Dog Food - Which Diet is Best for Dogs?
Excerpt : Why The Food You Give Your Dog Matters! If you're like most dog owners, you probably assume that commerical dog foods with brand names that are easily identifiable - Purina, Iams, Pedigree, etc. -
Why The Food You Give Your Dog Matters!
If you're like most dog owners, you probably assume that commerical dog foods with brand names that are easily identifiable - Purina, Iams, Pedigree, etc. - must be good for your pets, right? After all, millions of pet owners buy them and feed them to their beloved pets, and surely they wouldn't all give their dogs something harmful. Unfortunately, this may just be the case.
Now, before I get any further along, let me make it clear that I am not a veterinarian. I do, however, have a science background and education, and I've had more dogs in my care in one year than most people will have in a lifetime. As an observant and naturally curious person, I've paid close attention in the past 20 years to the general health of my pets and those I've had in my care through a rescue shelter I was involved with for several of those years. I've also picked the brains of several top vets in my state in my quest to get to the heart of the matter concerning the best dog diet.
What has become abundantly clear is that one type of diet stands well above all others in terms of fostering good health and long life. More on that later...
I've seen dogs fed commercial foods, both wet and dry, from the cheapest brands to the so-called "premium" brands. I've also seen dogs who were fed vegan
Buy this Poster at AllPosters.com
or vegetarian diets, as well as those fed raw meat and bones (known popularly as the BARF Diet). While individual dogs will do just fine on any of these widely divergent diets, what I've looked for are general trends in population subsets. How do these 10 dogs fare in their lifetimes when they eat cheap kibble every day? How about those 12 dogs who are getting a vegetarian diet all the time? And what happens to those 25 dogs who are being given a raw meat and bones diet? These are the types of questions I've asked as I've dealt with large numbers of dogs and their owners or keepers over the years.
These have in no way been controlled experiments, and I would never attempt to pass them off as authoritative or as adhering to any strict interpretation of the scientific method. In other words, take my conclusions with a large grain of salt. I'm really just out to get the wheels turning in the minds of all dog lovers who read these words.
After all of this careful observation and tracking, clear patterns have emerged time and time again...
Dogs that eat commercial kibble or wet food have lots of health problems later in life and tend to die youngest. This is even true when they've been fed "premium" dog foods, sadly.
Dogs that are fed vegetarian diets do better, but must be given large amounts of alternative
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
protein sources to make up for the lack of it in standard vegetarian fare. A purely vegetarian diet is difficult to provide that will satisfy a canine's basic nutritional needs, but it is healthier and leads to slightly longer lifespans than any commercial brand diet.
Without any doubt (based on what I've seen over many years and hundreds of dogs), the best possible diet to feed your dogs is raw meat and bones with an occasional slop made up of vegetables, fruits, and organ meat. I've seen clear and compelling evidence that this diet leads to three amazing results: much better overall health, excellent dental health, and longer lifespans.
Countless times, I've seen dogs with repeating, nagging health issues (obesity, allergies, etc.) turn completely around on a raw meat and bones diet. And it doesn't take long to see how much whiter and cleaner their teeth become. This is actually very important (dental health), because a growing number of vets suspect a link between the bacteria produced by poor dental hygiene and internal complications as dogs age. Because dogs have to crunch through raw chicken, beef, or pork bones daily, they get and keep very clean teeth in short order.
It still amazes me to hear the feedback from a dog owner who has converted to the raw meat and bones diet. Virtually without fail, they all
Buy this Photographic Print at AllPosters.com
become true believers. In some cases, the improvement in their dogs is nothing short of startling.
A common fear voiced by many owners is the worry over the bones getting caught in their dog's throat or splintering and cutting them internally. This is a common misconception that actually does apply to COOKED bones. Never give your dog a cooked bone (especially chicken bones)! Raw bones, however, are no more of a threat than any other mouthful of food your dog chews. I have yet to deal with even one case of a dog on this diet having any kind of serious problem with the bones (out of hundreds).
