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Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts

20 Homemade Dog Snacks: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Easy, Healthy Dog Treats

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Supplementing Your Dog's Diet


Is your dog enjoying a well balanced diet? If he eats the same dry food, day in and day out, year after year, chances are he’s missing out on a few things. Despite most manufacturer’s claims to the contrary, no one really knows exactly what constitutes a complete canine diet.

Make healthy dog snacks from fruits and vegetables

The FDA, AAFCO and many vets recommend regularly rotating your dog’s diet between several brands to help maintain a balanced diet. However, changing your dog’s diet from one brand to another can result in unpleasant stomach upset and digestive issues.

Here are some healthy, homemade ingredients you can add to your dog’s daily intake, without any extra effort, that will add variety and help fill in the nutritional gaps. And better yet, they won’t impact your wallet. As with any food, portion control is the key to healthy dog snacking.

Kitchen Scraps That Make Healthy Dog Snacks


Romaine Lettuce: Romaine lettuce is low in calories, high in protein (in fact it’s 17% protein), Calcium, Omega-3s, Vitamin C (one head of Romaine has more Vitamin C than an orange), Vitamin A, Iron and is rich in B-vitamins and minerals.

When your cleaning your Romaine lettuce, set aside the tough leathery pieces and the hard pale cores that you might normally put down the disposal. Most dogs enjoy the dark leafy pieces as well as the crunchy cores. A snack of leftover romaine lettuce scraps will add fresh fiber and almost no calories to his diet. Butter, green leaf and red leaf lettuces are good choices too, iron rich Spinach is also readily enjoyed.

Potato Peels: Peeling potatoes for French fries or mashed potatoes? Those potato skins are packed with Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Phosphorous, Potasium, Copper, Manganese and Magnesium. In its raw state, potato skins contain approximately 16 calories per ounce. You can safely add two ounces of raw potato skins per 20 pounds of dog weight without significantly impacting his calorie intake.

Sweet potatoes are tremendously nutritious.  Rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A, feel free to indulge your dog with left over baked sweet potatoes or peelings from them. Just make sure they don't have any added butter, sugar or marshmallows.

Carrot Peelings: When peeling and trimming carrots, put those scraps to the side for Fido. Carrots are high in fiber, anti-inflammatory and are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Vitamin K and Potassium. A quarter cup of raw carrots is only 15 calories and makes a nice fresh addition to a bowl of kibble.
treat your dog to a healthy banana snack


Healthy Fruit Snacks for Dogs


When cleaning fruit, you may discover an unappetizing piece of fruit that your dog will enjoy. We are not advocating giving rotten fruit to your pet, but a bruised piece of banana or strawberry will add fresh nutrients and antioxidants to your dog’s diet.

Bananas: High in Fiber, Vitamin C, The B Vitamins and of course potassium. Bananas in small quantities make a nice occasional treat. A one inch piece is a healthy portion for a 25 pound dog.

Blueberries: Many of the Organic and Holistic pet foods are adding blueberries to their formulas, however processing removes a good bit of their nutritive value. Blueberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, selenium, zinc and iron. And like many of the fruits on this list they are high in Vitamins C, E, A and B complex. 2 or 3 blueberries a day makes a good treat or addition to his kibble.

Melons: Watermelon and Cantaloupe: Both are high in antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A, B complex, C; cantaloupe has the additional benefits of beta-carotene, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid and folic acid. Be careful not to feed your dog the seeds. Two one inch cubes of either type of melon makes a healthy size dog snack.

Strawberries: An excellent source of fiber, Potassium, Magnesium, Iodine, Folic acid, Omega-3 fats and Vitamins C, K, B1 and B6. A single medium sized strawberry makes a healthy treat, however if they are exceptionally tart, your dog may not know what to do with it. Keep an eye on it to prevent staining on the carpet if he rejects it as a treat.

leftover tables scrapes that make healthy dog treats

Leftovers – Cooked Vegetables That Make Healthy Snack and Supplements


Your meal is over and a few scraps of leftover vegetables are on their way to the trash. Wait! The following vegetables can be added to your dog’s dinner or given as a health snack. When feeding your dog leftover vegetables from the table, be sure to rinse them first to remove any salt, pepper, butter or sauce.

