Posts Tagged ‘dog food’

Is Peanut Butter Good for Dogs?

Sun ,07/03/2010

You might be disturbed that feeding your dog peanut butter or peanut butter dog treats is unhealthy. This can be a valid concern since many types of nuts are identified to be hazardous for dogs to ingest. Macadamian and walnuts are recognized to be unhealthy to dogs and should always be avoided.

Over time, several nuts might become toxic and the degree of phosphorus can build, causing both liver and bladder concerns. In some cases these issues can even induce death. It is also important to note that some types of chocolate might include nuts which could cause the same concerns.

For those dog lovers that like to include peanut butter for snacks, mixing with medication or just sharing, there is good information. Although we might think that peanuts are nuts, they are truly a type of bean. To be more to the point, they are part of the legume family (Fabaceae).

That being noted, dogs can have food allergies just like people. As with any untested food item, it must be fed in moderation and discontinued if an allergic reaction is suspected. Although there are many beneficial nutrients in peanut butter, it is also high in calories. If you are worried about preservatives, consider organic brands which might also be lower in sugar.

There is no data I have read that peanut butter is unhealthy for dogs. That being said, we being owners, must always read the labels and be aware of the products we give our dogs. Now it’s time for me to put some peanut butter on a dog treat and share the great news with my dogs!

Get more information on peanut butter dog biscuits and learn how to make healthy dog biscuits today!

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Solutions to Allergies Caused by Dogs

Sun ,14/02/2010

We love dogs for a reason. Having a loyal friend and playmate that will love you forever and never run out of energy? Perfect. Getting close to a dog is harder for some people than others, however. Certain dog allergies can rear their ugly heads and cause unexpected problems. A significant minority of the population suffers from dog and pet allergies. Some are even forced to find a new home for their dog because of intensified allergies. This wouldn’t be the most desired solution, of course, and it can be heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are other ways.

The allergens that dogs produce come from the proteins in three sources; Dander (shed skin cells,) saliva, and urine. People with supersensitive immune systems react to these proteins and this is what causes the symptoms. A common misconception is that hairless dogs will not produce allergens. Although hairless dogs produce less allergen, they still produce saliva and urine, making such a claim untrue. The symptoms of these allergies are very similar to those of other minor allergies. People with dog allergies may suffer from itchy eyes, runny nose, asthma symptoms, red itchy skin or a rash. These allergies can prove to be quite a nuisance, but there are lots of ways to reduce the effects of the symptoms that Fido just may decide to leave behind.

A very efficient way of reducing the effects of dog allergies is to keep a clean home. Vacuuming frequently, using leather furniture instead of fabric, avoiding clutter, and using air cleaners will reduce the amount of dander in your home. It is also important to bathe your dog to reduce the level of allergens that reside in fur. Just as important is to wash dog bedding, cushion covers, and anything that might come in contact your dog.

Or you can go the easy route and buy some products specifically made to reduce allergens. Allerpet D is a shampoo that helps keep the skin on the dog without drying it out too much. Lowering the chance of dog allergies is as easy as adopting good habits and behaviors!

Of course, if the allergies are too bad, consulting with a professional may be your best bet. Some strong medication is out there, both prescription and over the counter, that can mitigate the runny noses and itchy eyes. For extreme cases, you can get allergy shots, which are a good idea if you have bad allergies in general. Kicking your dog to the curb should be a last resort.

Visit the Hypoallergenic Dog Food Guide for more info on allergies that can occur within dogs.

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Homemade Dog Biscuits Are Easy to Make

Thu ,31/12/2009

Want to know how to literally get your dog eating out of the palm of your hand? The secret is scrumptious homemade dog biscuits made with careful preparation and love. If you’re thinking this is way too much trouble to bother making, think again. With these easy to follow dog food recipes, you will be a doggie connoisseur before you can say, “Good boy!”

I don’t know if you know this but pooches just love the taste of peanut butter. I have often been bewildered with the many intricacies of the baking world but this recipe is fool proof, even for me. Combine 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1 cup of all purpose flour, 1 cup milk, 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of oil with 1 cup of smooth and creamy peanut butter. Blend the mixture well and scoop into bite sized treats onto cookie sheets. Bake them for 20 minutes in 350 F and you have yourself the keys to Fido’s heart.

