The Dog Site

How do you know if you are really giving your dog the best food to ensure all of his dietary and nutritional needs are being met for him to be at his best health? Are you aware of the potential dangers in some foods? For starters, learn what the labels mean. Foods labeled “completely balanced” or “nutritionally complete” meet the nutritional requirements for either maintenance in adult dogs or growth and reproduction in puppies and pregnant or lactating mothers. The label must indicate the group for which it is intended.

Dry food is the cheapest commercially available dog food. It’s bulky and takes longer to eat than other foods, so it’s more filling when eaten. THe hardness and crunchy texture of dry dog food also has the added benefit of helping to clean the canines teeth, massage the gums and reduce plaque.

You will find that canned foods cost more than dry foods, but if you own a small dog then this price difference should not be a major concern. However, when you are feeding a Rottweiler or Great Dane, then the difference could be phenomenal. If your dog is infirmed because of surgery or simply underweight, canned dog food is a wise choice. This is where it is important to understand healthy dog nutrition.

Then you have frozen pet food. While there are no real differences in quality or advantages of one over another, frozen foods will cost a little more than the canned versions. When looking for frozen dog food, you will find it pre-cooked or raw.

Watch Out For Dangerous Dog Foods

Beware of the dog food dangers. Surprisingly, some very common foods found in your own home can lead to serious illness or potentially kill your puppy or dog. Just as with children, be sure to keep these out of reach of your puppy.

• Chocolate – because it contains theobromine, which is related to caffeine, it can lead to abnormal heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, or even seizures in dogs.

• Macadamia Nuts – They might be great tasting, but because of an unknown substance they will cause serious problems for a dog, such as depression, weakness and vomiting. 2 teaspoons per pound of bodyweight have caused toxic signs.

• Onions – Both raw and cooked onions contain a substance that causes rupture of the red blood cells, which can lead to severe anemia. Garlic can also produce similar signs, though not as severe. A dose of raw onions that is considered toxic is about 1-5 ounces.

• Raisins and Grapes – These foods can cause kidney failure in some dogs. The toxic agent has not been identified and toxicity has occurred following ingestion of amounts ranging from a single serving of raisins, to more than a pound of grapes.

You should also take notice of the ingredients of commercial dog food. There is shocking evidence that you may find disturbing. A dog food dangers review provides evidence that will expose some shocking truths and may have you preparing your pets own dog nutrition.

Tags: Dog Food, Dog Food Dangers, Dog Nutrition, Healthy Dog Nutrition