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Do you know if your Dog is malnourished?
By Aaron Wilmot
In recent years, Americans have tended to be more concerned more concerned with
health issues than at any time in our past,
so you would think that we should naturally have equal concern for our animals ... especially regarding the ingredients in their food. We would want the ingredients in our beloved furry friends' food to be human grade.
After all, If byproducts are not tolerated in our food, why should they be tolerated in our pets' food? We're also starting to realize that our dogs and cats need daily supplements the same way that we do, in order to take care
of their bodies for the inevitable ravages of aging. In the span of an animal's life, an early start at good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases, joints that are less
likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart. Naturally we want our dogs and cats to live with us for as long as possible.
Renowned holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks says that when looking at dog food, one should be be weary of dyes, chemicals and artificial preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA ... one of the most common synthetic
antioxidant preservatives mainly used to prevent food discoloration and rancidity ... has been found in scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn't have a
cancerous effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in small doses over a long period of time.
Dr. Jane states that the maximum life span of dogs is estimated to be between 25 to 30 years, but the average dog often lives no longer than 13 to 14 years.
And she says that this difference is caused primarily by inadequate nourishment.
She also states that protein is a critical part of a dog's natural development.
Harder working or more energetic dogs need additional protein and fat in their diet to maintain their stamina and form. A dog food that is complete and balanced and includes at least 26% protein and 1650 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per pound is perfect. During the seasons when dogs are not working, their energy requirements simply decrease. Feed less of the high caloric dog food, or change to a less nutrient-dense food.
Ideally, the food you choose for your dog should be easily digestible and formulated with all of these factors in mind. Obviously, it is best if it contains no artificial colors or flavors. Above all it should contain no added chemical preservatives. It should also utilize whole food ingredients (egg, chicken liver meal, herring meal and turkey meal,etc.) as opposed to eyebrow-raising byproducts. Corn meal is often used as filler in some foods and this is not ideal. For more information go to
http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/
About the Author
Aaron Wilmot is an author and researcher in the fields ofhuman and pet health. For more info. go to
http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/242.html
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