Anyone up for delectable oatmeal chews? Take 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 3 cups oatmeal, 2 tablespoons honey and mix it all together. Fold in 2 egg yolks and 1 cup of cold water to bind it all together. Ensure the smooth consistency of the batter. Bake this for 15 minutes in a 350 F temperature. Once these chews are sufficiently cooled; cut into bite size pieces for your dog’s snacking pleasure.

For older dogs with a less than sturdy set of teeth, you can serve them these soft cookies as snacks. In a bowl, mix 1 cup dry milk powder, 1 cup wheat germ and 2 1 oz jars of flavored baby food thoroughly. Roll into coin sized mounds and bake in a pre heated oven for 15 minutes at 350 F. After cooling, you can serve as snack or refrigerate for future use.

Some cringe when we have live ron our dinner plate but this is actually a great treat for canines. It’s economical and really easy to make. All you need to do is to simply combine 1 lb liver (chopped and pureed) with 2 cups cornmeal, 1 cup of flour and 1/3 teaspoon of salt. Roll out onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes in 350 F. When done and sufficiently cooled, cut in small squares for quick snacking.

If you know how to bake, you can switch up some ingredients to make it interesting for your pet. Use apple, carrots, parsley or other pieces of meat. Make sure when you come up with your own dog food recipes that you research on the food that are harmful to canines. Some of these include chocolate, onion, grapes and most nuts. Too much liver is also harmful to them.

Now that you have read and are armed with these delicious doggie treats, commence the baking! Never was there a man’s best friend luckier than your Fido today.

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Dogs Live Long And Healthy With Organic Pet Food

Tue ,29/12/2009

The concern to eat healthy foods seems to equally apply to humans and pets, since many animal owners prefer to buy organic products to feed their four-legged friends. One could be surprised at the large organic dog food offer available on the market. The health issues affecting improperly fed animals are just as serious as those in the case of humans.

A pet fed on organic dog food will show a lower incidence of skin diseases for instance. The explanation for the positive health impact is the lack of additives, chemicals, colorants or pesticides. Instead there will be just grain extracts and high quality proteins as ingredients of organic dog food.

Organic dog food also brings more nutrients, and this aspect is reflected in the most relevant of ways in the higher levels of energy and the healthy weight of the pet. Regular dog food often causes diabetes and overweight with all the additional problems that accompany these health issues: back ailment, organ failure and decreased mobility. What’s the trick about organic dog food here? Well, organic food items for pets are free of bulk fillers, they are nutrient-packed products that create energy not fat deposits. Yet, it is best and a lot easier to prevent health issues than to treat them after-wards.

Good digestion and overall stronger immunity: these are other main benefits that come together with the use of organic dog food. Because of the lack of chemicals regularly present in normal pet food, your dog will no longer vomit, experience gas or diarrhea. A healthier metabolism is thus what you will mainly achieve with a constant healthy diet. Then, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food boosts up the immunity functions eliminating the risk for infections and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a common basis.

All in all, veterinarian experts claim that with organic dog food, the life span of any animal can increase significantly, not to mention the fact that it will go a lot better through old age. Most of the time, pet owners that choose organic dog food, normally use organic products for their meals too. You can inquire about organic dog food with the pet food supplier, and if you don’t find what you need with the local shop, try to order it online. There are plenty of web pages that sell such products at fairly decent prices.

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Dog Allergies to Food – Protect Your Dog

Sat ,26/12/2009

Dog allergies to food account for 20% of a dog’s discomfort, which causes them to itch and scratch; and it also accounts for 10% of all dog allergies. We may not understand why dogs have allergic reactions, but we can easily recognize the symptoms, diagnose the actual allergy and treat it by eliminating the source.

Food allergies have sometimes popped up in dogs around the age of 2 and in some, much later than this. These allergies do not discriminate either; many breeds can be affected. But just like ourselves, allergies can be very much related to sinus issues and contact allergens.

Dog allergies to food create hotspots and the itching and scratching of the skin. Food intolerances, however, can cause a dog to have an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, or vomiting. Getting rid of the food culprit can cure both issues.

The most common food allergies have been known to come from the following: chicken, dairy,  chicken eggs, wheat, corn and soy. All of these ingredients are very common in most dog foods. The symptoms generally produce hair loss in dogs, scratching, biting on skin, ear infections, and skin infections.

