| ||
| ||
|
Best Pet Articles | |
|
|
|
The Truth About Dog Food
These days, it's hard to know what decisions are the best ones for our beloved pets. So much information, so many conflicting theories and opinions! When it comes to dog food, is wetter better? Or should you give dry a try? In this article, I'm not going to tell you what to feed your dog. That's something that should be decided on by you, and based on the recommendation of your vet. But it helps to know the facts before making a decision, and here are some things you may not have known about what's really in that can of mutt meal or bag of kibble. 1. Dog food was invented to make use of "food waste" that's deemed unfit for humans. Back in the old days, dogs ate the same things that humans ate: meat, vegetables and grains from the family meals. Then came food processing plants, and a set of FDA standards that had to be met for human consumption. When the government realized the amount of grain and meat that was being wasted in these processing plants, they decided to package it in cans and bags and market it as "Dog Food." Advertising did a great job of telling the public, "This is the ideal diet for your dog!" 2. Dogs only live to about half of their life expectancy. Some experts claim that the real lifespan of a canine can be as much as 35 years, yet most dogs don't get past age 17. Dogs are developing the same diseases and ailments as humans: obesity, diabetes, heart trouble, arthritis, and even cancer. Why the failing health? One theory is that dogs who eat processed dog food suffer the same fate as people who subsist on junkfood. Their bodies never get the nutrition that's needed for optimal functioning, so they age prematurely and their bodies "crap out" on them. 3. Most dog food has no nutritional value. Whether you feed your dog wet food or dry food, both wet and dry formulas of "average-priced" brands are based on very low quality standards. If your dog eats meat from a can, he's consuming mostly rendered meat or meat meal, which has been treated in meat processing plants on extremely high heat. To "render" meat is to separate the moisture the solids as well as boil all of the vitamins and nutrients out of it. If he eats kibble, he's getting runoff from the country's biggest cereal mills, which may be slightly better nutritionally, but remember that your dog was born a carnivore. His body does not digest grain easily. 4. Moderately-priced dog food usually contains harmful additives and preservatives. To make up for the lack of taste that comes from overprocessing meat and grain meal, dog food companies added artificial "meat-like" color, flavor and a spray of fat to their secret recipe, not to mention harmful preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend the shelf life. It's these very additives that cause health complications in humans leading to heart disease, diabetes and cancer, not only for humans but for dogs as well. Make an informed decision on behalf of your dog. So what are we supposed to do, stop paying for our children's piano lessons so we can afford the added expense of Rover's weekly meat consumption? Many dog owners choose to feed their furry friends whole foods like beef, chicken, rice and potatoes, in an effort to keep them healthier and around for many more years. Although whole food is always the smarter choice, this may not be a practical consideration for your budget. In which case, it's worth looking into one of the top brands of dog foods such as Iams, Eukaneuba or Hill's Science Diet, for their nutritionally formulated foods that contain the proper amounts of certain vitamins and minerals that are crucial in keeping a dog's body in balance and functioning at peak performance. These foods may be slightly higher priced than the standard economy pack of Ol' Roy... but paying a little extra now can keep the vet bills down later. Just like anything else in your life, you want to make choices that reflect your own beliefs, financial situation and personal philosophy. It's ultimately up to you to decide what to feed your dog. But it always helps to know the facts first. Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved. Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking - Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process. Really. Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 1 of 3 Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can't decide where to begin? If so, let's break it down and sort through all the options. Over a series of 3 unscientific articles, we'll begin by looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club. Your Guide to Cat Breeds For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans, cats pretty much took care of their own breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for that. Practical Advice for Adopting a Dog If you are thinking of adding a dog to your family, consider adopting your new best friend from an animal shelter or humane society. You'll not only get a good feeling from helping a homeless pet, you'll get an outstanding companion. How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from a little grooming from her owner. Cats rarely need a bath, but frequent brushing removes a lot of loose hair which would otherwise end up either shed around your home or swallowed by the cat, creating constipating hairballs. The Geriatric (Older) Dog Dogs mature and age at much different rates, usually according to size and breed. It is commonly held that dogs live 7 years for every year that we man does. Picking Up A Horses Hoof The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. This is a situation where a person's worst fears can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly unlikely to occur with careful handling. A Reference Guide for Symphysodon Aequifasciatus (Discus) This is general information on Discus, a member of the family Cichlidae. Although certainly not a complete reference guide, it will give those interested some background information on this exotic fish. 5 Surefire Ways to Show Your Dog You're The Boss You Must Be The Alpha DogFirst, let's take a look at what a "pack mentality" means. Dogs are born into packs - in the wild, packs are the essential social order. The Top Ten Reasons You Can - And Should - Hold an Equine Educational Event Boarding, Breeding, Training & Showing Stables:1. You need to fill stalls. Teach a Dog To Swim You want your dog to swim?We're going to try to give some advice on how to teach a dog how to swim and some general safety issues. As always check with your vet on any medical questions. Cushings Disease As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live well into old age so the number of horses with Cushing increases as its more common in older horses especially ponies. It can however affect all breeds and ages. Heartworm Treatment for Cats and Dogs The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs. Do not ever give medicine intended for a cat to your dog or vice versa. Reuniting Lost Pets With Their Owners Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience, especially on children who are close to the lost pet. But, one in three pet owners fail to take the steps needed to ensure that this tragedy does not occur in their home. Flea Control for Pets Flea control can be a very hard thing to do especially if you live in areas where fleas are largely populated. Weather has a lot to do with fleas and trying to keep them outdoors and off of your pets can be very challenging. Tips to Help Solve the Three Most Common Dog Barking Complaints Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even embarrassed by their dog's constant barking. Currently, there are approximately 63 million dogs owned by 44 million Americans. Mind Over Matter Understanding where horses come from has been a long road for most equestrians. Using that new understanding can dramatically change how one handles, cares for, and trains or rides their horse. Boston Terrier - Special Concerns For This Adorable Breed Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits and defects that you must always be mindful of. In order to keep your dogs' health in tip-top condition and ensure that he leads a healthy and happy life, you must ensure that you are aware of the breeds special requirements and of potential dangers. Clicker Training For Dogs: Positive Reinforcement Training There is nothing more adorable than a new puppy. Large adoring eyes, and unconditional love pave the way for a new attachment. Here's a Way To Make Your Dog Love Its Dog Crate! A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through his puppy days and for his whole life. Your dog's ancestor, the wolf, had a den to call home, a place of safety.
|
| home | site map | SubArticle |
| © 2008 |
