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This is a major concern with the Tainted Dog Food incident. Many of us are at a loss of what to feed our pets. Should we feed dry or wet, or a combination. We try to select the best dog food for them, but are unaware of the ingredients. Just like humans, dogs are what they eat! Studies have shown that many popular dog food brands can have adverse affects on their behavior and health. Even buying from a Vet does not ensure top quality food - remember, Vets are paid to stock the food from the manufacturer. A good diet will provide your pet with energy, a shiney coat and eyes.
Here are some Tips to Choose the Best Pet Food:
1) Read the label, and ingredients of the dog food.2) Understand that any "by-products" include parts of slaughtered animals that humans are unable to eat. This can include heads, feet, tails, hair, ligaments, intestines, lungs, etc. By-products are seen in chicken, beef, lamb, and any poultry.
3) Corn and corn by products such as corn gluten or cereals are difficult for pets to digest. Corn is cheap, but is not nutrious for your pets. If corn or corn gluten is listed high in the ingredients, skip this pet food!
4) "Digest of beef "is recovered from carcasses of animals through an enzyme process. This is not good for your pet.
5) Additives often contain vitamins. The reason vitamins are added is because they have been destroyed in the processing of the pet food! Coloring is added to make the food look better to us, the owner!
6) Antioxidants such as BHT and BHA and preservatives like ethoxyquin are chemicals that can affect your pets behavior adversely!
7) Expiration dates - some foods do not even have expiration dates! This means they are loaded with preservative chemicals!
What is a concerned owner to do? Buy pet food which is natural or organic, and free of preservative and chemicals. Avoid the mass supermarket brands. You can find natural and organic pet food in many large pet stores and pet health food stores. Look at the ingredients - if you do not recognize the ingredients, then it is most likely loaded with chemical and preservatives. Skip any "by-products", preservatives, high corn, corn gluten, or cereal. Also do not buy products with "meat-by products".
Otherwise, you can feed your dog food you prepare yourself. This includes boiled or poached chicken without the skin, beef, liver, pasta, rice, potatoes, and cooked vegetables. Cook food by poaching or steaming. Puppies and older dogs need a higher concentration of protein, either vegetable or animal protein. Watch the fat intake, the normal fat intake should be between 2.5 and 5%. Fiber should be between 2.5 and 4.5%, and prevents diseases such as diverticulites, diabetes, and hyperglycemia.
Beware of the amount pet food manufacturers recommend you feed. Often times, it is too much. Watch your dogs weight, and make sure they get enough exercise and do not become overweight.
What NOT to Feed your Pet:
1) Chocolate which can kill a dog
2) Any bones from poultry such as chicken, turkey, and game.
3) Fried foods - it is too fatty and can lead to pancreatitis, a serious and sometimes deadly disease of the pancreas.
4) Never feed raw meat, as it may have an infection.
I hope you now have the information to select and make the right choice in what to feed your dog.
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Best wishes and health to your dog!
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