Pet Food News

Since most Americans are more concerned about our health than we’ve ever been, we should have equal concern for our pets … especially regarding the ingredients in their food. In theory, we would want the ingredients in our pets’ food to be acceptable for human consumption. If byproducts are no longer tolerated in our food, why should they be tolerated in our pets’ food? We’re also starting to realize that our pets need daily supplements just like we do, in order to take care of their bodies for the inevitable woes of aging. In the span of an animal’s life, an early start at good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases, joints that are less likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart. We love our pets and we want them to live with us for as long as possible.

The very first thing we usually encounter as new pet owners is the issue of food. What should we snatch off the shelves and what should we run away from? Introducing a young animal to the world of food should be a very delicate and sensitive process. We must monitor closely how much food we give our new pet versus how much they are eating. We should be stringent about how quickly we increase the amount of food because we always run the risk of overfeeding.

It’s also important to be weary of dyes, chemicals, artificial preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA … one of the most common synthetic antioxidant preservatives mainly used to prevent food discoloration and rancidity … has been found in scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn’t have a cancerous effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in small doses over long periods of time.

Protein is crucial in a pet’s natural development. Look for foods with whole ingredients such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy rather than byproducts. Unbleached rice is also one of the most digestible carbohydrates and supplies a wonderful source of energy for your pet. Corn and wheat, on the other hand, are much harder to digest. It’s also a really good idea to look for antioxidants. In recent years, we have become much more conscious of our antioxidant intake, so why shouldn’t we have the same attitude towards our pets? Free radicals also wage war on their bodies so let’s fight off those rascals so that we can all live longer together!

Treats can be used to enhance the human-animal bond and to reward pets on good deeds and behavior. They’re a fantastic training tool. Our whole philosophy on giving treats is that if we’re going to reward our pets, why not reward their taste buds, their minds and their bodies? The idea is to bestow treats with a purpose, not just a biscuit stuffed with artificial flavor and vacant calories. Did you know that there are edible dog bones out there made with so called “edible” plastic? The companies claim this is perfectly safe. Best believe there are plenty of bones out there with other questionable ingredients.

When you are feeding premium pet food, it only makes sense to feed wholesome, premium treats and bones.

Lori Matthews
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/pet-health-and-what-you-feed-them-52214.html

With so many different breeds which come in different shapes and sizes, how can you tell whether one food is suitable for the next? The fact is that all breeds of dog have different nutritional needs and it is your job as an owner to do your research and see just what your dog needs.

Diets for Different Dogs

Whilst years ago people used dogs to hunt for their food, these days most people work their dogs for other reasons. We do not need to survive anymore by hunting our food and so the dogs do not necessarily have to work as hard as they used to do. However there is still a need for working and herding dogs to have a higher energy food which will keep them going all day. If you do have a working dog then you will need to ensure that they get the recommended increase in water, B-complex vitamins and minerals.

The only difference between working dogs and non working dogs with the diet should be the energy levels in the food. Nutrients wise all dogs require the same and if you give a working dog more food to give them more energy, it is possible that you could overdose them on nutrients. This means that they will not get the necessary benefits required from the food, and it is better to stick with especially designed working dog food so that they do get the right level of nutrients and energy needed.

If you do not use a specialized working dog food then it is possible that your dog will lose quite a lot of weight. This is because physically working dogs cannot really eat more food and that means that they will not be getting the energy that they need and they will lose weight and become weaker and unable to work eventually. In some cases the dog could even die from literally working to the death, so it is a serious situation.

If you own a herding dog then luckily they tend to use the least amount of energy of all working dogs. They only need to work for short periods of time and the only times that they need to work excessively are when they are trying to round up stray animals.

Overall the type of food which you feed your dog will depend entirely upon what they are used for. Do try and do a little research before you purchase a dog so that you know what type of food and how much food you should be feeding your working dog.

Kelly Marshall
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/knowing-the-different-nutritional-needs-for-different-dog-breeds-123052.html

http://www.FormulaK.co.uk How to tell if your dog is overweight. How to reduce your dog's weight. Make your dog slimmer.

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unwanted cat

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A nine-month investigation into the pet food giant reveals dogs and cats fed a steady diet of loneliness, suffering, and neglect in their laboratory cages.

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I thought it was cute how Max-Arthur got his cat food out of the glass. And Sharky got 1 piece of cat food himself. ;D

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Cat trick. Cat feeds Dog.

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Hi there,
I have a one year old korat kitten named Alfie. He is extremely hyperactive and hardly ever calms down! I have been told that this is to do with the food I feed him - any ideas on some organic cat food that will calm him down? Thank you!

A lot of organic cat food is higher in protein and might actually make him MORE hyperactive.

Good cat foods I recommend: Wellness, Solid Gold’s Indigo Moon, Evo.

I don’t know if they’re organic (I don’t think they are) but they use all human grade ingredients and have excellent protein levels for cats. Evo is 95% protein and its wet food is a great additive.

As more companies jump into the competitive market of pet nutrition, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the average consumer to tell which one is the best for their pet. Many considerations must be taken into account when you choose a dog food, in particular any allergies that your dog may have. For example, many dogs cannot tolerate beef products, while others have a sensitivity to lamb. Through a process of trial and error you can usually find a dog food that your pet will eat, but is it good for them?

