YummyHealthyDogFood

You may be feeding your dog the healthiest dog food, the best homemade meal, or even the most expensive organic diet, but are you sure its getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs for proper growth? This article will simply guide you and help you better understand what your dogs needs are, and where it can get them.

Vitamin C: probably the most important vitamin, it has a lot of benefits for your dog. It keeps the immune system up, its plays a major part in bone and tissue formation, prevents cancer, and may prevent arteriosclerosis. Dogs with vitamin C deficiency experience loss of teeth, weak bones, bleeding, bad breath and more. Vitamin C has also shown to resolve dysplastic hips and arthritis in dogs. It is an antioxidant, and contrary to rumors, it does not cause kidney stones, but prevents them.

Vitamin E: First off, if you buy vitamin E from the pharmacy, make sure it is natural kind and not the synthetic one. The richest source of vitamin E is wheat germ. It is also found in vegetable oils, cereal, nuts, egg yolks, and carrots. What it does for your dog is help it in using up fat and keeps oxygen from destroying other nutrients in the body. It improves blood flow by increasing the blood vessels diameters and supplying injured areas with blood in order to stimulate healing and prevents blood clots.

Vitamin B: It maintains the health of your dogs’ eyes, nerves, skin, hair, liver and mouth, and gives it a boost of energy.

Vitamin D: Deficiency in vitamin D leads to rickets, a bone deformity. Enough of this vitamin will prevent osteoporosis and promote normal teeth, bones and growth by absorbing calcium and phosphorus. It forms naturally on the skin when exposed to sunlight. The prime source is cod liver oil.

Calcium (with or without phosphorus): This improves the growth and formation of the bones and teeth, making it especially important for puppies. You can get calcium without phosphorus from lamb meal and fishmeal, calcium with phosphorus from bone meal, and just phosphorus from meat, eggs and milk products.

Magnesium: for muscle and nerve cell membrane stability and the structure of the bones and teeth. Found in bone meal, lamb meal and wheat and oat bran.

Potassium: mainly the moving function of your dog. It is abundant in soybean meal, unrefined grains, yeast, and rice and wheat bran.

Iron: For your dog’s energy and metabolism. Found in meat, peanut hulls and soy mill run.

Copper:  Tissue formation, iron metabolism, and blood cell formation. This is specially found in liver.

Zinc: For your dog’s protein and carbohydrate metabolism, function of your dogs skin and healing of wounds. Found in meat and fiber.

There are many vitamin and mineral supplements for dogs available in the market, but before buying them, you should always consult with your vet first. Some dogs have special needs that need to be addressed, and your vet will know what best suits your dogs needs according to breed and weight. Along with the right diet, giving your dog the necessary vitamins and minerals vital to its health will give you and your dog a long lasting relationship.

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.

What exactly is hypoallergenic dog food? If you think its food for your dog who has an allergy, you’re right in a way, but if you think it’s also a cure for its allergy, and your dog wont have any more allergies after sticking to the hypoallergenic dog food diet, then you’re wrong. Hypoallergenic food is not a particular kind of food with specific ingredients, and its definitely not a cure or kind of medication for a dog experiencing allergies. It’s dog food that doesn’t have common ingredients in it, so your dog isn’t going to be allergic to it! Food allergies in dogs usually build up from something they continuously eat, most commonly beef, chicken, pork and even lamb. So if your dog eats something new that isn’t common in most brands of dog food, an allergy is less likely.

Excluding chicken, beef, pork and lamb, you don’t seem to have many options left, so what else is there? In the U.S, they are now using duck, rabbit, salmon and venison, then normally add in potatoes. These ingredients are rarely used in typical grocery dog food brands. If you have a dog that is suffering from allergies, buy a new brand for it that’s hypoallergenic and check to see that it doesn’t have the same main ingredients as your old brand, and also do not feed it any other food when it is on a hypoallergenic diet.  This way you can make sure about what it is your dog is allergic to. If the skin rashes, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing or stuffy nose goes away, then you’ll know it was something in the old brand of dog food that it has become allergic to.

Other brands outside the US even use meat as exotic as wild kangaroo, New Zealand brushtail, unagi eel and even dried seaweed! Not only can hypoallergenic food help your dogs’ allergies, it’s even an act of being eco-friendly! The New Zealand brushtail, also know as possum, is considered a major pest species, and the wild kangaroo as well is a nuisance that impedes cattle ranching. Therefore, your dogs’ hypoallergenic food is helping to get rid of two pests and at the same time stabilize an important part of the ecology. The meat also has higher levels of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids compared to other red meats and fish.

