Showing posts with label dog food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog food. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
This was in my inbox this morning from Dr. Andrew Jones - a great read that I wanted to pass along:
Good morning fellow pet lovers, and
generally all around nice people :-)
The whole food thing is VERY confusing.
What do you feed?
Kibble vs Canned?
Home Diets?
Raw?
The Pet Food Recall highlighted just how BIG and
UNREGULATED Pet Food Manufacturing is.
Who would have imagined that melamine made it's way
into many supposed PREMIUM Quality Pet Foods.
It *really* is hard to know what is BEST to feed.
SO here is my take on it.
1. Feed a quality, preferable holistic kibble-
but NOT exclusively and rotate brands.
2. Feed at least 50% canned to your cats
3. Consider incorporating Raw- I am feeding
my dog Lewis Raw once or twice a week
4. Make some diets at home- I am now doing this
at least once a week.
5. Feed a quality Dog Supplement.
---------------------------
If you really want to pamper your pooch, here's a recipe to try:
Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe (based on a 75 lb dog)
Baked Sweet potato 4 cups
Cooked Fish, trout, rainbow 1 1/2 cups
Salad or cooking Oil, vegetable, corn 5 teaspoons
One A Day Multivitamin/multimineral Supplement 2 tablets
Posture caplet (600 mg elemental calcium) 2 1/2 caplets
Morton Lite Salt Mixture 1 tsp
Cook Protein, Carbohydrate and Vegetables.
These recipes represent the amount to be fed per day and can
be fed in multiple meals.
More than one day's worth of the food can be prepared ahead of
time and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks.
Prior to serving each meal and after warming, add the appropriate
amount of supplement to the food.
Mix thoroughly. Heating supplements that contain vitamins can
destroy their effectiveness.
The amount of supplement(s) shown above is the daily amount.
Therefore, please divide the amount listed by the number of meals
given a day.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Ingredients for a Healthy Dog - Proper Nutrition
As more people understand the importance of nutrition to their own health, they're starting to consider what's in their dog's food bowl as well. Food manufacturers are only too happy to oblige, and the latest products are likely to be labeled natural or organic, and include ingredients said to promote health, such as blueberries and salmon oil. That said, it can still be a challenge to sort out high-quality chow from the canine equivalent of junk food.Shopping for good dog food
Reading dog food labels is something of an exercise in futility unless you know the arcane rules governing what they can say, but here are a few guidelines.
Ingredients must be listed by amount in descending order. So if meat is the first ingredient (the ideal to strive for), technically the food contains more of that ingredient--chicken, say--than any other ingredient. In reality, chicken is a heavy ingredient because it contains a lot of water, so it's easy for manufacturers to manipulate the label by listing chicken first and following it with various grains, such as wheat meal, wheat middlings, wheat flour, and so on. It's all wheat, though, and if you were to put it on a scale with the chicken, it would probably outweigh the fowl.
The first ingredient on the label should always be meat with a name--such as chicken, lamb, or beef--as opposed to the generic "meat," which could be anything.
A food should have more meat protein than grain protein. Unfortunately there's really no way to tell that from the label.
One or more types of meat, or high-quality dairy products such as eggs, should be listed among the first three to five ingredients. If the first ingredient is a meat, followed by only grains, or if the first ingredient is a grain, check some other brands before buying.
Marketing terms such as natural or premium have no official legal definition. If you want to know what the manufacturer means by "human-grade ingredients" or "70-percent organic," give the company a call and get some answers. Every can or bag of dog food must list contact information for the manufacturer on the label.
How much to feed your dog
How much your dog eats depends on a number of factors, including age, bone structure, and energy level, as well as the quality of the food you give him.
More important than the amount of food your dog gets is his overall condition. He should look muscular, not fat. If you're unsure whether he's overweight, give him the eye exam and the hands-on test. First, look down at him: he should have a visible waist. Then place your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine and fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs. If you can't feel the last two ribs, he needs less food and more exercise. If you can see his ribs, feed him more.
