Saturday, March 13, 2010


What Dog Food Should I Feed My Dogs?

Posted by Jeanne on July 14, 2009

Dog Picture

Sometimes dog owners are faced with a dilemma regarding what type of dog food to provide their dogs.  Dogs themselves tend to prefer the moist, canned types of food.  They are more aromatic and naturally tempting to the dog’s palate than the dry kibble that comes in a bag.  A dog’s dental health, however, relies on the dog being able to chew hard and crunchy items and dry kibble foods serve this purpose well.  What’s an owner to do?

Some owners make a two pronged approach when selecting dog food for their furry friends.  They will mix a portion of dry food with canned, effectively giving their dog the “best of both worlds.”  If you are feeding canned food to your dog, you’ll definitely want to supplement it in some way with something that the dog can chew and crunch.  Chew toys and dog biscuits or treats can help to serve this purpose.

Remember that a dog’s health depends greatly on the nutritional value of its food.  A dog is only as healthy as the food that it eats, in many respects.  The food you buy for your dog should meet its nutritional needs as best as possible, whether it is dry or moist.  Unfortunately when it comes to dog food you get what you pay for.  Store brands and generics tend to be made with cheaper ingredients and lots of fillers.  They’ll feed your dog, but they may not be the best choices for it.  The more expensive brands like Science Diet and Eukanuba which advertise that they are “specially formulated” really, to a certain extent, are.  They will have higher quality ingredients and are better suited to meet your dog’s needs.

Truly, as long as you are providing a good method for your dog to work out its choppers on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using dry food or moist.  During regular veterinary checkups your vet will examine the dog’s teeth and will warn you if there’s any issue that needs to be corrected by providing a different type of food or some dietary supplement.

The reason that dogs need to be able to chew on hard materials is twofold.  It strengthens their teeth and works out the muscles of their jaw, keeping the teeth strong and the jaws powerful.  It also provides a form of dental care.  Owners should brush their dogs’ teeth at least twice a week.  If this is not possible, however, crunchy foods like kibble and biscuits act as a sort of natural toothbrush for the dog, loosening plaque and tartar and cleaning the teeth.

Choosing the right food for your dog is important, both for the pooch’s nutritional needs and its good dental health.  If you prefer to provide your dog the tastier soft, moist foods that come in a can that’s fine, just make sure you’re also providing something for Rover to really sink his teeth into.

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Dog Picture

Sometimes dog owners are faced with a dilemma regarding what type of dog food to provide their dogs.  Dogs themselves tend to prefer the moist, canned types of food.  They are more aromatic and naturally tempting to the dog’s palate than the dry kibble that comes in a bag.  A dog’s dental health, however, relies on the dog being able to chew hard and crunchy items and dry kibble foods serve this purpose well.  What’s an owner to do?

Some owners make a two pronged approach when selecting dog food for their furry friends.  They will mix a portion of dry food with canned, effectively giving their dog the “best of both worlds.”  If you are feeding canned food to your dog, you’ll definitely want to supplement it in some way with something that the dog can chew and crunch.  Chew toys and dog biscuits or treats can help to serve this purpose.

Remember that a dog’s health depends greatly on the nutritional value of its food.  A dog is only as healthy as the food that it eats, in many respects.  The food you buy for your dog should meet its nutritional needs as best as possible, whether it is dry or moist.  Unfortunately when it comes to dog food you get what you pay for.  Store brands and generics tend to be made with cheaper ingredients and lots of fillers.  They’ll feed your dog, but they may not be the best choices for it.  The more expensive brands like Science Diet and Eukanuba which advertise that they are “specially formulated” really, to a certain extent, are.  They will have higher quality ingredients and are better suited to meet your dog’s needs.

Truly, as long as you are providing a good method for your dog to work out its choppers on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using dry food or moist.  During regular veterinary checkups your vet will examine the dog’s teeth and will warn you if there’s any issue that needs to be corrected by providing a different type of food or some dietary supplement.

