Variety of dog food has witnessed lot of changes in respect of the practices of the past and present day concerns of the dog owners in relation to finding best dog food to take care of complete nutrition needs of the dog. The present day dog owners have learned the benefits of feeding by natural dog food and both the dog owner and dog are happy about it.

Dog Food & Preparation:  

In the past times a dog would eat any food to survive become adult and reproduce to carry on the progeny. The dogs which got good food were healthy and the others lacked health and just spent their life in search of food and their mate irrespective the specific health issues.

Dog Food Easy Availability Factor:

The present day dog owners’ have the benefit of obtaining great variety of dry dog food, which is manufactured by reputed companies in their highly scientific manufacturing facilities deploying natural food resources, processing them scientifically and manufacturing wholesome and balanced dog food. 

Some of the Food Companies are manufacturing dog food by using natural resources, it can be an ideal replacement to traditional natural dog food, which in present times is very cumbersome to prepare. Formulated dog foods are available at leading stores every where due to modern distribution net works, which provide user friendly solutions to dog owners a call or email away.
Imbalanced Dog Food & its Effects:
An imbalanced dog food is a root causes of host of diseases caused in dogs life like Cancerous growth, weak immune responses, liver disorders, overall sluggishness, frequent diarrheas, defects in heart and kidneys etc., which can be prevented.  
Dog Food Decision:
Although it is always, good to prepare fresh food for dog, but this all requires a hard devotion and perfect knowledge about canine nutrition. A mistake most often happening is about if you prepare dog food providing only mutton to the dog, whereas calcium and other minerals are also to be included.
Whether it is a puppy or a bit older dog requires a balanced food for its proper growth and healthy look and behavior, greatly depends on its nutrition, and being the dog owner you are responsible for it. 
Dog Food Awareness Campaigns:
Dog food manufacturers promoted their various Dog Food Products by creating dog food facts and awareness campaigns, which has been received well by the dog lover’s community and adopted the concepts of balanced nutrition for their dog’s food.
Still every thing has to be taken in its broad perspective and considered, what meets all the requirements for best dog food. Following are the available choices:
Packaged Dog Food Products: 
These include the dog food stuff manufactured and marketed by reputed companies available locally situated supermarket stores, pets store or veterinary practitioners. It can be dry powder, semi dry and wet available in cans. 
Unfortunately there are some adverse reports in respect of packaged food, regarding worthless cheap filler materials present in packaged food and the sources used to make dog food can be from diseased or worst dead animals, which can not be used by any other industry. 
Raw Food Stuff: 
Considering the convenience of easy availability and economically priced it receives great acceptance among group of persons who can devote their personal time in preparing and providing food to the dogs. Raw Food is comprised of bones with some mutton on them. 
Dog Food Using Home Resources: 
It is left over food having mutton bones and by reading recipes on the topic and preparing from materials usually available at home or procured from the market based the recipe you find in books or over the net. One can seek the advice of the friendly veterinary specialist in this respect. As with any living animal, dog’s weight is comprised of 2 parts water and one part bones and muscles. So it is essential that the dog gets adequate water accompanied in food and otherwise for drinking. The need of water is weather and activity based.
Dog’s energy Needs: 

The energy requirement of dog is met through food, which varies with the body weight of dog. The dog food is the principal source of energy for the dog, which makes it possible to maintain their growth, maintaining of their body temperature being a hot blooded animal. Energy is also required for its fast running to chase some one in time of need and other metabolic functions including reproduction. A pregnant or lactating female bitch has higher nutrition needs than a normal bitch.

A smaller dog has higher energy needs, than a heavy weight dog, because in comparison to the weight, the surface area is of a small dog is greater, so body weight only is not the criteria for determining the energy needs in case of small dogs. There are other factors like, Age, dog’s breed, gestation, nursing status of the dog.

The dogs’ food liberates energy required through digestion process of proteins, fatty and carbohydrates being constituents of dog food. Carbohydrates and proteins liberate energy of around 4 kcal per gram and fats yield around 9 kcal per gram. The dogs’ food also contains minerals and fibers.

The growth of a dog is very fast than even the human child hence they require variety of dog food instead of just food. If the dog food used is not balanced combination of Protein, carbohydrates and minerals, there can be very serious health problem of the dog. 