Keep in mind:
Your dog will need less food if it's high-quality and contains top-notch ingredients, so don't think you're saving money by buying the cheapest brand or whatever's on sale. That's because foods with high-quality protein are more digestible--that is, your dog can use more of the nutrients they contain--than foods based on grains. You can see the difference in smaller, firmer stools.
Measure his food and feed him twice a
day rather than leaving food out all the time. Take away whatever's left in his bowl if he hasn't finished it in 20 minutes, and you'll help keep obesity at bay. Giving him plenty of daily exercise should do the rest.
Food facts
Give your dog healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables: apple slices, carrot sticks, orange segments, banana slices, and frozen vegetables are all canine favorites.
It's okay to give your dog a little bite of what you had for dinner, but only the bits you'd eat yourself--no fat or gristle, please!
Some foods aren't good for dogs and can cause serious health problems. These include chocolate, onions, raisins, and grapes.
Feed your dog at the same time every day.
Always feed your dog in his bowl or you're asking for a lifetime of your best friend begging at the table and following you around the kitchen.
Make sure what you buy is high in protein, not grain-based, and that it's AAFCO-tested. The AAFCO, the American Association of Feed Control Officials, is a watchdog group that sets food-testing and labeling standards.
Friday, August 21, 2009
More on Choosing the Right Dog Food
Part 2......
1. Look for natural preservatives. These include Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Vitamin E and mixed tocopherols. As I mentioned in a previous post, avoid ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT and propylene glycol.
2. Avoid foods with artificial flavor enhancers, such as phosphoric acid.
3. Avoid artificial colors. These include azo, azo dyes, and sodium nitrite.
4. Essential fatty acids must be added - of utmost importance for allergies, arthritis and cancer prevention.
5. Additional antioxidants, such as Vit E, Vit C and flavanoids - are an excellent supplement to your dog's diet....
1. Look for natural preservatives. These include Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Vitamin E and mixed tocopherols. As I mentioned in a previous post, avoid ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT and propylene glycol.
2. Avoid foods with artificial flavor enhancers, such as phosphoric acid.
3. Avoid artificial colors. These include azo, azo dyes, and sodium nitrite.
4. Essential fatty acids must be added - of utmost importance for allergies, arthritis and cancer prevention.
5. Additional antioxidants, such as Vit E, Vit C and flavanoids - are an excellent supplement to your dog's diet....
Thursday, August 20, 2009
How to Choose a Quality Pet Food
If you are to going to feed your dog a commercial food, here are some tips to check for quality:
1. Ingredients are listed in descending order. The first ingredient should be an animal based protein.
2. When selecting a commercial food for your animal companion, make sure the label has an “AAFCO guarantee,” preferably one that references “feeding tests” or “feeding protocols” rather than Nutrient Profiles.
3. Avoid foods that list by-products. (AVOID Meat, Bone, Fish and Chicken Meal) These rendered products are the most inexpensive sources of animal protein. They are not a reliable source of nutrition for your animal.
4. Avoid those that list the food fractions – i.e. wheat middlings or corn gluten instead of the whole grain. These ingredients are leftovers from the human food processing and don’t provide the best nutrition.
5. Avoid generic or store brands. These may be repackaged rejects from the big manufacturers, and generally contain cheaper and poorer quality ingredients.
(Content courtesy of Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM)
1. Ingredients are listed in descending order. The first ingredient should be an animal based protein.
2. When selecting a commercial food for your animal companion, make sure the label has an “AAFCO guarantee,” preferably one that references “feeding tests” or “feeding protocols” rather than Nutrient Profiles.
3. Avoid foods that list by-products. (AVOID Meat, Bone, Fish and Chicken Meal) These rendered products are the most inexpensive sources of animal protein. They are not a reliable source of nutrition for your animal.
