Total Dog Magazine

Search results for: “What Dog Food Is Low In Protein”

  • Gluten Free Dog Food UK

    Gluten free dog food UK options are more popular today than ever. Following international pet food recalls and a wider awareness of dog allergies related to nutrition (caused by gluten, corn and other stimulants), more and more UK dog owners are seeking gluten free diets for their canine companions.

    Gluten Free Dog Food UK

    Feeding gluten free dog food to your canine friend would naturally lower its predisposition for diseases such as diabetes, celiac disease, allergies, and chronic and degenerative diseases.

    As a gluten free diet is closer to that of what a dog would eat in the wild, the dog is able to process thier food more effectively, bringing about results such as increased energy and activity and decrease in arthritic pain and symptoms related to digestive system complaints.

    One of the more common dog food allergens is wheat or, more specifically, the gluten in wheat. Dogs can have gluten allergies like humans as well. Luckily there are gluten free dog food products on the market that can alleviate this problem. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat.
    Some people and dogs are allergic to this protein. There is also gluten found in rye and barely so if these ingredients are found in your dog’s dog food then your dog may also present an allergic reaction to those too.

    Even though some firms call their dog food’s ingredients gluten-free if it doesn’t have wheat or grain, you really want one that’s oat, barley, and rye free too. Celiac disease – the inability to digest gluten) is more common in people and animals that formerly thought. Having raised a child with celiac, I have had to learn all about this.

    A few years ago there was a huge pet food recall due to a contaminated form of gluten that contained a compound called melamine, which can be fatal to animals and humans.

    It was a very tragic time as a lot of dogs that ate the infected food ended up dieting. Ever since then, the issue of gluten has become a very popular topic, and the question always arises of how beneficial gluten free dog food actually is. Humans are prone to a type of disease known as celiac disease, which is also less formally known as gluten allergies. What most people don’t know though is that dogs can develop celiac disease just as easily, which is why monitoring gluten intake is a very important aspect of your dog’s health.

    Many dogs may also experience allergic reactions to corn. Symptoms of such reactions may include irritation of the skin, ear infections, bloating, inflammation of the kidneys and liver, head tremors, hair loss, hyperthyroidism and heart diseases. Moles and warts may also develop on the skin and even loss of hearing can occur. Dog foods that do not contain corn are also usually gluten free dog food and are rich in protein. When purchasing dog food, it is important to read the labels and examine the three ingredients that are listed first. These ingredients comprise of 75 per cent of the content of the food and as such are the most important.

    Gluten allergies are not deadly, but they can be very debilatating for your dog, and if it is the case that gluten is the cause of the problem, a high gluten diet will obviously aggravate the situation. Many vets will prescribe a gluten free dog food for your dog, but it is quite possible to make your own using natural, gluten free ingredients.

     Gluten Free Further Reading

    Gluten-Free Diet Fad: Are Celiac Disease Rates Actually Rising?

    What’s Eating You? Maybe It’s What You’re Eating

  • Feeding Older Dogs

    Feeding older dogs doesn’t have to mean drastic changes. Obesity is possibly the most common health related problem to affect dogs as they get older. An overweight dog is an unhappy dog and subsequent health problems can drastically reduce a dog’s life and render his later years void of any real quality. The key is to be aware of nutritional requirement changes when feeding older dogs, adjust slowly and gradually and keep on top of your older dog’s specific feeding requirements on a regular basis.

    Feeding Older Dogs: Nutritional Requirements

    All dogs relish a tasty treat and they are an excellent way to reward good behaviour, but if overused your dog could end up suffering from obesity before you even realise you are spoiling him. It is important to pay close attention to your dog’s diet for many reasons, but particularly if your dog is overweight. A balanced diet is essential to keeping a dog fit and healthy.

    Feeding Older Dogs

    Modern prepared foods contain an adequate supply of essential nutrients without too many calories, as do many home mixed diets. Complete, dry dog food is popular today, as it is an easy to prepare meal which contains a good supply of all the right nutrients. Commercial canned foods, whether mixed or on their own, are a good source of nutrition and are easy to prepare and store. Some dog owners favour a nutritional supplement to add to the dog’s meal, rice is a good source of carbohydrates and is easily mixed with other foods.

    Feeding Older Dogs: Be Treat Aware

    Certain treats make a nutritious supplement to a meal and also serve as a good reward for him, but dog biscuits alone to not offer adequate nutrition to be served as meal on their own.

    The majority of young, healthy and active dogs are at a low risk of becoming overweight as most of their calorific intake is used during play but as they get older and their metabolic rates slow in conjunction with a decline in expended energy, the chances of calories leading to a piling on of the pounds grows higher every day.

    If you have ever taken your dog off the lead in a large forest or field you will have noticed that they will always do more miles than you because they run off and come back as you are walking and thus for every mile you walk, they will normally RUN four!

    This is one of the reasons that young, active dogs stay healthy whether their diet is perfect or not. But there will come a point in the dog’s life when he or she is unable to do as much exercise so it is important to control the diet accordingly.

    Scroll down for some expert nutritional advice in our Q&A with Suzie from  Pawtions.co.uk about the benefits of portion control

    feeding older dogs

    Monitor Lifestyle Changes in Your Older Dog

    During the more active years, it is still important to take care of your dog’s diet to ensure that they are receiving a good balance of protein and other valuable nutrients. Your vet will be able to advise you on this matter should any uncertainty arise.

    You may not notice it at first, but should your dog become obese there are certain tell tale signs apart from the obvious physical weight gain. A diminished level of activity not conducive to their age is always a cause for concern, but a likely cause is that he or she has put on a little weight.

    Another symptom is laboured breathing. If your dog struggles for breath after an activity which he or she could once perform effortlessly then perhaps it is time to get the scales out.

    Avoiding Weight Gain in Older Dogs

    As a dog owner it is often difficult to notice if your dog is putting on weight because you see them every day. Paying close attention to other elements of their physical state may enlighten you to any weight problems.

    As the majority of dogs become less and less active in their later years it is often difficult for them to loose weight through increased exercise, so it is up to you as an owner to monitor and control what your dog eats. Prevention, as is so often the case, is better than cure, especially when it comes to a more senior dog and weight control.

    A good way of monitoring weight is by simply reducing portion size. It is often the case that a regular portion of dry or complete dog food offers more than enough nutrition and therefore it is quite possible to reduce the meal sizes without affecting the nutritional intake of the dog. In this day in age, with the science behind many commercial pet foods, you may be able to find the perfect, balanced diet your breed of dog needs, relating to their age, on your supermarket or pet shop shelf.

    Target Weight When Feeding Older Dogs

    You should have a target weight in mind and plan thoroughly to ensure your dog does not err over or above it to any great degree. Your vet should be able to advise what your dog’s ideal target weight is – don’t go on breed averages – one Labrador could be as many as 10lbs heavier than another yet still be perfectly fine weight wise.

    If your dog has put on a few too many pounds as they have gotten older, a diet is needed. Unlike us, a dog is unable to steal biscuits or cakes in the middle of the night so they are not reliant on their own will-power to lose weight, they are reliant on YOU ensuring they don’t become dangerously obese, so don’t give in to his pleas for a chocolate digestive every time you go to the kitchen!

    As a dog owner it is important for you to be disciplined. Your dog will probably not notice the reduced size of his meals. But you will, so ensure you don’t sneak him a treat unless you have reduced a similar amount of calories from his main meal – it’s a balancing act of which you have complete control and your dog is relying on you to get right.