Copyright all rights reserved 2009 Puppy and Dog Obedience Training

Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food commercial Best dog food…
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Are you a dog lover? Do you want to ensure that your dog will be healthy? Healthy dogs have healthy skin and coat, strong well-developed bones, clear bright eyes and firmer stools. If you want this for your dog, then you have to find the best dog food for your pet.

How to find the best dog food that will make sure that your puppy or your adult dog will benefit from being healthy and strong? This guide will help you find the best dog food if you can adhere to the advice of many dog lovers that shared their experience in this article.

Here are the types of dog food, by understanding the types of dog food, you may be able to try them and find the best dog food that fits your dog’s needs.

Commercial Dog Food

While commercial dog foods advertise themselves as best food for your dog, some of them at proven to be of low quality and can be quite dangerous to dogs. As a proof of this, there are dog food recalls done in the years 2007 and 2008.

In choosing the dog food for your pet, you have to look at the label. Ensure that you are not buying dog food that is mostly made of grains and fillers. You have to be sure that the commercial dog food you are purchasing is of good quality and manufactured by reputable dog food makers.

In this case, your veterinarian may have some tips in finding the best dog food in the commercial dog food category. On the other hand, it may help to combine your commercial dog food with other types of dog food to be sure that you are providing your dog well-balanced diet.

Raw Dog Food

This dog food group is gaining popularity as of this time. Raw dog food is believed to be the most natural dog food.  In the olden days, this is how dogs thrive in the woods. Thus, this is the best way they get the nutrition they need and will therefore develop a strong and lean body.

Raw dog food is therefore recommended. However, it is necessary that you use fresh raw dog food to ensure that your dog will not suffer from eating rotten food.

Eating raw meaty bones is likewise good for your dog. However, never give your dog cooked bones. Cooked bones become brittle and thus may splinter and could hurt the dog as well.

Homemade dog food

Homemade dog food is the third type of dog food that may benefit your dog. There are recipes that will help your dog enjoy his food that will make him healthy as well.

Cooking the food you give to you dog will enable you to ensure what kind of food enters his tummy. You will therefore be able ensure that your dog will not suffer from dog food fillers that do him any good.

There are dog food recipes you can choose from. Try them and look at how you dog accept those recipes.

The best dog food combination will be to give him mostly homemade dog food, with occasional raw dog food tossed on him. If you can afford, feed him occasional commercial dog food just for variety. You however need to be sure that you read the label before you give him commercial dog food

If you’re looking for some natural dog food recipes or homemade dog food, this recipe from the Natural Pet Food Cookbook is a great start. Chef Jason Hill of Chef Tips puts Bandit’s Beef Stew to the test, and this dog food recipe was approved with enthusiasm by his family’s Shih Tzu puppy, Sugar. This recipe can be prepared as an organic dog food with the right ingredients. Just choose canned organic vegetables when preparing this meal. It’s also a human grade dog food, as Chef Jason Hill attests — and not bad, either! Using natural organic dog food ingredients, this special treat makes a great alternative to dry dog food such as Nutro Dog Food, Innova Dog Food, Canidae Dog Food and Pedigree Dog Food. It’s a gourmet dog food your pet will enjoy time and time again. Bone Appetit!
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Article by Dog Food Critic

Studying the dog food label has never been more important than it is today, considering the heightened concerns of dog food safety since the dog food recall during the middle part of 2007. Numerous dog owners have resorted to creating their own dog food recipes at home or have made the change to a more healthy type of dog food brand like organic dog food. But what is organic dog food? How is it classified? In this article, I will explain what organic dog food is all about and the different guidelines necessary to be labeled that way.

National standards for organic dog food were set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2002. Not only do the strict rules apply to organic dog food, but also any food that wants to be labeled organic. In the paragraphs below I describe these guidelines.

Organic dog food is produced without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge. It also has no GMO grains or irradiation. Organic dog food and the elements used are produced by farmers committed to the use of renewables and the conservation of soil and water for a better environment now and for the future.

The farms that produce the elements for organic dog food must be free of all contaminants for a minimum of three years before they can be grouped as an organic farm. As far as organic meats, poultry and dairy products are concerned, they must derive from animals that are taking no antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed organic, pesticide free grains.

Before an organic dog food can be classified as such, a USDA approved certifying agency must inspect the farms where the food is grown or raised in order to make sure each are adhering to all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Even the companies that process the organic dog foods must also be USDA certified.

