YummyHealthyDogFood

Food allergies in dogs are a very important issue for dog owners. No animal lover wants to see their poor dog uncomfortable. Like us, dogs can also develop allergies to things in the environment. Allergies can also be caused by food, and about 5-10% of all allergy cases are related to what the dog is eating. In order to help your dog you first need to figure out the problem.

It’s rather difficult to diagnose a food allergy in a dog. You can’t just ask, “did you eat anything funny?” and expect an answer! So it’s a bit of a guessing game figuring out their symptoms. A sign you can watch out for when a dog had an allergic reaction is its skin becoming red and itchy. It can be located anywhere, commonly on the feet, face or ears.

Dogs that have allergies normally bite or scratch the area where they are affected, so catching the allergy as soon as possible is important. Biting and scratching the affected area often results in making it worse.

A possible way to determine how the allergy came about is by the process of elimination. If you happened to start your dog on a new diet and it got sick, don’t change its food just yet. A dog usually needs some time to adjust to the new food. Also, even if your dog has had the same diet for many years, it’s possible to develop an allergy to something in that food.

If and when you notice your dog has an allergy, and if it’s difficult to diagnose from what, then the best solution is to consult your veterinarian. They have the expertise. A possible suggestion may be an elimination diet. The process of this diet is to feed your dog a special kind of food that contains carbohydrates and protein, something that the dog has not tasted before. The point of this is to determine whether the dog really has a food allergy or not. After a few weeks on the diet, if the symptoms go away, that means whatever caused your dog discomfort is in the food you were feeding the dog. You will then have to find something new to feed your dog that won’t have the same ingredients as the old product and try it out and hope for best!

Now, if you’re thinking of “hypoallergenic dog food” to solve your dogs allergy problems, it may not be the solution your hoping it to be. Just because it says hypoallergenic, it doesn’t mean your dog is surely going to be okay with it. The ingredients in these kinds of food are already considered common because they are so popular. So it’s still possible your dog could be allergic to one or more of its ingredients. You can always give it a try, but if the symptoms your dog is showing does not go away, do not rule out food allergies.

Another simple method that you might want to try is trial and error. That’s if it won’t be too unbearable for your dog in order to get over its allergy. In any way, it will be fine if you get past it. If your dog surely has an allergy, don’t expect a cure – there is none. The trick is to avoid whatever it is that it’s allergic to, and you can then go back to being the best of friends.

The dog food industry today has grown to be so large and diverse that it’s difficult for dog owners to decide which type of dog food diet provides a balanced set of nutrition for their pets. There are three major categories of dog food types available to them, which are as follows.

First, there are the commercial dog foods, which often come in kibble form or in cans. Such dog foods are being produced by dog food manufacturers who put a lot of research into the types and amounts of nutrients that dogs need, as well as offering these nutrients in forms that can easily be absorbed by a dog’s digestive system. Commercial dog foods offer ease of serving and long shelf life, and come in different variations for all stages of a dog’s life.

Over time, commercial dog foods have been blamed for the rise of common dog illnesses. Today, for instance, more dogs die of medical conditions instead of old age, which was the prevailing cause of death only decades ago (back then, owners fed their dogs table scraps). There are also accusations that some dog foods include questionable ingredients in their mixes, such as colorings, preservatives, and low-grade meat.

The commercial dog food industry has responded to these claims through the introduction of organic dog food. Organic dog food products contain ingredients that were raised naturally and were untouched by hormones, preservatives, antibiotics, and pesticides.

When thinking of feeding your own dog a commercially-made dog food product, it’s often wiser to select the premium and organic brands over bargain brands. While these products may be more expensive than others, it subjects your dog to a much lower level of risk and may let you save up on veterinary bills.

The second kind of dog food diet is the BARF diet, the acronym in which stands for Bones And Raw Food. Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst presented this idea in a book a few years ago, in which he suggested that raw foods such as whole meat and fish carcasses, yogurt, raw eggs, fruit, and vegetables imitates the kind of food that dogs naturally ate while in the wild. In effect, the BARF diet is the antithesis of commercial dog foods.

There has been some controversy regarding the BARF diet and some of its components. For instance, feeding dogs raw eggs and raw meat may subject them to illnesses, which may include salmonella. Bones may also splinter and injure a dog’s digestive tract. So far, it seems that the BARF diet has failed to elicit enough attention and interest from dog owners, who instead lean towards the surety and convenience of commercial dog foods – or the third kind of dog food diet.

