dog food nutrition-what you should know

7/31/2019 Dog Food Nutrition-What You Should Know

1/29

Steer Clear of Dog Foods With Grain Additives

Russell Swift, D.V.M. suggests that grains inhibit the immune system.

Grain proteins are less digestible than animal proteins. He feels thepresence of these "foreign, non-nutritive protein and carbohydrateparticles" may lead to allergies and immune system problems.

Dogs do not contain the digestive enzyme in their saliva, amylase,needed to begin the digestion of grains. Chewing, another factor ingrain digestion, is not something canines are designed to do. Ratherthey catch, tear, crunch then swallow their foods in an instinctive way.Digestion occurs in the stomach and the small intestine. It does notbegin in the mouth as it does in humans.

Depending on the dog, two or three chomps may be all they give, whileothers might savor their food a little more. Grains are most thoroughlydigested in animals with long digestive tracts. Compared to animals whoregularly eat plant matter, a dog's digestive tract is about one third ofthe size. In order to even begin to be digested grain must be eithercooked, soaked, fermented or sprouted. Undigested or the poorlydigested portion of grains is expelled in the form of large, semi-soft

stool. Some cheap grain-based commercial foods will produce

almost as much stool volume as food fed, leaving one to wonder

what quantity of nutrients have been absorbed from this food?

Grains, which are glue-like and break down into sugars, are likely to bea contributing factor in the formation of dental calculus and periodontaldisease. Dogs who are fed a diet of kibble that includes large amountsof grains (and does not provide the cleaning action that raw meatybones have) suffer from periodontal disease, tartar build up and bad

breath. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dogs who eat a grain free

diet are relatively free of the periodontal disease that plagues

many of our kibble eating pets.

Author and nutritionist Kymythy Schultze points out that "grains breakdown into sugar within the body and can supply nourishment for yeastovergrowth". She lists the problems that may be associated with grains

as: "allergies, ear infections, skin problems, bloating, joint

problems, malabsorption, and digestive disorders".

Pat McKay in "Reigning Cats and Dogs" discusses Candida Albicans orchronic yeast infections, describing the symptoms of this seriouscondition as: "excessive scratching, licking, chronic eye and/or earinfections rashes hot s ots colitis chronic cou h va initis kidne and

Food Nutrition-What You Should Know http://www.k911.biz/Petsafety/DogFoodNut

5 6/26/2012


2/29

bladder infections, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and even diabetes".

In lecture notes from a seminar given by Dr. Ian Billinghurst B.V.Sc.

[Hons], B.Sc.Agr., Dip.Ed., he points out that hip dysplasia was

unknown before 1935 when cooked grains and artificial calcium wereintroduced. By this I am assuming he means the introduction ofprocessed and prepackaged pet foods as opposed to feeding whole

grains as a part of a home prepared diet. He feels there is a geneticdisposition to hip dysplasia but there is also a huge environmentalimpact. In his book, Give Your Dog a Bone, Dr. Billinghurst writes:

"Dogs that eat grains as the major part of their diet suffer premature

ageing and the early development ofdegenerative diseases, such asarthritis, cancer, diabetes, and other pancreatic problems.

Many skin problems, allergic problems and arthritic problems

respond to the withdrawal of grains from a dog's diet". He alsopoints out "Unfortunately, rice, the most popular of the grains that

people feed to their dogs, is the one with the lowest levels of protein,and possibly the poorest quality protein". Dr. Billinghurst believes that

most allergies are developed due to feeding young puppies

unsuitable foods, setting it up for an allergy later in life.

Whole grains and other seeds have phytic acid in their shells. Phyticacid binds to minerals like calcium preventing absorption by the body.In the 1930's a study found that dogs became ill with rickets when theywere fed a diet of oatmeal.

Phytates prevent mineral absorption in both dogs and humans.Techniques such as soaking and fermenting reduce the amounts ofphytic acid in grains by utilizing the natural enzymes found in grains,phytases. Unfortunately, phytases, like many enzymes are fragile anddestroyed by commercial processing. Another factor that inhibitsnutrient absorption is the lack of the amino acid lysine.

Lysine is the amino acid that ensures calcium absorption and

distribution in the body. The lack of lysine in combination with

phytates makes minerals such as calcium, zinc, selenium and

chromium less or unavailable to your dog on a diet that is high in

whole grains.

Soy is another common ingredient that is sometimes used as a proteinand energy source in pet food. Manufacturers also use it to add bulk sothat when an animal eats a product containing soy he will feel moresated. While soy has been linked to gas in some dogs, other dogs doquite well with it. Vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source.

How Nutritious is Your Pet's Food?


5 6/26/2012


3/29

If you believe your dog may be suffering with food related allergies,before trying him on anything new, you may opt for some down timefrom the commercial dog food and make your own nutritious food.Once he has stabilized, then you can gradually reintroduce him to anew brand of food. Until then, try the chicken and rice diet. Here'show:

Chicken and Rice DietBoil a whole chicken and when finished boiling, pour the broth intoanother large pot allowing the chicken to cool on its own so you canremove the bones. Once that is done put the chicken into the potcontaining the broth and pour in a 1 lb bag of brown rice.When the rice is done, add fresh or frozen green beans and/or carrotsto the mixture. We sometimes add a few cubes of chicken bouillon togive it more flavor. This also makes it a bit saltier so that your dog will

drink more water.Once all has cooled, put in portion sized freezer bags. This is not onlyhealthy but a meal that is easy to serve. Just pop into the microwave orput the bag into a bowl of hot water to thaw before feeding. If you canfind a dog food like this, you are doing a great service for your dog.

Whole Dog Journal voted Kirklands brand (made by Costco) the

best, Beneful the worst. Here is the breakdown and notice there is nowheat or corn but lots of vegetables.

Lamb, Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, rice flour, white rice, eggproduct, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixedtocopherols and Vitamin E), beet pulp, potatoes, fishmeal, flaxseed,natural flavor, millet, brewers dried yeast, carrots, peas, cholinechloride, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root,glucosamine hydrochloride, taurine, vitamin E supplement, ironproteinate, copper proteninate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, coppersulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteniate,manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pridoxine

hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 supplement, menadionesodium bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin, vitamin Dsupplement, folic acidGuaranteed Analysis:Crude Protein 23% minimumCrude Fat 14% minimumCrude Fiber 4% maximumMoisture 10% maximumZinc 200mg/kg minimumSelenium 0.4 mg/kg minimum


5 6/26/2012


4/29

tam n m n mumOmega-6 fatty acids 2.2% minimumOmega-3 Fatty Acids 0.4 % minimumGlucosamine HCl not less than 300 mg/kgChondroitin sulfate not less than 100 mg/kg

Principal Display - Product Name

First, let's look at understanding the label. As with human food labels,pet food labels are strictly regulated by the federal government, theFood and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, andmust follow stringent guidelines. Pet food labels are typically dividedinto two separate sections: the principal product display and informationabout the food.

