives and stabilizers. All these types of ingredients have the potential to cause problems for your shih tzu and give them nothing in the way of adequate nutrition.

I believe a daily supplement is needed for optimum health. Not all shih tzu are created equally, just as not all people are the same. A deficiency in one vitamin or mineral may leave your shih tzu vulnerable to disease. A shih tzu's demand for certain nutrients fluctuate for many reasons. During times of stress, Vitamin B is great support to the body. HealthyPetNet produces a daily dog food and supplement, which I think is well worth using if you feel your shih tzu is not getting optimum nutrition from the food you are feeding now.

Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Raw Food Diet for Dogs

By Derek Youngs

Over the last few years, there's been a lot of debate over a raw food diet for dogs. Is it safe? Is it healthy for your dog to eat raw foods, and why should you feed your dog raw foods instead of the more convenient commercialized foods? Is cooking meat bad for your dog, and should you feed him raw vegetables? This article will answer many questions about the raw food diet for dog, so read on.

Most health-conscious dog owners know that commercialized dog foods are very unhealthy for dogs. They don't contain the nutrition necessary for your dog to be healthy and energetic, and they also contain many harmful chemicals. Dogs are color blind and choose their food by smell, and dog food companies use chemical agents to "trick" dogs into thinking the food processed food is healthy. They also contain texturizers and preservatives, all of which have been proven to cause liver and kidney damage, and have been linked to cancer.

The reasoning behind using a raw food diet for your dog, as opposed to feeding your dog "bad dog food," is to keep your dog's diet as close to what it was 10,000 years ago as possible. Dogs that rip and tear raw meat tend to have stronger jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles. Dogs that gnaw on raw bones tend to have stronger jaws, cleaner teeth, and healthier bones from the calcium and other nutrients they absorb from the bone.

A few tips on using a raw food diet for dogs. First of all, all food should be served at room temperature, not cold from the fridge. Do not add salt, as the salt that is naturally in foods is enough for your dog. If you're feeding vegetables and fruits, it's a good idea to blend or puree them first. Large bones are very healthy for dogs, but be careful of smaller bones that can be accidentally swallowed.

A raw food diet for dogs is a very healthy, natural way to raise your dog. Dogs on this type of diet have had dramatic jumps in energy levels, once they switched over from "bad dog foods."

Learn more about the best foods for your dog, how to boost your dog's energy, and how to extend your dog's life, at: http://find-out-inside.com/dog-foods/

 

BARF Natural Diet-Is It The Healthiest Option For My Beloved Cat?

BARF diet also known as biologically appropriate raw food, bones and raw food and born again raw food is a diet program for felines. The foundation of this diet is base on the belief that bones and raw food are the closest form of food cat cats eat in the wild, and should be best for feline health.

Supporters of the BARF diet claim that cats would be healthier feeding a raw diet. Suggesting that cats feeding on commercial food would be detrimental to their health as proven in many studies done across the country because the cooking process destroy many essential nutrients that cats would require.

While those that were in favor of the cook diet argue on the fact that raw food can carry bacteria that causes food borne diseases and that alone far more outweigh the benefits that a raw diet could bring along. Critics also say that raw bone shards can break teeth and perforate the intestinal tract. With all said, both sides still has problems coming out with concrete evidences to proof their claims.

An example of such research was done by Lisa Freeman, DVM, and Kathryn Michel, DVM, publish in the journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, March 2001. It was done by evaluating five dog food diets, 3 homemade and 2 commercial. Studies show that raw diets lacked phosphorus and potassium and had high levels of zinc, and all these elements, added together are a big concern when feeding puppies. In addition to that, one homemade diet shows presence of E. coli 0157:H7, a well known cancer causing bacteria to humans.

On the other hand, the Pottenger Cat Studies, conducted between 1932 and 1942, found that cats that were feed a raw food diet which consist of raw meat, bones, raw milk and cod-liver oil, outlived and out-reproduced their peers that were fed a cooked diet. And surprising, the study also found that cats that were fed a cooked diet had problems to reproduce after several generations. And this condition improves only when they change the diet back to the raw diet.