    Older dogs have special needs in many areas and diet is one of the most important.

    Don’t let your dog’s later years in life be ruined by health problems that can easily be avoided when it comes to weight, too many calories or general nutritional mismatch between your dog’s age and their specific daily nutritional requirements. If you feed a natural diet, monitor the volumes. If you feed a commercial pet food, make sure you have the most suitable one for your dog’s age, weight, breed and activity level. When it comes to feeding older dogs, the science is all there, you just need to follow it.

    Expert Advice from Suzie, Pawtions Veterinary Nurse and Nutritionist

    feeding older dogs

    Why is portion control so important for dogs?

    At Pawtions we believe that portion control is very important to maintain a healthy life for each and every dog. When faced with the massive choice of dog foods available to us, it is very easy to become confused when trying to work out how much food our dog actually requires. Feeding guidelines are often very generalised and can’t take into consideration your dog’s age, breed, level of exercise, or whether your dog has been neutered.

    We often over-indulge our dogs out of love, but a quick treat a little too often or a bowl of leftovers from your own meals may lead to dietary problems or your dog becoming overweight. This can also upset the careful balance of nutrients provided by the dog food. By feeding a portion size which has been recommended for your individual animal – such as that provided by Pawtions – you know that you are providing enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals to meet your dog’s unique needs.

    In their PAW report of the last year the PDSA assessed the weight and general health of nearly 30,000 dogs across the UK. They discovered that 35% of UK dogs are overweight. This is a very alarming figure, especially when we consider ourselves a nation of dog lovers. An overweight dog cannot possibly enjoy life to the full, is likely to encounter more health problems, which may sadly lead to an early grave.

    What are your key priorities when choosing the perfect plan for dogs from Pawtions?

    We understand that all dogs are unique, so we make sure we have all the information we need to really help us to understand each dog better.

    By asking the owner relevant questions about their dog, our veterinary nutritionist can work out the portion size for each and every dog individually. This takes the confusion away from the owner when trying to work out how much food their dog actually needs. It also means continuity in the household when the job of feeding pets is shared by several people.

    In order to provide customers with a recommended feeding plan, we ask them to provide us with vital pieces of information including:
    • age
    • breed
    • weight
    • sex
    • whether your dog is neutered
    • daily exercise
    • physique
    • any special dietary requirements
    • your preferred flavour

    It’s very important that the information customers provide is as accurate as possible and also kept up to date. We recommend that owners regularly weigh their dogs so that we can change their portion size should their nutritional requirements change.

    However, the Pawtions perfect plan isn’t just about the food! We also include treats, poop bags, flea and wormer treatment (just when they’re needed) and free gifts to provide a complete care package.

    Do you think age and breed make a difference in selecting the right diet for your dog?

    Yes, definitely! By telling us your dog’s breed we are able to check whether this falls into the recognised weight bracket. If the dog’s weight doesn’t fall within this bracket, we discuss this further with the owner, as all dogs are unique, and breed standards can very significantly.

    We understand that small dogs may prefer a smaller kibble, and larger breeds a larger one. Also, different breeds are classed as puppies and senior dogs at different ages. Therefore knowing the breed allows us to decide when to recommend a change from a puppy diet to a maintenance one, or a maintenance diet to a senior one.

    Puppies require very different levels of nutrients to adult dogs, so must be fed a diet that meets their specific needs. They also need more regular feeding, and we take this into consideration when calculating portion size.

    However, as dogs age, their energy levels decrease, reducing their calorific need. Their nutritional requirements also change with the aging process and we believe the diet should change to support this.

    What 5 top tips would you give dog owners who might be thinking about changing diet to a more portion controlled diet?

    When thinking about changing your dog’s diet to a recommended Pawtions plan you should consider the following points:

    1) If your dog has serious medical problems, we strongly advise you contact your vet before
    you make any change of diet.

    2) Provide us with as much information as possible so that we can recommend the right Pawtions plan for your dog.

    3) It’s really important to make sure you gradually introduce a new food. The best way is to start adding a small amount to the current food. Slowly increase the proportion of new food to current food over the period of a week until a complete change is achieved.

    4) We encourage you to weigh your dog regularly so that we can make any alterations to the diet as necessary.

    5) If you have any questions regarding your dog’s health or diet, we encourage owners to ask, it could be important. We are here to help.

    Lastly, tell us a little about Pawtions. Where did your inspiration to start the company and healthy menu for dogs come from?

    The idea for Pawtions stemmed from our founder’s own frustrations with looking after and feeding Bella, his cocker spaniel. First he would have to drive to a supermarket or pet store and carry a big heavy bag back to the car. Then, once home he would have to find somewhere to store it. He found there was a tendency to be over-generous when the bag was first opened and the food fresh, whilst towards the end of the bag the food often become dried out and crumbly, losing its appeal. He also found that he would run out of food, treats and poop bags at the most inconvenient times.

    But the biggest problem came with the inconvenience of deciding how much to feed, due to the vague feeding guidelines, and then weighing out the correct amount every day!

    At Pawtions we know what it means to be lucky enough to own a dog and we want to encourage people to be more aware of their dog’s nutritional needs. Through our complete care package we hope to promote responsible dog ownership. The package includes wormer and flea treatment throughout the year, so you’ll never forget when treatments are due, free tasty treats, and free poop bags. Now and again we’ll also pop in a surprise toys as a little present for your best friend. All this is delivered to your door every 4 weeks.

    To find out more about Pawtions and investigate a plan for your dog, visit www.pawtions.co.uk today!

    Resources: Older Dogs

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HimMjk-1rg4

  • How to Avoid Dog Health Problems

    We all love our dogs and want to do the best for them. You can give them all the love, attention and affection in the world but you also need to be aware of your pet’s health, so you can give them a longer, happier and healthier life.

    From the day we bring our new puppy home, there are some key areas to look out for to help keep your dog healthy and enjoying life to the full:

    Dog Health Problems Start From The Inside

    · Diet: Providing the right food for their breed, size and age is vital. Making sure they get all the right nutrients – whilst not over or under feeding.

    A large dog, such as a Great Dane, has different dietary needs to that of a Chihuahua, so some food brands even offer tailormade diets.

    Dog Health Symptoms: Is Your Dog’s Weight A Cause For Concern?

    · Exercise: You should be making sure they get enough exercise to keep them fit and active for as long as possible – dog walking can work to your benefit too!

    · Vet visits: You should make sure they get regular health checks and injections with your local vet – as you would with your doctor – to prevent illness occurring and catch problems before they become threatening.

    So how do you check if your dog is healthy?

    This article discuss about the best cbd oil for dogs with arthritis and takes you through a ten-point health check that you can easily undertake at home. It works just as well on cats as it does dogs and I’ve called it the DIY MOT health check. You can monitor your pets’ health in-between regular visits to your vet, which will help alert you to any problem areas.

    Eyes

    Should be clear and sparkling without any discharge or redness, as this could be a sign of infection. The eyelids should also be checked for warts or cysts. Diet can also have an impact on eye health, if you have concerns, consider switching your dog’s food.

    Teeth & gums

    Gently lift your pet’s lips – the gums should be salmon pink, don’t worry some dogs can have naturally black pigmented gums, teeth should be clean and white with no yellow plaque or tartar and there should not be a bad smell!

    Look out for loose teeth or bleeding gums, which should also be taken care of by your vet.