The third kind of food diet is the organic/natural dog food diet. This diet forms a sort of “middle way” between commercial dog foods and the BARF diet, in which it advocates feeding dogs with foods only suitable for human consumption. Meals in an organic/natural dog food diet involves cooked meat, fresh vegetables, fruit, and starch foods.

To date, there has been no scientific study on organic/natural food diets and whether it does have positive effects on a dog’s longevity. There have been stories, however, of dogs living well beyond their breeds’ normal life spans.

In conclusion, it may not matter which diet type you choose for your dog. The best you can do is to ensure that he gets the most balanced set of nutrients you can give him. This means enough protein foods (meat), carbohydrates (rice, pasta, potatoes), vitamins and minerals (fruit and vegetables), and water.

Just recently, dogs all over the United States fell ill and died after eating contaminated dog food. These dog food products were found to contain chemicals that poisoned the dogs, without the owners knowing just what was going on with their pets. To make matters worse, the dog food industry seems to be doing too little to prevent such a thing from happening to our dogs.

While it’s true that majority of dog food products in the market today are safe, owners and veterinarians alike are now no longer quick to disregard the possible advantages of homemade dog food. A carefully prepared diet subjects the dog to a much lower risk of poisoning from bad commercial dog food – which, to add, may even contain meats that aren’t suitable for human consumption.

That premise alone is compelling enough for many dog owners – if you love your dog, they say, would you feed them something you’d never eat yourself?

Preparing a homemade dog food diet

Homemade dog food is easy to prepare, and the rules are simple: The dog’s meal must contain roughly 40% meat, 30% vegetable, and 30% starch. A simple meal of cooked turkey (without the bones), carrots, and rice is a good example. The reason for these proportions is to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients he needs. If he eats only meat, for instance, he’ll only get his protein requirements, but none of the carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Meat can be of any kind that’s easily available, be it beef, pork, poultry, fish, goat, etc. Organ meat, such as liver, is particularly good for dogs. Only be sure to cook the meat before feeding it to your dog – raw meat can contain bacteria and carry diseases such as salmonella. In addition, make sure to take the bone out of the meat. Bones can cause choking in the dog, or may splinter and injure its digestive tract.

Vegetables, like meat, can be of any kind that’s available to you. Freshness and variety is the only special requirement. Carrots, baked beans, and lettuce are good choices.

Starch provides your dog with carbohydrates, its main source of energy. Good starch foods include pasta, brown rice, oatmeal and potatoes.

Foods that may be harmful to your dog’s health

Some foods, however, are not advisable for dog consumption, as these may cause illness and death. When planning a homemade diet for your dog, make sure you do NOT feed him the following: Garlic or onions, grapes and raisins, chocolate, and any artificial sweeteners and fats.

Other tips in making the transition to homemade dog food

When you’re feeding your dog commercial dog food and would like to make the transition to a homemade diet for him, break it to him gradually. On the first day, for instance, give him a bowl of 1/8 homemade food, and the rest as the same commercial dog food he’s eating. Increase the portion of homemade food by 1/8 every day until it’s all he’s eating.

Another thing – it’s best to consult your dog’s veterinarian when you’re planning to move your dog to a homemade diet. The vet may give you helpful advice on homemade dog food diets – provided, of course, the vet isn’t biased towards commercial dog food.

Good grooming attends to your dog’s overall hygiene and doesn’t focus merely on any single part of his body. Particular attention should be given to areas that are hard to reach, such as the ears, the armpits, between the toes, and the teeth, since these areas are the most susceptible to infections and fungal growth. Here are some tips to keep your dog as clean and healthy as he can be.

Bathing is perhaps the most important part of your dog’s hygiene regimen. When bathing him, all areas should be thoroughly wet. Avoid dousing water into the ear (only wet the posterior area) and eye areas. After scrubbing him with a good dog shampoo, rinse him thoroughly to avoid having remnants of the shampoo sticking on the dog’s skin and fur. Some products can cause flaky skin and irritation.

In cleaning the face area, use a damp cloth. Don’t shampoo around the eye area, as this can cause eye irritation. After bathing, dry his coat by using a towel first. You can then choose to dry him further using paper towels or, if your dog doesn’t mind, a blow drier. When his coat is dry, you can then start combing or brushing it – dogs naturally like this part of the bath, since it’s soothing.

