Dog Food

Exposing the Dirty Little Secrets of Dog Food Producers

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Don't make the same mistakes I made with my Rottweiler!

Do you think that you are taking the care necessary to make sure that your faithful pet is eating only the best dog food? Millions of loving pet owners feel that they are giving their animals a top diet by feeding them a product labeled as “natural dog food.” Dogs depend on us to do what is best for them and while we may try to keep them safe, it is hard to do when we are not being told the truth about what is in those products described as natural dog food.

The tendency for many consumers is to feed pets the best dog food and this usually means that one of the heavily advertised brands is chosen. The best dog food is not always the one that we believe it to be. You can’t base your choice on the dog food with the cutest commercials or the biggest coupons in the Sunday newspapers. In fact, you could be killing your dog by giving it the food that you are buying at the store.

Commercially prepared dog foods do not tell you the true story about the ingredients that they contain. Unfortunately, for most pet owners, they find out what is in these mass marketed products after their dogs become ill. If you check the ingredient list that is on the sides or backs of most dog foods, you will see words like “protein, vitamins, filler, and beef flavoring”.

None of these terms should raise the red flag of danger, and that is by design. There are however, many other ingredients that are included in many of the commercial dog food preparations that will shock you. In fact, when you find out just what some of the “Secret Extras” are in today’s best dog food brands, it might be you who becomes ill.

Today, many product checks and food guidelines are overlooked when it comes to creating food for pets and farm animals. Large manufacturers are in this business to generate profits and the best way to increase the bottom line is to find ways to lower the cost of making the product. When they can reduce their supply costs and overhead it means that more money can be listed in the profit column. One of the ways that costs can be cut drastically is by incorporating less than premium ingredients dog food recipes of the foods that are being processed.

Most people are familiar with the recall of dog food products that occurred only recently. There were family pets and beloved canine buddies that became sick and died after eating tainted pet food. Of course, there was a huge uproar when it became known that chemicals had been added to the products that you had bought with confidence to feed your animals. Companies promised to make things right, but only in relation to this one problem that was largely blamed on foreign imports.

Author: Iver Olsen [http://www.best--dogfood.com]

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The Three Key Ingredients Found in Good Dog Food

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Being responsible for how healthy and how long your dog lives is only a matter of knowing what to do. A longer life means proper exercise, good hygiene and good dog food for your dog.

Most people make sure their dog gets enough exercise, is brushed often, checked for ticks and fleas but in most cases they may are misinformed about exactly what their dog needs to eat in order to live longer (while cutting down on the vet’s bill, by staying out of the office as much).

The first key ingredient- the meat

In order to find out exactly what is in your dog’s food, start by reading the ingredients listed on the bag. The first ingredient we want to see listed to make sure we have some very good dog food is the meat that supplies the protein. You should see fish, chicken, lamb, or turkey and you want to see this meat listed as the very first ingredient. Whatever ingredient is listed first is the main ingredient, so it is important that a meat (not a turkey, chicken, fish, lamb, or beef by-product) is listed first.

Avoid by product foods as much as you can. They usually don’t provide good protein for your dog, and you really don’t know what part of the animal your dog is going to get, so by product meat should be avoided.

The second key ingredient is the preservatives.

What you don’t want to see is bha, bht, propyl gallate or ethoxiquin in your dog’s food as a preservative. Ethoxiquin has been allegedly linked to liver damage in dogs, so be extremely careful here. Instead, good dog food has vitamin e (Tocopherols) which allows your dog’s food to be preserved a more natural way.

The third key ingredient you want to take into consideration is the grains.

Finally you want to take a look at the grains listed in the dog food. Oatmeal and rice are two of the best grains that you can find as ingredients. These grains are easy for your dog to digest and chances are they won’t be allergic to either one.

Now on the other hand, if you find corn or wheat as the grain, you may want to find another source of food for your dog. A lot of dogs have trouble with corn and in some cases wheat. So, don’t consider the dog food good if it has one of these used as the grain. If your dog is known to be allergic to grains, there is grain free food available as an option for your dog.

To give your dog well balanced dog food recipes for a healthier, happier dog that will increase his lifespan up to 8.3 years longer or for more information on how to read commercial dog food labels visit [http://www.doggieworld.info].

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Homemade Dry Dog Food

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Homemade Dry Dog Food

If you want to improve your dog’s diet without spending more money, try making homemade dry dog food. This will allow you to know what your dog is being fed, use the best ingredients, and keep an eye on any allergies that could be an issue. This kibble is the type of dog food that any dog would go crazy for. It has the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber to keep your dog healthy and happy for a long time. The best part of making dry dog food opposed to wet food is that it lasts longer and you can make larger amounts.

