Canine nutrition

Dogs will do well on any one of several dry dog foods, depending on his level of activity, his metabolism, and his individual body chemistry. Because of the requirements of a healthy coat many owners find that some dogs do best on a diet that is high in protein and fat content. If your dog is doing well on the food you are feeding do not switch. If you have skin problems that cannot be traced to an obvious cause such as fleas, consider a food with a higher fat content or one of the hypoallergenic foods.

Understanding Ingredients

Proteins are chemicals made up of other chemicals known as amino acids. Dogs can manufacture some amino acids in their bodies and must be supplied others in their food. Proteins from animal sources -- meat and meat byproducts -- are more complete and easier to extract and digest than proteins from plant sources. Proteins form the enzymes that metabolize food into energy as well as the hormones that guide various body functions. They themselves can also be metabolized to provide energy. High protein feeds are recommended for puppies and working dogs, but too much protein can cause renal (kidney) disease and has been implicated in some temperament problems.

Fats are probably the most misunderstood of the nutrients, for they are popularly considered the cause of obesity. It is true that a food high in fat will cause obesity in a dog that has a low expenditure of energy, for fats are higher in calorie than either protein or carbohydrates. However, fats are essential for good health, particularly of the skin. Today's homes are well-heated and have dry air that can exacerbate dry skin conditions; the addition of Omega fatty acids to dog diets either in the formula or as a supplement, can help keep skin pliable and healthy. Fats increase the palatability of food, provide a media for fat-soluble vitamins, and affect food storage. They also are essential for healthy coat and skin, reproductive efficiency, and kidney function.

Carbohydrates should make up about 50 percent of a balanced food for dogs. The source of carbohydrates is an important consideration; corn is the most popular choice, with soybeans a close second. Other sources include rice and wheat. As long as the carbohydrate source is clean and of good nutritional quality, that is, it does not consist of floor sweepings or come from a poor quality harvest, it probably does not matter. Some dogs may be allergic to one or more of these sources, and some dogs may experience bloating or flatulence on soybean formulas, but most dogs do well on most sources of carbohydrate.

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for proper absorption of fats and carbohydrates and for the chemical reactions in the body. Not only do organisms need these nutrients, but also they need them in proper amounts and ratios for optimum health. For example, unless calcium and phosphorus are in balance, neither will be properly absorbed or utilized, which can lead to bone or muscle problems. Some dogs may need vitamin or mineral supplements at some time during their lives. Some breeders give extra Vitamin C to dogs recovering from injury and boost bitches with Vitamins C and E during pregnancy. However, dogs manufacture their own Vitamin C, so this may be redundant. Dogs with dry skin may benefit from daily doses of Vitamin E, and dogs under stress or bothered by fleas or biting flies may improve if given Vitamin B complex. The operative word is "may"; brewer's yeast, that oft-touted, but essentially effective treatment for flea problems is high in B-complex vitamins.

Vitamins are divided into fat-soluble and water-soluble types. Water-soluble vitamins are excreted from the body if they are not used; fat-soluble vitamins are stored in fatty tissue.
 

• Water-soluble vitamins are the B complex, including thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, choline, and B12, and C, ascorbic acid. B-vitamins help convert food to energy; C can be manufactured by the dog and supplementation is not necessary. However, some breeders insist that Vitamin C is helpful for dogs that are under stress.
• Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K. They are involved in several body functions, including eyesight, bone formation and strength (with calcium), cell stability, and blood coagulation. Vitamin K can be synthesized by bacteria in the dog's intestine and does not need to be added to the diet under ordinary circumstances. Deficiencies of Vitamin E can cause muscle tissue breakdown, reproductive failure, and impairment of immune response. Vitamin A deficiency can cause several eye problems, including dryness, corneal ulceration, and inflammation of the conjunctiva. Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets.
• Fat-soluble vitamins can build up in tissues and become toxic. Excess Vitamin A can lead to bone disease; too much Vitamin D can cause calcification of soft tissue, lungs, and kidneys. Evidence of toxicity in Vitamin E overdose is sketchy; there may be some adverse effects on blood coagulation or thyroid function, but more study is needed to ascertain the extent of such effect.

