(877-858-8738)
Call today and schedule a free in-home interview with you and your pet(s)!

 

May 2007 Newsletter

Changing Your Dog's Diet

With all the dangers and risks of feeding your dog a mass-produced, popular brand of dog food Ð what is a dog owner to do? The answer is simple: you have to change your dog's diet to a healthy dog food.

Changing your dog's current diet to a healthy dog food diet is easier said than done. Even though dogs may act like they can eat anything, the reality is they don't have cast-iron stomachs. As a matter of fact, their digestive systems are quite sensitive. Most dogs do not manage well when they are given new foods. Constantly changing your dog's diet can be detrimental to their health and is highly unadvisable by veterinarians. So, how do you properly introduce a new, healthy dog food diet to your pet? The answer is: gradually.

By gradually introducing a new, healthy dog food diet to your pet, you'll spare him from many problems associated with indigestion:

• Stomach Cramps \ Excess Gas
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Refusal to Eat

If you don't introduce a healthy dog food diet gradually, expect these to happen to your furry companions.

Doctors Foster & Smith offer the following vital information about introducing a new, healthy dog food diet to your pet:

Normal bacteria in the intestine help your dog or cat digest food. A sudden change in food can result in changes to the number and type of bacteria and their ability to help digest food. These changes can lead to intestinal upset. Therefore, your pet must be switched to a new healthy dog food slowly.

We recommend switching to a new food gradually over the course of 7-10 days. For example, make a mixture that contains 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food and feed that for three days. Then make it 50-50 for three more days, then 75% new food and 25% old food for three more days. If your pet seems comfortable with this progression, you can start feeding 100% new food.


But what kind of healthy dog food diet does your dog need? That depends on your dog. Like people, dogs are individuals with individual tastes. Some dogs prefer beef, others prefer chicken, lamb or a combination of meats. The only way to find out what your dog likes, is to try different kinds. Luckily, we carry all of these varietals and more. But the most important thing to remember when choosing a healthy dog food to replace your dog's current diet is to choose a raw, natural dog food designed and tested to be the best for your dog, such as:

• Dr. Billinghurst's B.A.R.F. Diet
• Nature's Variety / Prairie Brand

Formulated to provide optimum health benefits for pets, these foods use real meat as the primary protein source. They also do not contain artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. After feeding this healthy dog food to your pet for at least a month, you'll notice brighter eyes, a shinier coat, and an increased vitality.

Just as important as feeding your dog a healthy dog food diet is knowing what NOT to feed your dog. Sherry Woodard, dog trainer and care consultant for Best Friends, advises what to avoid feeding your dog:

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Cat Food
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Fat Trimmings
• Raisins & Grapes
• Cabbage
• Nicotine
• Table Scraps

Excess salt, sugar, and fat can cause obesity, dental problems, and finicky eating habits. For a happy dog, feed him a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise together.