| ==========The Scoop on Premium Dog | | | | exclusively dry food can be a strain on a |
| Food========If you're interested in premium | | | | dog's kidneys. So, to be on the safe side, |
| dog food, then I probably don't have to tell | | | | check with your vet.===========Life |
| you about the importance of diet in keeping | | | | Stages============Puppies need more calories |
| your dog active and healthy. You already know | | | | and essential nutrients than adult dogs. They |
| you want something better than "average" for | | | | need up to twice as many calories per ounce |
| your furry friend.But how much do you really | | | | of body weight and should get 25% to 30% of |
| know about what's in a premium food and what | | | | their energy from protein depending on the |
| your particular pet's needs are? I'm no | | | | breed.Most premium dog food brands take this |
| veterinarian but I do know a thing or two | | | | into account in their puppy formulas, but it |
| about health and nutrition. (As a family | | | | doesn't hurt to check the label. By six to |
| dentist who practiced for twenty years, I saw | | | | eight weeks of age a puppy should be fully |
| first hand the effects of poor dietary habits | | | | weaned and eating his dry food consistently. |
| on human health -- and particularly on human | | | | After that, different breeds reach their |
| teeth!!).Like you, your dog has to deal with | | | | mature weight at different rates, by anywhere |
| the effects of stress, age, exertion, a | | | | from 9 months to 24 months old. So it's hard |
| polluted environment, and foods grown in | | | | to give an age or weight by which you should |
| nutrient-depleted soils. Unlike you, he has | | | | take your pet off puppy food. Again, your vet |
| to get practically all of his nutrition from | | | | can help out here.Also, remember not to try |
| a single food. Sure , you may give him a few | | | | to "rush" the growing process by overfeeding. |
| treats or the occasional table scrap (not too | | | | If she grows too fast, a dog can develop bone |
| many I hope!), but otherwise he's eating out | | | | growth diseases. A puppy should get three to |
| of the same bag or can day in and day out. | | | | four meals a day because he's growing fast |
| You want him to get complete nutrition out of | | | | but still has a small tummy, but don't overdo |
| that one food.===========Complete | | | | it with portions size.Adult dogs need to eat |
| Nutrition?===============Even the experts | | | | according to their size and energy |
| seem to disagree on exactly what complete | | | | requirements and should be fed two meals a |
| nutrition is. Maybe this explains why there | | | | day. This is frequently referred to by the |
| are so many formulas for premium dog food out | | | | premium dog food companies as a "maintenance |
| there. There's one thing they do agree on, | | | | diet".Unlike cats, dogs are not strictly meat |
| though: premium dog food is better for your | | | | eaters. In fact, a dog is more like an |
| pet than economy and grocery store brands. | | | | omnivore and will eat just about anything, |
| Although you'll pay more, it usually holds | | | | whether it's good for him or not! A certain |
| true that you get what you pay for.Experts | | | | amount of vegetable matter is part of a dog's |
| also agree that, because premium foods are | | | | natural diet. Dogs love vegetables such as |
| more nutritionally dense and easier to | | | | broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peas, and beans, |
| digest, your dog won't need to eat as much. | | | | and fruits such as bananas, apples, and |
| One study even concluded that if you fed your | | | | melon. These make great low-calorie treats, |
| dog the recommended amounts on each package, | | | | too!One thing you should never feed your dog |
| you'd end up saving money on the premium | | | | is chocolate--it contains a chemical called |
| formulas. That's because your dog needs to | | | | theobromine which is toxic to dogs.Senior |
| eat a lot less of it. (You'll save on pooper | | | | dogs need a premium dog food that will help |
| scoopers too!)Another way to know if your dog | | | | head off and manage the effects of aging. |
| is getting a proper diet is simply to observe | | | | Since different breeds vary so much, it's |
| him. Are his eyes bright, his coat silky and | | | | hard to give an age by which you should |
| shiny, and his skin free from dryness and | | | | switch to a senior diet. The ASPCA recommends |
| itching? Is he at a healthy weight? How about | | | | using weight as a guideline, and offers the |
| his energy level? This may vary from one | | | | following:Small breeds or dogs weighing less |
| animal to another, but as you get to know | | | | than 20 pounds:7 years of ageMedium breeds or |
| yours, you'll know when your dog isn't | | | | dogs weighing 21 to 50 pounds:7 years of |
| feeling up to par.Of course, any persistent | | | | ageLarge breeds or dogs weighing 51 to 90 |
| health problems should be looked into by your | | | | pounds:6 years of ageGiant breeds or dogs |
| vet, and the same goes for any special | | | | weighing 91 pounds or more:5 years of ageThe |
| dietary needs. But in general you'll know if | | | | ASPCA recommends that you begin dealing with |
| your friend is doing well on the diet you're | | | | the symptoms of old age before they're |
| feeding him. If you see signs that he isn't, | | | | obvious. Just like us, dogs will begin to |
| try a different formula or another brand of | | | | accumulate more body fat as they age even as |
| premium dog food.Introduce new foods | | | | they consume fewer calories. (At least we're |
| gradually, especially if you have a picky | | | | not alone!). Muscle mass will tend to |
| eater. And while we're on that subject, it's | | | | decrease, but this doesn't mean you should |
| always nice if your dog enjoys eating his | | | | lower your older dog's protein intake. If |