The disadvantage with hypoallergenic food is if and when the ingredients aren’t considered rare anymore. When your dog is constantly exposed to a certain kind of food, that is when it may become allergic to it. Lamb and rice, for example, used to be considered hypoallergenic until they were being used in all dog food brands, so now dogs can even be allergic to lamb and rice just as much as chicken or beef.

All dogs can have allergic reactions, just like their owners. People who have allergic reactions to dogs normally presume it’s the hair they are allergic to, but it’s actually what gets attached to the dogs fur. Dogs’ hair can pick up pollen and dust, and with every movement the pollen or dust transfers to another element. In this case, those pet lovers are better off getting a “hypoallergenic dog”. It not a dog that won’t ever give you an allergy, but is less likely to give you one. Choose a dog with low shedding levels and short or no hair like the Bichon Frise, Irish terrier, Chihuahua or the Mexican hairless. Keep away from Daschunds, Basset Hounds, German Shepherds, and Afghan Hounds.

When you buy food for your dog, its easy to be overwhelmed by all the choices you have, and on top of that you have to worry about all the negative things you hear and read about commercial dog food products. This has left many dog owners confused and stuck when it comes to picking a good diet for their pets, and it makes them wonder about the perfect healthy diet for their furry family members… is there one?

Is it as simply as knowing what should go into your dog? Yes it is, and it’s nutrients. A dog needs a mix of protein, carbohydrates, good fat, vitamins, minerals and water. You can check this on the label of a dog food product or you can make the meal right at home on your own. As long as your dog is getting these important nutrients, its close to the safe side.

The next step is to make a decision on the ingredients. You can get enough nutrients from meat, vegetables, starch and fruit. Your good choices of meat are lamb, poultry, fish, lean beef and pork, depending on what’s available. Also depending on your budget, you can choose organic vegetables or what is easy to find.

For your starch, the browns are good. Brown rice, brown pasta oatmeal and potatoes are okay, but stay away from grains. Dogs can’t digest grains well, and grains have unnecessary nutrients. It’s best to pick whole-wheat products for your dogs so they get the extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals that they need.

Some commercial dog food brands have the above in a cute little package. Some commercial dog food brands on the other hand may not be too good for your dogs. This is because they mix byproducts in the food such as bird beaks and feathers, meat organs, and other undesirable ingredients. The rule that most dog owners have followed and continue to follow is not to feed your dog something that you wouldn’t eat.

The rule though doesn’t work the other way around; your dog cannot and should not eat everything that you can. Some of the things you eat can be toxic to your dogs, such as chocolate, raisins, grapes, garlic and onions, so don’t go feeding your dog your left over food or share your midnight snacks with it. Your dog may beg and plead, but it’s in his best interests not to take in what could be toxic to his health.

So now that you have learned the 101 on feeding your dog, next is the type of food diet your dog will be following. You have 3 choices. The first is commercial dog food, which is what you will find in the pet shop or on display in the supermarket. These are usually cooked up to fit your dogs’ stages of life, kind of like babies milk. A choice of organic commercial food is also available (for a price of course), but this is expected since the cheap brands of dog food don’t always have the right healthy ingredients you’re looking for your dog.

BARF is up next. This stands for Bones And Raw Food. The fact here is that that’s what dogs in the wild have to eat and some people will insist on it. They have a point, but having a point doesn’t convince everyone. If this is your pick, just be careful, and get all your facts straight.

Lastly, you can choose a homemade diet for your dog. Here you can feed your dog cooked meat, fresh veggies, some starch, and fruit. Its pretty much what we ourselves would eat. This doesn’t have any certificate of proof behind it, but some dog owners who prefer giving their dog a natural food diet will tell you that their dogs are in good shape, happy and also live longer lives.

These tips, along with your good judgment, should keep your dogs at their prime.

People have not forgotten the time when there was a huge dog food recall that left a lot of dog owners feeling very uneasy. The reason for this was that a lot of dog food producers were mixing byproducts in their food. Those byproducts were contaminated. Many dogs got sick and a few unfortunately died. For those of you who are really worried about the health of your dogs and about their diets, here are some things you need to watch out for so you to stay sure that the food your dogs eating is not making it sick.