Benefits Of Making Your Own Kibble

There are several reasons why choosing to make homemade dry dog food is the best option for many people. For those dog owners who have dogs with allergies, making your own food can not only save you in vet bills, but medication too.

The dry dog foods on the market pretty much have the same ingredients. They all contain preservatives and fillers, which are usually the main source of allergic reaction for pets. Making your own allows you to control what you add to your dog’s food, so that you can lower the amount of vet visits and possible not have to pay for pills to control your dog’s itching, hair issues, and any other allergy related problems.

Saving money has the most benefit for people who make homemade dry food. Wet food is a gamble as it can go bad if not used in three days or frozen in usable portions after preparation. Many people will forget how slowly homemade dog food is eaten. You feed your dog less food as homemade food is higher in nutrients than store bought foods.

So, when people first begin making their won wet food they may find they need to get used to dealing with smaller portions. Dry foods last longer and make a better transition for most dogs and their owners. You will also notice that your dog produces less waste. When you give dogs foods that they can utilize rather than just fill their bellies, you are making it easier for yourself in the picking up waste department.

Multigrain Dry Food Recipe

A great and easy homemade dry dog food recipe is a multigrain kibble. This recipe makes 20 cups, which is easy to store and lasts a while. Add two cups of whole wheat flour, one and a half cups of all purpose unbleached flour, and a half cup of soy flour into a large bowl. In the same bowl you will also add 1 cup of corn meal, one cup of powdered milk, one cup rolled oats, a half cup of wheat germ and brewer’s yeast each, and a tablespoon of salt.

In a small bowl add one large or jumbo egg and five tablespoons of corn oil. Add three cups of water to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir. Last add the egg mixture to the large bowl and stir. You will have a thin batter, which is what you want. Pour the mix into cookie sheets about a half inch high and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. You will get a sheet of dog food. Simply break it up into small pieces and store.

Brad Weston writes dog food related articles for the Good Dog Food Recipes website at http://www.gooddogfoodrecipes.com

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Prevent Dog Disease With Proper Nutrition – What the Dog Food Companies Won’t Tell You

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

If you are looking to prevent dog disease with proper nutrition, then you will find a lot of great information in this article. And who doesn’t what to protect their beloved K-9? You are about to learn why commercial dog food is very unhealthy and even deadly, what foods are actually good for dogs, which foods to avoid, and what to look for in a healthy dog food recipe. After you have absorbed this information, you will have learned everything you need to know to prevent dog disease.

A few years ago the pet food recall hit the news, and hit it hard! Many people lost their dogs to disease from contaminated food. This is when the truth about the commercial brands came to light and shocked the world. Here is what we learned. Store bought brands contain meat, which can actually be from dead dogs, road kill, and by-products that are unfit for human consumption and are of almost no nutritional value whatsoever. They can also contain deadly chemicals and poisons from euthanized dogs. Furthermore, they often use fillers like corn, which dog’s cannot digest, and artificial sweeteners, artificial fats, additives, and preservatives. Even without the recall, your dog is at risk for disease from the commercial brands; diseases like kidney failure, liver disease, and infections. The pet food industry is not very heavily regulated, so you never really know what’s in the food you are feeding your dog. But a good dog owner’s thorough research can lead him or her to information about good, healthy dog diets.

Protein is a vital component to a dog’s nutritional needs, so make sure he is getting enough. Good, safe sources of protein include beef, chicken, turkey, and fish. There are also many vegetables that dogs can have, including carrots, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, green beans, and spinach. Another important part of a dog’s diet is starch. The most healthy choices are cooked potatoes and brown rice. You will know you’ve found a good, healthy dog food recipe or store product if it contains these whole food ingredients.

There are many foods that are considered healthy for people that are actually bad for dogs. Those foods include dairy products, corn, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, and garlic. These ingredients can cause stomach upset and some can even be toxic if given in large quantities. Furthermore, a dog’s digestive system can’t handle processed foods very well, so avoid white bread, white rice, and anything artificial like sweeteners and fats.

Indeed the best way to control what you feed your dog is to make it yourself! Yes, it’s true and don’t let it scare you. There are many simple and quick recipes on the internet, in magazines, and books, so they aren’t hard to find. You already know what ingredients should be in your dog’s food, so you can research and choose the best healthy dog food recipes. Just be sure you pick many different kinds because variety is important to a dog’s diet to ensure he is getting all the nutrition he needs in order to prevent dog disease.