    Paws

    Check the pads for open cuts, splinters or seeds which can become embedded. Nails should be short and healthy looking without splitting. Some dogs will need to have nails regularly clipped at the vet.

    Body checks

    Check for any lumps or wounds by running your hands over your dog’s body and part the hair to check for signs of fleas or ticks. Your vet can recommend suitable treatments. Check a dog’s testicles and bitch’s mammary glands for any unusual swellings.

    Weight

    Be aware of what weight your dog should be and monitor it carefully – overfeeding can be as damaging as underfeeding. As a general rule run your hands down the sides of your dog’s belly and you should be able to feel the rib cage.

    By feeling the rib cage you should be able to tell if they are under, over or just right! If your pet seems overweight check with your vet, they may recommend a light food, which has fewer calories or you might consider a different type of a dog bowl which steadies how fast your dog eats his food.

    There are some which are floor bowls, which look similar to a puzzle, and dogs navigate the ‘spikes’ to eat. Or a raised dog bowl which can either sit in a dog bowl stand or be wall mounted alters how your dog eats, and can also slow them down.

    Obesity can contribute to heart disease, joint disease, diabetes and many more health complications. As in humans exercise also plays an important part in weight control. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. Walks are the easy answer. Large dogs don’t necessarily need more exercise; it really does depend on their breed and age.

    Ears

    The inside of your dog’s ears should be clean with no odour. If they do smell this could be a sign that they are infected. Ears should be cleaned regularly – ask your vet to recommend a cleaning product and just as importantly, the best way to clean them without damage.

    Muzzle

    The nose should be free of discharge – pets get colds too. Noses should be wet but not runny, a dry nose could also signal health problems.

    Coat and skin

    The coat should look glossy and feel tangle free, not dull. Look out for any balding or irritation which could be caused by allergies, mange etc and should be checked out by a vet for treatment. The skin should not feel greasy or look flaky (no dandruff).

    If you have concerns that your dog’s dull coat or flaky skin may be caused by an allergy, speak with your vet. If you are concerned that it may be parasite related, seek out a good flea treatment for dogs to restore.

    Energy

    Dependent on its age, your dog should be alert and energetic without any signs of stiffness or breathlessness – any reluctance to exercise should be looked into. Feeding the right amount of food and nutrients to your pet helps make sure they maintain high energy levels even into old age.

    Under the tail

    Hold up the tail and see if there are any signs of soreness or discharge. Also check your dog’s stools, they should be firm and fairly small – this is a sign of healthy digestion.

    Stools are a good way of determining your pet’s health, a sudden change can bring your attention to a health issue that might have gone unnoticed. It is also the way your animal gets rid of all the waste in his food that he doesn’t need. Lots of products are bulked up with water and cereals when one of the most important ingredients to carnivorous animals is protein – that means meat.

    A good rule of thumb is: the more meat ingredients a food contains the higher the quality of the feed, look on the side of the bag where the ingredients are listed, manufacturers have to list the largest quantity first.

    What are the benefits of dry over wet food?

    Once you’ve determined your dog’s life stage and lifestyle needs, you need to decide whether to feed dry or wet (canned) food.

    It’s important to remember that while dry food can be left in a bowl, wet food should not be left out all day if not consumed. Therefore, dry food can often be the most convenient choice for busy people.

    Although a recent BBC report suggested that brushing is the best way to keep a dog’s teeth clean, dry foods also promote good oral hygiene for teeth and gums through abrasive action.

    How do I switch my dog’s food?

    If you are looking to change your dog’s diet we would recommend you introduce the new food gradually over a period of 4 days.

    Make the change slowly, try mixing of the new food with of old food then gradually change the proportions over the next three days until he’s eating new food. There are also a few tricks you could use to help make the change over to a complete dry food– for example, start by adding a little water or by warming the food in the microwave.

    Vet visits

    Remember that although you can monitor your pet’s health at home using the above guidelines I would also strongly recommend you make regular check-ups appointments with your local vet even if your pet seems healthy. And if this article has alerted you to any health issues please do contact your vet for a more thorough examination.

    Dog Health Symptom Checker

  • Small Breed Dog Food

    Small Breed Dog Food

    Small Breed Dog Food – Is A Specialist Diet For Small Breeds Worthwhile?

    Small dog breeds have specific, specialist nutritional requirements. In the case of a small breed puppy, their stomach is not large enough to hold sufficient food in one feeding to provide his daily nutritional needs without causing stress to their system, so smaller, broken down meals are advised. This is why some commercial dog food suppliers are now providing dog owners with the option of specialist small breed dog food.

    Small Breed Dog Food (Chihuahua)

    Small Breed Dog Food For Puppies

    When a puppy graduates from mother’s milk to solid food at about six weeks of age, he will require three to four meals a day, with the exception of Toys, who may need four to six meals. When he reaches about four to five months old, twice-a-day feedings may be sufficient. He can graduate to once-a-day meals at eight to nine months of age.

    A pup’s nutritional requirements for growth and development are greater than those for an adult dog. If you opt to feed your small dog breed pup a commercially prepared diet try to ensure it is a feed specially formulated for puppies and enables the youngster to get the full range of nutrients he needs.

    Balanced Diet: Small Breed Dog Food

    A small dog breed pup who eats a complete and balanced commercial puppy diet – whether it is a small breed dog food prepared diet or another puppy formulated specialist food – doesn’t need additional supplements. Adding supplements can cause nutritional imbalance as most modern commercial dog foods are prepared to contain all required nutritional elements your small breed puppy will require in this important growth stage. However, if you are supplying your dog with a home-cooked or fresh-diet meal plan, supplements may be necessary. Consult with a veterinary nutritionist to get further advice.

    Dry food can be moistened with warm water to encourage puppies to eat. Milk can be used, too, but only in extremely small amounts. Goats milk for puppies is often favoured by many breeders. Cow’s milk causes digestive upset in some puppies and dogs. A tablespoon of canned food can be added to increase interest, as well. These are general guidelines for feeding your small dog breed pup; consult with your veterinarian for more specific advice. If your pup doesn’t appear to be developing as you believe he should, feeding small breed dog food without first consulting a specialist in the area of dog nutrition would not be advised as your dog may have underlying problems that need to be investigated by a professional expert first.

    Small Breed Dog Food: Adults

    Feeding Adult small dog breeds: The adult small dog breed is a mature dog, usually age one year or older. Healthy adult dogs who are not pregnant, nursing, or hardworking have somewhat low nutritional requirements. Feeding is fairly straightforward if you’re feeding commercially prepared kibble. Buy a complete and balanced diet made for the adult dog and give your dog the recommended amount once or twice a day. Add a tablespoon of canned food for taste if you wish. Adjust the amount according to the small dog breed’s activity level and body condition.

    Feeding Hardworking small dog breeds: Highly active small dog breeds use a lot of energy. The hard-working dog can require two to three time more kilocalories per pound of body weight than what is required for normal activity. To maintain good body condition and keep up his stamina, the hardworking small dog breed must eat a high-energy diet.

    Many veterinarians recommend commercially prepared “performance” diets for highly active dogs. Higher fat, higher-protein diets supply the working dog with needed calories. Because performance diets are higher in protein than maintenance diets, there s a misconception that the active dog just needs extra protein. However, all nutrients are required in greater amounts. Additionally, research indicates that moderately high-protein diets are unlikely to cause kidney damage – in spite of some breeders’ and owners’ beliefs that it does.