There are also critics of the Pottenger study, and they cite the fact that no one knows for certain what aspect of the raw food diet actually affected the health of the animals, whether it was raw meat, raw milk or cod-liver oil. They also note that the study has yet to be reproduced to determine scientific merit.

Even Ann Martin, the author who took on the commercial pet food industry, calling them to task for the unhealthy ingredients used in pet food, does not support the raw food diet. In a Better Nutrition article, June 2005, she notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had found that a high percentage of raw meat contains at least one form of bacteria. She quotes a veterinarian who explains that certainly it was normal in the wild for wolves to eat raw meat, but it was also normal for wolves to occasionally die of salmonella poisoning.

She describes a study in the Journal of the American Animal Health Hospital Association that showed that two cats became sickened by salmonella in raw food that led to their deaths and that the bacterial cultures of the cats and the meat were identical.

Although there are many examples of cats living a healthier and longer life on a raw diet, there are no clear evident to proof the benefits of the raw diet, and how much, if any bacteria, can be destroyed by the cat's stomach acids. If you are considering changing your cat's diet, it is recommended to talk to your veterinarian first.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of Feline Cat Diet. More helpful information on Commercial Cat Food and Special Medical Cat Diet can be found on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if the content and live link are keep intact.

 

The Raw Food Question - Is It Safe And Is It Healthy?

My short answer: Raw Food is safe and healthy for your pet. And it's natural.

Salmonella and E. Coli are not a well documented health concerns for your pet for several reasons. Pets have short intestinal tracts which digest food quickly, before bacteria have time to multiply and they also have very acidic stomachs, which kill many bacteria.

If you use common sense in preparing raw food, washing hands and counters, don't leave food out too long and store properly, you eliminate the worst potential for problems.

Our Pets are Natural Raw Feeders

As for dogs, their DNA differs from the wolf by only 2% and wolves are basically carnivores. There is a great deal of discussion on whether dogs are true carnivores or omnivores. One phrase you will hear used is 'opportunistic feeders,' meaning they will eat what is available. My own personal belief is that a dog is more carnivore than anything but will be an opportunistic feeder due to what is available to him.

Dog's and cat's teeth are classic carnivore. Look into their mouths. Their teeth are designed for grabbing, ripping, tearing, shredding, and shearing meat. They are not equipped with large flat molars for grinding up plant matter. Their molars are pointed and situated in a scissors bite (along with the rest of their teeth) that powerfully disposes of meat, bone, and hide.

Dogs and cats are equipped with powerful jaw muscles and neck muscles that assist in pulling down prey and chewing meat, bone, and hide. Their jaws hinge open widely, allowing them to gulp large chunks of meat and bone.

Dogs and cats have the internal anatomy and physiology of a carnivore, they have short digestive tracts and their bodies lack certain enzymes which make it difficult, if not impossible for their bodies to process grains and vegetables unless they are 'predigested' by processing; cooking, mincing, grinding, breakdown by enzymes, or fermentation through bacteria.

They have a highly elastic stomach, a relatively short foregut and a short, smooth intestinal tract. This means food passes through quickly. Vegetable and plant matter, however, needs time to be processed by the body. This explains why plant matter comes out the same way it came in; there was no time for it to be broken down and digested.

Dogs do not normally produce the necessary enzymes in their saliva, such as amylase, for example, to start the break-down of carbohydrates and starches; amylase in saliva is something omnivorous and herbivorous animals possess, but not carnivorous animals.

For thousands of years, our canine and feline companions have subsisted on diets of raw meats and scraps. Around 60 years ago, pet foods began growing in popularity, supplanting the more natural diets of our dogs and cats. The past 10 years, however, have seen a rise in the raw food diets.

BARF Diet

One popular raw diet is the BARF model, Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (or Bones And Raw Food). The BARF diet which includes non-meats and numerous supplements was designed for pets and wild animals by Dr Ian Billinghurst. Billinghurst claimed that commercial kibble does not allow domestic animals to thrive, as their ancestors did on a wild, raw diet.