Another part of dog hygiene is nail clipping. Use appropriate nail clippers for your dogs – these can be bought at pet stores. You must trim your dog’s nails little by little, avoiding cutting into the quick. When any accidental bleeding occurs, put on a little flour to stop it. Your dog’s veterinarian can show you the proper way of clipping your dog’s nails.

Many dog owners underestimate the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene in their dogs. Dogs are just as susceptible to dental problems as we are. Use appropriate toothpaste for dogs — human toothpaste are designed specifically for spitting, which dogs can’t do. Dog toothbrushes and toothpaste can also be bought at pet stores and veterinarian clinics.

Make it a habit to check your dog’s teeth. Check for any bleeding, inflammation or any hard objects that get stuck between their teeth. If there are hard remnants of food that cannot be cleaned by brushing, remove them manually. Chew toys can help dislodge such objects from between your dog’s teeth.

Vaccination also plays a vital role in your dog’s health. Take him to a vet for vaccinations against lethal dog illnesses, such as rabies and dystemper, as well as other potential threats that your vet may identify.

Wash your dog’s beddings regularly to keep it from infestation. Use flea control products for treatment. Also clean your pet’s feeding bowls regularly since these may carry harmful parasites.
 
Finally, remember that no matter how clean your dog may be, it’s important to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling him. They may have parasites that are too small for the eye to see, and these may be very harmful to children, the elderly, and immuno-suppressed individuals. Keep these things in mind to keep your dog and yourself protected from disease and discomfort.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s easy to give dogs all the nutrients they need. Dog food sold commercially are either dry foods – a convenient choice for owners due to ease of serving – or wet foods, used as treats to hide daily medications and to increase water intake. And surprisingly, dogs also need nutrients that come from vegetables. Here are food nutrients that are especially important for dogs:

Carbohydrates/Fiber. Majority of dog food diets contains a certain percentage of carbohydrates, even if they aren’t considered essential nutrients for dogs. Sugars and starches from carbohydrates are metabolized and converted into glucose, which in turn provides energy, gives out amino acids and helps synthesize fats. Carbohydrates are great nutrients for dogs, as they can digest the forms it comes in easily. It also provides an inexpensive alternative to protein and fats.

Soluble fiber should also be a part of a dog’s diet. Foods like fruit or oat bran maintain proper hydration, regulate nutrient absorption, and keep the dog’s intestinal tract healthy. These fibers can be included in the dog’s diet in combination with fresh, raw vegetables. Carrots do nicely, especially diced and served as treats.

Fats are helpful to dogs as they can safely digest lots of it, turning it into an excellent source of energy. Fat nutrients regulate muscle contractions, blood clotting, and allergic reactions, and add luster to his coat. Just be cautioned – fats shouldn’t exceed 20% of the dog’s average diet because it causes obesity on dogs. Further, high fat diets depletes the storage of Vitamin E in dog’s body which later on results to gall bladder disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea and general poor health.

Protein requirements for dogs have no recommended amounts, but rule of thumb dictates that the more activity the dog goes through on a regular basis, the greater the need for protein. Protein’s main components are amino acids such as arginine, leucine, methionine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, phenyllalaine, tryptophan, valine and threonine, all of which are required by active dogs. A dog’s diet deficient of these amino acids can result to poor growth, weight loss, loss of appetite and muscle tone, a dull, brittle or rough coat, an impaired immune system, blood protein depletion, or even death.

One important note: dogs who have undergone kidney failure, or at least have a tendency toward kidney disease, mustn’t be fed too much protein.

Vitamin A is important for normal growth, reproduction, mucous membranes, skin cell surface lining, immune functions, and vision. Vitamin A-rich foods include liver and organ meats, and must be included sparingly in a dog’s diet. Vitamin D contributes to the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus and maintains blood calcium levels and bone formation. Vitamin E serves as an antioxidant and maintains muscle cell structures. Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting.

Water soluble vitamins like Vitamin B1 (thiamine) helps metabolizes carbohydrates for energy. Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 supports enzymes to metabolize protein and necessary for normal immune system functions. Vitamin B12 contributes to red blood cell production and synthesis of nucleic acids.

Check the nutrition labels on the dog food products to see if your dog is getting enough of these nutrients. If you have any questions or concerns, you can discuss your dog’s diet with your veterinarian during regular checkups.