Asparagus – Steamed, Grilled or Baked – For those of you who only like to eat the tips, Fido will enjoy the leftover asparagus. Be sure not to feed him the fibrous ends of the stems. Rich in fiber asparagus spears are a great source of Vitamin K and contain good levels of Vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E, Folate, Iron Copper, Manganese and Potassium.

Broccoli Florets – Steamed or Baked – Dark Green Broccoli florets are a rich source of Vitamins C and K as well as Vitamin A, folate, manganese and fiber. Serve one floret per 20 lbs of body weight.

Collards – Cooked, Fresh or Frozen - If your preparing fresh collards, and are stripping out the fibrous stems, set those aside for your dog. They are crunchy and packed with Vitamin K, A, C, Folate and Calcium. Add frozen raw or cooked collards to your dogs kibble, serving size is approximately one tablespoon per 20 lbs. Everyone of our dogs loves the stems.

Green Beans – Cooked, Canned or Frozen – they make a great low calorie treat for any dog, and are especially valuable to dogs on a diet. If you need to reduce your dog’s calorie intake, but want him to feel full after his meal, green beans in any form make addition to kibble.

Sweet Potato – Boiled, Baked or Raw – Whether you are peeling them or have skins leftover after dinner, these potatoes are high in nutrients and fiber. Sweet potatoes and Yams are a great source of vitamin A and beta-carotene in addition to Vitamins C, B6 and B5, Manganese and Potassium.

Baked Potato Skins – Cooking concentrates the number of calories per ounce, so while baked potato skins still have the nutrients of their raw counterparts, one ounce contains 32 calories. Be sure to give your dog only plain baked potato; scrape away and sour cream or butter before sharing the skin with your dog. A quarter of a potato skin makes a nice snack for a 25 lb dog.

Peas - English peas must be shelled, however Snow and Sugar Snap Pea shells are edible. Peas may be boiled, steamed or sautéed. Low in calories, peas are an excellent source of Vitamins K, C, and the B Complex, in that order, as well as Manganese, fiber, folate, protein, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, potassium. Dog treat portion size: Two sugar snap or snow peas, or for English peas, 1 tablespoon – for each 20 lbs the dog weighs.

Add Healthy and Nutritious Pumpkin to Your Dog's Food

Pumpkin - The Miracle Dog Food


Canned Pumpkin – It's the healthiest vegetable you or your dog can eat! It’s high on the anti-inflammatory index, high in fiber, Vitamins A, C, K, B complex, Iron, Potassium, Manganese and Omegas 3 and 6. It also helps with both constipation and diarrhea. One tablespoon per 20 pounds dog weight added to your dog’s kibble will keep his coat and intestines healthy. Be sure to buy plain canned pumpkin and not the pie filling which has been sweetened and spiced.

Tip: If your dog has an upset stomach, boil white rice and add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin to it. Your dog will love it; it’s easy on the digestion and will help calm a bout of diarrhea.

Dangerous dog snacks
Grapes and raisins, even in small quantities, can be toxic to dogs.

Foods NOT to Give Your Dog


Onions and Garlic should never be given as a treat to a dog. If you have a leftover that was cooked with these ingredients, pass it be as a snack for your dog.

Grapes and Raisins can be toxic, even in small quantities.

Never feed your dog any variety of White, Milk or Dark Chocolate.

And while many commercial dog foods vaunt Avocados as ingredients, they can cause digestive upset in their raw form.

3 Healthy Homemade Dog Treats You Can Make In Minutes

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A dog’s diet should consist of 20 percent vegetables consumed on a daily basis. With these 3 easy home cooked recipes you can add that much needed vitamin and mineral fix to your dog’s diet with a minimum of effort.  Better yet, these dog treats store in the freezer from 2-4 months.  So with a little bit of effort, you can serve Fido healthy snacks for months to come as easy as 1-2-3!



1 - Fast, Simple and Healthy Dog Apple Crisp Treats

These dog treats are simple to make (you’ll be done in 45 minutes start to finish) and are super nutritious.  Smear them with a little peanut butter for an extra tasty treat!