Most of the irritation, the itchy feeling, typically occurs around the armpits, anus, forelegs, and paws. You need to consider that there could be many factors that go along with food allergies which are if you are dog actually responds to any steroid treatments or if he doesn’t suffer all year long, then it probably is not a food allergy.

You want to make sure to rule out any dog allergy aggravators such as flea bit allergies or shampoos, etc. Once you rule out any aggravators you can begin testing the food that it eats. Pick one protein and one carbohydrate to test for the next 3 months with nothing but water and no treats. This is the only way, besides going to through expensive veterinarian testing. Once you narrow it down and are able to eliminate it, your dog will be much happier for it.

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Dog Food Ingredients And The B.A.R.F. Philosophy

Sat ,19/12/2009

Pet care involves the constant search for the best foods and diet that provides complete dog food nutrition. A majority of today’s pet owners and animal breeders choose to feed dogs with commercialized pet foods, which are said to contain all a dog’s nutrition needs. However, raw food diets such as the B.A.R.F. diet is gaining significant following. Pet owners who have tried it testify to its effectiveness in keeping their pets healthy and free from diseases.

Dr. Ian Billinghurst came up with the idea of the B.A.R.F. Philosophy diet. He believes that dogs should be fed the natural foods, that as canines, they ate in the wild. That is the feeding of organic and uncooked meats, fat and offal. The main purpose of the B.A.R.F. diet is to provide the dog an almost identical diet similar to what their ancestors ate. Numerous scientific studies have shown that dogs on the B.A.R.F. diet have developed healthier appetites and live healthier, longer lives.

B.A.R.F. diets are made up of bones, muscle meat, fat dairy products, eggs, grain, fruits and vegetables, organ meats and other food products. According to Dr. Billinghurst, this is the most appropriate method of feeding our dogs. This will give them the same nutritional balance found in the foods eaten by their predecessors.

Those who recommend the B.A.R.F. diet insist that the use of these ingredients will not hurt the dog’s digestive systems, since their bodies are naturally suited for them. The diet is specific in their ratio requirements of chicken bones combined with raw meaty bones from beef, pork, venison, rabbit and turkey. But under no circumstances should any of the bones be cooked.

Backers of B.A.R.F. maintain that commercially prepared dog foods lack enzymes and other dietary components needed by dogs. Processed pet foods may even contain dog food ingredients some dogs can get allergic to. They would much rather feed their dogs home-prepared raw meals, with dog food recipes varying each day, making feeding time all the more interesting for their pets.

Dog food nutrition experts who advocate the B.A.R.F. Diet say that it provides the right dog food ingredients for sound dog health. B.A.R.F. tries to imitate wild animals’ type of dietary system. According to backers, dog food recipes that use this type of diet help prevent the need for veterinary intervention in the course of your dog’s lifetime.

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Dog Information – Homemade Dog Food

Sun ,06/12/2009

Dogs are considered to be like best friends to many pet owners. These pet owners might not even think about the quality of the food that they serve their dogs. Many pet owners are confused by the health issues that their dogs face. A lot of times the owners have no idea why the health problems occur.

If you want a healthier dog, and are trying to improve your dog’s energy level and appearance, you should try flint river ranch dog food. Or, you could opt to make your own dog food. This can be done using the same foods you prepare for yourself and your family. For dog information, most people turn to veterinarians.

A number of people will turn to professionals for dog information. Sometimes, the first suggestion will be supplements or pharmaceuticals. However, this may be unnecessary. If you have been feeding your pet grocery store brands, all you may need to do is switch to a premium food. The results will be quickly apparent. Many dog foods contain the scraps and waste left from food processors. It doesn’t sound very appetizing, and is not considered the healthiest type of food.

There are alternatives for those dog owners that are seeking dog information regarding a healthy diet. One option is to make your own dog food. You can use the foods you prepare for yourself and your family. Simply cool the food to room temperature in the refrigerator before feeding it to your pet. However, there are several drawbacks to this arrangement.