About the Author

Organic Dog Food provides detailed information on adult dog food, puppy food and more. Dog Food is affiliated with dog food brands.

Find More Dog Foods Articles

Article by Glenn Salazar

Having a pet is one of the most endearing activities that one can have in a lifetime. Studies have shown that having a pet is a great way to reduce the amount of stress a person experiences. Pets are great listeners, they have the funniest way of making you smile, and they give nothing less than absolute love and loyalty to their owners.

As far as pets go, dogs and cats have always been rated as top favorites. But this time is devoted solely to dogs and proper dog care. The dog has always been known as man’s best friend and with good reason. Dogs by nature are social animals with a pack mentality. Naturally, they have a strong bond with their owner whom they consider as the alpha leader in a pack setting. Given the proper dog care and love, they will give you their utmost and unconditional loyalty and affection.

Dog care starts as early as puppy age for some while for those who choose to adopt, the dogs may already be older yet in need of the same loving care. Choosing to take care of a dog entails a lot of responsibility. As a dog owner, it is expected that the puppy will be raised and brought up responsibly and without any thought of abandonment once the novelty wears off. There have already been too many stories of dogs being abandoned by their owners after they lost interest in the activities of dog care.

As early as possible, part of dog care involves teaching the puppy to learn to identify the members of the family and proper house training. Refrain from using harsh methods to train the puppy as this will only serve to instill bad habits that can be difficult to correct when older. Instead, use gentle but firm instructions in teaching and make things constant so as to reinforce good behavior.

Feeding time is also an integral part of dog care. Keep feeding times constant as much as possible. A puppy needs to be fed several times during the day and the frequency decreases as the pup grows older. This will take gradually until the dog is able to adjust accordingly. Make sure that plenty of clean water is always available.

Potty training is also important. Most owners will usually find this aspect of dog care as one of the more difficult. It’s true that it requires a lot of patience to teach a dog where to relieve itself but this isn’t as difficult as it seems. Proper dog care requires that owners carefully and patiently train the dog to relieve itself in a particular location through plenty of positive reinforcement. With rewards and lots of affection the dog will be able to follow suit.

Spanking is not normally advisable. A dog by instinct will cower at the earliest sign of disapproval from its owner. A firm “No” is enough to show that his behavior is unacceptable. Make it a point to reward good behavior and be firm in correcting undesirable behavior. Through constant repetition, the dog will be able to understand and learn what is acceptable and not.

Dog care is very much similar to raising an infant child. With proper instruction and love, any dog will grow up to become a cherished and loving member of the family. There’s just nothing like the bond that a happy dog gives its owner and it is this fact that makes these animals so much fulfilling to be with.

About the Author

Visit Glenn Salazar’s new website to get the most valuable facts on dog kennel and run, discover all about them and read about the best deals and discounts. If you want to read fresh news on pet supplies, this web site is a spot where you should go.

Related Dogs Care Articles

Having a pet is one of the most endearing activities that one can have in a lifetime. Studies have shown that having a pet is a great way to reduce the amount of stress a person experiences. Pets are great listeners, they have the funniest way of making you smile, and they give nothing less than absolute love and loyalty to their owners.

As far as pets go, dogs and cats have always been rated as top favorites. But this time is devoted solely to dogs and proper dog care. The dog has always been known as man’s best friend and with good reason. Dogs by nature are social animals with a pack mentality. Naturally, they have a strong bond with their owner whom they consider as the alpha leader in a pack setting. Given the proper dog care and love, they will give you their utmost and unconditional loyalty and affection.

Dog care starts as early as puppy age for some while for those who choose to adopt, the dogs may already be older yet in need of the same loving care. Choosing to take care of a dog entails a lot of responsibility. As a dog owner, it is expected that the puppy will be raised and brought up responsibly and without any thought of abandonment once the novelty wears off. There have already been too many stories of dogs being abandoned by their owners after they lost interest in the activities of dog care.

As early as possible, part of dog care involves teaching the puppy to learn to identify the members of the family and proper house training. Refrain from using harsh methods to train the puppy as this will only serve to instill bad habits that can be difficult to correct when older. Instead, use gentle but firm instructions in teaching and make things constant so as to reinforce good behavior.