4. Avoid those that list the food fractions – i.e. wheat middlings or corn gluten instead of the whole grain. These ingredients are leftovers from the human food processing and don’t provide the best nutrition.
5. Avoid generic or store brands. These may be repackaged rejects from the big manufacturers, and generally contain cheaper and poorer quality ingredients.
(Content courtesy of Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Dangerous Chemicals to Avoid in Dog Food
As many of you know, I am a huge advocate of feeding my dogs a healthy diet, free from toxins, chemicals, preservatives, and anything else that can harm them. In my research, I found the following, and wanted to share with all of you....Here are 3 things you need avoid in your dog's food. All are chemical preservatives that can have grave consequences for your most beloved companion....
1. Ethoxyquin - Has been observed to cause auto-immune response in some pets, and promoted kidney, stomach, bladder, and colon cancer.
2. BHA - Causes squamous-cell carcinomas in rats and hamsters, as well as enhanced stomach and urinary bladder carcinogenesis.
3. BHT - Promotes urinary bladder cancer, and suspected to increase thyroid cancer.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Getting the Fat on Fatty Acids
By Shawn Messonnier DVM
A resource from Pet-Togethers
Fatty acids are among the most commonly used nutritional supplements used in treating dogs and cats. Fortunately, they have been used successfully long enough that most conventional veterinarians include their usage in the treatment of at least some diseases. This article will discuss our current knowledge of fatty acids and present some new ideas for their usage in treating our pets.
Medicinal fatty acids are divided into omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In general, omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation, whereas omega-3 fatty acids act to reduce inflammation. As such, omega-3 fatty acids are used in diseases in which anti-inflammatory activity is needed. The fatty acids can substitute for medications such as corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation.
The most commonly used supplements that provide fatty acids are fish oil and flax seed oil. While flax seed oil contains more omega-3’s than fish oil, the omega-3’s found in flax seed oil are in an inactive form. The omega-3’s found in fish oil are in an active form. In research studies, fish oil has shown positive benefits in helping people and pets with disease, whereas flax seed oil has not been as beneficial. For this reason, fish oil is generally recommended as the omega-3 fatty acid supplement of choice.
The active omega-3’s, (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) are derived from fish oils of coldwater fish (salmon, trout, or most commonly menhaden fish.) Also called linseed oil, flaxseed oil is derived from the seeds of the flax plant and has been proposed as a less smelly alternative to fish oil. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,) an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. In fact, flax seed oil contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) than fish oil. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids.
Similar to the situation with fish oil, pets with inflammatory diseases may respond to supplementation with flax seed oil. However, many species of pets (probably including dogs and cats) and some people cannot efficiently convert ALA to the more active non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA.) In one study in people, flax seed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA. In pets with kidney disease, flax seed oil was not as effective as fish oil. While flaxseed oil has been suggested as a substitute for fish oil, there is no evidence that it is effective when used for the same therapeutic purposes as fish oil. Unlike the case for fish oil, there is little evidence that flax seed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose with the following exceptions. Flax seed oil can improve the coat and skin of pets. Also, the lignans contained in flax seed oil may have anti-cancer benefits.
Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. People with diabetes may have fatty acid derangement and require supplementation; this may also be true in pets. Fish oil has demonstrated benefits in people and pets with allergies, kidney disease, and heart disease. It has also shown benefits as an anti-depressant in people with mild depression.
Fish oil appears to have benefits in pets with arthritis as well. Pets with any type of inflammatory disease may benefit from fish oil supplementation. In general, more severe disease requires doses higher than those commonly recommended and often additional supplements are necessary as fish oil is not often useful as the only supplement.
Fish oil is very effective in some pets with allergic skin disease. It is easy to administer (via gel caps or liquid) and can reduce the amount of corticosteroid or antihistamine needed to control itching. The response is variable in other diseases (such as kidney disease) but fish oil appears effective in research studies. In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil has slowed down the growth and spread of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.