The most important one is that unless you are well versed in dog information and nutrition, you will not be able to guarantee that your dog is getting the proper nutrients from your diet. Also, feeding an extra mouth at the table can be expensive and time consuming. It would be far preferable to discover a dog food product made with organic ingredients fit for human consumption. Flint River Ranch manufactures their pet foods under rigorously controlled conditions.

This food is digested easily and contains high degree of important vitamins and minerals. The dog food prepared by Flint River Ranch is of good quality that a person’s dog would enjoy eating. Consider Flint River Ranch pet foodstuff if you want to perk up your dog’s physical condition, liveliness levels and looks. The owners of Flint River Ranch not only offer superior product quality but also have solutions and give support to pet owners who want the most excellent, healthiest existence for their pets.

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High Quality, Nutritious, Healthy Dog Food – If You Want A Healthy Pet

Wed ,11/11/2009

High Quality, Nutritious, Healthy Dog Food is the Key to Your Dog’s Long Term Good Health

You may be aware of this. Most food that we buy to feed our dogs is extremely low in nutritional value. If you are buying your dog’s food in a grocery store or a pet supermarket, you may be slowly killing your dog.

Take a look at our own health and nutrition. If we eat unhealthy food, our bodies will suffer over time. It will be more likely that we will contract degenerative diseases in our lifetime.

You can say the same thing about our dogs. A poor diet will result in a higher incidence of disease and a gradual deterioration of their bodies.

Why do you think that so many of our dogs are dying from kidney failure, cancer, heart failure, and other degenerative diseases? These diseases in our pets were almost non-existent before the advent of commercial dog food.

True pet lovers want their dogs to live long, healthy, and happy lives. My dog gives me unconditional love even though I many times don’t deserve it. They rely on us to take good care of them. I owe my little guy the very best nutrition.

You have possibly seen a picture of my dog, Romeo, on the internet. He is a 6 year-old mutt with a beautiful coat of hair. He gets compliments on it all the time. He has been fed high quality, nutritious dog food for 5 years now. He is the healthiest, sweetest, happiest dog we have ever owned.

You possibly don’t believe me when I say that, “you may be slowly killing your dog.” I encourage you to read the article, “What’s Really in Pet Food” which has been prepared by the Animal Protection Institute. You will find some “eye opening” information in this article.

As the article states, most of the food we provide our dogs is “unfit for human consumption.”

The article discusses both meats and grains. You’re probably like me. I don’t want to feed a dog food that is unfit for human consumption.

The dog food package may claim that the food is “top quality”, “premium”, or some other superlative description. But you can’t properly evaluate a quality, nutritious, healthy dog food simply by reading a label or the wording on the package.

When you look at an ingredient label, it may appear that the bag contains a quality, nutritious, healthy dog food. But if the food is bought in a store, it could be 6-18 months old.

The owner or employee of the store may promise that the food is fresh. Most likely, the person is being dishonest or doesn’t know what they are talking about.

The older that bag of food, the more the nutritional value of the food deteriorates. Major causes of this deterioration include bacteria, heat, and mold.

When selecting a quality, nutritious, healthy dog food to buy, you should consider the cooking method used. In general, the food should be cooked at low temperatures and for a short time. If not, the nutritional value of the food is destroyed.

So here is what I recommend in finding a good dog food:

1. The food must be very fresh. It should be shipped directly to the customer’s door.

2. Meat should be the #1 ingredient. The food should contain no by-products.

3. It is imperative that the food consists of no corn, wheat, artificial preservatives, artificial colorings, hormones, or steroids.

4. Meat should make up a very high percentage of the food. A food that includes by-products should be avoided.

3. Freshness is a critical factor. A food that is not fresh has deteriorated in nutritional value. Select a vendor that ships a fresh food directly to your house.

4. This is critical. Avoid any dog food that contains corn, wheat, artificial preservatives and colorings, steroids, and hormones.

Feeding your dog a high quality, nutritious, healthy dog food is critical to ensuring that your pet lives a long, healthy, and happy life. You are probably like me. I feel I owe that to my little dog.

Scott Hubbard is a avid pet lover. For the last 40 years, dogs have been a major part of his family. He has dedicated over 5 years to selecting the best products for pet health. You can click here to learn more about the high quality, nutritious, healthy dog food that he recommends. You can contact him directly by calling toll-free 877-878-4036 or by emailing him at Scott@ScottHubbard-Consulting.com.

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