Feeding time is also an integral part of dog care. Keep feeding times constant as much as possible. A puppy needs to be fed several times during the day and the frequency decreases as the pup grows older. This will take gradually until the dog is able to adjust accordingly. Make sure that plenty of clean water is always available.

Potty training is also important. Most owners will usually find this aspect of dog care as one of the more difficult. It’s true that it requires a lot of patience to teach a dog where to relieve itself but this isn’t as difficult as it seems. Proper dog care requires that owners carefully and patiently train the dog to relieve itself in a particular location through plenty of positive reinforcement. With rewards and lots of affection the dog will be able to follow suit.

Spanking is not normally advisable. A dog by instinct will cower at the earliest sign of disapproval from its owner. A firm “No” is enough to show that his behavior is unacceptable. Make it a point to reward good behavior and be firm in correcting undesirable behavior. Through constant repetition, the dog will be able to understand and learn what is acceptable and not.

Dog care is very much similar to raising an infant child. With proper instruction and love, any dog will grow up to become a cherished and loving member of the family. There’s just nothing like the bond that a happy dog gives its owner and it is this fact that makes these animals so much fulfilling to be with.

Dogs are man’s best friend. Like children, dogs are to be taken cared for just like people are. It takes a lot of responsibility to take care of your pooch. The proper dog care must be applied to your pet so he or she remains to be healthy and free of any diseases. Dogs are loyal to their human counterpart. In return, we must provide them with the appropriate dog care essentials.

We should provide them healthy food, water, exercise and veterinary care like vaccinations. Reading books for the best dog care information and health tips are useful for dog owners who need more education in maintaining a pet. While dogs offer unconditional love to their owners, the owners themselves must show their dogs how much they care for them.

Day To Day Dog Care Needs

The basic everyday need of a dog is obviously food. As an owner, one must feed the dog regularly with healthy food that is excessive in protein. Grooming is another part of proper dog care. Bathing your dog regularly relieves them of fleas and ticks.

“Big and small dogs need exercise daily, big dogs more than smaller ones”

You can bathe them at least once a week for them not to have that foul smell. Grooming your dog gives you the bonding between owner and pet; and this can also emphasize your authority towards him. Brushing the dog’s fur is relaxing in their part, they enjoy the strokes of the brush on their hair as you do it slowly.

Dogs should have vitamins too. Vitamin E can cure skin ailments. You can apply vitamin E oil to their skin to cure dry skin and any other skin ailments. You can save some money if you try conventional and natural ways in giving the right dog care for your pets. Acidophilus in yogurt is not only good for humans but for dogs as well. Consult with the veterinarian first if you plan on doing this because there are some factors that can harm them.

The Dog Care Supplies

Dog care provisions are classified as functional, basic and pampering. The fundamental dog supplies comprise of dog leashes, grooming kits, sleeping pads, dog house and most especially, food.

“It is not only people who will benefit from natural care but also our dogs. Natural pet care is now a growing trend that shows pet owners how to take care of their dogs in a way that is not harmful”

The practical but functional dog materials consist of doors, fences, and gates. The pampering kit is usually composed of toys, massage oils and treats for your dogs.

One of the most ascendant basic supplies provided is dog beds. It helps keep the dog’s bones healthy and strong. Several pet shops have supplies such as training equipment and aid to make practices much easier for your dog to follow. Some may even include dog collars which are made to punish dogs for inappropriate behavior.

Kennels are also sold in the supplies too; and they come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Choosing a good one would mean picking out something that ‘ s spacious enough for your dogs to easily move about. For better dog care, grooming kits are available in a variety of options too. The products include shampoos, nail clippers, brush, combs, and even conditioners. Hygiene supplies are also made available for the best dog care that you can render.

Kevin DeTrude, owner of Beverly’s Pet Campus in Fishers, IN, and Dr. Jerry Flanders of VIP Animal Care discuss ways to keep your dog happy and healthy as he or she grows older.

WHAT IS A PARASITE?

External parasites are pretty common among dogs. A parasite is an organism that lives off the resources your dog has to offer: namely, fresh blood (which most parasites drink) and a warm place to stay (in and on the skin and fur).

What are the common parasites that might affect my dog?

There are a wide range of parasites that affect dogs:

- Fleas
– Ticks
– Mites
– Lice

All of these parasites cause adverse reactions in your dog: typically, itching and inflamed skin, a dull coat, and bald spots. In advanced cases, your dog may develop anemia (blood loss) and become generally debilitated (particularly if he or she is very young, very old, or suffering from another condition).