In my opinion, any pet may benefit from fatty acid supplementation. While we don’t always have hard “proof” that they work in every case, the science is there to show how they work and suggest their usage any time inflammation may be a problem. In most pets in my practice, fatty acid supplementation forms the “baseline” of supplements that I use, adding other supplements as dictated by clinical response or the nature of the disease.
While there is concern about the contamination of fish meat with environmental contaminants such as mercury, this concern does not apply to fish oil. Supplementation with fish oil can result in decreased levels of vitamin E; therefore, fish oil supplements have extra vitamin E added to them.
As is true with many supplements, your veterinarian may have favorite supplements that he will sell you or recommend to you. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of fish oil.
SafetyFish oil supplementation is very safe. The most common side effect seen in people and pets is a fish odor to the breath or the skin. Because fish oil has a mild “blood-thinning” effect, it should not be combined with powerful blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, except on a veterinarian's advice. Fish oil does not seem to cause bleeding problems when it is taken by itself at commonly recommended dosages. In people, a high dose of fish oil (4 grams or more each day) when combined with ginkgo biloba has caused serious bleeding problems. Fish oil does not appear to raise blood sugar levels in people or pets with diabetes despite earlier concerns about this. Flax oil does not appear to cause “blood thinning.” In my practice, I’ve never seen any side effects and I use a lot of fatty acids. Very rarely, I have had a few of my canine patients smell fishy. This side effect goes away as the dosage is lowered. While many owners worry about giving extra “fat” to their pets, especially in cases where the pet is overweight, take comfort. Fatty acid supplements contain only a handful of calories and supplementation is unlikely to hurt any pet on a diet.
TipIn studies done in people and pets, dosages much higher than label doses are needed to achieve results. As a rule, I try to start with 2-4 times the label dose when treating diseases and adjust the dose depending upon the pet’s response. I use the label dose when recommending fatty acids as a coat or skin supplement.
Conclusion
Fatty acid therapy is becoming a part of our mainstream therapy for many pet disorders. In general, fish oil is preferred to flax oil as it contains the more active omega-3’s. To get the best results, dosages higher than those on the label are needed and in most cases, fish oil should be combined with other supplements for maximum effectiveness.
About Pet-TogethersPet-Togethers is a companion care company devoted to improving the lives of pets and those who care for them. Their veterinarian-recommended PetCentRx Vim & Vigor wellness wellness formula is a highly nutritious supplement that’s giving new life to dogs and cats around the globe. Visit www.PetCentRx.co
A resource from Pet-Togethers
Fatty acids are among the most commonly used nutritional supplements used in treating dogs and cats. Fortunately, they have been used successfully long enough that most conventional veterinarians include their usage in the treatment of at least some diseases. This article will discuss our current knowledge of fatty acids and present some new ideas for their usage in treating our pets.
Medicinal fatty acids are divided into omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In general, omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation, whereas omega-3 fatty acids act to reduce inflammation. As such, omega-3 fatty acids are used in diseases in which anti-inflammatory activity is needed. The fatty acids can substitute for medications such as corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation.
The most commonly used supplements that provide fatty acids are fish oil and flax seed oil. While flax seed oil contains more omega-3’s than fish oil, the omega-3’s found in flax seed oil are in an inactive form. The omega-3’s found in fish oil are in an active form. In research studies, fish oil has shown positive benefits in helping people and pets with disease, whereas flax seed oil has not been as beneficial. For this reason, fish oil is generally recommended as the omega-3 fatty acid supplement of choice.
The active omega-3’s, (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) are derived from fish oils of coldwater fish (salmon, trout, or most commonly menhaden fish.) Also called linseed oil, flaxseed oil is derived from the seeds of the flax plant and has been proposed as a less smelly alternative to fish oil. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,) an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. In fact, flax seed oil contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) than fish oil. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids.
