Dog Food

If a food was making people sick, you’d want to know about it so you can protect your family, and for most people, this desire to protect their family members extends to pets. Just as food for people can have problems, there can be problems that lead to recalled dog food. If you want to be able to better protect your pets, there are a number of steps to take in order to determine when dog food is recalled and what to do after the recall.

The FDA’s Role

Just as with food for humans, recalled dog food is handled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is the first defense against food contamination, since they determine what is safe to add to foods for people and pets alike. But when something does happen, the FDA receives consumer complaints and issues recalls, as well as studies recalled dog food to determine exactly what about it makes the pets ill. Alerts are issued both through the FDA website at www.fda.gov and often through news outlets as well.

Even after the recall, FDA scientists work to determine what the exact problem with the recalled dog food is. Once it’s discovered, the FDA uses this information to better develop their processes for inspection of food and works with the pet food industry to help improve their process as well. In this way, the FDA works to lessen the amount of future issues that would necessitate recalled dog food.

If A Recall Occurs

In March, 2007, the FDA issued encouraged pet food manufacturers to recall pet food that was reportedly leading to kidney failure in cats and dogs. Currently, the FDA’s investigation of why that recalled dog food is causing problems is still open, but current news updates on their site give updates on the status of the investigation. More important, their site gives instructions of what to do in a dog food recall.

If your dog food is recalled, you should stop feeding it to your pets immediately. Stores generally give refunds for recalled dog food, so go to the store you purchased the food at and ask for a refund. The FDA also instructs people to look for health problems related to the recall. In the incident mentioned above, the signs to look for are loss of appetite, weakness, and vomiting. So, in order to keep up on any new outbreaks of recalled dog food, your best bet for information on signs that your pet is suffering, what to do with the recalled dog food, and information about investigations of that food, is the FDA.

Dog owners often discuss the benefits of feeding their pet raw dog food as opposed to cooked or processed food. In the wild, raw food is what dogs had access to and this is what nature intended for them. Some argue that raw food can make dogs ill even poisoning them in extreme cases and although this can be true, the benefits of raw dog food against manufactured pet food that is later recalled is paramount. Pet food can easily contain contaminants that cause harm to animals and organic diets are often the safer option.

Raw dog food diets are more expensive but advocates claim that it saves a fortune on vet’s bills as it is basically a detox from their normal diets but if the food is not prepared hygienically, the result could be tarred with salmonella or e.coli. The good may outweigh the bad, however, as raw food has more nutritional value and uses ingredients that are of a suitable quality for humans. When food is cooked, a lot of essential nutrients beneficial to a dog are lost making raw food the perfect solution for dogs. Many of the pet foods on the market are processed and contain small amounts of meat and no real nutritional value. Raw dog food can be a wise solution.

Health Benefits of Raw Dog Food

Raw dog food is enriched with important enzymes necessary for a dog’s healthy diet. Animals raised on raw foods are often free of degenerative diseases and have an overall level of good health above those raised on processed pet foods. Many pet owners claim that visits to their vet stopped after switching to a raw dog food diet. In a similar way, wild animals are often healthier and free of illnesses that inflict humans. Feeding our pets cooked foods is going against what nature intended and harming them in the long-term.

Commercial foods contain artificial ingredients that our animal’s bodies cannot handle leaving toxins to accumulate in their blood as their internal organs cannot cope with the control of such a huge number of harmful waste substances in the body. This can affect their immune systems and leaves them susceptible to illness. Animals need the amino acids, enzymes and nutrients present in raw meat and even their coats are negatively affected by a lack of raw animal fat in the diet. Raw dog foods are natural ingredients that do not cause any undue stress on the system and allow animals to live long and healthy lives.

With its beginnings dating back to 1893 manufacturing feed for horses, the Ralston-Purina company was born on the theory that horse always have to eat, regardless of the economic climate. With that basic premise still in mind Purina dog food remains one of the world leaders in the manufacture and distribution of pet food.

From mixing the horse feed with shovels on the floor of their factory, today per foods go through much more stringent quality controls and the people working for Purina dog food understand the important role pets play in the lives of their owners. Many of those working for Purina dog food also have pets of their own and use Purina products almost exclusively. The dedication to the quality and nutrition of Purina dog food is evident in the number of breeds and sizes of animals served by its products.

From puppy to adult and even Purina dog food for senior dogs contain the ingredients for the specific age of the animals. There are nutritional products to also address the needs of specific health issues faced by dogs as well as cats. Older dogs may need special care and Purina products reflect that need and the company’s history of providing quality ingredients assures owners of its commitment to a pet’s health.

Nutritional Care Helps Pets Age Gracefully

Unlike humans, most animals do not realize they may be getting older, and pet owners can help them forget their age by supplying the Purina dog food for their age group to meet their nutritional needs. Care of the animal’s teeth, joint health as well as their skin and coat can all be helped with the right formulation of dog food. Ignoring the dog’s basic needs could result in their golden years being somewhat tarnished.

Most pet owners treat their animals like children and feeding the animal should be done with the same care and concern as the diet they feed their families. Table scraps are never a substitute for good pet nutrition, and Purina dog food uses only the finest and freshest of meats for its source of protein and only cereals and grains known to benefit the animal’s health, including its digestive tract and aid in heart health are used in it products.

Although many dogs love the taste of Purina dog food it is important to limit the animal’s intake to help it maintain a healthy weight and is it grows older keeping it on a regular diet can help the family companion reach maturity while maintaining its health.