In addition to this, many parasites convey secondary and internal parasites to your dog – for example, fleas usually carry the common tapeworm (which causes constipation and flatulence), and ticks can cause a variety of much more serious problems like Lyme’s disease and paralysis.

I’m going to be looking at fleas: what they are, how to tell if your dog’s affected, and how to get rid of them.

A CLOSER LOOK AT FLEAS

Fleas are without question the number-one most common external parasite affecting dogs. They’re small, jumping insects that are light brown in color, although humans generally can’t see them – they move much too quickly for that!

Fleas live off your dog’s blood. The life cycle of a flea moves very rapidly from stage one (egg) to stage four (adult flea), which means they’re capable of multiplying with staggering rapidity.

An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which lay hundreds more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem very quickly!

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS

The symptoms of a flea infestation are unmistakable.

A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).

It’s actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop “hot spots”.

These hot spots are areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin, caused by the flea saliva and your dog’s own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes develop too, from repeated scratching and ongoing inflammation.

If you think your dog has fleas, you can confirm your suspicions by taking a closer look at his skin: you probably won’t be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to see what looks like ground pepper (a thin sprinkling of fine black grains) on his skin. This is flea dirt (poop).

If you groom him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a paper towel: if red blotches show up on the towel, you know that your dog has fleas (on a white background like a paper towel, flea poop shows up red: since fleas subsist on blood, their poop is colored accordingly).

TREATMENT FOR FLEAS

Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood, it’s not enough to just treat the dog: you also have to target his bedding, the entire house, all human bedding, and the yard (yes, fleas lay eggs all through the yard, too. Even if it’s cold outside, you’re not necessarily off the hook: cold weather doesn’t kill flea eggs, it just puts them into a state of hibernation. The eggs will hatch as soon as it gets warm enough outside.)

You’ll need a broad-spectrum treatment which kills not only the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite), but also any developing fleas, and the eggs.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST (AND THE EASIEST!)

Prevention is definitely the best cure – you should keep your dog’s flea treatments up to date with the use of a calendar, and use a treatment that’s prescribed by the vet. Off-the-shelf treatments aren’t recommended, since different dogs require different strengths depending on their size, age, and activity levels. A particular benefit of prescribed flea treatment is that most are also designed to prevent other parasites (like mites, ticks, and heartworm) from affecting your dog.

FOR AN EXISTING INFESTATION

If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:

1. You can ‘bomb’ the house and yard with a flea-pesticide. These come as foggers (which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist of pesticide) and sprays (which are applied manually to each surface throughout the house and yard), and although they’re very effective in killing fleas and eggs, there’s one major drawback: they’re highly toxic to humans, dogs, and the environment. Depending on your priorities, this is probably the quickest solution to a flea problem (and will effectively wipe out the eggs, too) but if you have anyone in the house with allergies or a health condition – including pets! – you might want to think again.

2. A more health-friendly alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet (like Advantage or Revolution), and to rigorously clean the house on a regular basis until the flea problem has gone. This means vacuuming each room thoroughly each day – put a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up – and wash all human and dog bedding in hot water as often as you can (once every day or every two days is recommended). You’ll be able to tell when the problem’s gone because your dog won’t be scratching, and his coat will be clear of flea dirt when you inspect it.

WHAT NOT TO DO ABOUT FLEAS

– Don’t use multiple products on your dog – it’ll make him sick, since you’ll be overloading his system with toxins.
- Don’t forget to treat all the animals in the house at the same time: cat and dog fleas are interchangeable, and if one animal has fleas, they all will have them, even if some are not displaying the symptoms.
- Flea collars are no longer recommended as a safe option for flea prevention, since the collars are highly toxic – vets have realized that placing a toxic material directly against your pet’s skin for long periods of time (flea collars have to be worn 24/7 to be effective) is detrimental to your dog’s health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENT…

Fleas are just one of the many, many types of parasites that affect your dog. To find out more about the complete prevention and treatment of all types of parasites (external and internal), as well as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of dog health, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

This book is an invaluable resource for the responsible dog owner, and will help you to ensure that your dog remains happy and healthy – just the way you want him (or her) to be!

