healthy dog is a happy dog, and we all want our pets to be as happy as possible. But do you know what you can do to help your dog be (and stay) in tip-top condition from puppyhood right through to his senior years? Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. The journey to a healthier pet, however, begins with eight simple steps. STEP 1: THE RIGHT DIET The old health campaign slogan that “you are what you eat” applies just as much to our four-legged friends as it does to us. The right diet is essential to your dog’s overall health and wellbeing, helping him stay active, fight off disease and generally tackle whatever life may throw at him. “We recommend feeding a premium- quality dry dog food twice daily and off ering dental treats to keep their teeth clean,” PETstock vet Dr Bronwen Slack says. “Speak to your veterinary nurse about choosing the best diet for your dog’s age, breed and activity level.” Frankie Moore, a dog trainer and canine-conditioning master trainer who runs AgilityFit, says that in order for our dogs to remain healthy and fit, what we feed them should support the amount of activity they do. “This also speaks to the quality of food we feed them,” she says. “If they’re dining on your leftovers, it’s not an ideal diet for them. In general, dogs need a well-balanced diet that includes variety.” Keep in mind that if you give your dog treats, either for training purposes or “just because”, that you should
• Remove any leftover food after every meal. The list above is just recommendations. How much or how little you feed your dog will depend on activity levels. A highly active dog should be fed more than a couch potato.
Although this food costs more, you can feed your dog less of it, because it's more nutritionally dense. So in terms of both convenience and nutrition, a premium, natural dog food is one of the best choices available to your dog, whether off-the-shelf or purchased
When you want your loyal companion to stay healthy one way is through a nutritious, healthy diet. Although multiple choices are available in stores, the truth is many recommended brands fall below the high standard pets deserve and need. If you’re paying exorbitant prices for what you think is a high quality, hearty source of food, take a look at an alternative top grade food. Packaged
With such a large selection of dog breeds out there, there is also a wide variety of dog nutrition needs that match every breed. Finding the most efficient food for your dog will require some researches. A veterinarian may be able to give you useful suggestions about the type of food that is the healthiest for your pet. Some people also make the homemade dog food for their dogs from scratch using natural, high-quality ingredients. Dog food formulas that specify the needs of your specific dog and his breed may be the best choice you can make.
Consequently, for a healthy and active dog you can't go wrong with these and other products from Beneful. With years of experience keeping pets happy and healthy, this large variety of delicious foods will keep your dog coming back for
I know you really don’t want to give your dog regular kibble because this kind of food is made out of low-quality grains (like soy and corn deemed not good enough for human consumption). Chemical coloring, flavorings, and preservatives is included in the mix to make the dog food attractive and palatable to dogs. This kind of dog food is equivalent of junk food which fills the dog’s stomach, but provides him zero calories. But fortunately wellness dog food is made with man-grade meats and ingredients that will ensure your dog will get all the nutrients, vitamins, and
One of things that many newbie doggowners make is that they over and in some cases under feed their dogs. Here is a general rule of
My dogs, are the biggest eaters I know, so training them was easy when it came to earning treats. They are what
The first step of taking care of a dog, after of course owning a dog, is feeding him/her. First you need need to research what food brand is most beneficial for your dog’s breed. The brand you choose should be the only brand of food you feed your dog because they have sensitive stomachs meaning their food diets shouldn’t be changed often. When changed it should be a gradual transfer. After picking the best brand decide on what size meal you feed them. Different sizes need different amounts each day. Small dogs need around one cup, medium dogs need two cups, large dogs need around three cups, and extra large dogs need around four cups. It’s healthier for your dog to be feed twice a day, in the morning when they wake up and in the afternoon. Never feed them anything that isn’t dog food or treats because they have very sensitive stomachs and can’t some human foods.. Always make sure your dogs has fresh clean water throughout the day.
Dog food ingredients are very important because the substances that dogs ingest are what control their normal routine. If a dog is eating food that is healthy and full of nutrients, then they are most likely going to be very active and happy. In contrast, if a dog is receiving ingredients that are harmful or contain toxins, then they are probably going to be lethargic and ill-tempered. Everything a dog is eating is going to impact their longevity in
As well as food, dogs require access to clean drinking water. They require a fresh meal, at least once per day. Each meal served should be measured to ensure the dog always gets the required amount of food. The breed, age, and lifestyle of the dog are
In respect to frequency of feeding, it's much better for dogs- especially older dogs- to eat smaller meals spread over the course of the day. As activity drops, large abrupt meals can have an extreme and adverse effect on old dogs; too much feed for an aging stomach to process can cause indigestion. Worse, if it doesn't cause immediate problems for the older dog the excess calories from that meal are much more likely to be stored as fat, shaving years from the dogs lifespan.
Dog food allergies can affect any dog. One major type of allergy that is sometimes widespread in certain breeds is a problem with consuming grains. A lot of the lower quality dog foods are packed with meaningless carbohydrates that do not give your dog ample nutrients to lead an ultra healthy life. These foods are not harmful to him, but the more you feed your dog higher quality foods with meat, fish or chicken, the better off he should be. Protein is generally a positive for dogs to intake, since it gives them increased energy and helps them metabolize faster as well.
The reason dogs have become domesticated was the synergy between humans and the wolves who were the ancestors of modern dogs. Dogs were attracted to humans by scavenging their left over food and the humans liked the dogs protecting the human settlements with their warning barks and fending off other predators with their constant presence. This meant the dogs natural diet of raw food was changed over the years and adapted to include cooked food left over from human consumption. This means that dogs who were essentially carnivores were eating the same food as humans, who were essentially omnivores. It is only since the late 1800′s that commercial dog food has been available, and not until the 1950′s did it become popular. It is also in the same
Most communities in the United States do not have an exact data on the numbers of pet owned in each household, but the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), estimate that 144 to176 million pets are owned in the United States.1 There are various requirements and needs to consider when bringing a pet home, for instance, if the house is pet-friendly, the time it takes to train your pet, spaying and neutering, cleaning, taking them to the vet, and importantly and one the most neglected is their nutrition. Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention of many chronic diseases, improving the quality of life, and increasing life expectative of our pets. Therefore, it is important for owners to understand the role and needs of nutrition for their pets. The most common nutrition disorder in companion pets encounters by veterinarians is obesity.2-3