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We all know that being overweight is unhealthy and can cause real problems. We also know what to do about it and how to trim down and lose weight. Well, since our dogs are part of the family, they often end up carrying more weight than is healthy for them. There are many reasons or “excuses” for how we let our dogs get fat.

The most obvious issue is what and how much you feed your dog. We have been programmed to think that our dogs need to eat at least twice a day without fail, yet the truth is, a healthy dog can go without eating for a day or two, as long as there is water available. Now I’m not saying you should withhold food from your dog. The point is, your pooch can probably get along just fine with a little less chow. Treats are another way we contribute to our dogs diet. Dogs love treats and we love to give our dogs treats, however, just like for us, moderation is the key. Letting your dog clean your dinner plates every night or feeding him a steady diet of table scraps will quickly add pounds.

There are other things that will affect your dog’s weight. One of the most common issues for overweight dogs is lack of exercise. It is very easy to get in a rut when it comes to exercising your four-legged best friend. We have busy schedules and taking the dog out for a walk everyday, or going to the dog park every weekend can be pushed to the bottom of the priority list. You should do your dog and yourself a favor and get outside and play. You will both reap the benefits.

Something you might not realize is that spaying and neutering lowers a dogs metabolism. If you feed your spayed or neutered dog the same way you would feed an intact dog, he will start to gain weight. Your dog will require fewer calories in order to maintain a healthy weight. Also, keep in mind that as your dog ages, his metabolism slows as does his activity level. There are special dog food formulas for senior dogs. These foods are made specifically for your senior dogs nutritional needs.

If your dog is overweight, it is best to consult with your veterinarian to decide the best way to help your dog get back to a healthy weight. Your vet may want to test for hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. This condition would require medication. If your dog is severely overweight, you will need to be very careful about an exercise program because the added pounds will put a strain on the dog’s joints. Your veterinarian will also be able to recommend the best diet, including nutritional supplements.

Keeping your furry friend at a healthy weight allow you to enjoy more quality years together. Your pooch will feel better, and if you follow your dog’s diet and exercise program, you’ll feel better too.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Some of the ingredients that end up in commercial pet foods are truly shocking. What’s more, many of these will not appear on the label and others are hidden under umbrella terms such as ‘meat meal’ and ‘meat by-products’. How can this happen? The pet food industry is highly unregulated. As Ann Martin, author of Foods Pets Die For, writes in her article The Pet Food Industry and its Questionable Practices, ‘Governments in the USA and Canada regulate the labeling of the food, the name and address of the company, the weight of the product, and whether it is made for a dog or cat – nothing more.’

The meats used in pet food can be extremely low grade and unfit for human consumption. Summarized as the ‘4 D’s’ (dead, diseased, disabled and dying), these can include roadkill, zoo animals and infected and cancerous meats.

At the rendering plants ingredients are highly heated and processed, destroying nutrients and enzymes, with strong preservatives added which do not appear on the labels. These include fat stabilizers such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene), both of which are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and Ethoxyquin, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Semi-moist dog foods may also contain propylene glycol, a relation to ethylene glycol (anti-freeze), which can destroy red blood cells.

Pets in your pet food

Though reportedly not the case today, it is well recorded that dogs and cats have ended up in dog and cat food. In his 1990 article How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled Into Pet Food, John Eckhouse, an investigative reporter, wrote: ‘Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. The finished products — tallow and meat meals — serve as raw materials for thousands of items that include cosmetics and pet food.’

Doctor of weterianry medicine Wendell Belfield in Foods Not Fit For a Pet (Earth Island Journal, 1996), reports that ‘federal and state agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and medical groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association, confirm that pets, on a routine basis, are rendered after they die in animal shelters or are disposed of by health authorities, and the end product frequently finds its way into pet food.’

Toxic Grains

The very use of grains in pet food is questionable as grains are ill-suited to the digestive physiology of carnivores. This is especially so for cats who are obligatory carnivores and meet their glucose requirements through amino acids in their diet. Further, the grains used in dog and cat foods may contain mycotoxins, fungi that can cause chronic conditions and even death in both humans and animals. As the grains used in pet food are low grade, they are dealt with last in the handling process and because of this are often left in storage where insects, mites and mycotoxic molds can grow.

The consumption of dead mites can cause skin allergies. If your pet has skin allergies, change their diet first before turning to steroids which can be seriously detrimental to your pets health.

