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Health Tips & Info

              


 
Choosing a Healthy Food
 
Although you may think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind, this is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your pet. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat. Please take a moment to think about what it is you are feeding your canine companion and if it is the safest, healthiest choice for them.
 
The following pet food companies owned by multinational companies include:
 
Nestlé: Alpo, Come 'N Get It, Mighty Dog, Chef's Blend, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Kit 'N Kaboodle, Deli-Cat, Purina Dog Chow, Purina Pro Plan, Beneful, Purina One
Colgate-Palmolive: Hill's Science Diet
Del Monte: 9-Lives, Kibbles `n Bits, Cycle, Gravy Train, Nature's Recipe, Reward
Procter & Gamble: Eukanuba, Iams
Mars: Pedigree, Advance, Cesar, Whiskas, Sheba
 
The products and foods listed above are all foods that I would highly reccomend dog & cat owners steer clear of! Low quality ingredients, excessive chemical additives, and poor labeling standards all result in health problems for your companion pet, from skin allergies to cancer. Don't believe me? Try switching your dog over and prepare to be amazed at the changes you will see! A shiny coat with luster, less shedding, healthy stool, dramatically less tear/feet/bum staining on light breeds, extra energy, and if fed the proper amounts, a fit slim and healthier overall dog.
 
The dog foods I reccomend are:
 
Wellness Super5Mix Recipes (all)
 
Solid Gold: Hund-n-Flocken
 
 
 
Solid Gold: Holistique Blendz Adult
 
 
 
Innova Adult
 
Innova Low-Fat Adult
 
EVO Turkey & Chicken Formula
 
 
 
 
Please keep in mind that should you make the decision to switch foods, it is advised to do so gradually to allow your dog an adjustment time period. The following below is a rough outline on how to introduce a new food into your dogs diet. This is a general outline and your dog may take more or less actual time to adapt to a new food. Please use your best judgement.
 
Week 1: mixture of 75% regular food, 25% new food
Week 2: mixture of 50% regular food, 50% new food
Week 3: mixture of 25% regular food, 75% new food
Week 4: 100% new food.
  

Did you know that many of the common "chew" treats are not always safe to or healthy to give your dog?
 
This includes but is certainly not limited to:
 
"Greenies"
"Dental Chews"
"Rawhide Chews"
 
These products are not easily disgestible and can result in an intestinal blockage if large pieces are accidentally swallowed. They also contain very little, if any, nutritional value.
 
"Pig Ears"
"Bully Sticks"
 
Products like pig ears and bully sticks are usually fried in oil to make them crunchy. Just as fried food is not good for people, it's also not good for dogs.
 
If your dog needs to constantly chew, an great alternative to the products listed above is a frozen treat-filled Kong.
 
Fillings could include
Peanut Butter
Yogurt
Apple Slices
Carrot Sticks
 
Simply fill a few kongs and store them in the freezer to use as needed!
Healthy Snack Alternatives 
Did you know that most dogs LOVE fruits & vegetables?
 
Why not put down that box of milkbones, bag of beggin' strips, or chewy rawhide bone and swap for something a little more healthy for your dog!
Try...
Carrot Sticks
Green Beans
Peas
Zucchini Slices
Apple Slices
Berries
Yogurt
Hard Boiled Eggs
Raw (uncooked) Bones
 
For finicky eaters, try dipping the end of a carrot stick in peanut butter first until they learn to eat just the carrot!
 
ALWAYS AVOID!!!
CHOCOLATE
ONIONS
GARLIC
AVOCADO
GRAPES
PEPPERS
LUNCHMEATS
BROCCOLI