The first thing that may happen to your dog if its getting sick from the food its eating is it might start getting a bit sluggish. This is not the same as a dog acting lazy! So don’t think that it will be a hard thing to notice even if your dog is naturally laid back. If it happens, you will see the difference. Another thing to keep an eye out for is if your dog’s stomach gets upset. The most common sign of its stomach being upset is if it vomits, but that’s not the only sign. It’s also possible that your dog will either be drinking a lot more water than it usually does or another sign is when they “lick their chops”. Many dogs do this when they feel sick, it would come before the vomiting so its something that warns you in advance that your dog maybe sick.

Even if your dog gets sick from eating bad or contaminated food, it will most likely recover from it. The real problem is what effects the sickness may have on your dog in the long run. A problem like that could result in something like kidney or liver malfunction at a later stage. There isn’t much you can do then to avoid something like that from happening if you pick out your dog food from the counter in the supermarket. What you can do though is buy dog food that is organic. Organic dog food may not be immune to every possible problem your dog could face, but it does help prevent some sickness you want to make sure your dog wont experience.

Do you know what all they are allowed to put into manufactured dog food? It might shock you like it has shocked others. Pretty much all dog food brands have an “all-natural” or “nothing added” line added on the label, but it’s not the whole truth. Dog food companies are actually allowed to mix in euthanized bodies of dogs or cats into the food you might be buying for your dog. Even food that has steroids in it is allowed to be mixed in the food, that is however if its added in the before it reaches the factory, if it does, they have all the right to call the food what they want you to think it is.

Now what looks to be the best diet option for you dog is a home cooked meal, and it is. Everybody doesn’t have the spare time or available resources to make their own dog food, but there is no other way to make sure of exactly what is going into your dogs’ tummy. If it simply is not an option for you as it cant be for everyone, then in that case, the brand of dog food your buying should really be trusted, and always keep a close watch on your dog to see if it encounters any problems, especially after eating.

Commercially available dog food is the primary source of most pet dog’s nourishment. Most pet owners feed this to their dogs since this is the most convenient and less time consuming thing to do.

Your dog’s strength, energy, health and proper growth relies heavily on what he eats. If you are not careful in preparing his meal, your dog might get ill and cause premature death. As a responsible pet owner, it is your job to be careful in what and how you feed your dog. There have been recent reports that some commercially available dog foods caused the untimely deaths of many dogs. Knowing how to make your own dog food from natural ingredients can save you and your dog any worries. Watching what your dog eats can also ensure the good health and safety of your canine friend.

Using commercial dog food is probably the most convenient choice in feeding your dog. But are you 100% certain that it is guaranteed safe for your dog? Are you aware of its contents and how it was made? It is perhaps a little harder and time consuming to make your own dog food but if you really care for your dog you will make time for it. Homemade dog food can give you peace of mind.  You know its ingredients and you are sure that it was made properly. Plus, homemade dog food clearly has many health benefits.  Claimed health benefits of commercially available dog foods are pretty hard to ascertain.

Here are some bases as to why it is wiser to put together your own homemade dog food:

Homemade dog food can be formulated without using any chemicals and preservatives. It is advantageous to put together your own dog food since in this way you are certain that you do not feed your dog any artificial preservatives or harmful chemicals. The preservatives found in most commercially available dog food are not good to your dog’s wellbeing. There are numerous diseases that can be caused by toxic chemicals found in commercially available dog food. Ailments such as kidney cancer, liver dysfunction, immune system collapse, severe allergic reactions, and behavior problems including heightened aggression can be attributed to chemical food preservatives.

Homemade dog food can be well-rounded and complete with vitamins and nutrients. You can give your dog all the nutrients he needs to be healthy if you make your own well balanced dog food. You can start by providing your pet with an all natural healthy dog food. This usually contains vegetables, rice, meat and other fresh unprocessed ingredients. If mixed properly in the right amounts this will supply him the necessary nutrients and vitamins needed for a healthy mind and body. Feeding your dog with all natural homemade dog food can strengthen his immune system and prevent him from getting ill. The practice of making your own dog food will produce a healthier and more energetic dog. It will also help keep your pet protected from diseases.

Creating your own dog food is cheaper and more cost-effective in the long run. Homemade dog food is much cheaper than commercially available dog food. You can use your savings for the other needs of your dog or your family.

Your dog will definitely love you more. Your dog will absolutely love the meals that you concoct for him. He will also love you more for taking the extra time and effort to make sure that only the best is given to him. Dogs are pretty gracious when showing their appreciation. You will surely be more than appreciated for the dedication and time that you spent to learn how to make homemade dog food. Your dog’s loyalty and friendship will be yours all the time.

