Canines have the ability to consume large quantities of food at one time and can rest between meals. In the wild, this is known as "gorging," which is beneficial in hunting large game. Canines, like carnivores, can devour large meals after a hunt, and, thanks to the digestive function, can then leisurely wait until the next meal opportunity arises.

To keep your canine’s gastrointestinal system functioning at its finest, a healthy, well-balanced diet is of the essence. The quality of the diet can be measured in its ease of digestion. Large, malodorous stool is a reliable indicator that something is amiss in the digestive tract — and the food going into it would be the most likely perpetrator.

Your canine’s digestive system is an impressive, powerful function of the mouth, stomach, small and large intestines, aided by the liver and pancreas.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where saliva lubricates the food and passes it down the esophagus. The canine’s teeth — sharp, jagged, blade-shaped molars — are designed for gripping, tearing and shredding, and are specifically suited for its digestive capabilities. Other mammals have flat molars, characteristic of grinding. The canine’s jaws, however, are incapable of moving sideways, and instead are hinged. This allows them to open widely and ingest large chunks of meat whole.

Swallowed food passes down the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach of a canine is very acidic with a pH registering as low as 1. Food is well mixed and broken down before contents leave the stomach as chyme.

Chyme is the fluid that passes easily into the small intestine, where the pancreas and liver provide additional digestive enzymes. These enzymes continue protein digestion and also provide carbohydrate and fat digestion. Nutrients are absorbed from the small intestine into the bloodstream.

By the time any food reaches the large intestine, most of the nutrients have been processed and absorbed. It is here that water and electrolytes are assimilated and bacteria can break down undigested fiber. The wastes are then excreted.

Understandably, large amounts of vegetation, grains and fiber are difficult for canines to process. With their short and simple digestive tracts, they are incapable of fermenting and absorbing these foods like an herbivore would. High-grain, high-fiber diets, then, only result in a much larger stool volume. The canine has a short digestive tract that helps to easily digest animal flesh and fat. The food spends a much longer time in the stomach, which produces a higher amount of hydrochloric acid, and aids in the breakdown of animal proteins, bones and fat.

Digestive issues are one health concern your canine need never suffer, as the solution is right at your fingertips, and completely within your discretion. Let us help you make your canine’s diet your number one priority, beginning today . . . .

By: Andrew Lewis -

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What Dog Foods Do vets recommend

It’s vital for your dog to get the correct nutrients and vitamins that he needs. These should be provided by the dog food you choose, so choose wisely. In this article you will find what to look for and what to avoid.Vet recommended dog food can only be established from consultation with your vet as to your dogs particular requirements.Many dog food brand will claim they are vet recommended but this is a generalisation and if your dog has any particular problems they may not be suitable.

Keep Your Dog Healthy

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.

Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies, consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

David Amos is a dog lover and long time dog owner. For more information about dog food click Dog Food and Puppy Food, and for more about dog care and keeping your dog happy and healthy click Dogs and Puppies Online.

By Steve Dolan Published: 12/14/2006

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Your pet dog is a unique companion that requires your love and attention. When your dog is suffering from any ailment or condition, you’re also suffering. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find out what causes such ailments, and many vets claim that it has something to do with food allergies. Around 10% of dog allergies are due to food.

Allergies related to foods can be very alarming to the owner. If you frequently see your dog excessively scratching and itching, then your pet may have a certain food allergy.

The most common food culprits are corn, wheat, and soy. There are also dogs allergic to beef and chicken. It would be best to bring your dog to a vet so that the doctor can give an accurate diagnosis and the proper way of treating your best friend.

If your dog compulsively and excessively licks his foot, or bites or chews his other body parts, this is already a sign that your pet has an allergy. Usually, pet nutritionists and vets recommend the substitution of your dog’s protein source. For this special purpose, lambs are often used to introduce something that’s new to his diet.

If you greatly rely on your vet, he would usually give you expensive formulas that are hypo-allergenic. But did you know that you can also figure things out by yourself? There are dog food mixes that are specially designed for those with food allergies. In the long run, these mixes can be expensive.

You can begin giving allergy-free mixes so that you can closely control your dog’s diet. The mixes contain vitamins and nutrients formulated exclusively for dogs. Try to experiment and introduce other protein sources and observe the dog’s reaction for a few days.

There are certain dog mixes that are chicken-based, while others have fish protein. Every now and then, change your dog’s protein source and observe. If you finally found one that goes well with your dog and the allergies seem to improve, then stick to that diet.

There are things to remember when you’re introducing a new food for your dog. You must do it slowly for about six days. Use the ration 4 is to 1, with 4 being the old food. Do this gradually until the sixth day, when you’ve totally changed your dog’s diet. Stick with the food for at least a week and keep a close watch if your dog develops a certain reaction.

You can’t solve the allergy problems of your dog overnight. Break your dog’s food cycle by starting with a neutral food that’s grain-free. After finding the right protein source for your dog, you can try re-introducing the grain back and see if there’s an effect. Use your common sense; and if you choose to do things on your own, you can also save a lot of money. And remember that you should feed your dog with a well-balanced diet with the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

The process of sensitizing your pet dog to a certain food agent and the complex antibody response which takes place in your dog’s intestinal tracts are not yet well understood. Despite this fact, many vets and nutritionists know the symptoms and how to correctly diagnose allergies, as well as treating them.

So you see, you can also try other alternatives in choosing your dog’s food other than allergy-free foods. All it takes is patience, time, and common sense.
For more detail all about allergy please visit our site : http://www.allergycounsel.com

By: Rhadika

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The owner site www.allergycounsel.com click here Allergy Treatment – to get more info all about allergy.

