You are probably feeding your dog poison

February 4, 2010 on 12:52 am | In Dog Diet |

Dear Dog Lover,

Most of us know very little about dog food. And we know even less about what our dogs need in terms of food. However, it is not too difficult to understand a few things about dogs and their diets.

Corn and soy are cheap ways for a dog food company to increase protein levels of food while keeping meat content lower. This lowers the price per bag of kibbles or can of food. However, two things happen. The first is one you can easily see when you look at your dog's stool when he is eating these foods. The corn (or soy) meal passes through the dog undigested. Therefore, the dog got little nutritional benefit. The other thing you realize is that if the dog got little or no nutritional benefit, did he feel hungry afterwards? The answer is yes and that is why you have to feed more (which means buying more) of these foods than you do with foods that do not contain corn or soy meal.

As omnivores, dogs need a primarily meat-based diet. Their bodies can digest some plant material, but not as much as our bodies. A food that has a specific meat like chicken or beef listed first is ideal for your dog. This is not a by-product like chicken by-products. If the food has two or more meats, that is even better. A very large proportion of your dog's diet should be basic cooked meats which can include all types of beef, pork, and chicken.

Fish oil in your dog's food or as a supplement will help prevent dry skin and will give your dog a shiny coat. Plant-based oils like flax or borage can help, but cannot be digested as easily or completely as fish oil.

Brown rice, eggs, and cheese contain many nutrients needed by dogs. The brown rice is a good source of carbohydrate for prolonged energy. Egg whites have a number of amino acids, the building blocks of cells, while the yoke is protein-rich. Small amounts of cheese, yogurt, or cottage cheese supply calcium and Vitamin D for strong, healthy bones.

Small amounts of vegetables like broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, and various beans supply the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Treats made with peanut butter, whole wheat flour or rice flour, and meat broth are healthy - and greatly desired by dogs! Your dog will drive you crazy to have this type of treat.

Commercial dog foods often contain chemicals that contribute to behavior problems or allergies in dogs. Usually these chemicals do not even have to be listed in the ingredients since they are miniscule or are added prior to the final processing. If your dog has frequent ear infections, skin infections, or even a short attention span, start thinking about a food problem.

It is difficult to control a dog's weight when he is being fed only commercial dog food. Simply decreasing the amount of food or increasing the amount of exercise will help, but may not entirely solve the weight problem. Changing the brand of food or feeding one meal a day of a cooked dog food diet will be more likely to help with weight reduction and control.

Most Dog Food Makers Don't Love Your Dog

They love making money, and it took the premature death of his dog Noble to wake Andrew Lewis up to this truth

Click here to learn how to give your dog true love

Andrew slowly began to notice that Noble didn't have that bounce in his step he was famous for, and that at times he even seemed reluctant to go for his regular exercise, which was always the highlight of his day.

Guessing that Noble was just feeling a bit off or maybe feeling lazy, he let it pass. But it kept getting worse, and when Andrew finally took Noble to the vet he received the horrible news that Noble's kidneys were failing, and soon Noble was dead.

What brought down this young, healthy dog? The vet told Andrew it was the preservatives found in commercial dog food.

Click here for more of Andrew's and Noble's story

World renowned animal experts know the truth

The power of big corporations prevents dog owners from learning about the horrible ingredients that go into the manufacture of most commercial dog foods. But well known and well respected animal nutrition and animal care experts are putting out the word.

Dr. Henry Pasternak says, "Although you won't see it on the label….ethoxyquin (EQ) is used to preserve most dry pet food….EQ is the most powerful of all preservatives and may be the most toxic."

Leading dog-health author Ann N. Martin sums up the state of commercial dog food in a single sentence: "Most commercial pet foods are garbage."

Click here to see what other experts have to say about the food your dog is probably eating

It's not just about diet

Andrew advises giving up commercial dog food as the main source of food; learning how to read commercial dog food labels and getting your hands on healthy, well-balanced dog food recipes so you can start feeding your beloved dog homemade food.

But in addition, in his book "Dog Food SECRETS", he shows you how to effortlessly go beyond diet to a complete circle of dog care that will bring your dog to never-before-reached levels of health and vitality.

Click Here To Grab Your Copy of 'Dog Food Secrets' Right NOW

Nancy Richards President Dog Training Institute