| food. This has a lot less to do with taste | | | | anything, protein is more important than ever |
| than it does with smell. Dogs have fewer | | | | to help maintain muscle mass, so avoid senior |
| taste buds than we do, but about 40 times as | | | | dog food formulas with reduced protein.One |
| many scent receptors. So make sure he eats | | | | thing you will want to feed him less of is |
| with gusto, and doesn't just pick at his | | | | calories. Obesity is a real problem with |
| food. | | | | adult dogs, and many owners don't even |
| | | | realize their dog is overweight. Aside from |
| Here are some basic guidelines you can | | | | portion size and calorie content, one way to |
| follow:============Essential | | | | avoid an overweight dog is to resist giving |
| Nutrients=============Every dog needs the | | | | him table scraps. Most human food isn't good |
| right amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, | | | | for your dog.===========How Much to |
| fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog | | | | Feed============How's your dog's weight? You |
| must have all these in correct proportions to | | | | should be able to feel your dog's backbone |
| stay healthy. Needs vary with life stage, | | | | and ribs with light finger pressure, but not |
| breed and activity level. Dog food companies | | | | actually see them. If you have to "dig" to |
| make premium dog food for all life stages, | | | | find them, your dog is overweight and if you |
| from puppy to senior. An average adult dog | | | | can actually see her ribs, she's |
| needs a daily intake of about five ounces for | | | | underweight.If you're not sure how much to |
| every ten pounds of weight, with essential | | | | feed, you'll love the interactive Dog Food |
| nutrients in the following | | | | Calculator on PetsMart's home page! It's the |
| proportions:Protein --23% of total intake | | | | result of considerable research that has been |
| | | | published in scientific journals and accepted |
| Fats --5% of total intake | | | | by industry experts. You can determine the |
| | | | right amount of food to feed your dog and |
| Carbohydrates --65% of total | | | | find out how long that 40-lb bag will |
| intakeAdditional vitamins and minerals your | | | | last!===========Supplements============If |
| dog needs are: Vitamins A, D, E, B-complex, | | | | you're all ready feeding a nutritionally |
| Niacin, Biotin, Folic Acid, Choline, and | | | | complete premium dog food, do you still need |
| Pantothenic Acid; Calcium, Phosphorus, | | | | supplements? This is another hotly debated |
| Potassium, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium, Iron, | | | | topic. As a rule, it seems that most dogs do |
| Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Iodine, and | | | | just fine without supplements. For certain |
| Selenium.It's generally agreed that dogs do | | | | dogs and certain conditions supplements can |
| better on a protein source that's primarily | | | | make a differenced. For example, a dog who |
| meat rather than soybeans and grains. Check | | | | isn't thriving and there's no other medical |
| the label. All US food labels must list | | | | explanation for it might improve with |
| ingredients in order of their quantity. If | | | | supplements. Or, dogs with certain skin |
| meat by-products are listed, they should come | | | | conditions have been known to improve on |
| after the real meat, not before it. Meat by | | | | supplements. Since there's a danger of doing |
| products are an inferior source of protein, | | | | more harm than good, you should definitely |
| and are basically what remains after the good | | | | discuss supplements with your vet.If you do |
| quality meat has been removed. "Crude | | | | decide to use one, pick one that's made from |
| protein" can be a similarly poor source, | | | | natural sources and is designed as a |
| since it may include parts of the animal that | | | | multivitamin formulated specifically for |
| can't even be digested or absorbed by the | | | | dogs. That way she'll get everything in the |
| average dog (hair, beaks, etc.).Omega fatty | | | | right amounts and ratios. Add it to the diet |
| acids are a hot topic in human nutrition | | | | twice weekly so you won't overwhelm or |
| these days, and have been found to be just as | | | | suppress your dog's own internal regulating |
| important in the canine diet. Both should be | | | | mechanisms.=======Special |
| present, and in the right ratio. Most premium | | | | Diets==========There are many reasons why a |
| dog food companies have done the research on | | | | dog might be put on a special diet. Some dogs |
| this and adjusted the ratios, but as usual, | | | | are very sensitive to certain ingredients in |
| ask your vet if your uncertain.===========Wet | | | | commercial dog foods. Even if you're feeding |
| vs. Dry============You can buy premium dog | | | | her the best of premium dog food , if your |
| food in just about any form, but which one is | | | | dog isn't thriving, it's possible her diet is |
| best? Again, most experts seem to agree. Dry | | | | a problem for her. Owners have resorted to |
| food is less likely to allow plaque to | | | | alternative diets -- holistic, raw foods, |
| accumulate on the teeth, less likely to | | | | even kosher -- to optimize their pet's |
| harbor bacteria if left out too long, and | | | | health. Some choose these diets simply |
| results in firmer, more compact stools. | | | | because they believe they're better, not |
| Semi-moist foods are convenient but for some | | | | because their dog is having any issues.We'll |
| reason (I'm not sure what) don't offer the | | | | discuss special diets in a future article. |
| same nutritional benefits as premium kibble | | | | For now, I hope you've gained some useful |
| or canned foods.That said, I have also heard | | | | insights about the benefits of premium dog |
| arguments suggesting that a diet of | | | | food over and above economy brands. |