Healthy Dog Food For A Healthy Fido
It is a wonder how we can over look the health of man’s best friend while we are so concerned with our own. Our pets are important members of our family and deserve the benifit of a healthy diet, just as we do. This article will provide you with the best tips on how to provide Fido with a healthy and nutrional diet.
40%-40%-20% is the magical proportion. a good dog food will be aproximatly 40% meat, 40% vegetable, and 20% complex carbohydrates or grains.The only way to select a dog food to match these pecentages is to check the lable. Here you will also find good information about moisture and other things. The contest listed on the lable should be close to the percentages above, but do not have to match exactly.
Deciding whether or not your dog food ingredients are healthy is very simple. The top ingredient on the lable should be a meat protien. If the lable describes a meat by-product the product does not have as much nutritional value. The same is true for \”fillers\”. These items do not have a great nutrional value. Things like rice and oats (grains) are good any where on the lable except the top.
The best way to avoid dangerous chemicals, such as pesticides, is to go organic.Most of the ingredients in organic dog foods will be the same as regular food, but with less of the dangerous stuff. Organic dog food producers are more humane to their chickens and cows as well.
All dogs have special dietary needs. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with the best information on what blends of protiens, carbs., and fats your Fido needs. They can also let you know if Fido has any special vitimin or mineral needs. Follow your veterinanry’s advice on the best food for your dog.
Once you determine if your dog needs to switch to a healthier food, make the transition slowly. Your dog may have a hard time ajusting to the change. To help Fido in his transition, add the new dog food to the old dog food over a week or two, increasing the proportion of new food to old food daily. It is easier for Fido’s digestive system to gradually swith. If your dog does not respond well to the change, stop where you are and give him time to adjust. Once he seems to have adjusted fully, continue the process until the old food is completly removed from his diet. This type of gradual transition will also help Fido accept the change easier.
If you want to go all the way, you should consider making your own home made dog food. Although this takes more time than buying ready-to-eat food for your dog, it’s really not that hard. Making your own can be economical as well. You can search the Internet for recipes and meal plans, and there are also books available that are basically cookbooks for dog food. It is important to remember, though: you should have your veterinarian examine and approve any food or plan before you start feeding it to your pet.
In conclusion, experct to see results in a few wweeks or months. Our diet results do not show up over night either. Also take into consideration that an older dog may have more needs for extra veterinanry care and it may take longer to see results. Regardless of the effects however, remember that a healthier diet is the best thing you can give Fido.
