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For concerned pet owners who really want to give their dog completely human grade dog food the option of self-cooking is the best one by far. Yes, cook it yourself and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing the origin of the natural dog food, balancing the necessary nutritional counts for your pet’s individual health conditions, hygienic preparation as well as budget friendly choices for a wholesome meal!

For others, such as those dog owners leading a hectic life or those with limited cooking time and culinary skills, there’s the convenient choice of human grade dog food, which is an easy to serve, measured and balanced healthy canine food alternative to homemade pet food.

However, there are a few essential factors to keep in mind before buying pet food. As a quick and handy reference, the checklist that follows may be taken as a basic canine food buyer’s guide, so take a look below:

Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying Human Grade Dog Food

1. Many commercial canine foods contain meat and bones as a form of protein and calcium. Where they get the meat from is a matter of concern for most commercial dog food buyers as caring pet owners realize the importance of feeding their animal a quality of meat that they as humans would gladly eat themselves.

2. Even though some of the best-advertised and well-known canine food brands are scientifically researched and keep to international standards, there is considerable doubt about the quality of the ingredients.

3. For one, it is not advisable to feed the dog processed or cooked bones, as this could lead to splinters getting lodged in the dog’s throat or intestines.

4. Vets advise against feeding the dog cooked bones at home while they agree that giving the dog a raw bone would help the animal develop healthy teeth and derive the required quantity of calcium from it.

5. Another thing to watch out for in commercial canine food is yellow corn. Some dog foods contain ground corn or cornmeal this is very difficult for the dog to digest. Besides ground corn swells in the stomach making the dog feel full while delivering little nutrition to the animal.

6. Watch out for the fat content in the dog food. Some commercial dog foods will display ‘animal fat’ as the source of fat for the dog. This almost always means that the fat in the pet food comes from restaurant grease and rendered fats, which are very low quality fats and thus, unsuitable for human consumption.

7. Some human grade dog foods contain specified fat sources such as beef tallow. This is a low-grade animal fat but at least they tell us where the fat comes from. Thus, many pet owners find that knowing this comes as close to a human grade dog food that is easily available on a commercial platform opt for buying his type of canine food.

By: Deepanjolie Figg

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Kansieo.com

What’s the best dog food for dogs with allergies? Here are 6 tips on choosing the right dog food.

1. Look for a dog food with whole foods and no by products. Many of the commercial pet foods contain animal by products. Animal by products are things like chicken feet and bones. These waste products can build up in a dogs system and compromise their digestive system. As the body tries to eliminate the waste, it gets carried out through the skin causing rashes, hot spots, foot chewing and licking.

2. Sometimes a so called “dog food allergy” is simply the result of a depressed immune system and an unbalanced diet. The dog may not really be sensitive to just one ingredient in the food they are eating. It may be that they just need to get on a good, quality dog food.

3. Stay away from dog food with corn, wheat, soy or dairy in it. Many dogs are sensitive to these ingredients. These ingredients can be very hard to digest and can cause stress on the dogs digestive system.

4. Find a dog food that has probiotics that will help support the dogs overall immune system. Probiotics will help balance their system and aid in digestion.

5. Find a dog food with quality grains like barley and oatmeal. Dogs still need grains but they need the kind that are easy to digest and ones that add good nutritional support to the body.

6.Look for grape seed extract in the dog food. Grape seed extract is wonderful for boosting the immune system of both humans and animals.

The best defense for a “dog food allergy” is a healthy immune system.

By: Candice Ellisor

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Do you really know the ingredients of your dog’s commercial pet food? With the recent pet food recall issues, is it worth risking or shortening your beloved dog’s life to feed him store bought food?

Preparing your dog’s food yourself with a homemade dog food recipe may be the best way to know exactly what ingredients your beloved pet is eating, and may be required if your dog has special dietary needs due to illness (pancreatitis, kidney stones, lower bowel syndrome, etc.), allergies, or injury.

There are many essential ingredients to your dog’s diet, including: Protein, Carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, Fiber, Vitamins, and Minerals.

On the other hand, there are several foods you should never allow your dog to have, including: coffee grounds, grapes or raisins, chocolate, onions, yeast dough, tea, macadamia nuts, alcohol, salt, avocado, garlic, chewing gum, candy, and breath fresheners with Xylitol. There are a couple of schools of thought regarding garlic: some claim that it helps with fleas and ticks, among other things. Consult your veterinarian, do your research, and use your best judgement.