The reason that dogs need to be able to chew on hard materials is twofold.  It strengthens their teeth and works out the muscles of their jaw, keeping the teeth strong and the jaws powerful.  It also provides a form of dental care.  Owners should brush their dogs’ teeth at least twice a week.  If this is not possible, however, crunchy foods like kibble and biscuits act as a sort of natural toothbrush for the dog, loosening plaque and tartar and cleaning the teeth.

Choosing the right food for your dog is important, both for the pooch’s nutritional needs and its good dental health.  If you prefer to provide your dog the tastier soft, moist foods that come in a can that’s fine, just make sure you’re also providing something for Rover to really sink his teeth into.

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Choosing Healthy Foods for Your Dog

Posted by Jeanne on December 4, 2008

Dog Picture

Today’s pet food market is larger and more diverse than ever before. While this offers a large number of choices in various types of pet food, it also presents a dilemma in choosing the healthiest food for your dog.

Are generic or store brands suitable for a dog? What about familiar name brands like Purina and Alpo? Are the pricier brands that advertise specially formulated ingredients (Science Diet, Eukanuba) really living up to their claims and worth the extra money? All of these are valid questions that loving dog owners deserve to have answered.

Dog Food Considerations

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right food for your dog. Different dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages in their lives. Some things to consider when selecting the food you’ll give your dog follow.

  • The Dog’s Age

Puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs just as human children have different needs than adult people. Senior dogs also have different requirements than younger adult dogs. Make sure that you select a food that is appropriate for your dog’s stage in life.

  • The Dog’s Health

Does your dog have a specific medical condition? If so, the food you choose may need to be partially dictated by that condition. Diabetic dogs need low-glucose foods and dogs with specific allergies (yes dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things, just like people) may require certain foods as well. Your veterinarian can help you choose foods that are appropriate for a dog with a specific medical condition.

  • The Dog’s Size or Body Type

Some dogs are overweight. Some dogs are underweight. Some have a natural tendency to get lots of exercise while others tend to prefer to lie around a lot. There are, of course, small, medium, and large dogs as well as the ultra-tiny “toy” dogs. All of these different types of dogs will have different requirements for the type of food they need as well as how much of it.

  • Your Budget

Dog food can be expensive, there’s no doubt about it. And where dog food is concerned, the rule really is “you get what you pay for.” Low cost generics and store brands will lighten the burden on your wallet, but may not be the healthiest choice for your dog as they are made with cheap ingredients and lots of fillers. You should buy the best dog food you can on your budget to help ensure your dog’s nutrition.

Related posts

-->

Dog Picture

Today’s pet food market is larger and more diverse than ever before. While this offers a large number of choices in various types of pet food, it also presents a dilemma in choosing the healthiest food for your dog.

Are generic or store brands suitable for a dog? What about familiar name brands like Purina and Alpo? Are the pricier brands that advertise specially formulated ingredients (Science Diet, Eukanuba) really living up to their claims and worth the extra money? All of these are valid questions that loving dog owners deserve to have answered.

Dog Food Considerations

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right food for your dog. Different dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages in their lives. Some things to consider when selecting the food you’ll give your dog follow.

  • The Dog’s Age

Puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs just as human children have different needs than adult people. Senior dogs also have different requirements than younger adult dogs. Make sure that you select a food that is appropriate for your dog’s stage in life.

  • The Dog’s Health

Does your dog have a specific medical condition? If so, the food you choose may need to be partially dictated by that condition. Diabetic dogs need low-glucose foods and dogs with specific allergies (yes dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things, just like people) may require certain foods as well. Your veterinarian can help you choose foods that are appropriate for a dog with a specific medical condition.

  • The Dog’s Size or Body Type

Some dogs are overweight. Some dogs are underweight. Some have a natural tendency to get lots of exercise while others tend to prefer to lie around a lot. There are, of course, small, medium, and large dogs as well as the ultra-tiny “toy” dogs. All of these different types of dogs will have different requirements for the type of food they need as well as how much of it.

  • Your Budget

Dog food can be expensive, there’s no doubt about it. And where dog food is concerned, the rule really is “you get what you pay for.” Low cost generics and store brands will lighten the burden on your wallet, but may not be the healthiest choice for your dog as they are made with cheap ingredients and lots of fillers. You should buy the best dog food you can on your budget to help ensure your dog’s nutrition.

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