Ingredients:
  • 2 apples pealed, cored and sliced into 3/8” slices
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp cinnamon


Instructions:

1.      Preheat oven to 350° F
2.      Combine the lemon juice and water in a small bowl.
3.      Place apple slices in the lemon bath for 4 minutes turn, for 4 more minutes
4.      Place the apple slices on a baking sheet lined with wax paper
5.      Dust your apple slices with the cinnamon
6.      Bake for at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until slightly browned.
7.      Turn off the oven and let them continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
8.      Cool on a wire rack.
9.      Store in refrigerator for 1 week or in freezer for 2 months ( treats will still have a chewy texture from the remaining moisture in them).

2 - Chewy, Healthy Sweet Potato Jerky.

Sweet potatoes are high in calcium, folate, potassium and beta-carotene (beta-carotene is an antioxidant which converts to Vitamin A in the body).  Low on the glycemic index, they make a great treat for senior pets.


Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
  2. Take one sweet potato or yam, wash and peal. 
  3. Slice into half inch slices
  4. Place sweet potato slices on a baking sheet lined with wax paper
  5. Bake in oven for 3.25 hours
  6. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool.
  7. Store in Fridge for 2 weeks or freezer for 4 months


3 - Delicious Oatmeal Dog Treats

Easy to make and they last in the freezer for up to 4 months.  Oatmeal helps support the intestinal tract as it removes toxins from the intestines and the fiber helps regulate dogs. Collards and other green offer much needed essential nutrients including calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphate and omega fatty acids. Oh and the parsley freshens breath!

Ingredients:
  • 3 Cups Oatmeal, uncooked
  • 1 2/3 Cups Wheat flour or Rice flour for Gluten-free recipe
  • 1 1/2 Cup cold water
  • ¼ cup chopped frozen Collards ( or Turnip Greens)
  • 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
  • 2 Egg yolks
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda



Instructions:
  1. Thaw the collard greens, then mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl until well combined.
  2. Spoon 1-2 tablespoon scoops onto a greased cookie sheet. 
  3. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. 
  4. Place on a cooling rack. 
  5. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or the freezer for 4 months.
Try this Easy Healthy Pumpkin Treat Recipe -Ready in 30 minutes!

Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps and leftovers into Easy Healthy Dog Snacks without impacting your wallet!


                                                             

These bone shaped cookie cutters will make your treats look professionally made!

What To Feed Your Dog After Having Diarrhea or An Upset Stomach

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Source: Courtesy of PDPics.com

Dogs are omnivores with scavenging tendencies; this means they are open to eating almost anything,and that can lead to bouts of diarrhea. 


Diarrhea is defined as loose or watery stools; it is the system's attempt to quickly eliminate something from the intestinal tract that is poisoning the system.


Causes of Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

Acute or sudden onset diarrhea

  • The dog may have picked up a bug or virus
  • The dog has eaten something that does not agree with him
  • Internal Parasites 
  • Change in Diet
  • Poison

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs

  • Food allergies such as gluten or main protein ingredient allergy
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Kidney, Liver or Thyroid Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In most instances, diarrhea does not necessarily warrant a trip to the vet.  If the dog appears to be in good health otherwise, then you can treat his symptoms at home with some simple remedies.

Foul smelling diarrhea indicates the presence of an intestinal virus or internal parasites.

If your dog is showing 2 or more of these symptoms, you should make a trip to your vet.  If your dog is dehydrated and refusing water, this is potentially a life threatening condition:
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Fever
  • Dehydration
  • Blood in Stool

What to Feed Your Dog After Having Diarrhea

You will want to withhold food from your dog for at least 12 hours, to allow the digestive tract to calm down.  Feeding before the intestines have settled will only start the process of rapid elimination again.

Be sure he has access to plenty of fresh water. If he has eliminated large quantities of liquid, you can safely give him Pedialyte mixed with fresh water.  Pedialyte will help return the electrolytes back to normal levels.

First Meal

Begin by boiling a large pot of rice; make at least 3 cups of boiled rice.

Once the dog has not had diarrhea for 12 hours, you may begin by giving him boiled rice with a little canned pumpkin mixed in. (Don't use the microwave bagged rice from Uncle Bens, it has oil added to it to keep the grains from sticking together).

For a 40 pound dog 1/2 cup rice and 2 tablespoons pumpkin for the first meal.  (Use only canned pumpkin and not the pie filling with spices in it).

Pumpkin helps stop diarrhea and adds bulk as well as nutrients to the rice. It is also a good source of Vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Copper, and an excellent source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron and Manganese.