Dog grooming is important to the care and maintenance of the dog’s physiological and psychological health. The dog’s physical state influences the way he feels and acts. There are cases wherein lack of proper dog grooming can negatively affect the behavior of a dog.

Dog grooming is not difficult to maintain. Dog grooming may be seen as simple affectionate petting, and dogs generally love getting the attention. The following are general guidelines in dog grooming.

Combing/Brushing: Sebaceous glands under a dog’s skin secrete a fatty substance that protects the skin and hair. Combing and brushing, when done as part of the dog grooming routine, stimulates these oil glands and gives the dog’s coat a beautiful, clean sheen. It also keeps the dog’s fur in good condition. This aspect of dog grooming removes dirt, prevents tangles, and keeps the skin clean and free from irritation.

Ears. Cleaning the ears should also be a part of any dog grooming routine. Always check your dog’s ears for waxy buildup, excessive hair matting in the external ear, any redness or inflammation, retention of dirt, or foreign material in the ear canal. To find out if mites, fleas or ticks are nesting in the dog’s ears, take a whiff and see if you detect a sour, cheesy odor from them. If you do, then it usually indicates the presence of these parasites. Drop a small amount of mite ointment into the affected ear to prevent the parasites from burrowing even deeper. Left alone, these parasites can cause severe infection and deafness in the dog – lifelong impairments that make ear cleaning an important part of dog grooming.

Teeth. Dog grooming includes routine examinations of your dog’s mouth and brushing the teeth to avoid plaque forming on the gum line and tartar building up on the teeth. Plaque combines with minerals in the dog’s saliva and forms tartar, which in turn may cause gingivitis (inflammation) if left alone. Use a dog toothbrush and toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth during a dog grooming session. Don’t use human toothpaste – it can cause abdominal discomforts if accidentally swallowed by your dog. As most dogs love to chew, this aspect of dog grooming is particularly important to your dog’s happiness.

Nails. Dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly, but not necessarily at every dog grooming session, to prevent overgrowth. Use dog nail clippers and slowly trim the nails, avoiding the quick. It is advisable to make several small nips until you see what appears to be a black dot in the nail, which is the start of the quick. Keep styptic powder at hand to stop any bleeding if you accidentally trim onto the quick.

Dog grooming must be done regularly, and an annual visit to the veterinarian for a thorough checkup will make certain your dog will be in tiptop shape. Apart from helping identify any newly emerging problems before they become serious, regular health assessments will give you the chance to learn about more and better dog grooming practices. Keeping a good dog grooming schedule will keep any troublesome medical conditions at bay, letting your dog get the most out of his life.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are the most important components in any dogís feeding. If there is a balance in the vitamin and mineral supplements, then the animal will have a healthy life and hence, the immunity is not compromised in an unwanted way.  This simply means that there the dog will be more disease resistance against various diseases. 

Pet owners should know that vitamins A, D, E, and K are the fat-soluble vitamins and others are water-soluble vitamins. Vitamins like thiamine, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin are important for the functions of nervous system.  Deficiency of vitamin A leads to night blindness and skin lesions and deficiency of vitamin D leads to the softening and weakening of the bones. 

These problems are many a time encountered by the dog owners. Among these, vitamin A toxicities may occur if you feed them in excessive amounts, like vitamin D. Hence, give emphasis on this while you are using these vitamins in the dogs. Cod liver oil from selected fishes has more vitamin A in them and are universally good feed for dogs.  

All dogs may not need supplements of minerals or vitamins to live well for the moment, but it is important for their future.  If they become sick or aged or very young without proper feeding, supplementations are required for the upkeep of health status in them.  However, one has to follow the instructions of veterinarian in this regard.    

If the dogs are fed with fish in frozen conditions, then they may be suffering constantly from vitamin B1 deficiency and hence, such dogs need to be given specifically B1. Careless supplementations of minerals may lead to diseases and hence, veterinarians always need to be consulted on the supplementation of minerals or vitamins.  

Minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper etc. are given more emphasis in addition to sodium and potassium. Zinc is related to skin health and potassium is related to the muscle health and calcium with phosphorus is related to the bone health. 

However, if you feed the dog with chicken, mutton or beef along with required vegetables, artificial supplementation of mineral or vitamin tablets may be highly reduced but supplements need to be thought of when you are not able to maintain a balanced nutrition as this happens with most of the dogs, due to multifaceted causes.  