Preservatives are necessary in foods that contain animal fats to prevent rancidity. The fats are used in dry kibble for palatability, a source of fatty acids, and a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins can cause dog food to become toxic if they break down. Dog food manufacturers use several chemicals called antioxidants to prevent that breakdown, including BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, and Vitamins C and E.

Vitamins are used in all natural and organic foods. They are more expensive than other chemicals and not as efficient at the job. Foods preserved with vitamins have a shorter shelf life than food preserved with BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.

Which Dog Food To Choose
If a dog food is balanced and provides the proper amount of essential nutrients which of the dozens of brands and hundreds of formulas should be chosen for your dog?

• The food must contain nutrients in usable form. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are no good if they can not be absorbed. Here is where the difference between cheap foods and more expensive formulas is greatest. The higher-priced diets are more likely to have balanced and usable nutrients.
• It must be palatable to the dog. If your dog does not like it, it does not matter how well balanced it is.
• Your dogmust remain healthy while eating the food. If his skin is dry, he is losing or gaining weight, has stomach gas or flatulence, consider changing his diet.
• The food must contain nutrients in usable form. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are no good if they can not be absorbed. Here is where the difference between cheap foods and more expensive formulas is greatest. The higher-priced diets are more likely to have balanced and usable nutrients.
• It must be palatable to the dog. If your dog does not like it, it does not matter how well balanced it is.
• Your dog must remain healthy while eating the food. If his skin is dry, he is losing or gaining weight, has stomach gas or flatulence, consider changing his diet.

Types of Dog Food

• Dry food or kibbles are made from dough of grain flours, meat meals, dairy products, and vitamins and minerals baked in large pans and broken after cooking. Many kibbled foods are prepared in a mixing pressure cooker and the resulting dough is extruded through a die and expanded with steam and air into small, porous nuggets. These nuggets are coated with a liquid fat, carbohydrate, or milk product for added calories and palatability. These feeds must be at least 40 percent carbohydrates in order for the process to work and must be packaged in bags with a grease barrier of impermeable material such as plastic-coated paper.
• Semi-most foods are cooked combinations of soybean meal, sugar, fresh meat or meat by-products, animal fat, preservatives, and humectants (wetting agents that allow the product to stay moist but not spoil). The dough is extruded into a variety of shapes to resemble ground meat or chunks of meat to appeal to the buyer; the dog does not care. The coloring in semi-moist foods can turn the dog's stool reddish. 
• Canned foods come in four types: ration, all animal tissue, chunk-style, and stew. The ration foods are ground and cooked into a liquid, then canned. The animal-tissue foods are not liquefied before canning and may include chunks of identifiable by-products such as arteries. Chunk-style foods are ground and shaped into chunks to disguise the by-products, then covered with gravy before the can is sealed. Stews are designed to please the owner. In each of these types, the filled cans are sterilized.
• Frozen dog food is available in limited distribution. This is a meat-based food with no preservatives, made with fresh meat. It generally contains a sweetener such as cane molasses that adds to the caloric content. It must be kept frozen until ready to use and the unused portion must be kept refrigerated.

Supplements

Some owners who have dogs with dry skin may add a teaspoon or tablespoon of corn oil to their pet's dinner, but many nutritionists think that this adds only calories and that a food higher in essential fatty acids will take care of the skin. Some owners purchase essential fatty acids in a bottle and add that to the food.

Some owners think growing puppies need extra calcium and add it in the form of bone meal. But this can do more harm than good, for calcium must be in balance with phosphorus and magnesium in the diet, and an overabundance of calcium can cause a myriad of problems.

Most dogs will do well when fed good quality dry dog food; occasionally add some canned or frozen food, some meat broth (no salt added), or a bit of liver for a treat; and avoid supplements unless recommended by a veterinarian.

Those owners who would like to cook their own food at home should contact a nutritionist for a recipe to make sure the ration is balanced.