If you have access to Purina FortiFlora, you may sprinkle a sachet of powder on the rice as directed.  This will improve the palatability of the rice and help put beneficial bacteria back in the tract. Purina FortiFlora is good to have on hand for those dogs who frequently like to rummage through questionable food sources.


See how you dog tolerates his first snack.  If after 2-3 hours there has been no further diarrhea, and your dog's appetite is strong, you may give him another cup of rice with 3 tablespoons canned pumpkin mixed in.

Second Meal

If your dog has tolerated his first two snack well, you can add shredded boiled chicken or grilled hamburger meat, with the fat drained off, to the rice and pumpkin mixture.  If you don't have access to Purina's ForiFlora, you may add a dollop of yogurt to the meal to help balance the bacteria in the intestinal tract.

If your dog has not had diarrhea following the second meal, you may add half of his normal dog food to the a cup of rice and 3 tablespoons pumpkin. If all goes well after that meal, you may return to his normally feeding routine.

Probiotics for Dogs with Chronic Diarrhea

If your dog has chronic diarrhea, and your vet has not been able to isolate the cause of it, probiotics given on a daily basis may resolve the issue.  Dog Probiotics improve immune system health as well as adding beneficial bacteria to the intestinal tract. 

Signs of Food Allergies in Dogs

Dogs with food allergies may exhibit a variety of the following symptoms:
  • Licking paws or front legs until the fur turns dark red or is worn away
  • Chronic yeasty ear infections
  • Weeping eyes or red stains under the eyes
  • Bad Breath
  • Diarrhea or loose stools
  • Excessive Gas
Switching to foods that are grain free may help alleviate the allergy.  Chicken is frequently a cause of food allergies, as most chicken used in dog food is raised with antibiotics and growth hormones.  Switching to a main protein such as lamb, salmon or venison may help isolate the cause of the food allergy.



When to Contact the Vet

You should contact the vet under any of the following circumstances:
  • Diarrhea persist for 2 or more days
  • Blood in the Feces
  • Refusal to Eat or Drink after one day
  • Pale or tacky gums
  • Vomiting
  • Pain
  • Depression or lethargy 



5 Reasons Why Dogs Eat Dirt - And You Should Too!

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Why dogs eat dirt
By federico stevanin, published on 08 November 2008
Stock photo - image ID: 1001821
As scientists of various disciplines investigate the topic of dirt eating, or more accurately clay eating, they are discovering that it is more prevalent across geographic regions and species than previously imagined.  Humans, primates, dogs, cats, parrots, buffalo, deer and even fruit bats engage in clay eating or geophagia, a subset of pica.

Until now it has been assumed that the animals engaging in geophagia were either malnourished or suffering from a form of obsessive compulsive disorder originating from boredom.  New studies indicate that there may be other factors at work in the age old practice of clay eating. In our list of five reasons your dog eats clay, we offer up three traditional explanations as well as two new explanations that are gaining credence in the international dirt-eating research community.

Eating Soil From Boredom, Habit or OCD

It has been noted that bored dogs can get into the destructive habit of digging holes and then consuming the unearthed soil or clay as a by-product of the digging behavior.  In some dogs, this behavior takes on an obsessive quality, with dogs digging 2-3 new holes per day, leaving yards pock-marked with ankle-bending divots.  This behavior is different from that of the dog that returns to the same beloved spot in the yard for his daily dose of dirt, frequently an area of moist clay.  Habitual digging is a behavioral issue that should be addressed with training, increased interaction and exercise.

Clay Eating to Relieve Hunger

Some trainers have suggested that dogs fed a single meal a day are relieving hunger pains by adding a clay snack to their diet.  If your dog is on a single meal regimen and eating soil, you may try stepping him up to two meals a day to see if that curbs his clay appetite.  If that does not work, read on.
reasons why dogs eat dirt and clay
By Tina Phillips, published on 10 August 2012
Stock photo - image ID: 10095988

Dogs Eating Dirt For Missing Nutrients

Soil contains many trace elements and nutrients that are not readily available in packaged foods; clay eaters may be seeking minerals that their normal diet is lacking.  In fact, geophagia in expectant human mothers in Nigeria (an area low in available calcium) is a centuries-old indicator of pregnancy.  In other regions of Africa, where calcium is readily available, clay eating is not particularly prevalent among expecting mothers. Perhaps the pregnant, clay-eating women in Nigeria and other regions of the world are adding calcium, sodium and iron to supplement their diets for their developing fetus.