This question often looks so simple but holds more meanings in that. During the examination of your dog, first you need to prepare the dog first psychologically for a better-restrained status.  For this, you need to take a leash and place the dog on table by the careful delivery of suitable command. 

When the dog is trying to avoid the thorough examination by the veterinarian, just try to distract the dog by simple scratching of your dog behind the ears, etc. Hence, the dogís attention is some what diverted from the examination procedures that are carried out often in a systematic manner. 

However, there are obedient dogs, which will remain calm during an examination.  Such dogs need to be given some patting on the shoulder or the body and praises.  Perhaps, many owners may try to provide some treats that are liked so much by the concerned dogs.  However, it all depends on the trainings offered to the concerned dog earlier and the effective follow up procedures by the owner for the maintenance of such reflexes during the examination. 

Muzzles are required for some dogs if they behave in a different manner by objecting the examination procedures by the frequent movements of the body or trying to bite the veterinarian doing the examination of the dog. Hence, the owner needs to observe the dog closely during the examination to rule out any abnormal activity by the dog.

Restraining activities in a proper manner during the clinical examination of the dog are of highly appreciable if they are successful with the concerned dogs. Such control will be of highly helpful for the effective examination of the patient by the concerned veterinarian in the pet clinic.    
If the dog gets more distracted during examination by means of restlessness, then one may even use the electronic equipments which will make some sound that are audible to the dogsí ear. Such things will be helpful in the proper distraction of the animal during the examination.

Why are regular check-ups important?  Every dog owner asks this type of question, often. If you failed to do the regular check-ups, then the dog may end up having some major diseases that you don’t know about.  Hence, you need to pay lot of money both to the veterinarians for consultancy and for the required drugs useful for the therapy of the clinical condition.

One may not be able to find out the very commonly occurring clinical conditions in case of their dogs because of less experience with dog diseases or dog rearing.  This is why check ups are important.   For example, if the dog has potbelly, the condition may not look abnormal many times. But if the dog is subjected to the regular check-up, then the veterinarian immediately finds it out and gives the appropriate therapy. If not, the animal may experience diarrhea and the dehydration. 

If the dog has any signs of illness, then donít wait for the regular check-up. Instead, you need to approach the veterinarian immediately. Check ups if done in a regular manner will help to give vaccinations against canine distemper, parvovirus, corona virus, rabies virus, hepatitis virus, and more.

Booster vaccinations will be carried out in such cases without any delay in the injections and this helps to improve the immunity level of the dog against such diseases in a remarkable degree. Regular check up is the essential one with proper stools examination.  Hence, the deworming may be carried out with drugs like fenbendazole, albendazole, etc.   

Abnormalities like signs of pain may be ruled out during such  examinations.  If not, helminthiasis may affect the animal and diarrhea may occur in addition to the other types of digestive upsets and anemia. Regular examinations help to rule out the external parasitic conditions like lice or tick infestations.  Dental problems are also found out during the regular check ups in reputed veterinary hospitals.      

The importance of the physical examination need not be underestimated in case of dogs. Simple but systematic physical examination techniques may diagnose most of the disorders in dogs and hence, without physical examination of the dog, one should not resort to knowing the status of your dog’s health. 

Simply observe the dog with scratching. Catch the dog and simply separate the hair material from the itching site. To the surprise you may come across a big wound in the scratched site. The wound might be the main reason for the scratching of the dog at that site. However, one has to rule out the occurrence of wound by severe itching itself.

Many times, when the scratching dog is examined physically, one can come across plenty of lice infestation or tick problem in the skin and coat. The parasitic condition might not be diagnosed at all if one has not carried out the physical examination. Similarly, the dog may reveal the signs of pain when the physical examination is carried out by deep palpation technique.  The dog show signs of pain when the dog is examined at the stomach or the back regions. 

Even if it is possible that by pressure based palpation, one can detect the acute renal disorders in the affected dogs turn to the examined site at the region of kidney or at the back region. The dog affected by the Cystitis with severe retention of urine is often diagnosed by mere physical examination. 

The filled bladder together with signs of pain during the examination at the site of urinary bladder indicates that the animal is affected by Cystitis.  Auscultation of the heart in both right and left sides helps to rule out the abnormal heart sounds and the pulmonary area based auscultation reveals the respiratory system disorder like pneumonia.