    Feeding Your Elderly small dog breed: Older small dog breeds (those who have reached the last 25 percent of their expected life span) are usually less active than adult dogs and pups. Thus, their energy requirements are reduced and they can gain weight easily if fed too much or fed a high-calorie diet. Some veterinarians recommend “senior” diets; foods high in nutrients but reduced in calories to keep senior small dog breeds at a healthy weight.

    Feeding Small Dogs

    How Often Should a Small Dog Breed be Fed?

    There’s no exact answer on how much and how often to feed your small breed because it depends on the size, age, and activity level of each individual small breed. Feeding amount and schedule also depend on which diet you’re using and how cold it is outside. (Dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors in cold temperatures require more food.)

    Begin by following the feeding instructions spelled out on the dog food package. Realize that these instructions are a starting point, and apply to all breeds of a certain weight. Your small breed is an individual and every dog is different.

    Following that, observe your dog’s body condition:

    Is my puppy too thin?

    An overly thin small breed will have visible or easily felt ribs and hip bones may be visible. The waist and belly are obviously tucked up when viewed from the side. Increase food. Speak to your vet to find out if there are any underlying medical conditions causing your dog to be underweight.

    Just Right: The ribs should have just a little fat over them; you should be able to easily feel them with slight pressure. Your small breed should have a waist when viewed from above, and the belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side.

    Is My Dog Overweight?

    Too Fat: If you can’t easily feel your small breed s ribs and can easily see fat covering them, he is too heavy. His waist is absent or barely visible when viewed from above, or his belly may hang. Decrease food.

    How often you feed your small breed depends on how old he is and his (or your) personal preference. Pups must be fed several times a day, usually three..The average adult small breed can be fed once or twice a day, in the morning, evening, or both. Many owners like the idea of feeding twice a day, while others find it inconvenient and opt to feed once a day. Toy puppies have a very rapid metabolism and may require four to six meals a day to avoid hypoglycemia, a life-threatening drop in blood sugar levels. By six months of age, most Toy pups can cut back to three or four meals a day.

    Dogs are creatures of habit, and seem to enjoy eating at the same time every day. Feeding your small breed pup at the same time every day helps establish eating habits and makes housebreaking easier. Pups usually need to urinate or defecate after eating. If you feed him at the same time every day, you can predict when nature calls.

    Note: Free-feeding, leaving food out for the small breed at all times, is not recommended because it can lead to excess weight gain.

    Small Breed Dog Feeding: Conclusion

    Dog owners are fortunate to live in an age where there is an increasing awareness about proper dog nutrition. We understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to feeding dogs. Specialist diets, such as small breed dog food, large breed dog food and dog foods specialist formulated for active/working dogs allow us to match our dog to a nutritional plan that perfectly matches their age, weight, breed and overall lifestyle. If you are considering feeding a dedicated small breed dog food, it makes sense to first understand the basic principles of why your breed would benefit for a tailored feeding plan.

    As with humans, dogs all have varying degrees of dietary requirements. Olympic athletes may require double the volume of calories in comparison to an ‘average’ person even if they are the same age, weight and height. On this basis, feeding a dog on the wrong diet could lead to weight gain, weight loss or even more serious health and behavioural problems. Dedicated diets can be a great benefit to owners who are keen to make sure their dog is receiving the right nutrition to match their breed’s individual requirements. On this basis it would be worthwhile to investigate the options when it comes to selecting small breed dog food that has been specifically formulated to provide the proper nutrition for your dog.

    Small Dog Breed Resources

     

  • Dog Obesity Warning: Overweight Dogs Die Young

    Dog Obesity Warning: Overweight Dogs Die Young

    Fat pets will die young warns PDSA as it launches biggest ever pet health campaign – Long Live Pets

    The UK’s pet owners are warned today that they are killing their pets with kindness, as new PDSA figures show dog obesity is rising at a dramatic rate!

    Dog Obesity Map

    Leading veterinary charity, PDSA used the first day of Crufts to reveal its dog obesity map. This ties in with the launch of its ‘Long Live Pets’ campaign, the PDSA’s biggest ever pet health initiative, designed to promote a healthy life for all pets and starts by addressing the weighty issue of obesity.

    PDSA has also developed its own version of Body Condition Scoring to help owners learn more about a healthy body shape and to help them identify when their pets are piling on the pounds.

    Sadly, dogs, like humans, are failing to win the battle of the bulge, with many owners putting their animal’s lives in danger by feeding them chocolate*, ready meals and fatty foods. One in three dogs seen by PDSA PetCheck nurses are overweight.

    Dog Obesity Health Problems

    This means that the life ‘pet-spectancy’ of many beloved UK pets will be cut short as a result of this obesity epidemic, warns the charity for pets in need of vets. An overweight Labrador for example, could have its life cut short by as much as two years and is more likely to develop chronic diseases such as arthritis when younger. Overweight pets are more likely to develop conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart and kidney problems.

    PDSA Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Richard Hooker, says: “Our Long Live Pets initiative will address key pet health issues, starting with pet obesity. It is our biggest ever pet health campaign, and our objective is to implement a number of pet health care initiatives such as our Pet Fit Club slimming competition and national sponsored dog walk, which will raise awareness and hopefully achieve positive results for obese pets and address the burgeoning waistlines of the UK pet population.

    “As the UK’s leading veterinary charity we provide over 1.8 million treatments to sick and injured pets every year, which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise on important pet health issues. As such, we have a duty of care to educate owners about the health and lifestyle needs of their pets to ensure they have the best quality of life possible.”

    PDSA pet health checks of more than 9,000 dogs** during 2006 and 2007 reveal which UK regions are home to the portliest pooches. Nationally, PDSA data also shows a dramatic rise of 9 per cent in the number of overweight dogs seen in 2007 – 30 per cent of dogs health checked in 2007 were considered overweight, compared to only 21 per cent in 2006.

    When applying PDSA’s 30 per cent overweight figure to the entire UK dog population (around 6.5 million) it means that around 1.95 million UK dogs are overweight! And, if each of those pets was carrying just one extra inch around their waist that would make for one gigantic waistline – stretching the length of more than 500 football pitches!

    The PDSA study also shows that hotspots for overweight pets are areas where people are more likely to be obese. PDSA found the number of fat pets in the Midlands stood at 29 per cent in 2007 compared to 19 per cent in 2006. Recent human obesity figures*** showed the Midlands had the largest number of people classed as obese. Meanwhile, the lowest dog obesity figures were in London at 19 per cent. Human obesity is also low in the Southeast. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all score poorly on dog obesity with 30 per cent classed as overweight by PDSA veterinary staff. The overall worst region for dog obesity is the Northwest where 31 per cent of dogs seen are overweight.

    Interestingly, child obesity figures also mirror PDSA’s dog obesity statistics with one in three Year 6 children classed as overweight or obese.****

    Richard Hooker, adds “Kindness can be misplaced and feeding any animal too many treats can have serious health consequences. The research we have done shows that there is a real need for owners to help their overweight pets lose those excess pounds. Controlled portions of pet food and regular exercise are vital to ensure a healthy life for all our pets. In a nutshell, exercise, nutrition and body awareness are key.”

    Case study:
    PDSA pet slimming success story, Scooby, will be the star of Crufts after losing 2.5kg and four inches from her waist while taking part in PDSA Pet Fit Club, a 100 day diet and exercise programme. A table will be laid out with the food Scooby ate before her diet including fish and chips, curry, pizzas and ice cream. Scooby now enjoys a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle and has continued to lose weight in recent weeks.