The Whole Prey Diet

This diet mimics what would be considered a 'natural' diet in the wild. You follow the proportions of an actual prey animal in a pet's diet. This includes organ meat, skin, muscle, and bone, without supplements. Many feed a diet largely composed of as wide a variety of meats and butchers' scraps as possible, and even occasional table scraps as supplements. Feeding a 'whole prey' diet is actually quite simple.

Health Benefits

Most pet owners notice many improvements in the health and general condition of their canine and feline companions.

These include:

• shinier, healthier coat with less shedding
• eliminated "dog" odor
• better body muscle to fat ratios
• cleaner teeth and breath
• decreased itching from certain food allergies
• normalized energy levels
• improved urinary tract health
• better resistance to infections
• increased mobility with a decrease in arthritis pain
• decreased allergy symptoms
• little to no hairballs in cats
• lower stool volume

Many pet owners even report lower Veterinary fees and lower costs feeding as compared to 'commercial' diets.

The author of this article, Deanna Raeke, is a pet owner, pet lover and natural health advocate. She dedicates her time to animal advocacy and welfare and the study and research or natural health for people and pets. For more information for your pet's health, visit Natural Health for Pets

 

Organic Dog Food And Making The Right Choice

So what's the deal with Organic dog food?

As you know, dog food is available in a wide variety of colours, sizes, flavors, and shapes. The real distinction is obviously the ingredients contained in the products. You may be surprised to know that the ingredient list on dog food labels reads very much like human junk food. Some ingredients are even difficult to pronounce and are borrowed from medical encyclopedias. Then of course there are dog foods that are teeming with artificial ingredients, additives and preservatives that can be harmful to pets. So just what is "Spot" to do when it comes to healthy eating?

Many pet owners are discovering organic dog foods to feed their pets. Just as we humans are conscious of what we put into our bodies, these pet owners take that same consciousness and use it to make wiser decisions about not including chemicals in their dogs' diets. Organic dog treats are the next best thing to all natural dog food, as they are free of the pesticides and insecticides that are present in many foods.

Be aware of food labels however, as they can be very confusing. Natural dog food is not the same as "organic"dog food and this can be quite misleading for many. The fact is, "natural" foods are not held to the same higher standard as "organic" foods. The USDA must certify a food as organic, in order for the food to be labelled as such. Natural dog treats are considerably less costly than their organic counterparts, and as such are not deemed as reliable. Natural foods do however guarantee the absence of food colouring and additives such as sodium metabisulfite or ethoxyquin, which are allergens linked to allergies, cancer and even brain damage.

Even though organic food servings are pricier and contain about half the amount of food in volume compared to non-organic food, dogs are reportedly more satisfied with the lesser amount due to the purity of the healthier ingredients contained. This makes the organic and non-organic dog foods very comparable in price.

The bottom line is that choosing to feed your dog organic food instead of the preservative and chemically rich non-organic food can definitely go a long way in helping your dog live a more healthy and troublefree life free of allergies, skin ailments, diabetes and cancer. An added benefit may be the lower veterinary bills brought on by your healthier dog.

For further information on this topic, be sure to consult the many resources available to you online. Enjoy your dog in good health!

About the Author:

Hanif Khaki is the acclaimed author of numerous health related articles and the founder of the popular pet resource site http://www.dog-treats.inform-about.com

Why Commercial Dog Food Will Kill Your Dog - What You Can Do About It And How You Can Halve Vet Bill

For all you dog, cat and even ferret lovers out there (I'm a dog lover) you really need to read this. If you want your dog to have a long, happy, healthy life I'm going to tell you something that will do just that and save you a lot of money in the process, so please read on.

As a dog owner and lover I've always wanted the best for both my dogs. I have two dogs a Great Dane cross Bull Mastiff called Hannibal and a Boxer called Ralphie. Both my dogs had a lot of problems with commercial dog food. Ralphie constantly had diarrhea and a lot of stomach upsets and Hannibal was always sluggish and looked depressed and he was only 11 months old.