Article by A.Causey

Your dog health tips will make you and your dog;have a happy and safe relationship.A healthy dog is a happy dog. While all pet owners hope that their beloved dog will never have any health problems, the fact remains that inevitably your dog will require some health care at some point or another, even if it is for a mild problem.

Therefore, it’s best to know as much as you can about common dog health problems, and how to treat and prevent them; so that your dog can live as healthy and long life as possible.

Your dog health tips starts with one of the first things a prospective dog owner should understand about dog health; is that some dogs are more prone to certain health problems than others.Dogs that tend to suffer from specific health issues include poodles, German Sheppards, Collies, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds and Labrador Retrievers.

Your dog health tips include knowing the most common illnesses.Hemophilia for example is a common dog health problem.Other common dog illnesses include heart worms, rabies and parvovirusFortunately, dogs can be vaccinated against these illnesses.

Routine care and maintenance can help to decrease such problems.It is widely recommended that dogs be kept at their ideal weight and not allowed to become obese, particularly those who are prone to spinal problems and hip displacia.Fat dogs are far more likely to suffer from such problems.

Your dog health tips also include one very popular question, “Can my dog catch my flu.”While it does not appear that dogs can catch the flu from humans, they definitely can catch the dog strain from one another.Dog flu is a dog health condition that tends to make the rounds among canines, very similar to the way human flu strains get around.

Another tip is that one of the most common medical signs that a dog has the flu is a dog or puppy cough, sometimes referred to as kennel cough.The dog may also suffer from fever and a lack of appetite.Owners should be aware that this strain of flu can turn into pneumonia.Pneumonia in dogs can be quite serious.There is no vaccine, but it can be treated with fluids and antibiotics.

Another important tip is natural pet food;it is so much healthier for your pet that Vets even stress how important this is.The Spirulina in Dinovite is a super nutritious, blue green, micro algae.It is a rich, plant protein source for your dog and contains cancer-fighting characteristics.Among all the other beneficial ingredients, Dinovite includes montmorillonite clay to help promote your dog’s good health.A natural, high quality, healthy dog food can make all the difference in your pet’s health and vitality.Your dog health tips will help insure you to have a happy healthy dog. Get Everything You’ve Ever Wanted Or Needed To Know About Your Dog In One Complete Ebook And Audio Book! http://tinyurl.com/yqassk

About the Author

Get Everything Youve Ever Wanted Or Needed To Know About Your Dog In One Complete Ebook And Audio Book! http://tinyurl.com/yqassk

Related Dogs Health Articles

Article by Jeff Grill

Dog health – What is it all about?

Providing shelter and food for your dog is not your only duty as a dog owner. You need to take care of a whole lot of things to make sure your dog stays hale and hearty and enjoys a long, happy life. Basically, it is all about knowing what is good and what is bad for your dog’s health.

The need to know about canine health

As a dog owner, the last thing you want to see is your dog suffering from various health problems. Unfortunately, pet dogs are vulnerable to a lot of health problems – right from bacterial infections to cancer. Given below is a list of things you can do to prevent these health problems and keep your dog healthy for a long time.

Healthy Dog Diet

Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet is the simplest way to prevent most dog health problems. Be sure to provide your dog with an AAFCO certified food. According to Consumer Reports, who interviewed many veterinarians, price is less important than certification. If you dog is healthy and doesn’t require any sort of dietary restrictions, then a commercial diet from a known company is fine. In general, the average companion dogs need the following nutritional profile per pound of body weight.

Nutrient Energy 10 kcalWater 10 mlProtein 1 gm Sodium 10 mgPhosphorus 20 mg

Water

Like people, have a constant supply of clean water to drink is essential. Give your dog the same water you give yourself (filtered etc.). To encourage drinking and urination, consider providing more than one water bowl in the house and take your dog for frequent walks if possible. Urination is natures way of cleansing the urinary tract and for keeping infection and stones from taking hold.

Exercise

Do not let your dog stay dormant all the time. Physical inactivity tends to affect its physical and mental health badly. So, make sure it gets enough physical exercise. There are plenty of good exercises for dogs like walking, swimming, fetching, and stairs climbing. Regular exercise prevents stress, makes your dog active, increases its metabolic rate, strengthens its joints, and improves its overall health. So, if you want to prevent dog health problems, make sure your dog stays active. Activity can be enhanced with a fetch ball or a kong toy that causes your dog to solve the puzzle of how to release food that is hidden inside.