This part of the pet food label contains the brand name of the food aswell as the specific food or formula contained in the can. It lists whichmeat is primarily used in the food and may indicate for which agegroup the food is intended (growing, maintenance, adult). The productweight, in grams and ounces, is also included. The principal display alsoincludes the type of animal the food is meant for - dogs or cats.

How the product is listed on the label is also strictly regulated. In order

to call something "Beef for Dogs," at least 95 percent of the product

must be the named meat, without counting the moisture content. Ifthe moisture content is included, at least 70 percent of the product mustbe the meat listed. If the name has a combination of meats, such as"Chicken and Liver," the two products together must be 95 percent of

the product with the first ingredient listed more prevalent.

If the amount of the meat is over 25 percent but less than 95 percent, aqualifier must be added. The word dinner is a commonly addedqualifier but platter, entre, nuggets and formula are also common.Also, just because the product name says "chicken formula" doesn'tmean beef or fish are not added. Check the ingredient list to find outwhich meats are also included.

Another rule regarding product name is the newly approved use of

"with". In pet food such as "Dog Food with Chicken," since the word"chicken" follows "with," that food must have at least three percent of

the food as chicken. This wording can fool some people. "Beef Dog

Food" is very different than "Dog Food with Beef." The first has

95 percent beef. The second only has three percent beef.

Informational Section

In addition to displaying the product name, brand name, weight andintended s ecies the et food label also includes a more com lex


5 6/26/2012


5/29

section. The informational section contains a list of ingredients, theguaranteed analysis, feeding instructions and nutritional adequacyclaim. This is the part of the label that is most important whencomparing different foods and determining the nutrients in the product.

Ingredient List

The list of ingredients must be in descending order. This means that themost prevalent part of the diet is listed first and then followed by eachingredient in order by weight. If your pet needs a diet low in protein,considered getting a food with several carbohydrates listed in the topfive ingredients. If your pet needs high protein, get a food with the firsttwo ingredients as meat products.

Guaranteed Analysis

This section of the pet food label lists the amounts of each ingredientcontained in the food. Typically, the minimum amount of theingredients is listed and not always the exact amount. When comparingone product to another, you must take moisture content into account.The ingredients should be compared on a dry matter basis. This meansthat if 82 percent moisture is present in the food, the remaining itemscomprise 18 percent of the diet. The minimum values listed for eachingredient (besides water) should be divided by 0.18 in order to get adry matter amount. Now two products can be compared fairly.

Nutritional Adequacy Claim

This section of the information area lists the life stage for which thefood is made, such as "for maintenance," "for growth" or "for all lifestages." If the pet food follows the guidelines set forth by theAssociation of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the labelwill include a statement that says the food provides complete andbalanced nutrition for a particular life stage. It will also list if the food ismeant as a treat or a supplement and should be fed in combination withother foods. --From Dr. Jon newsletter

The Problem Is Your Dogs Food

Basically, your dogs food has had the life cooked out of it. Dry andcanned dog foods are subjected to extreme heat in the productionprocess. This heat obliterates the digestive enzymes, beneficial bacteriaand delicate vitamins and nutrients your dog desperately needs.

Your dogs "good health" account is always running at a deficit becausehis diet is full of deficiencies. These deficiencies or gaps cause real


5 6/26/2012


6/29

. ,these issues in your dogs body show up as symptoms such as itchy redskin, hot spots, ear infections, excess shedding, dull coat, allergies,funky odors, and on and on.

WHAT'S REALLY IN PET FOOD?from the Animal Protection Institute

Plump whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all thewholesome nutrition your dog or cat will ever need.

These are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through themedia and advertising. This is what the $11 billion per year U.S. petfood industry wants consumers to believe they are buying when theypurchase their products.

This report explores the differences between what consumers thinkthey are buying and what they are actually getting. It focuses in very

general terms on the most visible name brands -- the pet food labelsthat are mass-distributed to supermarkets and discount stores -- butthere are many highly respected brands that may be guilty of the sameoffenses.

What most consumers don't know is that the pet food industry is anextension of the human food and agriculture industries. Pet foodprovides a market for slaughterhouse offal, grains considered "unfit forhuman consumption," and similar waste products to be turned intoprofit. This waste includes intestines, udders, esophagi, and possibly

diseased and cancerous animal parts.

Three of the five major pet food companies in the United States aresubsidiaries of major multinational companies: Nestl (Alpo, FancyFeast, Friskies, Mighty Dog), Heinz (9 Lives, Amore, Gravy Train,Kibbles n Bits, Recipe, Vets), Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science DietPet Food). Other leading companies are Procter & Gamble (Eukanubaand Iams), Mars (Kal Kan, Mealtime, Pedigree, Sheba), and Nutro.

From a business standpoint, multinational companies owning pet foodmanufacturing companies is an ideal relationship. The multinationals

have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products,and the pet food manufacturers have a reliable source from which topurchase their bulk materials.

There are hundreds of different pet foods available in this country. Andwhile many of the foods on the market are virtually the same, not all ofthe pet food manufacturing companies use poor quality and potentiallydangerous ingredients.

In redients


5 6/26/2012


7/29


8/29

are common ingredients in pet foods. The term "meal" means that thesematerials are not used fresh, but have been rendered. What isrendering?

Rendering, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is "to process as forindustrial use: to render livestock carcasses and to extract oil from fat,blubber, etc., by melting." Home-made chicken soup, with its thicklayer of fat that forms over the top when the soup is cooled, is a sort ofmini-rendering process. Rendering separates fat-soluble from water-soluble and solid materials, and kills bacterial contaminants, but mayalter or destroy some of the natural enzymes and proteins found in theraw ingredients.

What can the feeding of such products do to your companion animal?Some veterinarians claim that feeding slaughterhouse wastes to animalsincreases their risk of getting cancer and other degenerative diseases.The cooking methods used by pet food manufacturers - such asrendering and extruding (a heat-and-pressure system used to "puff" dry

foods into nuggets or kibbles) -- do not necessarily destroy thehormones used to fatten livestock or increase milk production, or drugssuch as antibiotics or the barbiturates used to euthanize animals.