I started going on dog forums and eventually came across a diet called the BARF diet. People were raving about how much better it was for them, and also how much cheaper it is.

What is BARF?
BARF stands for Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, depending on which books you read. The basic principle is to feed a diet that the animals have evolved to eat, or to put it another way as nature intended.

Dogs & cats (and ferrets) survived for thousands of years without a pet food manufacturer in sight there are records of wolves living to in excess of 35 years of age! We all imagine dogs living pampered lives in modern civilized countries, but believe it or not they are also thriving in African villages, wild in Oz as Dingoes, still hunting prey in deserts, and so on and no, they don't have yellow, filthy plaque-encrusted teeth or gingivitis.

Dogs and cats in the wild lived off whole carcasses including the internal organs, and the contents of the stomach which usually contains ground down, partially digested vegetation containing essential nutrients.

A BARF feeding diet is as close to nature as we can get with the right mix your pets will live a happier healthy life. We hope this information helps you on your way.

Why I started feeding my dog Barf
I would like to say I started feeding my dogs the BARF diet because of health reasons, which is very true, but having two big dogs or should I say one very big dog and a fairly big dog they ate so much, in the end I was paying about £80 ($158) a month feeding them commercial dog food. Now I pay between £20 and £30 ($39-$59) per month on BARF, a BIG difference!

Why I would never go back to commercial dog food
Since learning about the Barf diet and how good it is for them I was disgusted to find out how very bad commercial dog food is for a dog. I also couldn't believe vets knowingly support these companies when they should know they are putting rubbish in their products. I mean they put diseased meat into dog food, they also put corn into dog food knowing full well that dogs find it hard to digest. They also put chemical preservatives into dog food knowing full well they can cause cancer, sweeteners which causes health problems and also food colouring that is also linked to health problems, plus so much more bad stuff. How many dogs do you hear about dying of cancer nowadays? A lot is the answer!

So lets go over that again. If you're feeding your dog commercial dog food, there is a 99.99% chance that your dog will be eating diseased meat, corn, cancer causing chemical preservatives, sweeteners and food colouring which has been linked to bad health, no wonder dogs only live to 8-10 years of age nowadays. And vets know this, if they don't perhaps they should consider another vocation?! Yet most vets still continue to support these companies who are only thinking about lining their greedy pockets, while you are unwittingly and slowly killing poor old Sammy or Patch!

What BARF does for your dog
Here are some pointers I have learned along the way.

• Reduced doggy odour – This is a fact for my dogs anyway. The amount of wind my dogs passed when eating dog food used to make me feel sick lol.

• Naturally cleans teeth - no need for toothbrushes, de-scaling jobs, helps prevent gum disease - This is also true, even if you don't decide to feed your dog barf give him/her a bone a day as my dogs teeth are now whiter than mine!

• The time it takes for a dog to chew a raw meaty bones give their stomach time to get the acids moving – They also seem to exert more energy which keeps them fitter.

• Produces firmer stools with reduced quantity – This is also true. When I fed my dogs dog food, their poo was so runny there was no way I could pick it up.

• Can reduce vet bills (healthier dogs) – We've covered this above.

• Economical to feed in comparison to commercial dog foods – Most definitely true. A pig's head cost me 70p that probably about $1.30 or something. (You don't have to feed your dogs pigs head if you don't want, lots of people wouldn't lol)

• Mirrors what nature intended them to eat in the wild – I am a firm believer in this.

• Puppies develop at a more appropriate rate and quick growth spurts are avoided. A GOOD breeder will want to stop fast growth in any pup. – I'm not a breeder and I have to say I didn't notice different growth rates as I started my one dog when he was 11 months on the BARF diet.

• The ripping and chewing involved in eating raw meaty bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles of a dog - This is very true, my dogs look a lot bigger than their average size for that breed. They also have very well developed heads legs and shoulders. In fact I've been considering entering my Boxer (Ralphie) into a bodybuilding contest. If they'll have him.