Now that you learned these facts, you can more confidently prevent dog disease by giving your dog the healthiest meals you can find and ensure his proper nutrition. The road you take is up to you. There are healthy store brands on the market, but it may be better to take more control of your dog’s diet by using healthy dog food recipes. You already know what foods are healthy for your dog and which ones are not so it won’t be very difficult at all. Whatever you choose, you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are doing everything you can to prevent dog disease.

If you found this important information useful, you can learn even more about preventing dog disease and proper K-9 nutrition by reading this revealing article: http://www.squidoo.com/NaturalHomemadeDogFoodRecipesStepByStep

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Homemade Dog Food – Do Your Homework and Avoid the Dangers

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Making homemade dog food is an easy skill to learn and very worthwhile. However, a bit of studying and research is needed to make sure the dog meals you make are pure, safe, and wholesome. Knowing what to include in recipes and what foods to avoid is an important step. This article will cover that information. What you will take from this is confidence that your dog will be free from tainted dog food, pet food recalls, and dangerous ingredients.

Do you remember the horrible headlines about the tainted pet food scare a few years ago? Learning how to safely feed your dog will guarantee that he will never be a victim if it happens again. But even homemade dog food can be dangerous if you unknowingly use ingredients that are harmful to dogs.

Each homemade dog food meal you make for him should be free of additives, preservatives, and chemicals. So, obviously, you never want to feed him commercial brand pet food. When you read the labels, you will see many ingredients that are unfamiliar and hard to pronounce. In fact, there are other ingredients included that are not listed because the companies are not required to disclose them. It has been suggested that these types of ingredients contribute to dogs becoming ill and shortening their life span. I’m sure you can see why homemade dog food is a smarter choice.

Luckily, there are many homemade dog food recipes to choose from, but be sure to refer back to this article when you are searching. There are many foods that are unhealthy or dangerous to dogs, such as, grapes, raisins, garlic, chocolate, diary products, onions, avocado, corn, and macadamia nuts. Some of these ingredients can be fatal, so please avoid them.

Most healthy foods that we ourselves eat are also good for dogs, so feel free to use homemade dog food recipes that list them. These include brown rice, spinach, eggs, beef, carrots, beans, celery, chicken, potatoes, cabbage, and turkey. Dogs love these kinds of foods, so they will love all the meals you make for them. Be sure not to add any sweeteners, seasonings, or spices to the meals. They are not good for a dog’s diet.

As you can see, there is a lot to learn, but you absorbed a bunch of it right here in this article. You are a giant step closer to making your first batch of homemade dog food. The danger and worry that comes from commercial brand varieties are behind you, and your beloved canine’s better health is on the horizon.

The longer you continue to feed your dog commercial dog food, the more you shorten his life span day by day. With each meal it gets a little worse as if he is slowly being poisoned. If you’d like to learn how homemade dog food can reverse the damage and add years to your dog’s life, please visit Homemade Dog Food Benefits

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Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes – the Ingredients Are Important

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

As a pet owner you are concerned as to what ingredients are contained within the commercial dog food that they eat. In fact a number of foods have recently been recalled because of this issue and although convenient are not the best option for your dog. The far majority of these types of dog foods are made up using fillers, artificial colors and unnatural flavors along with meat which is of a substandard compared to what we would eat. In some cases the meat may even have come from a country where they do not have any regulations relating to the processing of such products. So if you are at all worried about the health of your dog then why not think about making healthy homemade dog food for them instead.

Actually making homemade dog food is much easier than you would first have imagined. To start with before you actually go looking for recipes you need to discuss it with your vet. In many cases they can provide you with some guidelines relating to the right quantities of ingredients that you need to include with the dog’s food. A good balanced healthy dog food should contain sufficient amounts of meat, vegetables and grains in them. You may even find that they can offer you nutritional guidelines which you can follow in relation to the breed of dog that you own.

After you have been provided with this information by your vet, you can now start to look for recipes to try out. You can either go to your local pet store, bookstore or library to see if they have any books that you can use or you can go online and get some of the many free ones. However, if you are going to use the ones that you find online then you need to make sure that they ingredients they contain are healthy but will provide the right balance of nutrition that your dog needs.

Once you have found some recipes for trying out on your dog, you now need to go out and get the ingredients to make them with. Ideally go for as good as quality ingredients as you can easily afford as this will ensure that the food is not only healthy, but also contains the right kinds of nutrients that your pet needs. If you can select the same kinds of ingredients as you would use for yourself when preparing a meal for your family. Also it is important that you avoid using foods which have been processed as these will lack the nutrients that your pet needs.