Clay Eating For Relief of Digestive Upset

For centuries man has used clay minerals to relieve vomiting, diarrhea and stomach upset.  In fact, Kaopectate, a remedy for relief of gas, bloat and diarrhea, was originally formulated with Kaolin, a clay mineral.  Ironically, clay can also contain parasites, which may create a vicious circle.  The dog eats clay to alleviate the discomfort created by the parasites, while ultimately re-infecting himself with greater numbers of parasites.  It’s a good idea to get a stool sample to the vet if your dogs is eating a lot of clay to rule out parasitic infestations.

People and Dogs Eat Dirt to Detoxify?

Clay has long been considered a detoxifier. The Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians used mud as a treatment for wounds and to treat various digestive ailments.  Today spas worldwide offer mud baths as a path to detoxification.  As kaolin and other clay minerals have the ability to bind toxins and remove them from the system, this motive for clay eating has now moved to the forefront of scientific research. 

Returning to the subject of pregnant clay eaters, women across Sub-Saharan regions and the Southern United States have consumed clay to alleviate morning sickness.  It has been proposed that morning sickness is actually the body's attempt to remove toxins from the system.  Even pregnant fruit bats increase their daily diet of clay.  It is surmised that as they increase their diet of fruit as well as fruit seeds, which contain toxic properties, they are using the clay to remove the additional toxins from their bodies. The binding properties of clay may not only be removing toxins from the system; clay possesses the additional ability to bind food born bacteria and viruses that would be harmful to the mother and developing fetus. 

Ranchers too have long used clay when preparing livestock feed to inhibit toxin transmission. And now a few researchers are now proposing exploiting clay’s pathogen-binding talents to purify water.

Dogs eating packaged foods with traces of antibiotics or chemicals remaining in them or grass, weeds and run-off from treated lawns, may be attempting to remove toxins from their systems.  It is likely that geophagia is a specific defense that has evolved across a spectrum of species to combat toxicity and, also ease mineral deficiencies.

But, if you’re feeling that old kaolin craving, we suggest you stick with safe commercial products that have been heated or otherwise sterilized.  If you have a favorite dig in your neighborhood, heat the dirt or clay in the over at 200 degrees for at least 2 hours before consuming it.  That should eliminate most parasites.  Bon Apetite!

If your dog has been experiencing stomach upset for a prolonged period of time, including loose stools and gas, you may want to look at adding a probiotic to his diet. To learn more about how probiotics work, and which probiotics are the most effective visit Pet Helpful's article, The 5 Best Probiotics for Dogs.



The Devil Is In The Details - How to Compare Dog Food Ingredients

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Comparing dog food ingredients, once you look at the paragraph on the side of the bag, may seem like it requires a PHD to decipher.  Protein meals, by-products and tocopherols abound.  Many authorities on dog food and nutrition recommend that buyers avoid any dog food containing by-products while others eschew grain based products.  Understanding dog food ingredients and their legal definitions as well as the guaranteed analysis will help you to better compare dog foods and find the best value and nutritious diet for your four legged companion.

Dog Food Ingredients Comparison 101:

The ingredients are listed on the food packaging by their weight, in descending order.  Ingredients are listed on an “as fed basis,” which can make interpretation of ingredient lists difficult, as key ingredients are regularly added with differing moisture contents. Meats contain more moisture which results in greater weight per volume, and therefore they may be listed first on the ingredient list.  Furthermore, while we are pleased to see the protein listed as the first ingredient, it may in actuality be third or lower on the least.  Manufacturers can mislead consumers through the process of “splitting” ingredients.  A label that reads:

“Turkey (natural source of glucosamine), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), oat meal, whole grain wheat, corn germ meal, soy flakes, whole grain corn, soybean germ meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soybean meal...”

may actually have corn as the number one ingredient.  The manufacturer has split corn into 3 ingredients: corn gluten meal, corn germ meal and whole grain corn.  In addition, many other carbohydrates follow the first ingredient, Turkey, without any additional animal meats, meals or byproducts.  We can suspect that this food’s protein level falls in the lower range of the 25-95% AAFCO protein requirement for pet food Formulas and Recipes.