• Better weight control which helps to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and obesity. – I can tell you that my dogs can eat twice as much raw meat than they would dog food and yet they are slimmer than when I fed them commercial dog food, and they look like athletes compared to the other dogs in my area.

Prey Model Diet
There is another diet which I think I'm now slowly converting to and that is the prey model diet. This diet is designed to totally imitate what dogs/wolves used to eat in the wild. As dogs are carnivores and not omnivores some people suggest they do not need vegetables (the raw food bit in BARF) in their diet. Some say dogs would have eaten the stomach contents of their prey which may have meant they would eat vegetables, some say they wouldn't have eaten the stomach contents so they would of only ate the meat. What I can say is my dogs (Hannibal & Ralphie) like their meat a lot better than their vegetables, and after seeing how strong and healthy my dogs look after eating meat I've slowly converted over to the Prey Model Diet.

Conclusion
I won't go on again about commercial dog food as it disgusts me and I'll only get wound up, but what I will say is this. I love my dogs very much and I could not feed my dogs commercial dog food and live with myself after knowing what I know now about it. I can honestly tell you that my dogs are so much more livelier, fitter, stronger, healthier and happier now that they eat proper meat than when they were eating that rubbish. They really get excited when it's dinner time, and the first couple of times we (my partner and I) fed them BARF food Ralphie was jumping up to my shoulder height and Hannibal was almost to jumping up to the top of my head (Very funny to watch).

It's very easy to feed them now, I just throw them down some meat out my back garden leave them for an hour, if it's all gone then great if they've had enough then I pick it up, put it in a cooler box and give it to them later (they get fed twice a day). It's quicker than giving them tinned food.

I hope this article will have made some of you think and hopefully convert you to feeding your dog either the BARF or Prey Model Diet. Remember a happy dog is a healthy dog, and who wants to see their dog die of some horrible disease and have to pay for all the vets bills when a simple diet change can save you money and most of all save your dogs life!!

If you would like to learn more of the full horrid details of commercial dog food, the diets you can give your dog that will increase his or her life, and keep your pet fit and healthy then please continue to the report entitled Pet Health Report below.

Steve Luxton writes articles on Pet Health and Happiness and specialises in raw feeding diets such as the Prey Model Diet and BARF Diet. The information any animal lover The Pet Health Report If you would like to email for any help or advice on your dog please email Steve Luxton at steve.luxton@fsmail.net

Why Homemade Dog Food May Save Your Dog's Life

By M. Bruno

The recent dog food and pet food recall that has claimed the lives of dogs across the United States as a result of eating contaminated commercial dog food tainted with aminopterin, a rat poison, and melamine, a chemical used in making plastics and fertilizer. As a result many dog owners considering homemade dog food as a safe and nutritious alternative for their dog.

In a recent news article, a law professor states that little change is anticipated ( in the dog food industry) after the current onslaught of dog food recall news and attention subsides.

The probable reason for this conclusion is that there are insufficient financial resources and manpower to effectively monitor and regulate the dog food industry. You can't trust the dog food industry to watch out for your dog and the government is not your answer either.

This is unfortunate. The dog food industry was born in postwar America to meet a need….the need of business interests to recycle slaughterhouse and industrial waste. This refuse had potential uses as fertilizer, landfill and such, but a more profitable horizon existed in the packaging and selling this "junk" as food to unsuspecting dog owners. It is now a common misconception that your dog can not maintain a healthy life unless he is fed commercial dog food. Nothing could be further from the truth.

To save your dog's life, you may want to consider making your own homemade dog food. This is one of the best ways to guarantee your dog a healthy and safe diet.

Just glance at some of the regular ingredients delivered by rendering plants to commercial dog food manufacturers in the Unites States, Europe and worldwide.

• Euthanized dogs -Toxic chemicals such as Sodium Phenobarbital, the euthanizing agent injected to kill dogs daily at dog shelters. (This comes with the euthanized dog who is ground up at a rendering plant to be added to dog food. The dog may still be wearing a flea collar and be in a plastic bag when rendered )

• Blood

• Feathers

• Undeveloped eggs

• Downed, dying, diseased and dead animals (Known as the 4Ds)

• Hooves, beaks, feet and hide

And a host of other unsavory, unhealthy and toxic products that will slowly kill or euthanize your dog with every feeding.