    At the start of her diet, Scooby was carrying 81% extra weight and 8 inches too many around her waist! If all of the overweight dogs in the UK were carrying Scooby’s extra inches, that would mean 15.6 million excess inches or 246 miles of dangerous flab, nearly twice the length of the M25! And this is probably just the tip of the iceberg as most dogs in the UK are a lot bigger, and wider than Scooby.

    Thanks to her weight-loss, Scooby now has a much improved quality of life and will no doubt live a lot longer than she would had she remained dangerously overweight.
    For more information about PDSA visit www.pdsa.org.uk

    Obesity is one of the most common health related problem to affect dogs, especially older ones. An overweight dog is generally an unhappy dog and subsequent health problems can drastically reduce a dog’s life and render his later years void of any real quality.

    Dog Obesity Kills Silently

    All dogs relish a tasty treat and they are an excellent way to reward good behaviour, but if overused your dog could end up suffering from obesity before you even realise you are spoiling him. It is important to pay close attention to your dog’s diet for many reasons, but particularly if your dog is overweight.

    A balanced diet is essential to keeping a dog fit and healthy.

    Modern prepared foods contain an adequate supply of essential nutrients without too many calories, as do many home mixed diets.

    Complete, dry dog food is popular today, as it is an easy to prepare meal which contains a good supply of all the right nutrients – provided you do your research and select the most appropriate food for your particular dog and their individual lifestyle.

    Commercial canned foods, whether mixed or on their own, are a good source of nutrition and are easy to prepare and store. Some dog owners favour a nutritional supplement to add to the dog’s meal, rice is a good source of carbohydrates and is easily mixed with other foods.

    Certain treats make a nutritious supplement to a meal and also serve as a good reward for him, but dog biscuits alone to not offer adequate nutrition to be served as meal on their own.

    The majority of young, healthy and active dogs are at a low risk of becoming overweight as the majority of their calorific intake is used during play.

    If you have ever taken your dog off his lead in a large forest or field you will have noticed that he will always do more miles than you because he runs off and comes back as you are walking. This is one of the reasons that he is so healthy. But there will come a point in his life when he is unable to do as much exercise so it is important to control his diet accordingly.

    However, during his more active years it is still important to take care of his diet to ensure that he is receiving a good balance of protein and other valuable nutrients. Your vet will be able to advise you on this matter should any uncertainty arise.

    You may not notice it at first, but should your dog become obese there are certain tell tale signs apart from the obvious physical weight gain. A diminished level of activity not conducive to his age is always a cause for concern, but a likely cause is that he has put on a little weight.

    Another symptom is laboured breathing. If your dog struggles for breath after an activity which he once could do effortlessly then perhaps it is time to get the scales out. As a dog owner it is often difficult to notice if your dog is putting on weight because you see him every day. But paying close attention to other elements of his physical state may enlighten you to any weight problems.

    As the majority of dogs become I their later years it is often difficult for them to loose weight through increased exercise, so it is up to you as a dog owner to monitor and control what the dog eats. A good way of doing this is by simply reducing portion size.
    Be careful about overfeeding a dog on treats

    Be careful about overfeeding a dog on treats

    It is often the case that a regular portion of dry or complete dog food offers more than enough nutrition and therefore it is quite possible to reduce the meal sizes without affecting the nutritional intake of the dog. You should have a target weigh in mind and plan thoroughly the weight loss programme so you can monitor his progress. One advantage of a dieting dog is that he will never sneak a biscuit on the sly so you can keep an exact record of what he has eaten.

    As a dog owner it is important for you to be disciplined. Your dog will probably not notice the reduced size of his meals. But you will, so be sure not to sneak him a treat and hope it does not affect him, because it will, and you will be doing him no favours. So no matter how hungry he looks it is imperative that for him to loose weight you must stick religiously to the diet, or there will be absolutely n point in even starting it.

    * Chocolate can poison dogs and other pets, because of the toxic effects of theobromine – a common component of chocolate intended for humans. In dogs the effects of chocolate poisoning appear within 4 to 24 hours of ingestion and can have fatal consequences.

    ** Results are based on over 9,000 dogs given PDSA pet health checks between March and October 2006 and March and October 2007.

    *** Human obesity research by Southampton and Portsmouth Universities on 18,000 adults. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454673&in_page_id=1770

    ****Results from the National Child Measurement Programme launched in 2005

  • Proper Dog Nutrition Defined

    Here at Dog Nutrition, we often receive enquiries from people who are keen to understand what exactly ‘proper dog nutrition’ means. The dog is not a true carnivore in the same sense as, for example, a cat. This means a dog’s diet can be more varied and still produce positive health. Whereas a cat MUST eat meat in order to be truly healthy and for proper nutrition to serve its goal.

    So what does proper nutrition mean for dogs?

    Proper Dog Nutrition

    Proper Dog Nutrition: Fats in the Dog’s Diet

    An important nutrient that all dogs need and one that is responsible for furnishing energy in their body are fats. Fats supply energy for the body to use. It also has a small role in building strong cells and promoting the absorption of nutrients. However, similar to the essential amino acids, a dog’s body isn’t able to produce these essential fatty acids, and therefore has to come from an outside source, from the food they eat.

     

    Dogs do not usually develop a deficiency in fatty acids because their basic diet normally provides them with sufficient amount of energy from fat. In fact, a small amount of extra fats benefit their body in several ways. It protects them from the cold; it provides cushion to their body; and it serves as a protective layer of covering around different organs in their body. Actually, dogs are very efficient in using their stored fats because their bodies have the ability to easily turn these fats into energy when needed.

    Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing

    Fats are very beneficial, but it can become a concern when the dog eats too much of it. Too much fuel in the dog’s body, regardless of where it came from, is converted into body fat, which is then stored in the body. Too much fat in the body results in obesity and other conditions that are related to obesity such as diabetes, canine osteoarthritis, and heart disease.

    There is only a limited amount of fat that is used for protection against cold, cushion, covering, and extra energy. But when the maximum amount of stored fat is reached and applied for these purposes, the dog still continues to stock up fat and does so to the same degree that is equivalent to the excess energy that it consumes. For instance, every 3,500 calories that a dog eats in excess to what his body requires will be turned into 1 pound of body fat.

    It is important for all dog owners to know that the only way for their dogs to get fat is if they take in more calories than their bodies use.  Similarly, the only way for the dog to lose weight and get rid of the excess fat is by taking in less calories than what their body requires.

    Proper Dog Nutrition: Protein in the Dog’s Diet

    How does protein work in a dog’s body? Picture a string of beads and each string is needed to produce a complete picture or an artwork. The job of protein in your dog can be compared to this strings of beads. Each protein is similar to individual strings of beads. Just as these strings are put together in the right order to create a picture, different types of proteins have to go together to be able to produce a dog.

    Each string is made up of different numbers of coloured beads that are lined up in an exact pattern to produce certain body parts such as the hair, the nose, or the ear of the picture. The coloured beads can be compared to amino acids, or substances that are connected to the strings to produce different proteins.

    There are 23 amino acids that are the molecular building blocks of protein.  A dog can produce 13 amino acids inside his body while the other 10 amino acids must come from an outside source and has to be consumed.  A puppy will not grow unless he is supplied with the remaining 10 essential amino acids.  Without them he will become sick and will eventually die. Similarly, if an adult dog is not getting the proper amount of these 10 amino acids, he will become weak and suffer nutritional deficiencies.