 
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Dog owners want their dogs to be healthy and happy by using good homemade dog food recipes with proper nutrients and vitamins.

Major peoples are unaware to what goes into canned dog foods. But your dog health is will suffer if you feed canned dog foods to your dog. Veterinary organizations reported thousands of dogs who have died after eating the commercial dog foods. Many sources speculate that the actual number of affected dogs may never be known. And veterinarians are concerned that the actual death toll could potentially reach into the thousands. There are several sources that causing sickness in affected dogs, have been isolated by U.S. government. Several major companies have recalled more than 5,000 dog food products. Because the foods may cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, liver damage, lameness, or death.

Dog owners have some questions to veterinarians. Because major dog owners want to feed the good food with proper nutrition to their dogs. What are the best dog foods to feed a dog? The answer are homemade dog food recipes. What should you look for in a good quality dog food? If you are concerned about the health of your dog and wish to ensure they are getting healthy and safe foods, there is way to making your own dog food. Optimum nutrition demands of dog foods are protein at least 30%, fat at least 15%, carbohydrate and micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and enzymes are in balance with each other.

A good homemade dog food recipe is combination of rice, ground meat, vegetables, water and a small amount of codliver oil. Rice is a good carbohydrate for dogs. Good meats are beef or chicken. Carrots and spinach are good vegetables, but they need to be processed first to aid in the digestion. Amounts of water vary depending on whether you want to dry or wet food. Codliver oil in small amounts with omega 3 and helps keep your dog coats shiny. You may feed this food recipe to your dog daily.

To discover more information about how you can keep your dog healthy and happy by using proper dog food, you can visit at Homemade Dog Food Recipes

By Imanuel S Published: 4/25/2

Natural Food for Dogs: Your Best Insurance for a Healthy Pet

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 For a diabetic dog, it is necessary to feed diabetic foods instead of the normal diet so as to avoid further complications. Let’s see how to choose the right food for a diabetic dog.

Many of the dogs are at a risk of suffering from canine diabetes. Canine diabetes is an important chronic disease of dogs. In fact, it is one of the most common dog health problems, which is caused due to improper insulin metabolism in the body. The beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin hormone and are responsible for maintaining the blood sugar level of the body. There are two types of canine diabetes – type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused due to little or no secretion of insulin, whereas type 2 diabetes is caused when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin. In both the situations, the blood glucose level of the affected dog is higher than the normal level. Majority of the cases of diabetes in dogs are of type 2.

Choosing the Diabetic Dog Food

Controlling the blood glucose level of a diabetic dog is the first and foremost important step in treatment. Usually, insulin injections are prescribed under the supervision of a veterinarian. In addition, care should be taken about the oral medications and diet of the dog suffering from diabetes. Let’s see some of the tips, which will help in choosing healthy foods for a diabetic dog.

A diabetic dog food should contain less sugar, carbohydrates and sodium. It is to be noted that the soft and moist dog food contains higher amount of carbohydrates. The best option is to feed a good dry and balanced canned food; however, always make sure that you check the label of the contents before feeding. Don’t feed a canned food that is without formulations (nutritional facts) or label.

Feeding homemade food to a diabetic dog is a good idea, provided that one should consult the vet about the ingredients and the nutrient level that should be maintained while cooking. Care has to be taken while preparing food for a diabetic dog to maintain the nutrient content of the homemade food.

Choosing of a diabetic dog food also depends upon the fitness of the dog. If the diabetic dog is overweight, then his diet should contain low-calorie and low-fat food. However, in case of underweight dogs, the nutrient of the diet should be balanced in such a way that it contains appropriate quantity of fats.

A diabetic dog food should contain fiber to a certain amount. Since fiber is useful in slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates, it helps in maintaining the glucose level of the blood of the diabetic dog.

Regarding feeding frequency, a diabetic dog should be fed twice or thrice a day in smaller quantities instead of giving a heavy meal at a time. Red meat should be avoided in the diabetic dog food as far as possible.

It is recommended to discuss with a vet about the food and feeding habits for a diabetic dog. The overall health of a dog depends upon the attention of the dog owner. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to check for any changes in the dog’s behavior so that any problems regarding the health of the dog can be diagnosed in the early stages. Proper dog care should be given and regular medical checkup should be done.

By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani Published: 1/6/2009     Caring for Your Diabetic Canine Pet: There is nothing more enjoyable than having a healthy, energetic pet dog, especially a miniature schnauzer. However, having a schnauzer that becomes ill, diagnosed with a long term chronic dis…  What Makes A Good Diabetic Dog Food Diet Raising a diabetic dog does not mean that it could not longer enjoy the fun of eating whatever it wants. In the first place dogs can’t eat anything that’s edible because some foods trigger …  Create A Diabetic Dog Food Diet I consider diabetes as a harsh disease because it deprives you of your favorite foods. But once you have acquired this disease, moderation on your food intake matters especially when you…  Canine Diabetes – The Warning Signs and Treatments Dogs are known to suffer from illnesses such as diabetes as well. The pancreas is an abdominal organ that produces digestive enzymes for the metabolism of food.  Diabetic dog food A high intake of sugars and carbohydrates and an abnormally high level of glucose may result in a dog suffering from diabetes (diabetes mellitus). Selecting Healthy Dog Food | Splitting the portions will ease the dog into the new diet. Steadily add more healthy food and offer less of the cheaper stuff until the Diabetic Dog’s diet consists solely of h… Droog’s Diabetic Dog Food Try the Droog’s Diabetic Dog Food With Vitamin Therapy recipe from Recipezaar.com.

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