Yes, handling raw meat and bones requires a commitment many are uncomfortable with. You have to get over the 'yuckiness' and embrace the benefits to your dogs! Another issue is finding a good source of affordable products. It's a good idea to locate a chicken processing plant nearby. They will often sell chicken cages (breast bones and related parts). Chicken cages are ideal because they provide a good balance of meat and bone - not too much of either in proportion to the other.
However, you should not always feed chicken. Mix things up to vary their protein sources a bit. Get some pork and some beef now and then to keep things lively and to provide your dogs with important nutrional elements that the chicken alone probably
Buy this Photographic Print at AllPosters.com
isn't providing. And don't forget to mix up a slop of green veggies, carrots, apples, bananas, and some raw livers or hearts at least twice a month. [*Note: have your pet checked for allergic reactions to any of those ingredients before trying this for the first time. Adjust accordingly.]
This is the main idea behind the success of the raw meat and bones diet: it comes closest to simulating the exact types of foods dogs ate all during their evolution. Think about it. Did dogs eat processed commercial food from bags or cans? Did they grow and harvest vegetables, fruits, and grains? Did they dine on cooked meats? Of course not! They evolved eating prey the pack took down and scavenging the carcasses of former kills. All raw!
You might be wondering, given this evolutionary perspective, why I'm suggesting that you prepare and feed a veggie-fruit slop every now and then. Good question! It's a bit unsettling to ponder, but consider the state of the prey (or dead bodies) that dogs ate all those years they were evolving. The animals they ate also ate, and more often than not, that meant their stomachs contained undigested vegetables, fruits, and other plant matter. The dogs dining on them didn't ignore that stuff - it got eaten along with everything else that could be stripped from the body.
So you see, this diet works
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
because it mimics what dogs naturally fed on for tens of thousands of years. It really is that simple. There's nothing deep or esoteric about it at all.
Just try it. Take this challenge: give your dogs a raw meat and bones diet for 60 days. Try to find a meat and bones source that is close to a 50/50 meat-bone ratio (chicken breast cages from a processing plant are great, but you can also try pork necks or beef ribs from any grocery store). If you go the pork or beef route, give your pet plenty of time to wear down the raw bones. Chicken bones are soft and easily chewed up, but pork and beef bones take much longer. If you don't see any noticeable improvements - healthier coat, more energy, better teeth, excellent blood work-ups - go back to his former diet.
If you do take the challenge, I'm betting you'll be fairly amazed and continue. About 90% of those I know who've tried it stick with it. Give it 60 days. Isn't a healthier, happier dog who lives longer worth it?
About the Author
John Schwartz has written extensively about dog health issues, safe dog products, and humane dog training practices. He is a passionate advocate for spay and neuter education. His website can be found at http://www.puppies-dogs-supplies.com
More Dogs Articles
Parvovirus in Dogs
Parvovirus infection, commonly called "parvo," is a disease of
dogs that affects the intestinal tract and causes vomiting,
diarrhea, fever, and...
Pugs - Those Sweet Little Puppies who Actually are Dogs
Pug is the tiny dog that's almost like a toy. It got noticed
in the 19th century. It is 11inches tall and has a weight of
about 18 lbs. Its ears...
Buy this Pre-Matted Print at AllPosters.com
For Dog Lovers Like You and Me
|
sitemap
Partners :
DVD rental | Find jobs | Breast Enlargement | Software Shop | House Insurance
copyright www.knowaboutdogs.com 2006
|
Recently Added Dogs Articles
Nikki and Benny, My Therapy Visiting Dogs.