Man’s best friend needs man’s special attention. Taking care of your dogs is like taking care of a child. Your dog needs its regular doctor’s visits, immunizations, and most importantly, a proper diet. So what do you feed your dog? There is no one straight answer to that question. There are things to consider when it comes to feeding your dog, like its breed and what dog group it belongs to.

Lets start with the sporting dogs. The most common among the sporting dogs is the golden retriever. These dogs are already recommended to start adult food (25% or less protein) at 3 months. They need a good amount of protein in their diets, but the problem they face though is overeating. Dogs are never full, so dog owners need to realize that they may seem hungry, but it’s a big no-no to feed them too much! Retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia which is a result of them growing too fast from eating too much. 

Next are the hounds, or the hunting dogs. So what do you feed these detective dogs? Nothing really special, according to some beagle owners. A good combination of protein and fat for energy, fiber for digestion, but watch out for diarrhea when giving the wrong kind or amount of fiber, specially if your hound is a show dog. Also give him carbohydrates for energy, though just enough because excess carbohydrates turns into flab.

The Siberian Husky and Great Dane are among the working dogs, and one of the more popular breeds include the Doberman pinscher. Avoid soy, wheat and corn altogether for these dogs. They can cause allergies that lead to skin eruption, shedding, dry skin and bad doggy odor, so it’s best not to feed it commercial dog food. Cancer is the number 2 killer in this breed, and corn, soy, wheat, preservatives and additives promote that. It also causes problems for the coat, skin and health for a long time. Lean meat should be the main part of its diet, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are good for the diet too.

Terriers are small dogs, the most popular breed probably being the Boston terrier. A not so nice thing these dogs are known for is their flatulence, but there is a solution. Firstly, don’t feed them people food, and secondly, don’t feed them any grains. It’s also advisable to add a tablespoon of plain organic yogurt in its food. This should help you out, and keep stress for this dog at a minimum, since that is what causes a lot of their health issues.

The Yorkshire Terrier is the second most popular terrier breed, according to the AKC registration. This toy dog doesn’t eat much. When he’s still a puppy, you can feed it 3 to 4 times a day. A good commercial dog food brand is ok, as long as its approved by the American Association of Feed Control Officials and has passed the trial for the stages and growth of the puppies. When he’s an adult, it’s important to maintain the amount you feed him, making sure never to overfeed him. Some people feed “yorkies” only commercial food, while others home cook. Combining the two practices is also another way you can give your yorkshire terrier a bit of variety.

Non-sporting dogs come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. The poodle can be a miniature, a toy or a standard. Its hairstyle makes it one of the most popular dog breeds around. A BARF diet is good for your poodle, which should include lamb shanks and even raw chicken necks. You can blend this up with vegetables too so they get all the nutrition they need. The dog chewing on the bones is also like brushing its teeth. It has minerals, proteins and vitamins in just the right amount. Poodles have strong stomachs, as the acids are stronger than people’s stomach acids, and so digesting is the raw meat is not a problem for them.

Dogs, like people, get diabetic too. If your dog is diabetic, the best way to care for it and to control its diabetes is by feeding it diabetic dog food that’s low on sugar and carbohydrates. Aside from watching out for its sugar intake, you also have to watch for how much food it eats and how frequent its meals are. A regular dog is normally fed one large meal a day, whereas in the case of a diabetic dog, two to three smaller meals are preferred. The reason behind this is that with smaller meals the sugar level stays stable, compared to one big meal that raises the insulin level for that period of time then drops down after 12 hours. Low blood sugar causes hypoglycemia, a serious condition.

So what are the food choices you have for your diabetic dog? Here are some suggestions that can help you and your furry friend control its diabetes:

Avoiding dog food with sugar
A lot of owners have no clue about the amount of sugar or carbohydrates in commercial dog food. Why be concerned about carbohydrates too? They are seen as a form of sugar because when in the body, they metabolize into glucose, and both soft dog food and dry food are a no-no for the diabetic dog. But if you must feed your dog commercial food, canned food is the better pick. Diabetic or not, also always check the ingredients printed on the label.

Diabetic dog food made at home
Probably the best solution is food made at home and preferably raw. This way you know exactly how much sugar and carbohydrates are going into the food. It may seem tiring and expensive, and it can be, but it doesn’t have to be! Some internet research will help you out, you can find a lot of advice on taking care of and feeding your dog and get some recipes that are nutritious and delicious to your dog.