Another tip: when you change your dog’s food, do so gradually. Doing a quick dietary change can wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive system, and no one wants that.

Beware of the propaganda put out by the commercial pet food manufacturers. There are websites devoted to why you should feed your dog commercial food instead of homemade recipes. Only you and your veterinarian can truly decide what is best for your dog. Do your research, and then make an informed decision. Your family and your dog deserve it.

Always consult with your veterinarian prior to making significant changes to your dog’s diet.

By: Ric Reeder

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One of the most startling things we have encountered in our review of the commercial dog food industry is the fact that many, if not most, commercial dog foods are quite possibly toxic, and dangerous for your dogs! One of the most disturbing revelations we encountered was the fact that many dog food makers use DEAD, EUTHANIZED pets and zoo animals, as sources for their dog foods! The consumer-public does not appear to be aware of this problem, and the reason is no surprise.

Most commercial dog food brands have healthy-sounding names, such as Nutro Dog Food, Beneful, Science Diet (all brand names are trademarks of their respective parent companies, and as an independent consumer advocate, we have NO affiliation with any commercial dog food manufacturer or brand.) In addition, many commercial dog foods display labels such as “all-natural,” “organic,” “holisitc,” “gourmet,” or “premium.”

In fact, the dog food industry spend millions of dollars every year in an effort to convince the public that their dog foods are healthy. In addition, we found that the dog food industry regularly lobbies to Congress and the FDA to AVOID having to clearly label the source of the components of their dog foods! This shocked us, because if the dog food is actually healthy, then why the need to maintain the ability to use uncommon and lengthy scientific names in their ingredient list? Why wouldn’t the commercial dog food companies want the public to EASILY understand what the dog foods are made out of??

So we decided to investigate different commercial dog foods, to see if we could determine what is actually in them, and where the components for the food actually comes from. Following is our review of Nutro Dog Food. More reviews are to come! Again, we are only disclosing the information that they have already publicly disclosed on their website, to see if we can make sense of it. We are NOT indicating an opinion one way or the other, whether or not this food is healthy.

We found descriptive words like “Natural Nutrition,” “Ultra-Holistic Nutrition,” and “Super-Premium,” to describe their dog foods. Regarding ingredients, Nutro Dog Food lists “natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals,” and also “real chicken protein or real beef protein.” Their website claims that there are “no artificial preservatives,” nor are there “artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.”

The ingredients list is as follows: “Chicken Meal, Wheat Flour, Ground Whole Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Ground Rice, Chicken, Natural Flavors, Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Carbonate, Yeast Culture, L-Lysine, Salt, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Oxide, Dried Kelp, Lecithin, Garlic Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Riboflavin (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity).”

All in all, we could not find anything on the Nutro Dog Food website that indicated they were involved in any of the practices mentioned earlier in this article. We believe that the ingredient list does not indicate any chemicals known to be harmful to dogs or people. The inclusion of “ground whole wheat” and “dried kelp” leads us to believe that Nutro Dog Food is probably one of the healthy dog food brands on the market.

The whole point, however, is that there really is no way to know. The main driving forces behind all public corporations are profit, and increasing stock price. We believe it is the obligation of all responsible dog-owners to make sure they are aware of what’s really in the food that they feed to their dogs!

By: Chuck N Kerr

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Allergy Free Dog Food is a great way to go. If your dog is infected by food Allergies at first you have to look what are the causes of Allergies. Mainly some foods containing high fat are the causes of Dog Allergy.

If food allergy is suspected, you should stop using the same brand of food or to stop the current diet completely and change to a new one. In such a situation, it may take a few weeks to determine if the allergies are really caused by the current diet.

One of the good ways to detect any signs of allergy early, is to regularly inspect the dogs for any signs of allergies such as flaking skin, sore skin, excessive losing of fur and so on. Such inspections can take place any time.

For example, inspect the dog after play time, during a bath, or when you get back from work. The key message here is, it definitely helps to pay close attention to the physical condition of the dogs. If the allergies go away after the diet is changed, then the food may be the cause of the allergies.

Dogs can become allergic to food they have been eating. That is why many people overlook the possibility of a food effect.
Remember that sometimes, allergies can be very hard to diagnose, and for that reason time to treat.

So give your vet and yourself more time to deal with the allergies, and above all, spray lots of love and attention on your dog. Your dog will have a much better chance of recovering from the allergies quicker.

By: Anthony Kollar

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So many dog food choices, so little time!

