The phrase, “putting on the dog” refers to individuals who try to appear either rich or more important than they truly are. If you were to walk down the dog food aisle in a supermarket or pet store, the front of the bags would sound very impressive, assuring you of total nutrition for every stage of a dog’s life. Yet in reality, many of these particular dog food firms are grossly guilty of “putting on the dog”. Before you put anything “in” your dog, flip those bags of dog food over to read the label a little more carefully.
Do you wish your dog to be well, obedient and live to a ripe old age? Researchers concluded that dogs have the potential to live to twenty years, but really, the vast majority of dog companions struggle to get past the ten-year point. As a matter of fact, Vets are seeing an increasing amount of heart and respiratory disease, joint problems and other ailments. These particular shelters are chock full of dogs that left their “forever homes” since they exhibited hostile and even violent behavior.
All of these specific wellness issues may have a strong basis in the type and quality of food these dogs have been given. Premium is of course better than the more mainstream type brands, as the pet food recall confirmed. It is not enough to simply fill up a bowl with any kind of dog food so your pet does not get hungry. Dog owners should really evaluate what is going into the dog’s dish as those ingredients may mean a better life or one that is filled with health and wellness issues. Purchase a premium dog food. Usually, this type of food is not sold in supermarkets and not even at your veterinarian’s office.
Before making a selection of dog food, turn the bags over and read the list of ingredients. If more than 2 of them contain grain products, like corn or wheat, the food is mostly vegetable protein, which provides less in the way of nutritional value.
In addition, if the bag lists “by-products” it’s best to simplyleave it on the shelf. By-products of animals can mean the head, feet and intestines. There is practically zero nutritional value in this ingredient. Look for chicken “meal” or lamb “meal” which does indeed provide a much greater degree of animal protein. Also, avoid foods that contain preservatives, like BHT or BHA. They can be harmful to your pet’s health. Canned food very often has more preservatives because they are needed to keep the food fresh. Furthermore, canned food has a much high water content and that should be considered in your dog food buying decision, especially if you live in the more humid climates like Florida, Georgia or Alabama. Dogs often do very well on dry dog food alone, and the crunching action helps keep their teeth cleaner.
If you want to give your dogs treats, the same rules apply. Check the list of ingredients. Try not to get your dog “hooked” on cheap treats with no nutritional value because that may make it difficult to offer a premium dog food that is not artificially enhanced with flavor additives.
Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. You may click here if you would like more information on premium dog food There is also a lot of additional useful information there such as an FAQ and dog food comparision chart as well.