So what's the alternative? Well, if you are willing to spend a little time, and maybe even some money, there is a better way to feed your dog. You can halt the daily toxification, provide needed nutrition and increase your dog's lifespan

What You Should Feed Your Dog

A variety of homemade dog food options are available for you to make your own dog food at home. Some of these include completely natural dog food diets that are currently the rage with certain dog nutrition experts such as The Bones and Raw Food,( BARF) diet also known as the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet.

BARF Diets typically include a variety of uncooked foods such as :

• Bones with meat flesh attached
• Organs
• Muscle
• Eggs
• Fruit
• Yogurt
• Enzymes
• Herbs
• Vegetables
• Supplements and herbs
• Cereals

As to the preferred meat, there is none. BARF proponents use beef, chicken, goat, buffalo, whatever is fresh and available.

The same philosophy seems to exist for vegetables. Again the emphasis is on freshness, availability and variety.

While anecdotal tales of remarkable results are reported daily by BARFers, some veterinarians have found that BARF diets can be deficient in certain required nutrients. The inability to qualitatively analyze each prepared meal may account for these research results.

Vegetarian Homemade Dog Food Diets

Dogs, while primarily carnivores are also actually omnivores. In the wild, 10,000 years ago, dogs would take down their prey, and eat not just the meat of the carcass but the contents of the stomach which included undigested grains, berries and grass.

This natural desire for a balanced diet suggests to many dog nutritionists that a vegetarian diet containing sufficient protein sources is desirable. The advantage of a vegetarian diet is that disease and other health related issues can be avoided as well. Additionally, the philosophical objection of vegans to killing any animal as a food source is accomplished.

Homemade Dog Food Vegetarian Diets include

• Bread
• Brown rice
• Sprouting grains
• Carrots
• Apples
• Dog biscuits
• Cottage cheese
• Eggs
• Lentils
• Baked beans

Make a Combo Homemade Dog Food Diet

• A Combo diet is in essence a blend of all philosophies and might include
• Meat
• Vegetables
• Eggs
• Brown Pasta
• Brown Rice

No matter which approach you choose for a homemade dog food diet there are a few pitfalls. One is the difficulty of preparing a properly balanced dog food diet with each batch.

The Whole Dog Journal states that a properly balanced dog food diet should include whole meat, vegetables, fruit, grain and high quality dietary fats.

Others suggest that the best alternative is to use a very high quality dog food that is natural, without preservatives, additives and the toxins that are found in many of the private and major kibble brands sold in retail outlets. These dog foods will typically cost quite a bit more than dog foods of lower quality, but guarantee a balanced diet for your dog .

If you do choose to prepare homemade dog food for your dog be certain to avoid certain foods which can be toxic and potentially fatal to your dog. These include but are not limited to avocado, raisins, grapes, and chocolate.

If the pros and cons, yin and yang, of the various approaches to making homemade dog food for your dog has your head spinning, don't despair. I have been researching this field for years and learn something new daily that confuses me even more.

There is a good way to get some perspective on this.

If you decide on making your own homemade dog food there is a wonderful free primer online at http://www.pet-grub.com

Don't be afraid to get started making homemade dog food if you don't have access to every recommended ingredient. The improvement in your dog's health by simply removing the toxins of his current commercial dog food and his new and improved healthy, nutritious homemade dog food will be worth getting started today!

My small 8 year old dog suddenly became ill and no vet could determine the cause. She died after enduring 2 weeks of pain and misery on Mother's Day morning. Her life expectancy was 25 years. Don't let anything happen to your best friend. Find out what is in the dog food you use at http://www.dogs-4life.com/dog-food-that-kills.html then learn how you can keep your dog healthy, extend her life and save on veterinary bills at http://www.dogs-4life.com/veterinary-secrets.html This article may be reproduced unedited with the author's link displayed.