When shopping for these ingredients it is wise to spend time looking at what is available and comparing everything. Often people will use the much cheaper cuts of meat in the butchers to make up meals for their dogs. But if you want why not tell the butcher what you need exactly and he may offer some cuts that he would not normally sell and these could cost you even less.

Actually preparing and cooking homemade dog food is actually much easier than you would have first thought. What you can do in order to save yourself some time is as you prepare a meal for your family you prepare a large batch of the dog’s as well. Then once ready it can be placed in a clearly marked container in the fridge or freezer and removed when required.

It is a good idea to prepare and cook large amounts of your dog’s food on either a weekly or monthly basis. Not only will this save you time as you will not have to get and prepare fresh ingredients each day, but it can also save you money as well. So if you carefully plan out which recipes you are going to cook and when it will make the whole process of producing healthy homemade dog food much easier.

If you want to be sure that your dog is eating properly, then investing some time and effort into using homemade dog food recipes will ensure this. But it is important that you remember to use only the best quality ingredients that you can in the food that you prepare. Also it is important that you feed your dog regularly on these recipes and if at all possible avoid commercial dog foods altogether. After a while you will start to see changes in your dog not only in his health, but also he will often have increased energy levels as well. These are things which you may not see until you start feeding the on homemade dog food which have prepared using recipes that you have found.

Above we have provided some useful information on what you will need to do when it comes to making homemade dog food for your pet. If you would like to learn more about producing some great homemade dog food recipes then click on the link shown here Dog Food Secrets [http://healthypetsarehappypets.com/dog-food-secrets].

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What You’ll Find in Wellness Dog Food!

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

While some pet food manufacturers use every scrap of meat from animal renderings, Wellness dog food limits ingredients to only quality sources for what the animals need for good nutrition. A balanced combination of protein, grains for fiber and fruits for antioxidant protection are included in all varieties of Wellness dog food to help the pet remain healthy and active.

Many of the less expensive pet foods utilize all of the parts of meat and eat byproducts in their foods, allowing the inclusion of products that may include added hormones and potentially diseased animals. Wellness dog food does not use animals in their dog food with questionable health, which could possibly contain allergens, animal fats, soy, wheat and other products that may be hazardous to canines.

By using only quality protein sources, Wellness dog food promotes strong muscles and the grains included promote healthy fiber and provides energy for the pet. Antioxidant protection for the dog’s blood health is included with fruits and vegetables and the inclusion of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids provide for the animal’s skin and coat. Many dogs can develop joint problems but Wellness dog food contains Glucosamine and chrondroitin to help healthy joints and taurine help prevent heart problems in pets.

No Room For Bad Foods In Wellness

With all the nutritional products packed into Wellness dog food there is no room for fats and processed foods. It contains no meat byproducts or rendered animal fat, white rice, dairy, egg or soy products that can have ill effects on many dogs. Wellness dog food products respect and promote the overall health of all canines and only products proven to be beneficial to the well being of the pet is included in the food products.

Artificial flavorings and artificial colors have no place in a dog’s food, and are not included in any variety of Wellness dog food. Only fresh meats are included and the fruits and vegetables are not left over from other processes and dumped in the food just to save them from being thrown away. Anything that does not meet the high standards for quality to be included in the company’s dog food ends up in the trash or in another company’s products.

Most families view their dog as more than a faithful companion and many treat it like a loyal member of their family. Feeding it the best products they can is important to the animals health and well being as well as to the family’s peace of mind.

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How to Avoid Feeding Your Rottweiler Tainted Dog Food

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

The primary ingredients in your pet’s food does not have to be bad for it to cause tainted dog food. All it takes is one ingredient to be less that acceptable for an entire production run of tainted dog food to be shipped to outlets worldwide. Since pet food manufacturers do not make each ingredient in their product, any one of the separate components can be tainted and will affect the entire product.

It is sometimes difficult to find the source of tainted dog food as evidenced by the recent outbreak of deaths and illnesses caused by tainted pet food. If any one of the ingredients, including the main source of meat, is tainted, it will have detrimental effect on the entire batch. For example, if something enters the food supply of one of the meats that may not be a problem for that animal, it cause tainted dog food if the additive is fatal to canines.

Apple seeds for instance, can cause cyanide poisoning in dogs, but is not harmful to chickens, If a chicken has eaten apple seeds and ends up in the dog food, the cyanide may still be present causing illness and possibly death to the dogs. In the most recent incidence of tainted dog food, wheat gluten was thought to have been tainted, causing the problems with tons of pet food. Many organic pet foods do not use wheat in any form in their products, due to the adverse reaction to the protein expected in many animals. However, some companies do use it as a protein source.