Animal and Poultry Fat

You may have noticed a unique, pungent odor when you open a newbag of pet food -- what is the source of that delightful smell? It is mostoften rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid ordeemed inedible for humans.

Restaurant grease has become a major component of feed grade animalfat over the last fifteen years. This grease, often held in fifty-gallondrums, is usually kept outside for weeks, exposed to extremetemperatures with no regard for its future use. "Fat blenders" orrendering companies then pick up this used grease and mix the differenttypes of fat together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to retardfurther spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet foodcompanies and other end users.3

These fats are sprayed directly onto dried kibbles or extruded pellets tomake an otherwise bland or distasteful product palatable. The fat alsoacts as a binding agent to which manufacturers add other flavorenhancers such as digests. Pet food scientists have discovered thatanimals love the taste of these sprayed fats. Manufacturers are mastersat getting a dog or a cat to eat something she would normally turn upher nose at.

Wheat, Soy, Corn, Peanut Hulls, and Other Vegetable Protein


5 6/26/2012


9/29

decade. Once considered filler by the pet food industry, cereal and

grain products now replace a considerable proportion of the meat thatwas used in the first commercial pet foods. The availability of nutrientsin these products is dependent upon the digestibility of the grain. Theamount and type of carbohydrate in pet food determines the amount ofnutrient value the animal actually gets.

Dogs and cats can almost completely absorb carbohydrates from somegrains, such as white rice. Up to 20% of the nutritional value of othergrains can escape digestion. The availability of nutrients for wheat,beans, and oats is poor. The nutrients in potatoes and corn are far lessavailable than those in rice. Some ingredients, such as peanut hulls, areused for filler or fiber, and have no significant nutritional value.

Two of the top three ingredients in pet foods, particularly dry

foods, are almost always some form of grain products. PedigreePerformance Food for Dogs lists Ground Corn, Chicken By-Product

Meal, and Corn Gluten Meal as its top three ingredients. 9 LivesCrunchy Meals for cats lists Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal,and Poultry By-Product Meal as its first three ingredients. Since catsare true carnivores -- they must eat meat to fulfill certain physiologicalneeds -- one may wonder why we are feeding a corn-based product tothem. The answer is that corn is much cheaper than meat.

In 1995, Nature's Recipe pulled thousands of tons of dog food off theshelf after consumers complained that their dogs were vomiting andlosing their appetite. Nature's Recipe's loss amounted to $20 million.The problem was a fungus that produced vomitoxin (an aflatoxin or"mycotoxin," a toxic substance produced by mold) contaminating thewheat.

In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food madeby Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol' Roy (Wal-Mart'sbrand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs. (Thatwere reported ~Mel)

Although it caused many dogs to vomit, stop eating, and have diarrhea,vomitoxin is a milder toxin than most. The more dangerous mycotoxins

can cause weight loss, liver damage, lameness, and even death as in theDoane case. The Nature's Recipe incident prompted the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) to intervene. Dina Butcher, Agriculture PolicyAdvisor for North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer, concluded that thediscovery of vomitoxin in Nature's Recipe wasn't much of a threat tothe human population because "the grain that would go into pet food isnot a high quality grain."3

Additives and Preservatives


5 6/26/2012


10/29

any c em ca s are a e o commerc a pe oo s o mprove e

taste, stability, characteristics, or appearance of the food. Additivesprovide no nutritional value. Additives include emulsifiers to preventwater and fat from separating, antioxidants to prevent fat from turningrancid, and artificial colors and flavors to make the product moreattractive to consumers and more palatable to their companion animals.

Adding chemicals to food originated thousands of years ago with

spices, natural preservatives, and ripening agents. In the last 40 years,however, the number of food additives has greatly increased.

All commercial pet foods contain preservatives. Some of these areadded to ingredients or raw materials by the suppliers, and others maybe added by the manufacturer. Because manufacturers need to ensurethat dry foods have a long shelf life to remain edible after shipping andprolonged storage, fats included in pet foods are preserved with eithersynthetic or "natural" preservatives.

Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) andbutylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (alsoused as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin.For these antioxidants, there is little information documenting theirtoxicity, safety, or chronic use in pet foods that may be eaten every dayfor the life of the animal.

Potentially cancer-causing agents such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquinare permitted at relatively low levels. The use of these chemicals in petfoods has not been thoroughly studied, and long term build-up of theseagents may ultimately be harmful. Due to questionable data in theoriginal study on its safety, ethoxyquin's manufacturer, Monsanto, wasrequired to perform a new, more rigorous study. This was completed in1996.

Even though Monsanto found no significant toxicity associated with itsown product, in July 1997, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicinerequested that manufacturers voluntarily reduce the maximum level forethoxyquin by half, to 75 parts per million. While some pet food criticsand veterinarians believe that ethoxyquin is a major cause of disease,skin problems, and infertility in dogs, others claim it is the safest,

strongest, most stable preservative available for pet food.

Ethoxyquin is only approved for use in human food for preservingspices, such as cayenne and chili powder, at a level of 100 ppm -- but itwould be very difficult to consume as much chili powder every day as adog would eat dry food. Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety incats.

Some manufacturers have responded to consumer concern, and arenow using "natural" preservatives such as Vitamin C (ascorbate),


15 6/26/2012


11/29

, , ,spices, to preserve the fats in their products.

Other ingredients, however, may be individually preserved. Fish meal,and some prepared vitamin mixtures used to supplement pet food,contain chemical preservatives. This means that your companion animalmay be eating food containing several types of preservatives. Not all ofthese are required to be disclosed on the label. However, due to

consumer pressure, preservatives used in fat are now required to belisted on the label.

Additives in Processed Pet Foods

Anticaking agentsAntimicrobial agentsAntioxidantsColoring agentsCuring agents

Drying agentsEmulsifiersFirming agentsFlavor enhancersFlavoring agentsFlour treating agentsFormulation aidsHumectantsLeavening agentsLubricants

Nonnutritive sweetenersNutritive sweetenersOxidizing and reducing agentspH control agentsProcessing aidsSequestrantsSolvents, vehiclesStabilizers, thickenersSurface active agentsSurface finishing agents

SynergistsTexturizers

While the law requires studies of direct toxicity of these additives andpreservatives, they have not been tested for their potential synergisticeffects on each other once ingested. Some authors have suggested thatdangerous interactions occur among some of the common syntheticpreservatives. Natural preservatives do not provide as long a shelf life aschemical preservatives, but they do not carry the unanswered questionsabout their safety.