Feeding Your Puppy

Feeding the Older Dog

Obesity

Approximately 25-30 percent of dogs either suffers from obesity or is at risk of becoming obese. Dogs become obese because they take in more calories than they use. They will eat themselves into oblivion if given half a chance, so you must be on your toes.

To avoid overweight, tailor the dog's diet to his activity level, walk the dog daily, and cut back on treats, especially high fat treats. Do not depend on the dog to exercise himself in the back yard; like most people, dogs will not exercise sufficiently without some incentive to do so. A regular schedule of walks and a lower calorie diet will help avoid obesity in spayed and neutered dogs.

To return a dog to a healthy weight, work with a veterinarian to rule out hormonal problems, determine the dog's optimum weight, and devise a feeding schedule that will achieve that weight with a minimum of stress on the dog. Some dog food companies have a special formula for overweight dogs that contain fewer calories. If the dog is very hungry, a diet high in moisture may do the trick because it provides more volume.

Treats

Those interested in healthy foods will find that dogs like vegetables such as raw carrots and broccoli cut up into little bits. dogs seem to like the crunchy taste of these treats, which are also excellent stimulation for the gums.

Sliced beef liver and a bunch of garlic (the kind that comes cut up in a bottle) boiled until the beef liver is cooked through (30 minutes) makes an excellent homemade treat. The resultant liver is quite messy which can be solved by placing on a baking sheet in the oven at 250 degrees and bake, turning once until each side is dried out -- but not dried to the point of the entire piece being hard. Cut this up into little bits and keep in refrigerator. dogs love this -- but you do need to use care to not give them too much as it can cause diarrhea.

And alternative to beef liver is beef hearts. Basically cook this the same way as the liver above. As your butcher for beef hearts or ask them to special order for you. They are usually quite inexpensive. You may need to buy a whole heart but the butcher will usually cut up for you and you can freeze until needed. When cooked this tastes much like roast beef and again the dogs love this treat. Beef heart treats do not cause diarrhea that that comes with the liver treats.

Breeder's Edge - Phone: (800) 322-5500
Critter Feeders - Frozen beef in 5 lb. logs, vitamins, herbs. Phone: (562) 856-9550
Dog Food Comparison
Flint River Ranch - Premium dog foods
IAMs Company - Makers of Iams and Eukanuba pet foods
Innova & California Natural
Missing Link - Supplements for Dogs, Cats and Humans
Natura Pet Products - Dog and cat foods
Nutro Pet Products - Dog and cat foods
Nutri-Pet Research, Inc - Pet supplements
Pet Express, Inc.- Convenient home delivery of 23 premium dog & cat foods. Discount subscription programs allow you to save and order for up to one year. Alexandria, VA. Phone: (703) 683-9674 or (888) PET-XPRSS.
Sensible Choice Pet Foods - Dog and cat pet foods
Sojourner Farms - Holistic foods
Solid Gold - Health Products for Pets
Super Premium Pet Foods
Three Dog Bakery - dog treats. Phone: (800) 4-TREATS
Tongie Vet & Feed Supply - Phone: (800) 642-9116

Home Made Yogurt

Scald milk - do NOT boil (To Scald, cook in saucepan on med heat until a film forms on the top) Then remove from the burner and let cool to approx 110 degrees.

Pour into jars, add approx 2 tblsp per quart of either yogurt with live acidofilus cultures or yogurt starter. You can then let it rest in either a warm oven (approx 110 - 120 degrees) or in a warm water bath (water at approx 110 degrees) for 4 - 8 hours. (We have a friend who set it on her hot water heater). Or, set up a warm water bath in a igloo cooler and let it sit over night. It will start to thicken but will not completely firm up until it is cooled. Place the jars in the fridge, and it's ready to go as soon as it cools.

Nutra Science Naturals Turkey Chicken & Rice, 35 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Turkey Chicken & Rice, 17.5 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Lamb & Rice, 17.5 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Turkey Chicken & Rice, 5 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Turkey Chicken & Rice, 10 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Lamb & Rice, 10 lbs.

Nutra Science Naturals Lamb & Rice, 5 lbs.