    These 10 essential amino acids can be acquired from meat and plants, which offer the best sources because they contain the largest number of essential amino acids.

    Not all proteins are the same, as some are better for your dog than others. The amount of protein a dog needs depends on how much of the essential amino acids are supplied by that protein. The protein’s ability to provide the dog’s Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR) of the 10 essential amino acids is referred to as its “biological value”.

    Here are a few additional facts about the importance of protein for your dog’s health:

    1. Proteins are the building blocks of your dog’s body.

    2. Proteins are necessary for all aspects of growth and development and are very important in structural makeup and the immune system. In addition, they are burned as calories and can be converted to and stored as fat if needed.

    3. They are required for healthy nails, skin, and coat.

    4. They are necessary for the production of hormones in the bloodstream.

    5. They provide a healthy immune system.

    Proper Dog Nutrition: Carbohydrates, Vitamins & Minerals in The Dog’s Diet

    Carbohydrates

    The main source of carbohydrates are acquired in plants. There is also one source of carbohydrate that comes from meat called glycogen, but it is only found in small amounts in the liver and muscles.  If your dog is not getting enough carbohydrates in his diet, the liver has to do extra work to make glucose from proteins.  On the other hand, when your dog is getting enough carbohydrates in his diet, his body will not have to use proteins to get its required amount of glucose, therefore, saving these precious proteins to be used to for other jobs that they are required to do.

    Vitamins

    Vitamins are not considered to be building blocks, and they are not necessarily required for the production of energy. However, they are important in your dog’s health in a number of ways described below.

    1. Dogs need vitamin A for healthy skin and coat. Skin conditions and poor coats have been associated with lack of vitamin A and/or vitamin B.
    2. Vitamin B is responsible for a healthy immune system.
    3. Studies have concluded that vitamin C prevents dogs from getting hip dysplasia.
    4. Dogs need vitamin D for healthy teeth and bones. Deficiency in this vitamin produces weak teeth and brittle bones.
    5. Vitamin E is an excellent source of antioxidants. Deficiency in vitamin E can lead to heart problems and several types of cancers.
    6. Vitamin K is used for blood clotting.

    Minerals

    Unlike other nutrients, minerals are used by the body in a more comprehensive way.  Below are examples of some of the ways minerals benefit your dog:

    1. Minerals such as calcium and phosphorous are required for strong bones and cartilage.
    2. Minerals are needed for the nervous system to function properly.
    3. They help promote muscle metabolism.
    4. They are used in the production of hormones.
    5. Minerals transport oxygen in the blood.

    It is important to know that too much or too little of a certain mineral can affect the functions of other minerals in your dog’s body. In addition, there are also cases where the action of one mineral depends upon the action of another mineral.  For example, the minerals iron and copper work hand-in-hand to produce hemoglobin. Iron is necessary to produce hemoglobin in red blood cells while copper is equally important for hemoglobin formation. One will not be able to function properly without the help of the other.

  • Fasting For Dogs

    Q) I have read about the trend for some dog owners to impose a fast on their dogs. Is this healthy and does have any advantages?

    How Fasting Can Clean Your Dog’s System From Years Of Poor Diet

    If you’re one of the millions of dog owners who occasionally allow your pet to indulge in the delightful scraps from your own less than perfect diet such cheap hamburgers, hot dogs, cold cuts, semi moist sugar-preserved dog foods – or any foods containing nitrates, nitrites, aldehydes, and other assorted harmful additives – the particular pancreatic enzymes that are needed to digest the proteins in your dog’s system become depleted quite rapidly. So could your porky pet benefit from a short fast?

    Meats that have been thoroughly cooked rarely contain enough live enzymes to be of any value to the dog’s digestive system.

    Without enough pancreatic enzymes to digest the protein, the food begins to putrefy and can lead to pancreatitis and toxemia. We can give more food but it is not being utilized. If the body can’t use the nutrients, this is tantamount to not having them.

    The body begins to feed upon itself in order to sustain life, and the animal loses weight and muscle tone in spite of the quantity of food provided. In the case of malignant tumors, the body feeds the tumor while starving itself, so the tumor grows to robust proportions while the body shrivels like a dehydrated prune.

    If you suspect ill health in your pet, don’t stuff him with food, hoping that he will regain strength.

    You will actually be further depleting his impaired vitality. Withholding food for a day or so will cause a revitalization of the body, because the body will have a chance to fight the impairment without the continuing added burden of processing food. This applies whether the food is wholesome or second-rate, but even more strongly when it is of poor quality.

    Then the digestive organs are not working in the processing of food, they have an opportunity to apply themselves to the digestion of debris in the body.

    Fasting is nature’s most perfect medicine, since the body works to rid itself of the debris, or harmful toxic matter, first, thereby effecting a most marvelous housecleaning of cells.

    Cells drowning in toxic waste have no room to absorb nutrients. They must first rid themselves of this obstructing waste.

    The process by which the body feeds upon and digests the debris is called autolysis. Some types of tumors or cysts can enjoy resorption into the body through this gradual, natural purification process.

    If you have an older dog, the chances are that through years of dietary indiscretions, his enzymes have become somewhat depleted. Whatever sturdy stock remains can be reinforced by adding pancreatic enzymes to the diet.

    This will serve to bolster the forces of protein, fat, and carbohydrate digestion, and you will be augmenting the metabolization of your animal’s food. Pancreatic enzymes can help turn the tide of sluggish digestion, enabling the digestive process to perform with much increased efficiency.

    This will provide a most harmonious relationship within the digestive tract. The surplus enzymes can now effect a cleansing process by breaking up the toxic debris stored throughout the body.

  • Happy Dog’s Ostrich Meat Food Helps To Aid Projects In Rwanda

    Happy Dog, Germany’s leading and largest dried premium dog food manufacturer, in keeping with its philosophies, has recently introduced to the UK, as part of its on going programme of providing premium quality products to a discerning market, a new innovative product for dogs with sensitive digestive systems – AFRICA .

    AFRICA is one of Happy Dog’s Halo Brands, inspired by the cuisine of different countries around the world, Happy Dog’s Supreme Sensible Nutrition range not only provides wholesome and tasty food for dogs but it also provides specific solutions for feeding demanding and sensitive dogs, Lovingly prepared and developed by vets in Happy Dog’s factory in Bavaria, this range is even tastier and more easily digestible than many other foods on the market. The food is suitable for fully-grown dogs of all breeds and contains ingredients that reflect regional cuisine.

    Happy Dog’s AFRICA contains ostrich meat and is suitable for dogs with food intolerances. There is only one animal protein source in the food and it contains no cereals and only uses gluten-free potatoes so is ideal for dogs with cereal allergies and intolerances..

    Ostrich meat is becoming increasingly important for feeding dogs with demanding nutritional requirements. The meat is characterised by its special dark red colour and easy digestibility.

    The food is available in a medium kibble size, in a range of bag sizes, 300g, 1 kg, 4 kg and 12.5 kg and in small kibble in the ‘My Little Range’ in bags of 700g and 2.5Kg.

    Happy Dog is reknowned worldwide for its innovative approach to dog nutrition and continues to develop premium quality products to a discerning market and a further new ‘Halo brand product’ is planned to be launched at Crufts 2012. Further information on this new product will be released in the next few months.