Grooming

Contrary to what most people think, grooming is not just about making your dog look good. It helps prevent bacterial and viral infections that commonly affect dogs. So, make sure you bathe your dog regularly. Clean its ears from dog ear wax and teeth on a regular basis. Brush it at least twice a week and clip its nails regularly.

Cleanliness

According to pet health experts, exposure to harmful chemicals is one of the main causes of canine health problems. So, limit the use of pesticides, herbicides, and weed killers to the extent possible. Second hand smoke is harmful to your dog’s health as well. So, make your home a no-smoking zone.

Health supplements

Consider giving your dog a natural health supplement. According to homeopathic veterinarians, these types of products can be a helpful was to strengthen the body’s natural immune response to disease. You can give supplements that contain herbs like Huang Qi, Mistletoe, Milk Thistle, and Indian Ginseng that are known for their ability to treat and prevent various dog health problems.

These herbs can boost your dog’s immune system, improve the functioning of its vital organs, keep its blood pressure levels under control, increase its energy levels, and support a healthy appetite and vitality. Since these canine health supplements are 100% natural, there are no risks of side effects at all. To get the best results, you can make them a part of your dog’s regular diet.

Love and care

You didn’t think I was going to finish this article without mentioning this, did you? Dog health does not mean just physical health. It also means mental health. It is about keeping your dog happy. How do you keep your dog happy? It’s simple – by loving him. Your dog needs your love and attention more than anything else. Pat your dog. Reward him whenever he does something good. Make him understand that you love him. Pamper him and make him feel good. It is one of the simplest ways to keep your dog happy and active

About the Author

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Pet Health Guide which has more information on canine health problems.

If you are interested in disease specific conventional and natural treatment approaches, the author recommends that you visit the Dog Health Handbook.

More Dogs Health Articles

The life expectancy of any dog is commonly expressed in terms of dog years by us and it depends entirely on the dog’s breed, size as well as the dog’s surroundings. Various other factors affect the life expectancy of a dog. A dog’s life span changes according to the diet provided to him and also by the number of medical problems the dog tends to face over the years.

The average life span of the small dog like Chihuahua is about 15 to 16 years, while medium sized the dogs like Border Collies have a life span of 10 to 13 years. It can be noticed big dogs like Great Dean live up to only 7 to 8 years. The calculation of the life expectancy of particular dog can be accurately done with the help of “size or the specific breed calculator”, which is said to be one of the most accurate age measurement schemes available. The size or specific breed calculator gives approximate results about the dog’s predictable lifespan based on the size as well as the breed of the dog.

It is generally assumed that, on an average, “one human year equals to seven dog years”. This statement may not be appropriate, since the first two years are jointly represented by 18-25 years in such schemes and because the entire ratio cannot be generalized for all the dogs though, they belong to different sizes and breeds. An exact ratio of dog years vs. human year cannot be formulated. However, some obvious features remain similar between both aging humans and dogs.

It is generally assumed that the human equivalent of a one-year dog is supposedly fully grown by both mental and physical aspects. Dogs like humans tend to develop advance muscular features as they grow along with a similar mental development. Through a major dog study, it has been estimated for dogs of all breeds and sizes that, nearly “64 percent of dogs” were euthanized because they were affected with some kind of diseases. Only 8 percent of the total dogs live beyond 15 years and nearly 16 percent of them die yearly due heart diseases and cancer. Human lives are not terminated even if they suffer from rare and incurable diseases; and this is the main reason why the lifespan of an average human being is reasonably long.

The effects of aging in dogs is said to be dormant for several years. But like humans, dogs to undergo physical changes as well. The first sign of aging in dogs is said to be the decrease in its activity levels. The sleeping period in these dogs also becomes longer. The canines experience a drastic change in their skin condition, limb usage, appetite and they experience tooth loss as well. Their sense of hearing and vision also diminishes gradually. Older dogs tend to experience stiffness in their body. All these obvious signs of aging can even be found in humans. The human years are extended only because of advance modern medicine and various other drugs that are designed to deal with symptoms of old age.

Dogs and humans may not have the same physiology, yet some obvious similarities can be noticed when both species age. Dog years and Human years may not be directly related by some advance equation, but to the naked eye the equivalence of corresponding features of Dog years and Human years are quite visible.