Protect Your Pet From Contamination

When a large, reputable supplier is a recipient of bad food ingredients it may be difficult to protect your pet from the effects of tainted dog food. However, checking the ingredients of all pet foods can help in the fight against that possibility. Making sure the ingredients supply the protein and grains needed for health of the pet can reduce the chance of your animal from being the victim of tainted dog food.

Many pet foods use preservatives along with artificial colors and flavorings to enhance the appearance and taste of their foods. Pet foods made with quality ingredients will not need these additives to convince your dog to eat the product and many should simply be avoided. While many less expensive brands of pet food are perfectly safe, made under the same strict guidelines to avoid the potential of tainted dog food, some of the lesser-known brands may contain products that are not healthy for the animal.

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Why Solid Gold Dog Food Is a Good Choice for Your Rottweiler

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

While traveling through Germany with Great Danes, Sissy-Harrington McGill could not help but notice the longer life spans of the dogs in that country compared to those born and raised in the United States. The initial thought was the ingredients in the dog food they were being fed so when she returned to her native California, she began to experiment and in 1974 lunched Solid Gold dog food using her own natural ingredients formula.

For over 30 years the company has focused on pet foods containing no preservatives or saturated fat. Rice, barley and oats replace the wheat, soy and corn found in may other pet foods and USDA choice meats are the only ones used in the company’s pet food products. Solid Gold dog food also produces a line for natural shampoos and skin treatment for pets.

As pet care products continue to increase in importance for pet owners, the Solid Gold dog food line of skin treatment, ear care and shampoos continue to make in-roads in natural pet care. Having a product to help the health and appearance of a beloved pet is a rapidly growing priority for many pet owners and the flaxseed oil and shampoos containing jojoba skin treatment and coat conditioner keeps the dog healthier looking and happier.

Artificial Products Have No Place In Solid Gold

All Solid Gold dog food products are made with all natural ingredients, from the freshest cuts of meat to the high quality grains, to insure the animal is being treated like a member of the owner’s family. No artificial flavorings or preservatives to alter the taste or the way the products help the pet nutritionally.

Whether Solid Gold dog food will extend the life expectancy of any animal is open for debate, but quality nutritional food is one factor that contributes to the overall health of the animal. Insuring there is no ingredients that can cause health problems in any animal is a priority of Solid Gold dog food, which is why it uses only the best products in the pet food.

In additional to its full line of pet food and skin care products, for animals that may need a little extra nutritional help, Solid Gold dog food also produces supplements to help the animal have all of the vitamins and minerals it needs for a healthy life. Balancing the dog’s vitamin C and phosphorous intake with no dairy products can be accomplished with many supplements from Solid Gold dog food.

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Considering the Science Diet Dog Food for Your Rottweiler?

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

For nearly 70 years Hill’s Pet Foods has been formulating pet food products to help animals stay healthy and to protect them against develop additional problems throughout their lifetime. Being committed to pet health has led to the creation of Science Diet dog food that has been found to keep pets not only well fed, but also healthier.

Developed by a veterinarian to help a man’s guide dog through kidney troubles, Science Diet dog food takes into the account the belief that a dog’s general health is guided by its nutrition. Putting a new spin on the belief that people are what they eat, the theory that eating a healthy diet will make for a healthy dog, has been proven over the years. By feeding the dog a nutritional diet with ingredients known ti stave off many illnesses, Science Diet dog food is helping dogs grow older with fewer health troubles.

Like most foods, too much of a good thing can be hazardous and it is no different with pet foods as too much of any type can cause pets to become overweight. Even with the balanced nutrition of Science Diet dog food to supply protein for strength and grains for energy, when a pet consumes too much and has too little activity, weight gain is inevitable.

Different Ages Have Different Needs

From the time a puppy is brought home the nutritional needs will change and with Science Diet dog food the changing requirements are blended into the different types of food for different aged dogs. Additionally, the size and weight of the dog will also determine its nutritional needs and the folks at Hill’s develop the food for the different types of animals they count as their customers.

Any pet owner can find out from the makers of Science Diet dog food the amount of Science Diet dog food, or any of their other varieties that is right for their companion. While many animals will eat until they feel full, that amount may be too much for the breed, the age and the size. A proper nutritional diet also includes the right quantity to prevent the possibility of it becoming overweight.

Since animals cannot communicate with humans in words, their actions speak volumes and when a pet turns their nose up to certain brands of food, consider it a request for something with more taste. However, Science Diet dog food can reduce the need for them to communicate any feelings of ill health.

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