My two therapy dogs, Nikki and Benny, bring joy to our friends. Here is short report of our visit. First, let me tell you just a little bit about my...read more
Lyme Disease In Dogs Is A Serious Matter
Lyme disease is caused by an organism known as a spirochete,
which is a coiled rod-shaped bacterium and named Borrelia
burgdorferi. It is passed to...read more
Heartworms in Dogs
The heartworm ( Dirofilaria immitis ) is a deadly parasite
that is carried by mosquitoes. The highest infection rates are
in areas within 150 miles...read more
Senior Dogs can be Trained
Are you considering adopting an older or rescued dog? Older dogs
are great family members and need homes. Depending on the breed,
senior dogs are...read more
Dogs & Kids: Happy Together
Dogs and kids, it's a combination that at it's best can be the stuff of childhood dreams. At it's worst, it can be a source of heartache and pain...read more
.gif)
CPR For Dogs
Anyone who has been to a CPR class is familiar with the basics of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. First you'll check to be sure the patient has a clear...read more
Can Cat Lovers Ever Love Dogs?
People often define themselves as either a cat lover or a dog
lover, but the question remains can a cat lover ever love dogs?
Or, dog lovers ever...read more
Names for Dogs
Naming the family puppy can be a difficult task. There are many
resources to help out with ideas and brainstorming, but in the
end, a name that...read more
Shadow's Stuff Helps Dogs Lead Better Lives
Our furry friends also need pure and gentle skincare. No one knows this better than Spring Rain Botanicals owner, Karen McCafferty. “ As an animal...read more
Beds for Smaller Dogs -
All puppies are small dogs – some, however, won’t be small for very long. You have to know how big your dog is going to be when it is fully grown...read more
Some News About Dogs
- Dogs For Autism Needs Your Votes
Dogs For Autism need your vote to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. The money would help train and place two service dogs with Autistic children.
- Dogs Bite 3 People During Neighbor Dispute
Deputies said two dogs running loose in a Clark County neighborhood are now caged up, after biting three people. However, authorities believe the dogs were protecting their owner.
- Dogs rescued from Matteson garage fire
Three dogs were taken from a home Sunday afternoon while firefighters from Matteson, Frankfort, Richton Park, Flossmoor, Oak Forest and Park Forest battled a garage fire in the 21300 block of Kildare Avenue in Matteson, authorities said. "There was a lot of smoke," Matteson Fire Department Shift Cmdr. Jay Coburn said. The dogs' conditions were not immediately known. Coburn said the family took ...
- Dogs Hoarded In Montana Brought To Colorado
Nearly three dozen dogs will be up for adoption in Colorado soon after being removed from an unsafe home in Montana. It's the second case of hoarded animals being brought to Colorado in a week.
- Yard Dogs return from Midwest tour
While you can take the Yard Dogs out of Pine Island, it seems you can’t take Pine Island out of the Yard Dogs. Home from a five-week tour of the Midwest, members of this popular island trio shared a taste of Pine Island and Matlacha with thousands of audience goers in Wisconsin, Indiana and up-state New York.
- Sea Dogs Win 5th Straight to End Season
The Portland Sea Dogs completed their 17th season Monday afternoon with a 7-4 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
- Dogs turn 'doctors'
Beijing, Sep 6 : Ten dogs have been awarded the title of 'doctor' in China for their public welfare activities, such as spreading happiness in rest homes and children rehabilitation centres for those suffering from autism.
- Dogs strut their stuff at Sussex Hills Kennel Club dog show in Morris Township NJ
MORRIS TWP. — Nearly 900 dogs representing 133 breeds and varieties competed Sunday in the Sussex Hills Kennel Club's judging show at William G. Mennen Sports Arena.
- Dogs taken from hoarder arrive in Colorado
DENVER - More than 95 dogs were rescued from the home of an animal hoarder in Montana, and some of them hope to find new homes in the Mile High City.
- Dogs and friends raise money for animal shelter
EAGLE MOUNTAIN -- Friends in Need Stampede organizers had a healthy turn out at the Labor Day event in Eagle Mountain of 42 participants and nearly as many dogs raring to go on either the Furry Fun Ru
|
