Food And Care : Nutrition, the Key to Dog Health

The old saying, “you are what you eat” is true—especially when it comes to the health of your pet pooch! By feeding your dog a nutritious food on a daily basis will ensure his health. Many problems can arise if your dog is improperly nourished or is fed food that does not suit his system.

Just as you are aware of the foods you put into your body, you should also be conscious of the foods you feed your dog. Usually, “people” food that is high in fat, sugar, or salt should be avoided by the four legged occupants of your home. Furthermore, check the labels on dog foods just as you would read the labels of your own foods. Note the vitamin and mineral content as well as the ingredients present in the food. Just as with food for humans, dog food ingredients are listed on the package in their order of presence. So, if the first ingredient in that bag of puppy chow is corn, you may want to find a food that has a higher concentration of ingredients that will greater influence your dog.

Dogs are like people in many ways, including their tolerance to different types of food. Many dogs suffer from negative reactions to their diet, including diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation. If your dog is experiencing any of these problems, you should seek help from your veterinarian. He or she may be able to determine a dog food that will best fit the needs of your dog. Often time, the ingredients in your dog's current food can trigger such negative reactions.

For example, dogs generally cannot handle milk proteins past the age of six months, so dog foods that contain milk can cause your pooch to have spells of diarrhea or vomiting. There is a surprising selection of specialty dog foods that have been engineered specifically to fit the nutritional needs of dogs with certain problems. Again, your veterinarian will be able to better direct you to a food that will best suit your dog's needs.

Just as with humans today, many dogs are overweight. The battle of the bulge has crossed over the species boundary and is affecting our pets. If your dog is overweight, you should immediately take action to aid him in losing weight. This usually can be done by increasing your dog’s daily exercise and decreasing any additional treats or scraps fed under the table.

In addition to losing the weight, these small steps can also affect the overall health of your pooch in addition to yourself, so everyone wins. Make it a daily habit to go walking with your dog or take him to a local dog park where he can burn calories by playing with other dogs. Instead of praising your pooch with food, do so with loving words or rubs.

Use ice as a treat instead of calorie rich bones or goodies, since your dog will still get something that he can physically associate with a deed well done without the extra pounds. Finally, if your dog continues to have a weight problem, speak with your veterinarian about a specialty food that is designed to aid dogs into losing weight.

Ensuring your dog has the proper amount of nutrients in his diet will ensure his overall health. It is a known fact that health dogs are dogs that eat well balanced diets and live active lifestyles. Do what is best for your best friend by feeding him a nutritious meal in a proper amount. Although Fido may beg at your table for those yummy scraps, you may be negatively affecting his health by your so-called treats!