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<p class=MsoNormal>Below is a link to a pretty good article which describes
very simply what is in dog food and why. If we consider that dogs are
designed to eat the RAW meat, entrails, and fat of an herbivore, you will see
that adding undigested grain and plant matter is not so good. When a dog (domesticated
wolf) eats the entrails and feces of say, a mouse, rabbit, cow or sheep
(domesticated deer-like creature), he gets loads of double digested plant
matter. This explains why, in the absence of having wild, fresh, RAW
animal carcass to eat, he reverts to eating his own poop.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The simplest thing to say about dog food is this. Dogs
don’t start fire, they don’t cook their food. Meat, and
especially fat, should be as close to raw as possible. Dogs have a very hard
time digesting soy, so I don’t buy food with soy in it at all. Vegetables
pretty much pass through their system only partially digested, so feeding them
often encourage poop eating. Dogs like the taste of veggies, and since whole
raw veggies can pass pretty much through their digestive system whole which
doesn’t add calories to their diets, mine often get whole carrots or
chunks of whatever veggie I am eating. (not ONIONS, GRAPES or grape products,
or CHOCOLATE.) I also do not give them cooked fat. Small quantities of
raw fat, such as when I am cleaning chicken meat, are ok, but I never cook it
for them. Too much cooked fat can lead to pancreatitis. I had a dog
with pancreatitis who ended up with diabetes. Her last few months were
horrible, because I couldn’t keep her sugar balanced.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Prepared dog food is simply a convenience for US. It
also has a lot of additional vitamins and things that enhance well being, so it
makes it easier to keep them healthy longer. Convenient!
Unfortunately you don’t always get what you pay for. Some very
expensive foods (Iam’s and Eukanuba) have the maximum carcinogenic preservative
material allowed by law. Other equally expensive foods don’t.
The cheaper the product, the more artificial color, preservatives, and crappy unwholesome
ingredients. Grocery store brands are notorious for their bad nutrition because
they are designed to appeal to YOU. Beneful, for example, has little
crunchy pieces that are shaped and colored like PEAS AND CARROTS. Ridiculous!
If you want your dog to eat peas and carrots, give them peas and carrots. The
dog doesn’t care if one chunk is green and one is orange, but their skin
and their heart and their overall wellbeing shows what they think about the
artificial colors and non-meat protein sources. If your dog is prone to itchiness,
check their food, if they are constantly watery eyed, check their food, if they
seem less “bright” than you think they should be, check their food,
if your dog has constant ear infections, their breath stinks, their body is
funky, CHECK their FOOD. Every dog reacts differently to their own
needs. Some are just fine, with no arthritis and no itchy skin, no ear
infections and bright eyes, well into their old age on Purina Dog Chow.
Some, like Clover, had recurring ear infections and itchy skin, and now has a
lot of arthritis in her shoulders. I am sure that a lot of that was
because she spent the first 7 years of her life eating grocery store
food. I switched her to VF Chicken and rice, and she is much better.
I also give her Ester C and it has helped her arthritis immensely!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>There are droolers who BARF (bones and raw food) feed their
dogs, which I think is a pretty good idea, but don’t have the time and
resources to do it right. It would be nice if one of them would write in
about some of their results, what additional supplements they use, etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Of course, we are all occasionally lulled into the local
McDonalds for a cheeseburger. Giving your dog the occasional treat of a Beneful
prepared meal should be considered in the same light. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://petershighlynutritionalpetfoodfor.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-canine-digestion.html">http://petershighlynutritionalpetfoodfor.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-canine-digestion.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://www.healthypetnet.com/healthypetnet/home.aspx?realname">http://www.healthypetnet.com//healthypetnet/home.aspx?realname</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Gaylene
Opal-Deitering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>My
passions do not replace my relationship with God, but are instead a reflection
of it!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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