The Best Dog Nutrition
One of the most critical things you can do for your dog is give him the properly balanced nutrition he needs. It should contain a balance of protein , quality fats and micronutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. He also needs more than 50 key nutrients vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus to name a few. Keep in mind that if his food doesn’t contain all the essential nutrients he requires, he may suffer health problems.
Hills Science Diet Healthy Development Small Bites
Puppy parents who tried Hills Science Diet Small Bites for puppies love it. Heres what one tester had to say My vet recommended this and gave me a sample. Honestly, its so much better than the Pedigree puppy food we were giving him . The pieces are smaller, smell better, have better ingredients, and he eats them like crazy. He also has less stinky gas, which is a plus. Ive been working on using healthier and more responsible ingredients and products for myself and both of my critters, and this lets me do that while still paying rent.
Dog Parents, however, want a bigger bag size for this food. It only comes in a 4.5 and 15lb bag at the moment. I love this dog food and so do my dogs, I just wish it was sold in a bigger 30lb bag! Now that we got a Goldendoodle, he eats more than my dachshund so were going thru it a lot quicker! No complaints on the food just wish it was a bigger size bag!!
The Best Diy Dog Food With Turkey And Veggies
Ever since we published our first Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe we have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have told us that they have already made the leap and are preparing fresh meals for their pups at home! Ditching processed kibble once and for all is one of the best things you can do for your dog. We learned this ourselves this last year after our 11-year old dog had an incredibly positive change to his health once we moved to a healthy dog food! Recently, I developed a new 100% human grade homemade dog food recipe that utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage! Our dogs love it so much I decided to share it here too so you and your pup can celebrate the best the season has to offer.
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarians careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup.*** Updated with video 9/4/2021
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Who Makes Hills Science Diet
The Hills Pet Nutrition Company was founded in the 1930s by devoted dog owner Morris Frank and clinical nutritionist Dr. Mark Morris Sr. Together, this pair of dog lovers created a specialty diet for Mr. Franks dog which then blossomed into a pet food company dedicated to improving the protecting the health and wellness of pets.
Today, Hills Science Diet pet food is produced and manufactured by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and it is recommended by veterinarians all over the world.
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Glucosamine cushions these areas, while chondroitin prevents the cartilage from further breaking down .
While giving your dogs these treats as rewards for good behavior or as snacks, youre also providing them support for their hips and joints.
And based on many customer reviews, once given these little sticks for several days, previously inactive dogs have been moving around much better.
The nutrition is on point. There is a perfect balance of protein, carbs, fiber, and fat. And since the food is completely natural , these are perfect for giving on a daily basis.
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How To Choose A Raw Dog Food For Beginners
Choosing the safe and best raw food for your dog as a beginner might be complex and challenging. So, here are some factors or things you should consider before feeding them:
- Health It is the essential thing that you should remember. You should choose a raw diet that would help your canines maintain their healthy body.
- Activity Level Energetic dogs, like working dogs, have different requirements of calories. So, it would help if you considered how active your dog is to avoid some health risks.
- Age and Size The amount of raw food for your dog also depends on how big and old they are.
- Food Allergies Some dogs are allergic to some raw food, so be careful on feeding them.
- Taste This thing is so crucial. The food that you should feed must coincide with your dog’s preference.
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What Is The Best Dog Food Brand
None of the independent experts we spoke with were direct on which of the more than 500 pet food facilities in the United States make the best dog food. And, as anticipated, representatives for dog food companies tended to recommend their products over all others. The truth is that there is no true gold standard for pet food, admitted Dr. Darcia Kostiuk, senior veterinarian with Champion Petfoods, the company behind Acana and Orijen.
Whats good for a professional dock-diving dog might not be what the pooch on the sofa beside you needs. Like people, dogs are individuals with different activity levels, preferences, temperaments, and metabolisms. As long as you consult your vet and select a product your dog enjoys eating, youre well on your way to providing your pup with a great meal.