I was recently in a veterinarian’s office and asked if I could give a treat to a beautiful Golden Retriever. His human said sure and asked what it was. I replied that it’s a low-fat lamb and rice tidbit. He quickly pulled his dog back with an anxious response, “No, he’s Vegan.” I responded with “Oh, me too! What’s his sign?”

I didn’t actually say anything because I do understand that a lot of dogs have adopted many food allergies much like their human companions. Dogs are Carnivores. Their teeth, jaw, and digestion were originally “designed” for raw meat. My dogs definitely prefer it, but their enjoyment of it is usually prefaced with hearing me either say “leave it!” Or, “that’s gross, hurry up and swallow!”

There are so many diet options – Vegan, Raw (which I do believe is the most natural), kibble and only kibble, kibble with raw, Vegetarian, Fish and Potato, Venison or other rare “seasonal” meats. When did this happen? When did dogs get so definitive about their food preferences and worse, have horrible allergies to food? It seems that there is also a level of subtle arrogance about what we feed Pooky. Our concern shouldn’t be brand, but content and our dog’s well-being.

Having had a dog with serious skin allergies, I do understand. We spent a year or more on expensive food trials. That didn’t work. Finally, there were allergy shots and that didn’t work. Prednisone and prednisone only worked. The allergy testing proved (much to her pleasure) that she was allergic to cats, mold, and dust! Welcome to my world! So, food was not the issue. You would think that the higher the price of the food, the greater the health. Not so.

We are all left with the responsibility of knowing our dogs and what works.

Do they eliminate regularly? But, not excessively? Is their stool solid? Are they of a healthy weight – a light layer of tissue over the ribs and a nice chest pad? How are their teeth? Are they mostly free from plaque? Are they fed on a semi-consistent schedule? Do they have an excessive amount of gas? (you’ll know this one for sure!)

I won’t recommend a dog food. With six dogs, I admit mine get kibble. They love it and no one is wondering what someone else got that they didn’t. It’s of good quality, but probably not considered “top of the line.” Be responsible for your dog’s nutrition and health, but if they eat better than you, it might be time for an evaluation or you could just say “I’ll have what they’re having!”

Sometimes it’s good to remember that maybe what your dog appreciates most is love and a full belly.

By: Gayle Cousineau

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A few short years ago, feeding your dog was so much easier as compared to today’s nutritional advice. I remember when my father’s dog ate whatever the whole family would eat, including apple cobbler! In addition to table scraps, he also enjoyed eating commercial dog food. My father’s dog had a happy life and lived well into his mid-teens without contracting any serious illness or disease.

Picking a commercial dog food was also easier back in the good old days. There were a limited selection of brands to choose from and these pet foods all had basically the same ingredients, only varying in color and flavor.

Today, however, there are so many varieties to choose from. The following list below are some of the popular commercial foods available for your dog:

Vegetarian Food For Your Dog

Most people don’t realize that vegetarian dog foods allow vegetarian dog owners to exercise their dietary beliefs with their dogs. Vegetarian foods include all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients that your dog needs, just as long as they are properly made. In addition, a vegetarian diet is also great for dogs that are allergic to meat.

Raw Dog Food

Many dog owners believe that a diet of raw food is the healthiest way to feed their pet because this is the way wolves and other wild dog species ate. This belief has no scientific facts to value its accuracy. However, a diet of raw food can expose both you and your pet to dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.

Giving Your Dog Therapeutic Food

Therapeutic dog foods have been the growing trend in dog food products in recent years. It is only available through a veterinarian and is prescribed for cases of preventive treatment, as an after-surgery diet, or for health problems, for example, like food allergies.

Try Organic Dog Food for Your Dog

Several dog food products found in the market have pesticides and other bad chemicals. If you want to give your dog food that is free of these horrible chemicals, you’re your dog organic food. Warning, the term “organic” can be very misleading, so make sure that you read the ingredients carefully before making your purchase.

Dog Food That Contains No Preservative or Natural Preservative

There are dog foods that contain preservatives in the form of artificial chemicals such as ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA. These are added for two reasons in order to prevent the food from spoiling and keep the taste lasting much longer than traditional dog food. Some dog foods have natural preservatives such as vitamin C (often listed as ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (often listed as tocopherols).

The next time you buy a dog food, buy it with natural preservatives and make sure to thoroughly read the ingredients first to make sure that the preservatives are actually derived from nature instead of it being artificially synthesized.

Last but certainly not least, try buying dog foods that are free of any kind of preservatives. These products have be properly sealed in a cool, dry, bug-free place and used immediately to guarantee freshness.