15 6/26/2012


12/29

The Manufacturing Process- How pet food is made

Although feeding trials are no longer required for a food to meet therequirements for labeling a food "complete and balanced," mostmanufacturers perform palatability studies when developing a new petfood. One set of animals is fed a new food while a "control" group isfed a current formula. The total volume eaten is used as a gauge for the

palatability of the food. The larger and more reputable companies douse feeding trials, which are considered to be a much more accurateassessment of the actual nutritional value of the food. They keep largecolonies of dogs and cats for this purpose.

Dry food is made with a machine called an expander or extruder. First,raw materials are blended, sometimes by hand, other times bycomputer, in accordance with a recipe developed by animalnutritionists. This mixture is fed into an expander and steam or hotwater is added. The mixture is subjected to steam, pressure, and high

heat as it is extruded through dies that determine the shape of the finalproduct and puffed like popcorn. The food is allowed to dry, and then isusually sprayed with fat, digests, or other compounds to make it morepalatable. Although the cooking process may kill bacteria in pet food,the final product can lose its sterility during the subsequent drying, fatcoating, and packaging process.

Ingredients are similar for wet, dry, and semi-moist foods, although theratios of protein, fat, and fiber may change. A typical can of ordinarycat food reportedly contains about 45-50% meat or poultry

by-products. The main difference between the types of food is thewater content. It is impossible to directly compare labels from differentkinds of food without a mathematical conversion to "dry matter basis."5Wet or canned food begins with ground ingredients mixed withadditives. If chunks are required, a special extruder forms them. Thenthe mixture is cooked and canned. The sealed cans are then put intocontainers resembling pressure cookers and commercial sterilizationtakes place. Some manufacturers cook the food right in the can.

There are special labeling requirements for pet food. The "all meat"product is covered by AAFCO's "95% Rule": "When an ingredient or a

combination of ingredients derived from animals, poultry, or fishconstitute 95% or more of the total weight of all ingredients of a petfood, the name or names of such ingredient(s) may form part of theproduct name of the pet food; provided that where more than oneingredient is part of such product name, then all such ingredient namesshall be in the same size, style, and color print.

For the purpose of this provision, water sufficient for processing shallbe excluded when calculating the percentage of the namedingredient(s). However, such named ingredient(s) shall constitute at


15 6/26/2012


13/29

least 70% of the total product." Because all-meat diets are notnutritionally balanced, they are uncommon today.

The "dinner" product is defined by the 25% Rule: "When an ingredientor a combination of ingredients constitutes at least 25% but less than95% of the total weight of all ingredients of a dog or cat food mixture,the name or names of such ingredient or ingredients may form a part of

the product name of the pet food if each of the ingredients constitute atleast 3% of the product weight excluding water used for processing andonly if the product name also includes a primary descriptive term suchas 'dinner', 'platter,' or similar designation so that the product namedescribes the contents of the product in accordance with an establishedlaw, custom or usage or so that the product name is not misleading.

If the names of more than one ingredient are shown, they shall appearin the order of their respective predominance by weight in the product.All such ingredient names and the primary descriptive term shall be inthe same size, style and color print. For the purpose of this provision,

water sufficient for processing shall be excluded when calculating thepercentage of the named ingredient(s). However, such namedingredient(s) shall constitute at least 10% of the total product."

The "flavor" product is formulated to have a specific flavor: "No flavordesignation shall be used on a pet food label unless the flavor isdetected by a recognized test method, or is one the presence of whichprovides a characteristic distinguishable by the pet.

Any flavor designation on a pet food label must either conform to the

name of its source as shown in the ingredient statement or theingredient statement shall show the source of the flavor. The wordflavor shall be printed in the same size type and with an equal degree ofconspicuousness as the ingredient term(s) from which the flavordesignation is derived.

Distributors of pet food employing such flavor designation or claims onthe labels of the product distributed by them shall, upon request, supplyverification of the designated or claimed flavor to the appropriatecontrol official." In essence, the "flavor rule" allows a food to be labeledas "beef flavor" without actually containing any beef meat at all.

What happened to the nutrients?

Dr. Randy L. Wysong is a veterinarian and produces his own line of petfoods. A long time critic of pet food industry practices, he said,"Processing is the wild card in nutritional value that is, by and large,simply ignored. Heating, cooking, rendering, freezing, dehydrating,canning, extruding, pelleting, baking, and so forth, are so commonplacethat they are simply thought of as synonymous with food itself."


15 6/26/2012


14/29

rocess ng mea an y-pro uc s use n pe oo can grea y m n stheir nutritional value, but cooking increases the digestibility of cerealgrains.

To make pet food nutritious, pet food manufacturers must "fortify" itwith vitamins and minerals. Why? Because the ingredients they areusing are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, andthe harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the

food had to begin with.

Contaminants

Commercially manufactured or rendered meat meals and by-productmeals are frequently highly contaminated with bacteria because theirsource is not always slaughtered animals. Animals that have diedbecause of disease, injury, or natural causes are a source of meat formeat meal. The dead animal might not be rendered until days after itsdeath. Therefore the carcass is often contaminated with bacteria such

as Salmonella and Escherichia coli.

Dangerous E. Coli bacteria are estimated to contaminate more than50% of meat meals. While the cooking process may kill bacteria, itdoes not eliminate the endotoxins some bacteria produce during theirgrowth and are released when they die. These toxins can causesickness and disease. Pet food manufacturers do not test their productsfor endotoxins.

Mycotoxins

These toxins comes from mold or fungi, such as vomitoxin in theNature's Recipe case, and aflatoxin in Doane's food. Poor farmingpractices and improper drying and storage of crops can cause moldgrowth. Ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated withmycotoxins are grains such as wheat and corn, cottonseed meal, peanutmeal, and fish meal.

Labeling

The National Research Council (NRC) of the Academy of Sciences set

the nutritional standards for pet food until 1974, when the pet foodindustry created a group called the Association of American FeedControl Officials (AAFCO). At that time AAFCO chose to adopt theNRC standards rather than develop its own.

The NRC standards required feeding trials for pet foods that claimed tobe "complete" and "balanced." The pet food industry found the feedingtrials too restrictive and expensive, so AAFCO designed an alternateprocedure for claiming the nutritional adequacy of pet food. AAFCOalso formed "expert committees" for canine and feline nutrition and


15 6/26/2012


15/29

eve ope ts own stan ar s n t e ear y s. nstea o ee ng tr a s,chemical analysis will determine if a food meets the standards.

The problem with chemical analysis is that it does not address thepalatability, digestibility, and biological availability of nutrients in petfood. Thus it is unreliable for determining whether a food will providean animal with sufficient nutrients.