    Buying Happy Dog’s AFRICA will help to fund projects in Rwanda

    The smallest country in Africa, Rwanda, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over 60% of the population lives below the poverty line. The rate of adult illiteracy is 35%. Happy Dog donates 1.30 euro from every 12.5 kg Africa-pack sold (0.50 euro for 4 kg, 0.14 euro for 1 kg) to the SOS-Hermann-Gmeiner school and the SOS-vocational training centre in Kigali, the country’s capital. This gives young people a start in a self-determined life.

    For further information on any of the Happy Dog ranges, email: info@happydoguk.com or visit the website: www.happydoguk.com

  • Dog Urine Killing Lawn?

    Dog urine killing lawn? Now, that’s a problem many a dog owner has faced and it causes frustration and annoyance that on the one hand we want our dogs to enjoy our garden, on the other, WE want to enjoy our garden as well!

    Our well kept lawn is now looking more like a patchwork of green and brown circles because our beloved dog has seen fit to create their own little patterns.

    Of course, it’s really not their fault. I’m positive if your dog knew how, he’d process his internal chemicals to such an extent that instead of killing our lawn, his toilet trips were able to grow us a beautiful little flower to remind us just why we love him so much!

    In reality, dog owners with ‘doggy patches’ all over their grass is a problem we can solve with just a few simple steps.

    How to Stop Dog Urine Killing Your Lawn

    Bev McDonald offers her insight in to how she tackled this common canine problem….

    It never fails, my two dogs – both lovable and protective Rottweilers – seem to enjoy urinating in the same spot of the backyard, day in, day out. Whether it’s morning, noon or night, it’s down the steps and to the right, donating copious amounts of healthy, adult dog urine in an approximate 4-square-foot area.

    The result is a large patch of brown, ugly, burned-out lawn that surrounds the bottom step of the deck. For my nicely landscaped backyard, the large urine burns are rather unsightly.

    I realized that unless some serious changes are made (and getting rid of the dogs was NOT an option), then these spots were not going to go away on their own, so I had to start my research and will not share with you what I learned to keep my grass green and my dogs happy and to try and prevent dog urine killing my lawn.

    Why Dog Urine Turns Grass Brown

    It’s no secret that urine burns grass, as well as many types of shrubs, annual flowers and perennial plants. What causes the burn is nitrogen. When a dog eats a meal, the protein in the food is metabolized. A byproduct of metabolized protein is nitrogen.

    The kidneys are responsible for the collection and secretion of many of the body’s unwanted excesses, including byproducts of metabolized foods, such as nitrogen. So, if all is going well with the dog’s bodily functions then excess nitrogen will be flushed out of the dog’s body through his urine.

    Here is where things get a bit tricky: Those who work with lawns and plants know that nitrogen is used as fertilizer. So what’s so special about the nitrogen in dog urine that causes it to kill everything green it touches? The secret is in the solution, so to speak.

    With fertilizers containing nitrogen, a small amount goes a long way. If you’re using a rotary spreader (which is used to fertilize the lawn), spilling a pile of fertilizer in one spot would be similar to a pool of urine. The concentration would be too high and would kill the grass below.

    Once grass is dead from nitrogen burn there’s not much you can do to revive it. If you want healthy green grass, you’re going to have to replant this area. You’ll need to rake up the dead grass and plant new seed.

    Replanting dead areas, however, is somewhat of a “band-aid” approach. If you don’t get to the root of the problem (dog urine), you’re likely to wind up with more dead patches of grass all over the lawn.

    So, without further ado here’s my top tip to stop dog urine destroying your lawn…

    put a small blob of tomato ketchup in their food every day and watch what happens.

    Sounds simple, yes? It is! Try it and observe.

    So if you’re having similar problems with dog urine killing your lawn, now you have a workable solution that you can implement very easily.

  • Dog Food Nutrition

    Dog Food Nutrition

    The process of evolution tells us that dogs developed as carnivores. Wolves are still carnivores and relatively, dogs were still wolves until very recently. So in theory, should not our dogs still be strict carnivores, craving protein and fibre and dreaming of hunks of juicy beef?

    The majority of people still view the dog as a solely carnivorous feeder, but in reality the modern dog is a versatile and healthy eater. The nutritional needs of the dog have changed since his domestication; as a consequence, so have his dietary needs. Most dogs have swapped the baron fields of Europe for the comfort of a basket or bed in a heated house.

    Dog Food Nutrition

    Dogs are less active nowadays too; they do not need to hunt so they need less energy. Most dogs get used to getting fed and acquire tastes of their own. So they tend not to gorge in order to stock up, they can afford to be more picky (this is rare, however; most dogs will still try to stuff themselves, but they no longer need to).

    Dog Food Nutrition: Evolution

    Already we can see three reasons why the canine diet has changed. They no longer need large amounts of fat to stay warm, our houses do that for them; they no longer need huge amounts of energy to hunt with, so their need for protein is diminishing and they no longer need to gorge on a day’s worth of food.

    So is there anything they do need in their diets that they may not be getting? Well, due to the advancements in veterinary care, our dogs are living much longer. In order to do this and benefit from a prolonged lifespan, dogs would benefit from foods rich in omega 3 oils which promote healthy joints.

    Foods such as fatty fish contain high amounts of these essential oils, but surprisingly grass-fed beef is even richer in omega 3.

    Dog Food Nutrition: Sensitivity

    Sensitivity is relative to ones surroundings. To some sensitivity is a matter of interpretation; in fact the French have one word denoting both ‘sensitive’ and ‘sensible’. You can be ‘a bit funny’ after eating dark chocolate or ‘disagree’ with curries, but you can still get away with it if you want. My eyes itch after eating bananas, but it’s bearable, but give someone with an allergy a nut and the situation could turn grave very quickly.

    Dog Food Nutrition: Food Intolerance

    Some dogs can have an intolerance or a reaction to certain food ingredients. By working closely with your vet, you can discover what that ingredient is and then change your dog’s diet accordingly. The intolerance or allergic reaction to a food ingredient is usually part of the protein content in the food and this can manifest itself as itching or in some cases diarrhoea.

    As you are responsible for the well being of your dog and responsible for the managing of his diet, you have to work with the vet in order to discover which ingredient is causing the problem. Finding the cause of the problem means that you can eliminate it from your dog’s diet. Simple isn’t it?

    It’s actually rather more serious than we think as a food allergy can have very severe consequences.

    Dog Food Nutrition: Food Allergies in Dogs

    Let’s start from the beginning and try to work out how we can help our dogs. A food allergy causes only 1% of all skin problems in dogs, that’s what vets’ estimate anyway.

    The majority of other allergic skin problems, such as an allergy to fleabites are much more common. It is hard to find exactly what percentages of gastrointestinal problems like vomiting or diarrhoea are caused by food allergies. Dog owners often change the food that they feed their dog once one type of food is tolerated.

    A dog, which has skin that itches, as well as intestinal problems is more likely to have food allergies.

    There is a mystery surrounding exactly why a food ingredient causes the symptoms of food allergy. Some animal specialists suspect that abnormal amounts, or certain types of protein particles from food, are absorbed into the bloodstream from the digestive tract.

    This releases antibodies and inflammatory chemicals from the cells of the digestive tract and skin, which is a process commonly called “hypersensitivity”.

    The skin and the digestive tract may then become sensitive to food that contains that particular ingredient. The offending item is a ruthless one and a dog that has a sensitive reaction, such as itchy skin, vomiting or diarrhoea may start to suffer from these within minutes, although they can occur up to a few days later.