Similar to the situation with fish oil, pets with inflammatory diseases may respond to supplementation with flax seed oil. However, many species of pets (probably including dogs and cats) and some people cannot efficiently convert ALA to the more active non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA.) In one study in people, flax seed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA. In pets with kidney disease, flax seed oil was not as effective as fish oil. While flaxseed oil has been suggested as a substitute for fish oil, there is no evidence that it is effective when used for the same therapeutic purposes as fish oil. Unlike the case for fish oil, there is little evidence that flax seed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose with the following exceptions. Flax seed oil can improve the coat and skin of pets. Also, the lignans contained in flax seed oil may have anti-cancer benefits.
Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. People with diabetes may have fatty acid derangement and require supplementation; this may also be true in pets. Fish oil has demonstrated benefits in people and pets with allergies, kidney disease, and heart disease. It has also shown benefits as an anti-depressant in people with mild depression.
Fish oil appears to have benefits in pets with arthritis as well. Pets with any type of inflammatory disease may benefit from fish oil supplementation. In general, more severe disease requires doses higher than those commonly recommended and often additional supplements are necessary as fish oil is not often useful as the only supplement.
Fish oil is very effective in some pets with allergic skin disease. It is easy to administer (via gel caps or liquid) and can reduce the amount of corticosteroid or antihistamine needed to control itching. The response is variable in other diseases (such as kidney disease) but fish oil appears effective in research studies. In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil has slowed down the growth and spread of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.
In my opinion, any pet may benefit from fatty acid supplementation. While we don’t always have hard “proof” that they work in every case, the science is there to show how they work and suggest their usage any time inflammation may be a problem. In most pets in my practice, fatty acid supplementation forms the “baseline” of supplements that I use, adding other supplements as dictated by clinical response or the nature of the disease.
While there is concern about the contamination of fish meat with environmental contaminants such as mercury, this concern does not apply to fish oil. Supplementation with fish oil can result in decreased levels of vitamin E; therefore, fish oil supplements have extra vitamin E added to them.
As is true with many supplements, your veterinarian may have favorite supplements that he will sell you or recommend to you. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of fish oil.
SafetyFish oil supplementation is very safe. The most common side effect seen in people and pets is a fish odor to the breath or the skin. Because fish oil has a mild “blood-thinning” effect, it should not be combined with powerful blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, except on a veterinarian's advice. Fish oil does not seem to cause bleeding problems when it is taken by itself at commonly recommended dosages. In people, a high dose of fish oil (4 grams or more each day) when combined with ginkgo biloba has caused serious bleeding problems. Fish oil does not appear to raise blood sugar levels in people or pets with diabetes despite earlier concerns about this. Flax oil does not appear to cause “blood thinning.” In my practice, I’ve never seen any side effects and I use a lot of fatty acids. Very rarely, I have had a few of my canine patients smell fishy. This side effect goes away as the dosage is lowered. While many owners worry about giving extra “fat” to their pets, especially in cases where the pet is overweight, take comfort. Fatty acid supplements contain only a handful of calories and supplementation is unlikely to hurt any pet on a diet.
TipIn studies done in people and pets, dosages much higher than label doses are needed to achieve results. As a rule, I try to start with 2-4 times the label dose when treating diseases and adjust the dose depending upon the pet’s response. I use the label dose when recommending fatty acids as a coat or skin supplement.
Conclusion
Fatty acid therapy is becoming a part of our mainstream therapy for many pet disorders. In general, fish oil is preferred to flax oil as it contains the more active omega-3’s. To get the best results, dosages higher than those on the label are needed and in most cases, fish oil should be combined with other supplements for maximum effectiveness.
About Pet-TogethersPet-Togethers is a companion care company devoted to improving the lives of pets and those who care for them. Their veterinarian-recommended PetCentRx Vim & Vigor wellness wellness formula is a highly nutritious supplement that’s giving new life to dogs and cats around the globe. Visit www.PetCentRx.co
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)