Filtered Or Distilled Water Only
The kidneys main function is to filter out the toxins in our bodies. Since tap water can be loaded with chemicals and contaminants it is best to only give your dog clean, filtered water to drink. If you have a dog living with kidney disease like we do, you may also want to eventually invest in a slow water feeder. Dogs with kidney disease can get quite thirsty and will actually start drinking water too fast which causes its own unique set of problems.
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What About Pet Food Recalls
Its worth paying attention to pet food recalls to ensure your pet doesnt get sick. Although recalls can be concerning, you dont have to permanently write off a brand you generally trust based on one report. Ive tracked recall reports for a decade, and I have seen recalls affect both boutique brands and huge conglomerates, for problems such as elevated mineral levels, salmonella contamination, or incorrect compliance guidelines. If your brand is recalled, dont panic. Just stop feeding your dog the food, and return it to the store or manufacturer for a refund. You can always ensure your food is safe by checking the FDAs dog food recall history. If your pet food hasnt been recalled but your dog develops digestive upset, or you spot moldy kibble in the bowl, you can report this to the FDA using its How to Report a Pet Food Complaint page.
This article was edited by Catherine Kast and Jennifer Hunter.
Is A Raw Diet For Dogs Cheaper
Because of its fresh ingredients, raw dog food can be a high-value and more expensive treat for your pup. But, there are some ways that it can be a cheaper way of feeding.
- Feed one raw meal a day instead of two For a raw diet, one meal can be enough to provide the nutrients your dog needs.
- Use Raw as a Tasty, High-Value Treat Feeding your pup a tasty with a high-value meal would be the best treat for them.
- Make Raw an Occasional Meal According to Steve Brown, a canine nutritionist, author, and consultant, one raw meal per week could be a great help to improve your canine’s health.
- Buy in Bulk Storing a bulk of raw food in the freezer would help you save money, even gas.
- Spend Money on Great Food, Not in Veterinary Bills If you choose the fresh and safe way of feeding your dog, your money spent on it will be worth it.
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The Benefits Of A Raw Diet For Puppies
Below are some health benefits for your dogs, which includes:
- Chewing enjoyment
- Greater muscle mass
- Smaller stools
These benefits could not be permanent depending on what raw food they are eating. But, every food has its potential risks on your canine. So, well be sharing those risks for you to be aware of.
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About Hills Pet Nutrition
New Boxer Puppy
We picked up Winston July 9th. The breeder was feeding them some kind of kibble with cute little designs in the food, like the puppy is going to relate to that.Anyway, ALL my dogs were raised on Science Diet Dog Food. The breeder gave me a zip-lock bag of food to mix in with mine so Winston could transition to Science Diet. I didnt do that. I placed a bowl of Science Diet puppy food on the floor and no transition needed. He GOBBLED it up. Loves it. Always recommend Science Diet to all my friends with dogs.
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Did You Make This Recipe
Tag @thismessisours on Instagram and hashtag it #thismessisours
How to make our original Homemade Dog Food recipe
Its a fact, feeding your pup a diet of 100% human grade dog food is easy, cost effective, and WAY better for them than a traditional doggie diet of processed kibble! My easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground beef, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs for a healthy, vibrant alternative to traditional dog food that has given our 11 year old dog a new lease on life!
Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs recipe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dogs day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!
Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe
Hills Science Diet Chicken And Barley Recipe
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum
This recipe from Hills focuses on helping your dog develop and maintain lean muscles and an ideal body condition. The ingredients are easy to digest and perfect for a fit-minded dog.
Something that confuses us a little is that everything contains many of the same ingredients, so we dont understand how theyre catering to individual issues.
This food claims to provide all the same benefits of the previous two which were for sensitive stomachs and digestive health its almost as if all the food has a placebo effect.