Keeping fat at a minimum
Aside from keeping the blood sugar and insulin level regulated in the body, the pancreas also produces enzymes that break down fat. By keeping the fat intake to a minimum, it helps take the stress of the pancreas, which is essential. Do not give ground beef at all, and if you give turkey and chicken, make sure to remove the extra fat. Some fat is suppose to be good for the diet, but according to nutritionists, its better to minimize it as much as possible.

Distinguishing between good and bad grains
You can give your dog some grains, but you always have to be careful about the amount you feed it. Animals are not able to digest grains as well as we can because their digestive tracks are shorter, so grains are not usually advised. But some grains can be good for diabetic dog. Fiber helps control the level of insulin, this you can get from millet, oats and brown rice. Another choice is cornmeal, as suggest by some nutritionists, but dogs do tend to have allergic reactions to corn and wheat, so be careful. And when you use grains, use them sparingly because as carbohydrates they do turn into glucose in the body.

It’s good to add fresh fruit and vegetables, which are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugar in your dogs diet. Natural sugar doesn’t have the effects that processed sugar has on the insulin levels. Brewer’s yeast is also recommended. It has a substance called ‘glucose tolerance factor’. This helps the body to use the blood sugar more efficaciously. Last is vitamin E, which helps reduce the body’s requirement for insulin.

These are all good tips for you diabetic dog, but it is best to always consult with your vet first when changing the dogs diet to make sure of the food that best fits your dog’s special needs. Your vet will also most likely tell you to never give baked food that contains sugar and flour to you dog as a rule of thumb.

Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well. But, as a thumb rule, avoid giving baked foods that contain sugar and flour.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the “healthy” dog food choices in the market, and it doesn’t help things that so much negativity has been said about commercial dog food products. Many dog owners find themselves at a loss in choosing or preparing a good dog food diet for their pets, and often wonder if there really is a perfect healthy dog food diet out there.

It’s really quite simple once you know what should go into the dog – the nutrients. Dogs need a mixture of protein, carbohydrates, good fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Whether you’re checking the label of a particular dog food brand or preparing his meal yourself, making sure that your dog gets all these essential nutrients will keep you on the safe side.

Next, you’ll need to decide on the ingredients of the dog food. Meat, vegetables, starch, and fruit are good sources of the nutrients that dogs need. Meat products such as lamb, poultry, fish, and lean beef and pork are good choices – it depends on the availability. The same goes for vegetables – choose what’s most available, and go organic if you can afford it.

Good starch foods include brown rice, brown pasta, oatmeal, and potatoes. Stay away from the grains, however, as dogs can’t properly digest them and may have nutrients that dogs don’t need. When choosing starch foods, go for whole products so your dog can take advantage of the extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

There’s a prevailing rule of thumb for dog owners these days that if you won’t eat a particular kind of food, then don’t feed it to your dog, either. Some organ meats and byproducts (feathers and beaks, for instance) are included in some commercial dog food brands, and may not exactly be best for your dog.

Another thing to remember is that the abovementioned rule of thumb doesn’t apply in the reverse – it doesn’t necessarily mean that if you can eat it, your dog can, as well. Chocolate, raisins, grapes, garlic, and onions have been found to be toxic to dogs, so it’s wise to avoid feeding them such foods. In other words, if you’ve been feeding your dog pizza, it’s in his best interests that you never do it again.

With this information, you then choose the type of dog food diet you’ll be giving your dog. Basically, you have three options – commercial, BARF, or natural. Commercial dog foods are those you find lining the shelves of your pet store or supermarket – they’re basically tailor-made to suit the needs of dogs in all stages of their lives. They also come in organic form, though a bit pricier. It’s a good idea to choose the premium brands over economy, since the cheapest ingredients are almost never the best for your dog.

BARF stands for Bones And Raw Food, the diet some experts insist is the ideal diet for dogs, owing to the fact that this was what dogs ate while in the wild. Despite the theory’s validity, some questions have been raised about feeding bones and raw meat to dogs. It’s best to approach this type of dog food diet with caution.

Finally, you can go between commercial and BARF diets and feed your dog a natural one. Natural dog food diets involve cooked meat, fresh vegetables, enough starch, fruits, and water – quite close to what we’d eat ourselves. Despite the lack of scientific proof, dog owners have claimed that feeding dogs a natural diet (40% meat, 50% vegetables, 10% starch, for instance) make them healthier, happier, and live longer lives.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll make no mistake about coming up with healthy dog food for man’s best friend.

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.