Determining The Proper Nutrition For Your Dog
August 28th, 2009
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
Obama Hood - Spread the Wealth
Will ACORN or a similar organization show up at your house with a scale and nutrition information?
The health care reform bill approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) would provide federal grants to state and local governments and a “national network of community-based organizations” to "promote healthy living and reduce disparities" and to monitor people’s weight, eating, exercise habits and other individual behaviors that affect health at the community leve
The language instituting the program, entitled "Community Transformation Grants," is on pages 382-387 of the bill as posted on the committee’s Web site
In a section entitled, “Community-Based Prevention Health Activities," the bill calls on grant recipients to measure weight loss, physical activity, smoking and other activities of people in the neighborhood.
"In carrying out subparagraph (A), the eligible entity shall, with respect to residents in the community, measure–
August 28th, 2009 at 8:15 PM"(i) decreases in weight;
"(ii) increases in proper nutrition;
"(iii) increases in physical activity;
"(iv) decreases in tobacco use prevalence;
"(v) other factors using community-specific data from the Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey; and
"(vi) other factors as determined by the Secretary [at HHS].”
http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf
Joel M
Anyone who is still going on about ACORN is clearly a racist.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:17 AMReferences :
Steve
This is just as likely as my private insurance carrier showing up with the same material.
What you’ve cited is a demand that people receiving grants to promote health provide evidence of their success. In other words, the government is willing to fund low-cost prevention techniques provided they actually work. Sounds fantastic to me!
August 29th, 2009 at 1:19 AMReferences :
Jack Fessender
If they come knocking on MY door, then they’re in store for a little double-barrelled surprise.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:21 AMReferences :
Paul Grass
and they will have a tazer to help your digestive system if need be
August 29th, 2009 at 1:23 AMReferences :
OGRE!!!
zomg they’re taking away my freedom to be fat & smoke
next step, internment camps. lol
"In a section entitled, “Community-Based Prevention Health Activities," the bill calls on grant recipients to measure weight loss, physical activity, smoking and other activities of people in the neighborhood."
August 29th, 2009 at 1:25 AMi really see no problem with this. they’re measuring your weight, not enforcing a maximum weight. you’re really overreacting.
References :
The Murphyologist
I expect to have a little TV screen call me out by my social security number and yell at me for not doing my morning exercises right.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:27 AMReferences :
Well Duh!
These are the two items that raise serious red flags with me.
"(v) other factors using community-specific data from the Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey; and
"(vi) other factors as determined by the Secretary [at HHS].”
They show up with scale at my door and they may not care for their reception.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:29 AMReferences :
eir
HAVE YOU SEEN SOME OF THOSE ACORN MEMBERS???
August 29th, 2009 at 1:31 AMthey should keep the scale and healthy advice for themselves!
References :
MrNiceGuy
No
I would imagine they will talk with local doctors and get statistical information on their patients.
My doctor asks if he can use my information for statistical data every time I visit him.
Don’t be so paranoid.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:33 AMReferences :
rayb1214
ACORN shows up at my house, I will represent the NRA.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:35 AMReferences :
Easy 10 Points
I never even heard of ACORN until Obama-haters started whining about it. You people have a wildly exaggerated idea of how important ACORN is in the broad scheme of things.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:37 AMReferences :
fangtaiyang
No, they won’t and they never have.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:39 AMReferences :
racingdiego@sbcglobal.net
OMG! DOnt give the Obummer administration any more ideas.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:41 AMReferences :
Rocky
How about we lose some weight, by getting ACORN out of our communities?
August 29th, 2009 at 1:43 AMReferences :
MT
Even with the obvious bloat of extra government, they will not have enough resources to pester 60% of Americans (us fat people).
Those of us who can afford to shell out more taxes will probably be exempt. People who rely more on "help" will have more interference.
They can kiss my wide posterior.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:45 AMReferences :
Rush Limbaughs Drug Dealer
THe health industry does keep track of these things already, I suppose they could canvass with scales as you suggest, but they actually have better methods. Its nothing to be paranoid about.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:47 AMReferences :
Home-School
Obama Hood, Thank you for your research. It’s frightening me to death. With each detail we look at, the evil seems to run deeper and stronger. The devil, is literally, in the details.
Joel M responded : "Anyone who is still going on about ACORN is clearly a racist"
Interesting answer, I didn’t know ACORN was a different skin color than an organization like the AMA. Do organizations have a skin color? Wow, how low can a liberal stoop to play the race card? Perhaps if Acorn "IS" a different skin color than other organizations, it is racist? It ought to include in it’s members people of all races colors creeds and genders? I’m sorry, I seem to be clueless here. Exactly what skin color is "ACORN" and why doesn’t it include members of other skin colors.
God bless
Oh by the way, there is only one race - The Human race,
August 29th, 2009 at 1:49 AMReferences :
GHOST OF REAGAN
I would see them more showing up with a syringe full of morphine to hand down the sentence of the Obama death panel.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:51 AMReferences :
jim a
hope they do help the fat ugly black bitches that cost us all so much welfare and healthcare dollars slim down..
August 29th, 2009 at 1:53 AMReferences :