Alfatoxin poisoning, a common mycotoxin that grows on corn as well as other foods, has been reported for over 50 years. Vomotoxin is another mycotoxin found in wheat products. Where large doses of mycotoxins can cause cancer and even rapid death, small continuous amounts may suppress the immune system and damage organs over time, leading to long-term chronic health conditions.

Just recently at the end of 2005, over 100 dogs were killed in the United States because of alfatoxin found in pet food, with some 19 brands of Diamond dog food being recalled. It is likely there were many more deaths than those reported, and as alfatoxin attacks the liver it is likely surviving dogs may develop chronic liver disease or liver cancer in the future.

Toxic Chemicals

The toxin sodium pentobarbital, a chemical is used to euthanize animals and pets, has been found in commercial pet foods. The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine performed two studies (1998 and 2000) to test for pentobarbital. Of the 74 samples analysed, over half were found to contain pentobarbital. What’s more, none of the 43 brands and product lines that tested positive warned of its presence on their labels.

The FDA researchers also tested the food for the presence of dogs or cats but reported none present. It was believed the pentobarbital residues were entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle or even horses.

The FDA say the small amounts of the drug found in these foods were harmless, but not all veterinarians agree. Long-term continual doses, even at small levels may be increase the onset of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Aside from the toxins and base ingredients of commercial pet foods, these harshly processed and high-carbohydrate products in no way match the natural diets dogs and cats would have eaten in the wild. They are species-inappropriate and ill-suited to canine and feline physiology. I recommend healthy, homemade, raw diets or optimum natural, holistic alternatives for the health and well-being of your dog and cat. Before embarking on a raw food diet (otherwise known as BARF – ‘biologically adequate raw food’), thoroughly research the area first as nutritional balance is essential.

Expert: Elise McMahon
Bio: Elise McMahon has a Ph.D. in animal behavior and has been working with both domestic and wil…

When Andrew Le…

Your dog food needs to be specially designed to give a healthy balanced diet to ensure good health for your pet. An average size dog should live for 27 years – unless you don’t feed them healthy food! Quality kibble can now be bought at a simple click. We only sell organic, natural, and healthy pet food for dogs and cats! Life’s Abundance natural dog food uses Probiotics and beet pulp which promote a healthy digestive tract. With the importance today on what is on your food, this is now starting to effect the animal world.

For years we feed dogs mass produced chemical enhanced food, then we are wondering why dogs health is decreased. Suddenly, a healthy breed would suffer from bowel problems and dry skin. The reason is simple…their food, food filled with chemicals and meal fillers. With this knowledge why do we still feed our dog this food. The answer is simple knowledge the information is not widely available so people still buy their dogs these chemical foods and find themselves cleaning up the mess it makes. That’s why we have taken the time to make sure we sell some of the healthiest foods out there.

You will find a broad selection of natural healthy dog foods, treats, supplements, and grooming supplies. For your dog to remain healthy, choose healthy dog food with nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and minerals. We firmly believe that your dog deserves the best food and a healthy and long life. Mounting research suggests unhealthy ingredients common in many brands of commercial dog food may cause these chronic diseases. Choose healthy dog food rich in vitamins and minerals which are essential in dogs development and for fighting diseases. An example of some of the healthy dog food menu options includes chicken breast, ground beef, pork, lamb, and salmon. Organic or natural food will provide all these ingredients. While quality dog food is more expensive than food filled with unhealthy ingredients, it requires smaller feeding portions and results in less body waste.

It is crucial that every dog owner realizes the importance of healthy food versus unhealthy foods. Benefits of healthy dog food are quickly noticeable in your dog’s shiny coat, healthy skin and energy level. Unhealthy food can leave your dog hyper, dry skin, bad teeth and an unhealthy coat.

Rotate your dog’s healthy food so there’s less chance of him/her developing allergies to the same meat and grain protein sources. A healthy diet dog food will give your dog a healthy coat, strong bones and a keen mind. We have, and through extensive research, and with the help of dog nutritionists, we have come up with healthy, nutritious food for dogs. All these healthy foods are available from www.cleverclaws.com and delivered direct to your door.

Make a change to your dogs life today, improve there life. Do your research and feed your dog the correct food for them and avoid chemical and filler enhanced foods.

Clever Claws.

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