To compensate for the limitations of chemical analysis, AAFCO addeda "safety factor," which was to exceed the minimum amount ofnutrients required to meet the complete and balanced requirements.The digestibility and availability of nutrients is not listed on pet foodlabels.

What Is a Prescription Dog Food Diet?Nutrition is an important part of your dog's life. Without neededproteins, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, your dog's health can

suffer. Providing the proper balance of nutrients can also help in certaindisease processes.Prescription diets are specially made diets which help in the treatmentand care of dogs with certain ailments or diseases. Some of these dietsare only intended as a temporary change in food, while others arerecommended for the duration of the pet's life. Since these diets areprescribed for particular disorders, they may have extra amounts ofsome nutrients while removing others. This makes the diet unhealthy,and possibly even harmful for healthy dogs. This is why they are

available by prescription only.These diets are set up for dogs which may have a one major problem ora host of things going on with their system such as food allergies,gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis, diabetes, urinary tract disorders,kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease and even some forms ofcancer. By combining the nutrients needed for each specific case, dietscan aid in recovery or slow down the progression of disease.For example, diets formulated for heart disease have lower protein and

lower sodium than is recommended for health adult pets. Diets for foodallergies have proteins that the pet may have never had such askangaroo, duck, potato or venison. Diets for diabetes control have ahigher fiber and may have a higher protein than what is consideredappropriate for healthy adult dogs. There are also diets for dogs witharthritis that contribute to healthy joints and improve mobility in dogs.


15 6/26/2012


16/29

Dog Food Nutrition

There are many varieties of dog food on the market, but that does notmean they are all good for your dog. When we go to the grocery store tobuy food for our children, most of us are very careful about reading thelabels. But when it comes to dog food, most people just buy the cheapestand never once look at the label. If you are paying $10 or less for a50-pound bag of dog food, you have to wonder how they are making it socheap.

Ads by Google

Dog Guide Get Free Pet Advice, Health Tips & Adoption Info-All in OneToolbar!www.PetsHarmony.com

Free Dog Daycare Day at The Woof - Dog Lounge & Spa to get yourcoupon p lease visitwww.thewoof.ca

Ask a Dog Vet Online Now 12 Veterinarians Are Online. Get All Your

Questions Answered.Dog.JustAnswer.com

First Mate Pet Food Nanaimo We Carry Acana Dog Food Products AndMore. Call Us At 250-758-2727.www.TrueBlueNaturalPetFoodCo.ca

Wag The Dog Fun. Fast Paced. Fetching. Need a trainer? We canhelp...wagthedog.ca

I was as guilty of this as anyone until I began rescuing large numbers ofdogs. And then my girls became interested in obedience, breeding andshowing. I began to wonder if there was something I could feed themwhich they would utilize betterso I would not have to poop scoop ALLTHE TIME. Now that may sound terrible, but when you are caring for 40dogs and cleaning up after them because you want their environment tobe clean, you start thinking of things like this.

Dogs are carnivores and need meat. I know there are people out therefeeding their dogs a vegetarian diet, and I say to you that is yourprerogative. But we are omnivores and they are carnivores. Hold up acarrot and a steak and see which one Spike goes for. If you feed your doga can of corn, you will find that he does not digest it. It will all pass throughhim. The proof is in the poop.

Having said all that, let me tell you what you need to look for in regard todog food for your pet.

The first ingredient should be a specified meat or specified meat meal,whether that is lamb, beef, chicken etc. Make sure the meat is specifiedand not just listed as a "meat" or "animal." You want to know exactly whattype of meat is being used. See Rendered Products in Dog Food.

If you read the labels of some dog foods you will notice that some do noteven contain real meat in them. They are mainly corn with sprayed onanimal fat to enhance the smell and attract dogs.

Second, make sure the food contains no meat by-products such as:hooves, feathers, eyes, beaks, skin, fur, etc. Meat by-products are notmeat. They are what is left after all of the good meat is taken off. In otherwords, the slaughterhouse waste that humans do not eat.

When a meat is not specified and is listed as "meat" or "animal" instead oftelling you what kind of animal the meat came from be aware that couldmean the meat came from a rendering plant. Rendering plant meat can be

tion for your dog, Canine Nutrition, Dog Nutrition http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nut

6/26/2012


17/29

any n o mea suc as roa , eu an ze an ma s, sease an ma sthat died of who knows what and so on. I know of a farmer whose llamadied of unknown causes. He took the body to the rendering plant after ithad been lying in the barn stall for a day. Where the llamas meat will endup is unknown. The rendering plants often sell their meat to dog and catfood companies as "bone meal," "meat by-products," "animal by-products"and "animal fat." Beware when they do not tell you what kind of "meat" or"animal" it is.

Third, make sure it is soy-free. Many dogs are allergic to soy and this canmanifest through skin problems, breathing problems, and/or diarrhea, etc.

Corn can also cause many issues. Dogs were not meant to eat corn andother grains. Corn has been linked to skin allergies, joint swelling andbloat in dogs, among other things. SeeCorn in Dog Food. Really?

As for canned food, you need to make sure that the first ingredient is meat,not water. If the first ingredient is water you could save yourself somemoney and give him tap water. You are buying mainly water.

Whatever the first ingredient is listed as should be what will make up themajority of the product. However...be aware that a lot of dry dog foods willlist the first ingredient as simply "chicken" and the second as, lets say,"corn." This leads one to believe that there is more chicken in the food thancorn. However they are weighing the chicken before the water is extractedout of the food and before it is cooked. Raw meat contains about 80%

water. After it is cooked and the moisture taken out to make the dry dogfood you are left with only about 20% of the meats original weight.Therefore these dog foods really contain much more of the secondingredient than the first. In a lot of cases that ingredient is corn. Whereaswhen the meat is listed as a "meal," for example "chicken meal," that is themeat AFTER the water has been extracted, giving you more meat.

The first ingredient should be a specified meat or meat meal. Grains,

by-products, bone meal, animal fat (added for flavor), animal digest, sugar,

corn syrup, added colors or dyes or any "meat" or "animal" that is not

specified should be avoided.

It is far better to pay a little more for a good dog food than it is to buycheap stuff. They will eat more of the junk dog food because they are notgetting what they need. It passes right through them. On the other hand, ifyou feed your dog a good dog food, it is going to eat less because it issatisfied. It is utilizing more. That means less poop and fewer healthproblems down the road.

A poor diet can also cause a dog to shed more, have a duller looking coatand have body odor.