By: Kelly Marshall

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Nutritional Research Boosts Development of Dog Food

Evolution in dog food has come a long way and new dog food trends emerge every year. As knowledge about dog nutrition increases more and more specific dog foods hit the market place. Veterinary nutrition has become a mature science that strives at discovering the essential food nutrients and their optimum dosage.

It is believed that the life span of our beloved pets has increased due to the revolution in cat and dog food. Estimates are that the life expectancy of dogs has increased by 3 years in the last 15 years because of the developments in dog food.

Nowadays we have breed specific dog food, health stage specific dog food, prescription dog food and natural and holistic dog food. Dog food history shows us the evolution from table scraps to ultra-premium dog food based on the dog’s personal DNA profile (the latest addition).

Objectives of Dog Food Change in Time

The very basic objective of dog food is to sustain and maintain your dog’s body. Dog food should contain at least contain the minimum amounts of amino acids, minerals, vitamins and fats to comply with this objective. To also deliver energy to your dog so he can run and play there must be sufficient amounts of carbohydrates and fats present. The very first commercial dog food (beginning 19th century) did nothing more than that as it was high in sugar and starch.

In the nineties dog food was developed based on physiological differences between the different dog breeds. Also size, age and activity level was taken into account. In this century dog food has become more advanced. The dog genome has been sequenced and more knowledge is gained about the relation between food nutrients and disease or between calorie restriction and life span. More knowledge is gained about breed specific diseases and nutritional requirements. And as we also see in the human food business, health food is big business. Health and wellness is a dog food trend driver in itself. Nutraceuticals gain more attention and the development of these has not stopped.

On top of the basic objectives (sustain the body + deliver energy) we want dog food nowadays to help prevent certain diseases. Manufacturers enrich dog food with supplements such as anti oxidants, prebiotics for dogs, probiotics for dogs, glucosamine, omega-3 and omega-6.

Marketing Tactics Come Into Play and Drive Dog Food Trends

As more and more different dog food products hit the market, competition grows and marketing becomes very important for a food manufacturer. Buzz words and health claims are printed on dog food bags, with beautiful pictures of healthy happy dogs running in the woods towards a bowl of dog food with fresh peas and risotto. Dog food has become big business. The millions of dollars are to be divided by the top dog food companies whereas niche players are trying to get a bite of this by delivering super premium dog food or specialized dog food for dogs with health problems.

The marketing department is greatly inspired by the trend of pet humanization or anthropomorphism. Dog owners start calling themselves pet parents and are treating their canine companion as little humans with fur. This is all fine of course as long as everybody’s happy. Though there are risks involved. Amongst others: Dogs will be dogs and they have different nutritional needs than humans. That pizza that you love is certainly not the best meal for your furry friend. So ignore dog food names such as ‘Chinese take out with vegetables and chicken’ and turn around the bag to read the dog food label.

Dog Food Trends where Science is the Driver
The most recent step in dog food evolution is the approach to speed up recovery from specific illnesses. Certain nutrients are now added or removed from the dog food recipe. So with prescription dog food and curative dog food, the evolution of dog food has progressed one step further since we got from feeding to prevention.

Dog Food Trends where ‘Back to Nature’ is the Driver
Another recent trend in commercial dog food is the development of natural dog food and holistic dog food. A lot of emphasis is displayed for the human-grade ingredients that are used. Holistic dog food is about looking after the well-being of the whole animal and not just the individual parts.

Perhaps the biggest competitor for commercial dog food is home made diets. In emerging markets most dogs are still fed table scraps as their main diet. However, in developed markets the food penetration levels are between 50 and 75% when one looks at the proportion of calories that are coming from commercial dog food. This means that there is still growing potential for ready made dog food as convenience is also a big market driver. Home-cooked meals and leftovers will continue to compete against commercial dog food especially with the big recall of March 2007 in mind. A lot of concerned dog owners turned to the art of canine cuisine and even dog food cooking classes emerged.

And we will probably continue to see new dog food trends. Science continues, the market changes, new dog food ingredients are developed and dog food recalls and environmental awareness change the dog food landscape.

By: Barbara Kremers

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The members in the top 10 of dog food manufacturers do not change much over time. In fact, only mergers and acquisitions typically change who the main players are and what their exact position is in the top 10 in the dog food industry.

Mars Inc. (Mars Petcare) Their top dog food brands include Pedigree and Cesar. Mars achieves knowledge about dog nutrition through Waltham research centers. Nestl

Sep 27, 2008 | 0 | Healthy Dog Food