    It doesn’t help that the offending food ingredient is not necessarily something new in the diet. Your dog can develop allergies to foods that he has been eating for years, and the allergy may come on suddenly. Once an allergy has developed, the sensitivity to the ingredient may last a lifetime.

    It is important that foods containing that ingredient be kept out of your dog’s diet on a permanent basis.

    Useful Dog Food Nutrition Resources

    Dog Food: Nutrition, Dog Food Ingredients & Nutritional Advice

    The Dog Food Project – How does your Dog Food Brand compare?

    Nutrition for your dog, Canine Nutrition, Dog Nutrition

    Dog food

    Dog health

  • Obesity Kills Dogs

    Obesity Kills Dogs

    A fit dog lives longer. Obesity amongst pet dogs is a growing problem. If a dog is overweight it puts extra strain on various parts of the body and may well shorten the dog’s life.

    A tendency toward obesity in dogs stems from the fact that many popular diets are usually significantly higher in carbohydrate than protein.

    Dog Obesity

    Learning to understand the specific nutritional requirements of your dog and then matching those needs to the most suitable diet plan, along with regular exercise is by far the best way to keep a dog’s weight down.

    Hey Fatty

    There is no one size fits all dog food and each individual dog has different nutritional and lifestyle requirements.

    There is complete veterinary consensus that obesity significantly reduces the lifespan and quality of life for dogs.

    Obesity in pets is common in many countries. Rates of overweight and obesity in dogs in the United States ranges from 23% to 41% with about 5.1% obese. The UK is also witnessing the growing obesity problem in domestic dogs.

    Looking fat

    Two British brothers were cited in 2006 for cruelty and neglect of their chocolate labrador retriever, “who was allegedly made so obese by his owners that he ‘looked like a seal’ and could barely waddle a few steps”.

    The reasons for obesity of cats and dogs in wealthier countries is not simply a matter of overfeeding. Lifestyle and hormonal influences also play roles. In modern times, pets are often, for their own safety, not allowed to free roam as they did in the past.

    Also, surgical sterilization of animals does increase the chances of the pet becoming overweight as need for caloric intake decreases.

    More information on canine obesity: Dog Weight.

  • Fasting For Dogs

    Q) I have read about the trend for some dog owners to impose a fast on their dogs. Is this healthy and does have any advantages?

    How Fasting Can Clean Your Dog’s System From Years Of Poor Diet

    If you’re one of the millions of dog owners who occasionally allow your pet to indulge in the delightful scraps from your own less than perfect diet such cheap hamburgers, hot dogs, cold cuts, semi moist sugar-preserved dog foods – or any foods containing nitrates, nitrites, aldehydes, and other assorted harmful additives – the particular pancreatic enzymes that are needed to digest the proteins in your dog’s system become depleted quite rapidly. So could your porky pet benefit from a short fast?

    (more…)

  • Rapidly Spreading Skin Infections in Dogs Sometimes Called ‘Hot Spots’ can be Caused by Allergic Reactions

    The dog’s skin is the largest organ of the body, however, there is a very limited number of ways in which it reacts to trauma. “Hot Spots” or acute moist dermatitis are generally spots on the dog’s skin brought on by the dog’s itching, biting and scratching and can seem to arise rather abruptly.

    These areas can become fairly large and may show up just about anywhere on the dog. I find it frequently in the springtime when the temperatures are hotter as well as the humidity is higher.

    The dogs with the thick undercoat, for example, Labs, Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers are prone to getting these kinds of spots on their face and neck, but while the spring can bring skin challenges, the cold weather can too – dry, itchy skin can sometimes be caused by a dog’s flaky skin.

    Very often, areas found at the base of the tail are very likely as a result of fleas simply because fleas would rather gather in these places.

    Quite a few dogs are so sensitive to fleas, the bite of one flea is sufficient to trigger the dog to itch all over. Any sort of injury can begin the process which the dog then exacerbates by relentless chewing and licking which in turn results in a vicious cycle and will cause the hot spot to spread.

    The dog ordinarily has bacteria that exists on their skin and as long as the skin is healthy, the microorganisms hardly ever lead to any complications. However when a problem develops, say for example a fleabite, cut or allergic reactions, the dog starts to lick, bite, chew and scratch which often disrupts the protective layer of the skin. Once that happens, the microorganisms on the skin, as well as the germs in the mouth, set up housekeeping in the skin. This creates a swiftly spreading infection which can be quite painful. The spot on the skin is red, raw and seems moist because the wound oozes serum and pus. The hair then mats down over the wound and the infection then spreads beneath the hair.

    If this happens to your dog, a visit to the veterinarian is generally called for. Most often, the dog’s fur has to be trimmed away to halt the spread of the infection and sometimes, these hot spots are so painful, the dog may need to be sedated in order to have the region cleansed and shaved. Antibiotics are prescribed to manage the infection and follow-up antibiotics are sent home. Sprays, ointments and medicated shampoos are often prescribed to continue treatment at home. For some dogs, a special collar may be used that will deter the dog from chewing at the spots.

    The underlying cause of the skin problem must also be resolved to make sure the problem doesn’t recur. If fleas can be found, then year round flea control may be recommended. If you’re unsure if your dog has fleas, here’s a guide as to how to tell if your dog has fleas with photos and a video for guidance.

    Pollen, food, and other allergens can also bring on hot spots if a dog is allergic to something. Sometimes special diets with essential fatty acids and a novel protein source such as salmon, lamb or venison might be prescribed to help heal the skin. Blood and skin tests can be performed to help identify what the dog is allergic to and special allergy injections or prescription diets is often given.

    Check your dog daily for itchy spots and use a reputable dog flea treatment regularly to help prevent hot spots caused by flea allergies. Daily grooming and brushing can keep mats from developing. If your dog is itching excessively, take him to the veterinarian to handle the itching before the infection can develop.

  • Her Name is K9 & She Used to be a REAL Fussy Eater – So What Changed?

    Her Name is K9 & She Used to be a REAL Fussy Eater – So What Changed?

    K9, what a great name, eh? This K9 was one of 100 lucky dogs chosen to take part in the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge last November. Watch her story unfold below…

    Speaking after the challenge her owner Tina, who submitted K9’s entry, said: “I can’t believe that dog food could actually do that to a dog. She had a lot more energy during the Taste Challenge.”

    9 Out of 10 Dogs Love Butcher’s!
     How do we know?

    100 dogs from across the nation participated in the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge where owners swapped their pet’s normal meals for a variety of recipes from Butcher’s and shared how they got on with 9 out of 10 owners confirming that their “dogs love Butcher’s”, devouring the meaty recipes on offer.

    At Butcher’s Pet Care, we believe dogs will enjoy their dinner so much more when they are served one of our mouth-wateringly meaty meals.

    Why? Because every dinnertime, you’ll be giving your dog a tasty meal made with fresh meat, no artificial flavourings and natural ingredients – guaranteed to get them licking their lips.

    Each delicious recipe has been developed with leading nutritionists so you can be sure your dog is getting all of the meaty proteins, vitamins and minerals they need to be as Fit as a Butcher’s Dog™.

    What’s more, there are no artificial flavourings and no fillers such as soya or wheat, so they are gluten free too. An appetising bowl of Butcher’s has everything that your dog needs and nothing it doesn’t!

    For more information on the 10-Day Taste Challenge and Butcher’s Pet Care, like our Facebook page – or click the button below to visit our website and see more videos of dogs who took part in the Taste Challenge.

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