THE DOG FOOD DILEMMA.. CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE
High protein, low protein, grain-free, fruits and veggies.. raw? When it comes to deciding what to feed your pet, it can all be a bit daunting.
Here's a few requirements to keep in mind on your next trip to the pet store..
In the first two years, chows require a lower protein food for slow, strong bone development. A large breed food supplies the necessary nutrition for that. It's controversial whether your chow actually needs puppy food and personally we're kind of on the fence about it, We only recommend feeding a Large Breed Puppy food for 6 months before switching to Large Breed Adult. After they mature (approx.18 months to 2yrs) and their bones are fused and developed, then the low protein content is not as important and a higher protein dog food can be given. It has less carbohydrates/starches which is better when they are grown. Just remember that they are less active so you can feed less. Letting them get overweight is a no-no with this breed. Keep in mind when switching food to mix a bit of the new in with the old for the first few days to avoid a tummy ache!
WHEN READING THE LABEL
* It must be labelled as Large Breed Dog Food.
* It must have 24% to 26% protein,
* The label must read chicken, lamb, beef or fish as the first ingredient. No by-products like wheat, corn, soy, gluten or artificial flavours or colours. Not only is the corn, wheat and soy genetically modified.. some grains can contain alfa-toxins. Mould spores were found in the corn from the growers, because of poor growing conditions or prolonged storage and can cause a host of problems for your dog including liver damage and cancer.
**THERE ARE NEW STUDIES SUGGESTING A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN GRAIN-FREE DOG FOOD/FOODS WITH EXOTIC MEATS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY (DCM). SCIENTISTS AREN'T SURE WHY THESE "BOUTIQUE" FOODS COULD CAUSE DCM BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A CORRELATION. WE HAVE SINCE LOOKED INTO SWAPPING OUR DOG'S FOOD AND THE BEST ALTERNATIVE WE HAVE FOUND IS PURINA PRO PLAN AND THEIR FOCUS LINE FOR LARGE BREEDS. OBVIOUSLY CHOOSING A FOOD IS YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE, BUT PLEASE JUST DO A BIT OF READING TO ENSURE YOU'RE INFORMED ON YOUR OPTIONS.**
* With most dog food you get what you pay for. The cheaper the food, the more they eat and the more they poop. They don't get what they need from it so it passes through quickly leaving them hungry again.
STORING YOUR PET'S FOOD
It is a good idea to keep your grain-free dog food in a large air tight container to keep it fresh. The other carbohydrates in it can produce mould if it is kept open in damp weather or especially in a basement.
TIPS FOR FEEDING YOUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER
* If your new puppy gobbles his/her food at first it is just because they are used to competition from their littermates and will stop once they realize its no longer a race.
* Once they are spayed or neutered they have a tendency to gain weight, so you may then have to watch how much you feed.
* A spoon or 2 of plain kefir is good for them. Kefir is a probiotic and promotes healthy gut flora. A spoon of extra virgin coconut oil is recommended too. Coconut oil is great for their skin and coat along with a number of other benefits. Just be sure you buy a good quality oil and that it states extra virgin on the label. Keep in mind the cheaper it is, the less pure it is. You can start with a teaspoon and go up to a tablespoon daily as they grow.
* Don’t add in a lot of extras because that just throws a balanced dog food out of balance. A little piece of meat once in a while is okay but avoid giving tons of table scraps. Dogs metabolize the calories in these foods differently and for example. one hot dog is the equivalent of 2 1/2 hamburgers.
(Source: www.hillspet.com)
* Dog treats are a fun way to reward your pet but remember that reading labels is important as many of them are full of unhealthy ingredients. This will ruin all the work put into finding and feeding the good nutritious food you are giving them! If you aren't careful you can be adding the exact ingredients and chemicals you are trying to avoid back into their diets! Kind of like killing them with kindness! A good rule of thumb is to avoid treats made in China completely. Often the lack of food safety regulations means a lot of unhealthy junk makes its way in as fillers and preservatives.
* We've heard good things about Himalayan Cheese. Its an all natural, long lasting dog chew made from yak milk. We've also found several vegetable based chews that were good and kept our beasties busy most of the day. There is a fair range of natural treats out there, you just have to be willing to spend some time reading labels and you may need to check multiple stores to find the one that is right for you.
* Say no to rawhide and pigs ears as they are hard to digest! Not only that.. rawhide is made with several tanning agents to help whiten the skins and remove fur and they are toxic! Pigs ears can also be a potential source of salmonella.
* Bones are a great way to keep your pet busy but large soup bones only, as they do not splinter, They need to be baked or boiled first to kill bacteria however. Don't cook too long or it will dry out the bones and make them brittle. Cooking recommendations can be easily found online. Please keep in mind if you choose to give marrow bone rounds, to be sure they aren't large enough to fit over your pet's bottom jaw. A number of dogs have chewed out the marrow and then gotten the rings stuck. The removal is difficult as the canine teeth trap the bone holding it in place, often requiring a saw to cut it off.
* Chews and bones are important but make sure you have a few toys on hand as well, to get them through their teething time. They teethe until 7 months old or so.