When is the last time you read the ingredients on the type of dog food thatyou use?

tion for your dog, Canine Nutrition, Dog Nutrition http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nut

6/26/2012


18/29

eating?

The farmer up the street had a llama die of unknown causes. It took him aday or so to get a tractor down to the barn so he could drag the body outof the stall and get it into his truck. He said he was taking the body to therendering plant.

Ads by GoogleCompanion Animal Hospital Early am & late pm Appointments, walkin,house call,home euthanasiacompanionanimalhospital.ca

19 Dog Training Mistakes Do You Make These Mistakes When TrainingYour Dog? Find Out Today!www.TheDogTrainingSecret.com

Doggy Laine: K9 Obedience K9 Exercise & Obedience in Victoria NotJUST a walk: Join Joggin' Dogs!DoggyLaine.com

Training a Dog Fastest and most effective ways for any dog.www.DogSquad.ca

Is Your Dog Suffering? Dysplasia-DogArthritis-Joint Pain. Result in 7Days, Buy Now!www.chondropaw.com

A rendering plant is a processing operation where dead animals arerecycled into products such as human food, pet food and industrialmaterials.

They accept and collect animals condemned at slaughterhouses (diseasedor dying l ivestock or poultry with ID tags still attached), slaughterhousewaste, road kill, euthanized cats and dogs from animal shelters andveterinarian offices (including their flea collars containing toxic pesticides,ID tags and a variety of powerful drugs), horses, dead animals fromfarmers, dead zoo animals, rats, mice, spoiled and unsold grocery store

ered products in dog food - What's your dog really eating? http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care/renderingplantscat

4 6/26/2012


19/29

meat still in their plastic and Styrofoam wrappings, butcher shop trimmingsthat the butcher did not see as fit to sell and even used restaurant grease.The dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals are classified inthe trade as 4-D meat.

There are many uses for rendered products, but one of the widespreaduses in the United States is to make low cost meats for dog and cat foods.This means your dog or cat could be eating other dogs and cats amongother inferior 4-D animals not fit for human consumption.

How can you tell if your dog or cat food contains rendered products? Readthe ingredients. If the food uses words such as "meat," "animal" or"poultry" without specifying what type of meat or animal it is referring to,there is a good chance that it came from a rendering plant. Some of theingredient lingo to watch for is...

Meat and Bone Meal

Meat Meal

Bone Meal

Animal Fat

Tallow

Animal Digest

Digest

Poultry by-product meal

Poultry by-products


4 6/26/2012


20/29

.

Meat and Bone Meala dry rendered product from mammal tissues madefrom slaughterhouse waste and other dead animals not suitable for humanconsumption. It often contains 50% protein, 35% ash, 8-12% fat, and 4-7%moisture. It includes bone, but does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn,hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in suchamounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. The typeof animal is not specified and therefore it can come from any of thesources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead,destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals classified as 4-D meat.

Meat Meala rendered product from mammal tissues unfit for humanconsumption. It does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings,manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as mayoccur unavoidably in good processing practices. The type of animal is notspecified and therefore it can come from any of the sources taken in andprocessed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying,disabled, diseased animals classified as 4-D meat.

Bone Meala rendered product unfit for human consumption (steamed)dried & ground product sterilized by cooking un-decomposed bones withsteam under pressure. Grease, gelatin and meat fiber may or may not beremoved. The type of animal is not specified and therefore it can comefrom any of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plantincluding the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled and diseased.

Animal Fatthe greasy debris left over after rendering, deemed inediblefor humans. It is obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry inthe commercial processes of rendering or extracting. It consistspredominantly of glyceride esters of fatty acids and contains no additionsof free fatty acids. If an antioxidant is used, the common name or namesmust be indicated, followed by the words "used as a preservative." Wherethe fat comes from is not specified so it could be any of a combination ofthe sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including thedead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals.

Tallowanimal fats with a titer above 40 degrees Celsius. Tallow isclassified by regulators as inedible to humans. Where the fat comes fromis not specified so it could be any of or a combination of the sources takenin and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed,

dying, disabled and diseased.

Animal digesta rendered product material of cooked-down broth madefrom unspecified body parts from unspecified animals unfit for humanconsumption. It is the results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis ofclean and un-decomposed animal tissue. Materials treated with heat,enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors. It is usuallysprayed onto the kibble to make it smell and taste more appealing to thepets eating it. It is an extremely poor source of protein. Since the type ofanimal is not specified it can be anything accepted and processed by therendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseasedanimals.

Digesta rendered product material of cooked-down broth made fromunspecified body parts from unspecified animals unfit for human

consumption. It is the results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis ofclean and un-decomposed animal tissue. Materials treated with heat,enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors. It is usuallysprayed onto the kibble to make it smell and taste more appealing to thepets eating it. It is an extremely poor source of protein. Since the type ofanimal is not specified it can be anything accepted and processed by therendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseasedanimals.

Digest is a flavoring, not a meat. For example only a small amount of a"chicken digest" is needed to produce a "chicken flavored cat food," eventhough no actual chicken is added to the food. Digest is unfit for humanconsumption.

Poultr b - roduct meala dr rendered roduct of slau htered oultr


4 6/26/2012


21/29

consisting of things deemed not fit for human consumption (no musclemeat included), which can include heads, beaks, necks, intestines,undeveloped eggs, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter(except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processingpractices), but does not include feathers (except in such amounts as mightoccur unavoidably in good processing practices). Including the dead,destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased birds.


4 6/26/2012


22/29

.

If you look at the ingredients of the vast majority of major brand dog foodssold in your local grocery store you will see most of them contain sometype of corn such as cornmeal. Fact: dogs are meat eaters; even their teethtell us this. They do not have grinding molars, they have ripping canines.Have you ever heard of a farmer having issues with dogs raiding their cornfields? No, what we might hear is a dog raiding the chicken coop for meat.

Ads by Google

PEDIGREE Dry Dog Food Great Tasting & High in Nutrition. NoArtificial Flavours or Colours.MyPedigree.ca

Natural Dog Food New Harringtons Premium Dog Food from UKExclusive to Walmart Canadawww.harringtonsdogfood.com

Dog Veterinarian - DunbarLocal Dog Veterinarian - Vancouver. Dogsare Welcome: 604 221-5858.

