Dog Nutrition

DOG NUTRITION & WELLNESS

Dogs are wolves that live in our House.....

and sleep in our beds & lick our faces & make us laugh......

Dogs are not far removed from their wild ancestors. Domestication has not changed their physiology. Dogs nutritional needs are the same as that of the wolf. A high meat protein low carbohydrate diet is the ideal diet for most dogs. By feeding a diet that more closely resembles a dog's natural diet you will notice many improvements in your dog such as, less shedding, shinier coat, cleaner teeth, less "doggie" smell and best of all..less poop!

I advise people to feed the best food you can afford. By spending more on your dog's food, you will have a much healthier dog . You will lessen the chances of your dog developing some of the diet related health issues such as, skin conditions, hot spots & obesity to name a few.

All inclusive frozen raw meat diets make it very easy to feed your dog the best nutritionally packed meal as possible. Grain free dehydrated and grain free kibbled diets are also great choices. For small dogs, grain free dehydrated or grain free canned foods are affordable and convenient.

If you are going to choose a dry kibble or canned diet be sure to read the ingredients list. The first couple of ingredients on the list should be meat. Wheat, Corn & Soy should be avoided. No high quality dog food contains these grains. Artificial colors, flavors & preservatives should also be avoided. In many cases, the brands that are advertised on televison are owned by companies that make human products and have a "pet food division". They are usually motivated by profit so they often use cheaper, poor grade ingredients. There are only two exceptions currently. Some of the biggest names in nationally advertised brands are the worst offenders in providing the most harmful of ingredients to your dog. Don't get fooled by the commercials. In the pet food market you truly do get what you pay for. Meat is much more expensive than grain, so a higher meat protein dog food will cost more than a poor quality grain based food. But remember, the higher the quality food, the healthier your dog is going to be!

The same rules apply to the treats you give to your dog. Read the ingredients. Avoid any brightly colored treats. Avoid any treats that look like Play-Doh! These treats are FILLED with chemicals that contribute to poor health. Choose meat based treats whenever possible. You can also use frozen or fresh vegetables and fruits such as:

Green beans, broccoli florets, Asparagus spears, baby carrots, peas, blueberries, raspberries, all make great all natural healthy treats. Meat that is cut into little cubes, frozen individually on a cookie sheet and stored in a bag in the freezer also make great treats. Dogs love them!!

This is a list of some of the ingredients to AVOID when shopping for food and treats:

For general information on specific health issues in dogs such as, skin conditions, kidney disease and other health concerns, click on Dog Health. If you would like an online consultation check out our

"Amys Consulting" page!

If you have any questions stop by the store, we'll be happy to help you!!!