Natural products are making great inroads and although they are expensive, many dog owners are making the switch. You’ll find everything from macrobiotic pet food, to natural meals that require more preparation than your own.

If you are looking to find a natural dog food, the choices are numerous, but one company, NutroPro, has done a very good job of providing an easy to use dog food that is comparable in price to Science or Iams. If you have the time to prepare your dog’s food, you may want to consider the gourmet dog food preparations, but in many cases, bagged or canned dog food can be just as beneficial.

Each type of food will come with a recommended serving amount based on a dog’s weight. Puppies obviously need to be fed more at first, but you will need to scale back as they get older. Since every dog has a different metabolism, you may need to experiment a little to see what amount of food they really need.

You can use body condition to determine how well they are doing on their current amounts. The rib test is one of the easiest ways to determine a dog’s weight condition. Have your dog stand straight and place your hand on their rib cage. If you can feel their ribs, but not see them, they are in good condition. If you feel mushy or lumpy deposits between the ribs, or if you can’t feel the ribs at all, your dog may be overweight. Obviously, if you can see your dog’s ribcage, they are not getting enough to eat.

Treats are a large area of concern, since most dog owner’s overdo. The average dog will never tell you when they’ve had enough, it isn’t in their nature. Most dog treats will have serving guides to help you know how many you should give your pet, but you may want to halve this amount, particularly if you are feeding a high quality dog food.

Try to avoid giving your dog table scraps, even though it is tempting. Once in awhile, it is fine to treat your dog, but don’t make a habit of it. Our foods are usually higher in fat content, and when coupled with a good dog food, you’re dog will be ingesting too many calories, which can lead to obesity.

One treat you must always avoid is chocolate in any form. There has been a lot of controversy over this in recent years, but the bottom line is that certain chemicals in chocolate can cause seizures in a dog. Even if you’ve fed them chocolate for years, you are still running the risk that a seizure could occur. There is a no way for a dog to be “immune” to these chemicals and it is much smarter to avoid giving them chocolate.

With proper nutrition, feeding and care, you can add years to the life of your pet.

John Duncan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/determining-the-proper-nutrition-for-your-dog-97633.html

Myths about proper diets for our cats seem always to be with us. Some of these myths may have a grain of truth, but this truth is often greatly exaggerated or misapplied. Other myths are nurtured by misinformation and mistrust.

A current myth that could be threatening to our cats’ health involves raw meat diets for dogs and cats. The proponents of this belief question the wholesomeness and nutritional value of commercial cat foods. But, in fact, there is no scientific substantiation for raw meat diets.

The truth is that good quality cat foods are backed by years of feline and canine nutrition studies. They are the result of scientific studies by researchers in veterinary colleges and animal nutritionists at reputable cat food manufacturers. Ralston Purina Company, for example, began its cat nutrition studies over 70 years ago. This work continues as researchers launch new studies to learn even more about the relationship of diet to our cats’ health.

In our own diets, meat is combined with vegetables, fruits, breads and other foods to give us the balanced nutrition we need. If we were to eat one particular food consistently, chances are we would become malnourished or develop health problems. No single food or food group can provide all the nutrients we need in proper proportions. Manufacturers of good quality cat foods have incorporated all the nutrients a dog or cat needs during a particular life stage into nutritionally complete and balanced diets.

Although meat is a source of protein, it has very low levels of calcium, a mineral our cats require for proper bone and tooth development. Calcium also plays an important role in blood clotting, muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses.

It’s important to remember that nutrients do not work alone, and calcium is no exception. Mineral nutrients are interrelated. Calcium and phosphorus have a scientifically established relationship in the formation of bones and teeth, provided a proper balance is maintained. This balance is usually not present in meat. If large quantities of raw meat are fed over time, skeletal problems may develop.

We tend to think of liver as being a “healthy” meat. Served with other foods, it is a beneficial part of many human diets. Liver has a high level of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored by the body. When liver is fed to cats in large quantities over a period of time, vitamin A toxicity can result. This can lead to improper bone development, lameness and bone decalcification.

Raw meat carries the threat of bacteria and parasites. Salmonella is a bacterial organism that can cause a variety of disease in humans and animals. The risk of salmonellosis is always present when cats are fed raw meat diets. Certain species of tapeworm can be found in raw meat and passed on to a cat who ingests the meat. High quality commercial cat foods are carefully processed to protect against salmonella or internal parasite infection.

It’s true that cats and dogs consume a certain amount of muscle meat when they eat wild animals for survival. However, they also consume the bones, intestinal contents and internal organs which come closer to providing a complete and balanced diet.

Attempting to supplement a raw meat diet with vitamins and minerals is risky for your cat’s health. Certain vitamins and minerals react with one another. Unless they are present in the proper amounts a cat may suffer malnutrition.

When a myth involving cat nutrition is suddenly exploited, we should ask ourselves: “What scientific research supports this statement?” “Have veterinary colleges done research to validate it?” “Do respected researchers in the fields of canine and feline nutrition support it?” “They said” or “I heard that” do not provide the substantiation we need when confronted with myths involving the nutrition and well-being of our special companions.

Tristan Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-truth-about-feeding-your-cat-raw-meat-93843.html