AltaVistaAnimalHospital.ca/Dogs-Vet

Potty Train Your Dog Fast Within 6 days, your dog will never pee andpoop inside again - ever.www.TrainPetDog.com

19 Dog Training Mistakes Do You Make These Mistakes When Training

Your Dog? Find Out Today!www.TheDogTrainingSecret.com

Corn has been linked to many dog ailments such as allergies, jointswelling, bloat and there have been some cases of aflatoxin contaminationassociated with corn in dog food. The corn that is used in dog food issometimes contaminated with mycotoxins (toxins from mold or fungi). Cornmetabolizes in dogs similar to the way sugar metabolizes in humans. It'slike feeding a child foods high in corn syrup. The dog is not going to be ashealthy and may experience energy rushes, crashes, hyperactivity and ahard time concentrating. Studies have also shown that high doses of corncan inhibit serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is an important chemical thatreduces stress and anxiety.

in Dog Food. Really? http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care/corndo

4 6/26/2012


23/29

A dog's body cannot process corn properly. It is difficult for them to digestit. Corn is a cheap filler, a starchy energy which serves little to nonutritional value. A lot of it comes out in their waste.

All of this was brought to my attention when my very keen Pit Bull puppystarted refusing to eat his food. After doing some research on theingredients in his dog food it didn't take long to realize between the grainsand the by-products, among other unhealthy ingredients, he was beingasked to eat something that was not good for him. When I switched mydogs over from a corn-based dog food to a grain-free dog food I noticedthat their poop was smaller. I quickly realized I had to start feeding themless food or they were going to gain weight. Their bodies were using whatthey were eating instead of pooping it out.

So why is corn being put in their dog food?

Back in the days of the Great Depression the first farm bill was passed.The Agricultural Act of 1938 mandated price supports for corn along withcotton, and wheat. To this day corn is still subsidized by the government.What that means is for every bushel of corn a farmer grows in America, thegovernment pays the farmer with taxpayer money. A lot of corn farmersonly make money from corn because there are a few different subsidiesfrom the government they get for every bushel of corn they grow. So theygrow more and more. It does not even have to be a good quality corn, justcorn. They don't have to compete; they get money for whatever they grow,guaranteed. They don't even have to make it taste good or be good foryou. They genetically modified it to be resistant to a pesticide, to grow talland close together and to grow fast and starchy. Its not the same type ofcorn the Indians used to grow that had more nutrition and protein. Thiscorn is genetically modified.


4 6/26/2012


24/29

As a result America has an overabundance of corn. The government, alongwith some private industries, is always working on what they can use thecorn for. It is put in a high percentage of human and animal foods in manydifferent forms. It has been said that if you test a human hair you can findtraces of corn produced carbon.

This genetically modified corn is put in not only dog food but also cat food,horse feed, goat feed, chicken feed and even fed to cows.

Since cows are grazers and should be eating grass they have a hard time

processing the corn. They need to be given antibiotics to keep them fromgetting sick long enough for them to go to slaughter. As a result of thecows being fed corn the meat they produce has a higher fat content than itwould if the cows were fed grass. Corn-fed cows produce meat that ishigher in the bad fatty acids and lower in the good fatty acids. Whereasgrass-fed cows produce the opposite effect. Grass fed is higher in thegood fats and lower in the bad fats.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) live in the stomachs of corn-fed cows as the corndiet makes the cows digestive track more acidic. Whereas the digestivetrack of a grass-fed cow is not acidic enough for E. coli to l ive.

Some owners claim their dogs are sensitive to beef, chicken and turkey. Inreality it is not the animal itself the dog is having a reaction to, but the cornthe animals were fed prior to slaughter. Although feeding a dog or cat ananimal that grew up eating corn is not nearly as bad as feeding them corndirectly, most cats and dogs can handle it.

Corn has also been linked to colic in horses.Corn is even being made intoethanol and put into gas for cars. Ethanol is not as fuel efficient asgasoline and has been known to be bad for engines and other equipment.

Since there is a high tariff on cane sugar, making it artificially moreexpensive, almost everything that is sweetened has corn syrup or highfructose corn syrup in it, including things like bread and yogurt. The list ofthings that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is overwhelming, evensome dog foods and dog treats contain corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup has been linked to the rise in obesity anddiabetes in the United States. Our bodies do not process HFCS the sameway we process cane sugar. Fructose consumption does not cause aninsulin response. Since HFCS is in just about everything we eat this can bea huge problem.

Large dog food companies will go to veterinarian schools to offer theirservices. Some vet students claim they have given them free samples,supplied food for their own pets, gave them large discounts, bought themnotebooks, doughnuts, breakfast, text books, gave them jobs and eventaught their nutrition classes. All to influence the young vet students thatcorn, by-products and other junk ingredients are OK for your pet to eat.When the vet opens up their own practice they offer the vet the chance tosell their foods, providing them with lots of free samples and literature togive out to their patients along with a rep that will answer any nutritionquestions people might have. People see the foods inside the vets office


4 6/26/2012


25/29


26/29

Basic Feeding Guide:

Puppies and Adult Dogs

The first ingredient in your dog's food should be a specified meat. Not ameat by-product, but the real thing. Puppies and adult dogs were notmeant to eat corn and wheat. If the first ingredient in your dog food is a

corn, wheat, meat by-product, bone meal or anything but a real specifiedtype of meat, steer clear. By-products are the leftovers, such as the eyes,hooves, skin, feathers and feet, that are not good for human consumption(unless the dog food specifically states otherwise.) Beware of ingredientsthat do not list exactly what it is, such as words like "animal" and "meat" as

opposed to "chicken," "beef," "duck," etc. SeeRendered Products in Dog

Food.

Ads by Google

Natural Dog Food New Harringtons Premium Dog Food from UKExclusive to Walmart Canadawww.harringtonsdogfood.com

Free Dog Daycare Day at The Woof - Dog Lounge & Spa to get yourcoupon please visitwww.thewoof.ca

Training a Dog Fastest and most effective ways for any dog.www.DogSquad.ca

Labrador Training Warning Avoid generic dog books. Our guide iswritten by Labrador Experts.www.LabradorRetrieverSavvy.com

First Mate Pet Food Nanaimo We Carry Acana Dog Food Products AndMore. Call Us At 250-758-2727.www.TrueBlueNaturalPetFoodCo.ca

The first ingredient on the label should represent what the dog food ismost made out of, but beware, as this is not always the case...

Using chicken as an example, when a dog food lists a meat in theingredients such as "chicken" it is going by the weight in the meats raw

state, before it was cooked.

Chicken in its raw state weighs about 80% more than it does once it iscooked and processed into a dry pellet. Once it is processed you are leftwith only 20% of the actual meat.