Ingredient Definitions:

Animal Meat: AAFCO defines meat on an ingredient label as any combination of skeletal muscle meat or muscle meat found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, and esophagus. The meat may or may not include fat, skin, sinew, nerves, and blood vessels that normally accompany muscle. Meat as an ingredient excludes feathers, hair, hooves, horns, teeth, heads, feet, and entrails.

Animal by-products: By-products are proteins that have not been heat process (unrendered) and may contain heads, feet, lungs and organ meats such as kidneys and liver.  Hooves, hair, horns, teeth and feathers may not be included in this category.  While many people avoid products with by-products in the ingredient list, they can be more nutritious than the muscle-meat form of the protein.  Kidneys, lungs and liver are members of the by-products list and are high in nutritive value.  Udders, bone and connective tissue, which may be included are relatively low in nutritive value.  The ingredient list generally does not contain information on the quality of the ingredients used.

Animal Meal: You will frequently find Fish or Chicken meal listed in the first 4 ingredients of a pet food. Meal is derived from heat rendering the by-products to remove the moisture and fats from the by-product.  Here is an example where the rendering process reduces the moisture and weight of this ingredient, allowing for greater actual volume of meal to meat in the formula, although the meat remains a higher level ingredient on the label.

Dried Whey: An inexpensive form of dried cow’s milk which adds protein, and has been linked with some digestive allergies.

Glutens, Brans and Hulls:  Fillers that add fiber and bulk to the formula and are poor sources of protein, which may cause digestive upset.

Fruits and Vegetables:  Always a rich source of natural vitamins and antioxidants, these are a big plus on the label!
Preservatives:  Tocopherols are preservatives made from either Vitamin E or C or a combination of the two.  They are preferred to chemical preservatives such as Ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT, which are suspect to cause chronic disease and cancer.  Tocopherols are not as effective at preserving food for extended periods of time as are their chemical counterparts, especially once the seal has been broken on the packaging.  Be sure to store dry food in an air tight container after opening, if your pet food is preserved with Tocopherals.
Food Additives: The following ingredients fall into the food additive category: Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidant preservatives, Humectants (additives that retain moisture), Antimicrobial preservatives, Coloring agents (Red Dye 40 and 3, Blue dye 2 and Yellow5 are suspected carcinogens), Flavors, Palatability enhancers and Emulsifying agents.

Guaranteed Analysis:
The FDA required that manufacturers provide a guaranteed analysis on the package.  The guaranteed analysis on the information panel of a pet food label lists the minimum levels of crude protein and fat (those ingredients that we would like to see more of) and the maximum levels of fiber and moisture (water) that will be found in the food (those fillers that we would like to see less of as they reduce the nutritive value of the food on a per cup basis). The protein and fat are listed as crude sources rather than as digestible sources, which can vary widely depending on whether they are from animal meats or meals. Double check the ingredient list to determine the sources of the protein and fat.

Generally speaking, foods high in fiber and lower in fat content make good choices for pets that need to lose weight.  Large percentages of carbohydrates and corn in particular will cause pets to gain weight, and highly active dogs will require more protein and fat to support their increased energy levels.

How Do I Know Where These Ingredients Came From?
The US requires that the name and address of the pet food manufacturer, distributor, or dealer listed on the label. When one sees phrases such as “Distributed by…” or “Manufactured for…” or “Imported by…” we can expect that a company other than the company selling the product is the actual manufacturer of the pet food. Frequently the manufacturer is listed as a co-packer.  In the US, products manufactured outside of the United States also require “Product of (country of origin).”  Also required is the date of manufacture and “Expiry Date” or “Best Before Date” the date beyond which it is recommended to feed the product.  Often retailers will discount products with fast approaching expiry dates.  So double check those when purchasing pet food discounted on a “Manager’s Special.”

What does it all mean?

When researching ingredient lists on pet food labels, look to see at least two meat based protein sources in the first 4 ingredients on the list.  Avoid pet foods that are in the practice of splitting ingredients, with individual ingredients broken down into whole grain corn, corn gluten meal, corn meal etc…Don’t pass-up products simply because they contain animal by-products.  While by-products are not appetizing to most humans, they can be a rich source of nutrition.