The food also has an excellent reputation on Chewy just like every other food line from this brand. They have 279 reviews with 95% of reviewers recommending the product.
Most people say their dog’s coat improved and that they switched back to a grain diet and noticed improved health in their pup.
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How Much Should A Lab Puppy Eat
Like any new baby, your puppy is growing quickly and will need to maintain a steady flow of nutrition to grow up well. Once your puppy has weaned off of moms milk, its time for dog food.
Puppies typically need at least three meals a day but depending on where they are in the Labrador growth chart cycle, they might need more or less.
Your puppy is likely to eat all of the food available, which could lead to excessive weight gain, which can cause bone issues down the road.
For this reason, it is best to follow a lab puppy feeding chart to know you are on the right track. Its important that you feed them only the best dog food for Labradors.
When Should My Dog Switch From Puppy Food To Dog Food
But once your pup is six to 12 months old those needs change. Thats usually when your puppy is nearing his adult height and can transition to adult food. Spaying or neutering usually occurs at this age as well, lowering your dogs need for increased energy hence a reason to switch from puppy to adult dog food.
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Hills Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entree Canned Dog Food
You wont have to worry about your puppys health issues when choosing this food. One tester says, Our puppy is an indoor hound who has a HUGE amount of energy. We try to keep her active and fed well as its the foundation for good health throughout her lifetime. Enter this she seems to really enjoy a can of this with her kibble, and weve been feeding it for a couple of months with great results. Her coat looks great, her energy level is high, and overall shes in wonderful health.
Some customers, however, want a better can design. May not be important to some but to those of us who have arthritic hands it is a painful inconvenience to open cans with a can opener. Premium food with a premium price should come with something as simple as an easy-open top. In addition, several of the cans were dented, making them even more challenging to open.
Raw Food Diet For Dogs: Potential Risk Factors
As mentioned above, there are many potential benefits for your canine if you feed raw foods to them.
However, it doesn’t change the fact that there could also be a potential risk on them. It includes:
- The building of bacteria called Listeria on contaminated raw meat could poison your canine
- An unbalanced diet could be a high risk of other health problems
- Whole bones might choke your dog or damage their teeth and mouth
- Damage digestive system
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Effect Of Neutering/spaying On How Much Food Your Lagotto Romagnolo Eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Lagotto Romagnolo`s appetite for more food. Also, your Lagotto Romagnolo`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Lagotto Romagnolos because neutered dogs roam less .
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Lagotto Romagnolo should be reduced after you neuter your Lagotto Romagnolo to prevent weight gain.
Use our Lagotto Romagnolo food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Lagotto Romagnolo.
Dont Worry Too Much About The Guaranteed Analysis Section
The guaranteed analysis is required to provide the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content, but it shows only the minimum and maximum amounts that are guaranteed, notes Petfoodology veterinarian Lisa M. Freeman. Therefore, its fairly useless as a way to compare pet foods or judge the nutrient levels of an individual food, she writes.
So if your vet tells you your dog needs to up their moisture intake, for example, and youre comparing a few different products, call the manufacturers to confirm the amounts, rather than just referencing the guaranteed analysis. Ask them for the average or typical nutrient percentages, or the figures per 100 or 1,000 kilocalories, so its easier to compare. Remember that a good pet food company should employ nutritional experts and have quality-control measures to ensure consistency across products.
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Dry Vs Wet Puppy Food
Although dry kibble is a popular choice, its not the only option. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods.
This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence.
You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option.
According to Purina Nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, If youre feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry food, it is extremely important to ensure the total caloric value does not fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. This allows you to calculate the amount of each product needed to meet your puppys nutritional requirements.
For example, Millican explains, one thirteen-ounce can of wet puppy food may contain four hundred and seventy-five kilocalories and replace approximately one cup of a dry puppy formula with a similar value of kilocalories per cup. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation.
The brand websites and your veterinarian are great resources and can help you develop a feeding plan specifically for your puppys needs.