“A Mans Best Friend”
Jun 30 2009
Good health is vital for getting good results when training your dog. The basis for good health is good dog food.
Depending on your budget you may or may not be able to feed your dog a larger proportion of fresh meat, but at least be prepared to spend enough for a good dry food. Here are a few things to look for…
All dog foods are labeled with the ingredients in order by proportion. That is, the ingredient with largest percentage is listed first, followed by the second and subsequently the rest of the ingredients.
One of the ingredients that makes cheap dog food less preferable is the high percentage of ‘waste’ animal parts. When you see ‘by products’ on the label, it’s better to avoid these brands. If it does appear on higher quality dog food, which is rare, it will be listed near the bottom indicating a small proportion.
By by products we mean those parts of the animal that are not intended for human consumption. By products are perfectly legal in dog food, but are low quality proteins and in the long run have a negative effect on the general health, skin and coat conditions of your dog.
Just as one indicator, dogs with healthy coats (particularly, long-haired breeds) will look shinier and shed less. Assuming proper bathing and brushing habits, of course.
Some experts believe that the proper ratio of meat, vegetables and starch should be around 40%, 30%, 30% respectively.
The bigger brands use chicken meat, beef or lamb as a source of protein. All three types of meat are exellent for a vital dog with a shiny coat and a good general health.
Vegetables provide minerals and vitamins that help produce hormones and enzymes, as well as compounds for good bone health and other functions. Carrots and squash, for example are both excellent for almost any dog.
Rice is probably a better starch then corn or wheat. Especially brown rice is a very good carbohydrate. Starch is very important for the necessary cell repair and provides energy once it is broken down by the dogs digestive system.
Just like humans, some dogs have special diet needs. For example Golden Retrievers are sensitive to wheat products. And in general corn is the worst cereal you can find in a diet, because it is so hard to digest for dogs.
Avoid bad ingredients and when in doubt talk to your vet about the best diet for your dog. Especially when your dog has diarrhea, scratches a lot, or has flatulancy.
Some dogs refuse dry food. You can try to mix it with some water and heat it up 30 secs in the microwave. You can also add some gravy to the food. Some people think that dry food help to clean their teeth.
Don’t overdo it with the treats. The high fat content in treats can make your dog overweight. Manufacturers add fat to the treats, because your dog loves it. If you are training your dog and you give him more than a normal amount of treats, you might consider lowering his daily ratio of dry food.
I believe that the price difference of a quality food outweighs the extra veterinary costs that you’ll have with low quality foods in the long run. Do invest in a high quality food and you’ll reap the rewards for the rest of your dogs life.
You’ll see it in your dogs eyes and notice a shinier coat. His pooh will be firmer, smaller and easier to pick up. It’s a small price to pay for a healthy and happy dog.
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