Many vets and the FDA recommend changing or rotating your pet’s diet between several foods every 3 or 4 months; gradually swapping over to the new food over the course on one week.  This can prevent deficiencies caused by dietary requirements as yet not fully known, as well as prevent the onset of allergies that can develop with overexposure to a particular ingredient in a single pet food.   As you rotate your pet through several products, pay attention to weight gain or undesired weight loss as well as coat shine and skin condition.  Dull coats and flakey skin indicate your pet is not getting adequate nutrition or may be developing an allergy.  Remove any food creating the undesired effect from the rotation, noting which ingredients differ in that product from the more successful foods in your pets diet.  By keeping track of those dietary ingredients on which your pet thrives and those that should be eliminated, you can sculpt the perfect diet for your pet’s individual needs.

Shopping For A New Pet Food? How to Decipher Pet Food Labels

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According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent an estimated $52 billion dollars on their pets in 2012, with an estimated $19 billion of that being spent of pet food.  Clearly Americans love their pets, and as pet food recalls have heightened pet owners’ concerns about pet food safety and nutrition, many “Premium” foods have entered the market, competing for those dollars.  With the typical pet super market containing 6-8 aisles of dog food and 4-5 aisles of cat food, how is the health conscious pet owner to decipher the labels and choose the best food for their pet with a reasonable price tag?

The Cover Story: Food, Recipes and Flavors – What’s in The Bag?
The FDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have regulated guidelines for how pet foods products may be labeled and marketed.  Many so called premium dog foods have found creative marketing tactics for dodging these regulations while luring consumers with promises of holistic or evolutionary diets. 

When I first learned that FDA requirements stated that a dog food labeled as “Salmon for Dogs” must contain at least 95% salmon (by weight percentage), I was stuck by the fact that my premium dry dog kibble barely even smells like seafood. I went to double check the label.  My premium food calls itself a “Life Protection Formula,” later defined in smaller print as a “Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe.”  Many other ingredients follow on the side of the package so what gives?

Recipes, Dinners and Formulas fall under different rules with regards to FDA and AAFCO labeling regulations.  A pet food using one of these monikers need only contain between 25% and 95% of the main ingredient listed on the front label.  The food must contain more of the first listed ingredient on the label than the following label ingredients.  So my fish and sweet potato formula, by AAFCO regulations, might only contain 13% fish and 12% sweet potato.  If it said “Fish, Sweet Potato and Oatmeal Recipe,” I might expect the food to contain perhaps 10% fish, 8% sweet potato and 7% oatmeal. Other terms used under this rule include entrée, platter, pate or shreds.

Trickier still is the word “With”  Pet food bags that market ingredients using the term “with” need only contain 3% of the additional ingredient. For example, if my food bag read “sweet potatoes with fish recipe,” then the manufacturer would only be required to put 3% fish in the product.  Products with names like “TurDucKen” and “Shepherds Pie” fall completely outside of regulation.  You will have to delve deeper and check the ingredient list on the side or bottom of the package to know what the manufacturer is actually selling in that bag or can.

Finally, there is the packaging descriptor “Flavor.”  Foods that are flavored with beef, chicken or fish, have no strict percentage requirements other than it should contain a sufficient amount that the flavor be detectable by the pet. Interestingly, the product need not contain the actual product that is “flavoring” the dinner.  Manufacturers may use other ingredients that simulate the flavor, so a beef flavored dinner may not contain any beef at all.  Professional dog food taste testers determine if the flavor can be detected.  These dogs are trained to respond to the presence of a scent in order to indicate that the food possesses that essence or flavor.

Gravy, Sauce and Aspic – Purchasing Cans of Water
Moisture, the amount of water in the dog food, ranges from about 8-10% in dry Kibble to 78% in canned pet food.  AAFCO limits the amount of moisture to 78% of weight, but manufactures can add more liquid, 79%+ moisture as a percent of weight, to the overall meal by adding phrases such as “in sauce,” “in gravy” or “with aspic.”  79% or more of moisture seems like a waste of money, although for animals with kidney disease needing to increase their water intake, high moisture foods may be of value.

“Grain-free”foods do not contain wheat, soy or corn; three ingredients that animals frequently have trouble digesting.  It is interesting to note that these are three crops that have undergone substantial genetic engineering over the last few decades.  “Gluten-Free” products can include corn, but not wheat, rye or soy.  Most “sensitive stomach” formulas are based on rice, oatmeal or potato for the bulk of their carbohydrates.