The word "meal" in an ingredient is something that was weighed after thewater was taken out. For example "chicken meal" is chicken which isweighed after it has been cooked and the water has already been takenout, giving you more meat and protein per weight volume.

Therefore be aware that if the ingredients read "chicken" first and "cornmeal" second, the food may contain more corn than chicken. Corn is a fillerthat a dog's body does not utilize well, if at all. The corn gets pooped outand the dog must eat more food in order to get enough protein and

nutrients that their bodies can use from the other ingredients in the food.

Corn can also cause many issues. Dogs were not meant to eat corn orother grains. Corn has been linked to skin allergies, joint swelling andbloat in dogs, among other things. See Corn in Dog Food. Really?

Take a look at your dog's teeth. Notice that he does not have any grindingmolars. They are all ripping canines. This tells us that dogs were notmeant to eat grains, as they lack the teeth to grind them up. Dogs havepointy canines for ripping into meat. A lot of dogs develop skin problemsand other health issues, including bloat, due to the grains they are beingfed in their dog food.

It is best to feed dogs a grain-free diet. While the better quality dog foodma cost more the do can eat less of it since their bodies use more of

Feeding Guide for Dogs, How much should I feed my dog? http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/fe

4 6/26/2012


27/29

what they are eating, producing less waste. Not to mention the vet bill ifyour dog develops issues from consuming a low quality food. Be sure toread the ingredients label of the dog food you are using. You may havetrouble finding a good quality food at a grocery store and may have to goto your local pet store to find a higher grade food.

A poor diet can also cause a dog to shed more, have a dull coat and havebody odor.

How much should I feed my dog?

Below is a daily basic feedingguide for puppies and adultdogs. An individual dog'srequirements may differ fromthis chart. It is best to consultwith your vet about the specific

needs of your pet.

.

Thefirst 8weeks

Puppies should not be separated from their motherbefore they are 8 weeks old. Puppies that leave theirmothers sooner have a rougher time adjusting and ahigher incidence of illnesses. I do not know if it isdue to weakened immunity or mourning thepremature loss of their family. Their mother's milkprovides them with the nutrition and antibodies theyneed to become healthy dogs. At three to fourweeks, puppies should begin eating some solidfood. You can try mixing three parts food with onepart water or puppy replacement milk. This willmake the food easier for the puppy to digest. If yourpuppy begins eating a little solid food before it leaveits mother it will have an easier time adjusting whenyou bring it home. One way to tell if a puppy isready to come home with you is if it prefers human

company over its mom or siblings.

6 to 8weeks

Feed your puppy 3-4 times a day. Puppies havedifferent nutritional needs than adult dogs. Choosea puppy food that provides the appropriate balanceof nutrients your puppy needs. Be sure it is gettingthe right amount of protein and calcium, and theproper amount of calories. Check the label todetermine if you are feeding your puppy a balanceddiet. A specified meat should be the first ingredienton the label.

After 8weeks

Feed your puppy twice a day.

3 to 6months

Your puppy will be teething. He may become a

finicky eater or lose his appetite. Keep feeding himnutritious food twice a day. If he has an upsetstomach for more than one or two days, take him tothe veterinarian.

6months

to 1year

Your puppy may look all grown up but he is still apuppy. He should still be fed a highquality food forthe added nutrition. Note, in some very high qualityfoods the company does not make a separate foodfor puppies because the food is of such a highquality that it provides for both puppy and adultequally. For example, a real human grade chicken iswhat it is for all ages. If you are feeding a puppyfood ask your veterinarian when you should switchto adult food. Make sure the adult food you switch to


4 6/26/2012


28/29

is still a balanced high quality diet with the firstingredient being a specified meat that is not aby-product.

8 to 9months

Feeding should be twice a day.

1 year In most breeds feeding should be twice a day.

Below is the daily basic feeding guide for adul t dogs. An

individual dog's requirements may differ from this chart. Itis best to look at the directions of the food you arefeeding for their recommendations. This chart is ageneral reference. The feeding directions are based onusing an 8 oz. measuring cup. Puppies can be fed up toone time the highest amount listed in their category. It issometimes best to split the amount into two or moreseparate feedings rather than just one big meal, oftentwice a day. Puppies should be fed more often than adultdogs. When adding in canned food, cut the dry by up tohalf the amount and substitute the same volume that youcut with canned food, so the dog is getting the sameamount of food, some dry and some wet. Note, if you arefeeding a good quality dog food you will be able to feedless as the dog's body will utilize more and poop out

less. If you are feeding a food that contains a lot of fillers(grain fillers such as corn are often used by somecompanies) you may have to feed more in order for thedog to get the proper amount of protein.

Typical BreedWeight asan Adult

Dog

DryFood

Dry Food Mixed with Can

Food

Chihuahua,Yorkshire Terrier, ToyPoodle

Up to 10pounds

1/4 to3/4

Cut dry up to the amountand substitute the samevolume with a can

Miniature Poodle,Scottish Terrier

10-25pounds

3/4 to1 cup

Cut dry up to the amount& substitute the samevolume with a can

Cocker Spaniel,Beagle, SpringerSpaniel

25-50pounds

1-2cups


Collie, Boxer,Labrador, GoldenRetriever

50-75pounds

2-2 cups


Great Dane,Malamute, St.Bernard, Mastiff

Over 75pounds

2-4cups



4 6/26/2012


29/29

oo as c ee ng ps

Dogs should be fed at the same time every day. Feedingat the same time will keep your dog on a bathroomschedule. Ask your vet how many times a day you shouldfeed your dog.

Feed your dog the same type and brand of food everyday. Unlike humans, a dog's digestive system cannothandle changes in food. It can cause upset stomach anddiarrhea.

When switching to a new food gradually transition him tothe new food by mixing portions of both foods until youslowly phase out the old food. Your dog may experiencediarrhea if his food is suddenly changed.

If you are mixing water into dry food you should mix 4parts dry food to 1 part water.

Keep fresh drinking water available at all times. Changethe water at least once a day, more for dogs who drool.

Keep food and water bowls clean.

Don't overfeed your dog.

Follow the guidelines on the dog food package forrecommended feeding amounts.Monitor your dog's weight and activity level, and makefeeding adjustments as necessary.

If your dog has loose stool feeding sweet potatoes is anatural stool hardener. Unlike some medicines, giving toomany will not make them constipated. They sell sweetpotato chips for dogs in a lot of pet supply stores.

Interesting bits of info...

Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have about 9000taste buds, and cats have about 470.

Dogs have water taste buds, something humans do not have.

Dogs do not crave salt the way humans do.


dog food nutrition-what you should know

Documents