Dog Nutrition & Health
Just like people, dogs need to eat the right foods and get plenty of exercise. The good news is that eating right is easier for dogs simply because we control their nutrition. People have to overcome years of bad food habits into order to improve health, but for dogs, it's just a matter of feeding them the right amounts of the best possible food.
Your first step should always be to discuss your pet's health needs with a veterinarian. This professional can help you fix upon a healthy weight for your dog and offer suggestions about how much to feed your pet each day. The amount you feed a dog depends up the animal's size, ideal weight, age and activity level.
You might be wondering whether it is best to feed a dog dry food or wet food or a combination of both. Typically, dogs enjoy wet food more, as it often has more flavor. It also has the advantage of having some water content, which can be great if you have a dog that doesn't tend to drink enough water in general. Dry dog food can be a bit better for your dog's teeth. You also can mix a bit of wet food with dry food to enhance flavor. In general, both types of food can be a good choice as long as the food itself is very high quality. In addition to taking suggestions from your vet, check the labels of the dog food. The ingredients, just like our own food, should be items we recognize and not a bunch of chemicals or fillers.
Your dog's dietary needs are quite different from a human's needs. While we get quite a bit of our nutrition from sources of carbohydrates, dogs really only need proteins and fats. Most dog foods do contain carbs and certainly dogs find these foods appealing, but they are not a true need for your pet. Still, they exist in most pet foods so simply opt for the healthiest carbohydrates such as sweet potato and whole grains. Proteins also should be higher up on the ingredient list, as eating chicken, salmon, lamb or other proteins is more of what your dog needs.
Dog food should be the biggest source of food for your pet along with the occasional healthy dog treat, but there are some foods that you always want to keep from your pet. Avocadoes, for instance, contain persin, a toxin which rarely bothers humans but can be quite harmful for dogs. The leaves and bark of the avocado tree also contain persin, so be watchful that your dog isn't munching on avocado leaves. Chocolate is also dangerous, as is any food item that contains caffeine. Grapes can cause serious kidney problems, as can their dehydrated counterpart, the raisin. Any fruit with a large pit or large seeds is dangerous, and never feed them food containing bones.
Dogs love to explore, sniff and sample leaves and other items found in nature, but this can be harmful to your pet. If your dog is the curious type that loves a snack of leaves or rocks, proper obedience training can help. Using dog training DVDs, you can teach your dog helpful dog training skills that will ensure that your dog doesn't run off and explore areas where their health could be in danger. In addition, your dog will learn to cease chewing on something when you command, which can be helpful if they get a hold of something potentially harmful.
Your first step should always be to discuss your pet's health needs with a veterinarian. This professional can help you fix upon a healthy weight for your dog and offer suggestions about how much to feed your pet each day. The amount you feed a dog depends up the animal's size, ideal weight, age and activity level.
You might be wondering whether it is best to feed a dog dry food or wet food or a combination of both. Typically, dogs enjoy wet food more, as it often has more flavor. It also has the advantage of having some water content, which can be great if you have a dog that doesn't tend to drink enough water in general. Dry dog food can be a bit better for your dog's teeth. You also can mix a bit of wet food with dry food to enhance flavor. In general, both types of food can be a good choice as long as the food itself is very high quality. In addition to taking suggestions from your vet, check the labels of the dog food. The ingredients, just like our own food, should be items we recognize and not a bunch of chemicals or fillers.
Your dog's dietary needs are quite different from a human's needs. While we get quite a bit of our nutrition from sources of carbohydrates, dogs really only need proteins and fats. Most dog foods do contain carbs and certainly dogs find these foods appealing, but they are not a true need for your pet. Still, they exist in most pet foods so simply opt for the healthiest carbohydrates such as sweet potato and whole grains. Proteins also should be higher up on the ingredient list, as eating chicken, salmon, lamb or other proteins is more of what your dog needs.
Dog food should be the biggest source of food for your pet along with the occasional healthy dog treat, but there are some foods that you always want to keep from your pet. Avocadoes, for instance, contain persin, a toxin which rarely bothers humans but can be quite harmful for dogs. The leaves and bark of the avocado tree also contain persin, so be watchful that your dog isn't munching on avocado leaves. Chocolate is also dangerous, as is any food item that contains caffeine. Grapes can cause serious kidney problems, as can their dehydrated counterpart, the raisin. Any fruit with a large pit or large seeds is dangerous, and never feed them food containing bones.
Dogs love to explore, sniff and sample leaves and other items found in nature, but this can be harmful to your pet. If your dog is the curious type that loves a snack of leaves or rocks, proper obedience training can help. Using dog training DVDs, you can teach your dog helpful dog training skills that will ensure that your dog doesn't run off and explore areas where their health could be in danger. In addition, your dog will learn to cease chewing on something when you command, which can be helpful if they get a hold of something potentially harmful.
About the Author:
Garrett McMahan loves watching dog show. For more info about the best DVD dog training videos, or to discover dog training video online, please check out the TheDogsWay website now.
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