Life Stages Labeling
Frequently manufacturers will divide their product lines in a series of life stages formulas.  Puppy or Kitten, Adult and senior are typical stages.  AAFCO has established two nutrient profiles each for dogs and cats—growth/lactation and maintenance—to fit their life stages.  Through feeding trials, the manufacturer tests the product on dogs or cats under strict guidelines. Products found to provide proper nutrition based on these feeding trials may carry a statement such as: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that “This Product” provides complete and balanced nutrition for (specific life stage)."  Products found to be suitable for an adult are referred to as maintenance diets, which may or may not provide adequate nutrition for animals in the lactating or growth phase, or hard working animals.  Large Breed, Small Breed and Senior formulas mean that they meet the requirements of a maintenance, adult diet and nothing more.  “All Life Stages” diets meet both the requirements for maintenance and the higher nutritional requirements of the growth diet.


Holistic, Natural, Premium and Organic Labeling
The terms Holistic and Premium are not defined by AAFCO or the FDA and therefore have no legal meaning.  These labels are “sales puffs,” and are defined by the individual consumer’s imagination.  “Natural,” however does have a legal definition in the pet food industry.  Natural products are defined by AAFCO as:
 “A food or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts which might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.”

Natural products may not contain synthetic additives (which include certain dyes, preservatives and chemically produced flavor enhancers), as well as many trace elements such as taurine and vitamins which are synthetically derived. Manufacturers choosing to add vitamins or other nutrients to a “Natural” product must label their products with a disclaimer such as, “Natural ingredients with vitamins added.”



Organic foods also have a legal definition and must follow strict growing, harvesting and processing procedures. Under the current FDA standard the term organic is applied to human foods, and can only be applied to pet foods if the human standards have been met. Organic on the label indicates that the food has been produced through methods that promote cycling of resources, ecological balance and biodiversity. Furthermore organic protiens must be raised without the use of drugs such as hormones and antibiotics.
A Pet food wherein more than 95% of the ingredients meet the human standard may display the USDA organic seal. When organic contents, after moisture has been removed, are between 70%+ and 95%, the label may say, “Made with organic ingredients.” And those foods with 70% or fewer organic ingredients, may list the organic ingredients in the ingredient list, but cannot make mention of organic anywhere else on the labeling.

What does all of this mean when you are perusing the pet food aisles?  Don’t expect to find a pet food that meets the 95% rule and in order to be able to call itself a “beef” or “lamb” pet food.  Even Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw frozen food, which guarantees a minimum of 95% meat and bone meal, promotes itself as a formula. 

If you are concerned about additives and the processing of your pet’s food, you will want to see “Natural” on the label.  If hormones, antibiotics and sustainability concern you, then you will need to seek out those pet foods that proudly display the USDA Organic seal.  You will find that the manufacturers of organic pet foods are very proud of their foods and price them accordingly.  $60 for a 30 pound bag of food would be the average going price for a certified organic dog food.  And if you’re just looking for a food with a good protein balance, you will have to flip the bag or can and investigate the ingredient list further.

Once you have identified three or four pet food brands of interest, it’s time to compare the ingredient lists to see which provides the optimal value and nutritional content.


High End Dog Foods That Deliver Healthy Skin, Coat and Firm Stools


 

These dog foods have scored high on antioxidants and probiotics that produce firm stools and healthy, shiny coats. Consider rotating your dog through these foods on a quarterly basis to prevent food allergies from developing.


  • Castor and Pollux has freeze dried bits of vegetables and fruits that are recognizable when you are feeding your dog.  Our test dogs did very well on this foods with ultra shiny coats and small firm stools (that indicates they are easily absorbing the nutrients present in the food).
  • Taste of the Wild is the number one selling natural dog food online and a big favorite on the Dog Show Circuit. (Owned by Diamond)
  • Diamond Naturals left the Show Afghans with amazing coats and excellent muscle tone. Made in the USA
  • Canidae produced ultra shiny coats; made with all natural human grade ingredients.
Is your dog experiencing digestive issues, runny eyes or itchy skin? Check out The 5 Best Probiotics for Dogs Reviewed.