With the push on for organic foods in many grocery stores, pet owners are looking at that option for their extended family members. Choosing organic dog food over traditional fare is becoming more popular as many pet owners are reluctant to feed their pets any type of food that may contain products they would not want to eat themselves. Many animal products used in pet food have been shown to contain steroid products or growth hormones that have no benefit to pets.

People are making the choice to not only read the list of ingredients of their pet food, but also attempt to track down the source of those ingredients. Understanding that animal byproducts may not be from chemical-free animals, more dog owners are looking for organic dog food to insure their pet is eating only healthy foods.

With the focus on healthy eating for humans, many outlets are expanding their selection of organic foods. Only food grown in fields certified as chemical free can qualify as being organic and same is true for organic dog food as grains used in the manufacture of dog food must be grown in fields certified as organic. Animals such as beef, chicken and lamb used in organic dog food must also be certified as organic raised with no signs of sickness prior to entering the food chain.

Healthy Pets Begin With Food Selection

As pet food products grow in popularity, the choice of consumers can be confusing, but the designation of being organic dog food insures that the product contains only organically grown ingredients. By feeding their pets only organic dog food pet owners know their dog is receiving only healthy food products. Whether it is dry dog food or canned food, the ingredient source must be all organic to claim the designation.

There are benefits to feeding the dog only organic dog food including fewer ailments and allergies as well as the dog having more energy and maintaining a healthy weight. Just like humans, a diet high in processed foods can contribute to an animals weight gain and loss of energy. By feeding them a diet of organic dog food, many of the health problems can disappear.

The animal’s quality of life will improve without being stricken by digestive disorders and the pet’s immune system will be healthier, enabling it to fend of illnesses more efficiently. By consuming organic dog food the pet will have a longer, healthier and happier life.

For many pet owners a well-balanced nutritional diet for the pet is as important as a balance nutritional diet for their families. Using only holistic ingredients in their products, Nutro dog food offers the protein needed for a dog while staying away from additives and artificial ingredients that have no positive effect on the animal’s health.

Three main sources of protein, chicken, lamb and salmon are found in Nutro dog food providing essential amino acids for muscle development and toning, along with natural oils such as sunflower oil and fish oils to aid the dog’s digestive tract. Tocopherol, a natural preservative is also a source of vitamin E helps maintain freshness without the use of chemical preservatives.

Linoleic acids help maintain the dog’s shiny coat as well as fight against skin diseases as part of a holistic approach to treat the entire animal instead of just one symptom by providing all ingredients in Nutro dog food for overall health. The inclusion of DHA in Nutro dog food has also shown to help the dog through training by providing an aid to its learning processes. The natural inter-reactions among the pet food’s ingredients are beneficial to the animal’s well being.

Nutro Dog Food Passes Animal’s Taste Test

Putting all the health and nutrition into a dog food will not serve any purpose if the taste is not palatable to its intended end user, the dog. In many taste tests, Nutro dog food has come out on top and the company claims that 95 percent of the dogs tested preferred Nutro dog food over other brands of similar formulation.

Since 1926 the company has been nothing except all natural ingredients in its dog food products and continued research has developed better formulas to provide the best possible nutritional benefits for the pets that eat Nutro dog food.

Understanding the nutritional needs of dogs is of the utmost important part of Nutro dog food and finding the best ingredients to work together to help in the overall health of a pet has put the company on the pinnacle of pet foods having the pet’s health in mind instead of a food that simply tastes good to the animals.

For dogs of all ages, from puppy through adult as well as formulations for different breeds, Nutro dog food has a blend to meet all of their needs. Dry food, canned foods and biscuits are available to both feed the animal’s appetite while providing important health benefits.

Since the large pet food recall occurred people have started to look at buying or making natural dog food. In the pet food recall it was found that tainted ingredients imported from China were the cause of the illnesses and deaths of pets. By making or buying natural dog food the owner can be confident that their dog is getting healthy food which is not tainted with harmful substances.

Buying Natural Dog Food

There are many pet food stores and internet sites that advertise Natural Dog Food. Buying the food will certainly be easier than making it but will probably prove to be quite costly. For example, Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food for Dogs is a great quality dog food but will cost about fifty dollars for a forty pound bag. This dog food has such ingredients as chicken, catfish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and select farm products. It is costly but for those who can afford Life’s Abundance it will be a great food for their dogs.

Flint River Ranch Dog Food offers several varieties of their natural dog foods and these also will run about fifty dollars for forty pound bags. The food comes in several flavors including fish and chips (trout and sweet potato) style. Flint River has food for all age dogs that will provide great nutrition and great flavor.

Canidae Dog Food is another natural dog food that offers great nutrition for any dog. This food will cost a little less at about forty dollars for forty pounds. There are four types of food that come in dry or canned styles. Canidae offers the All Life Stages, Platinum, Lamb and Rice, and the Chicken and Rice formulas for the pet owner to choose from. For a pet owner who wishes to buy natural dog food these three companies offer great choices and there are other brands with good selections as well.

Making Natural Dog Food

If a person chooses to make there own natural dog food there are many great recipes available on the internet and in pet care books and magazines. A person can even get ideas for recipes by just looking at the ingredients listed in other natural dog food products. Making natural dog food can be time consuming but is worth the time and trouble to provide great nutrition for a best friend. The pet owner will notice within a short time of starting the new diet that the pet seems to have more energy, is more content, and has healthier skin and coat. Natural dog food will help the pet to live a longer and more satisfying life.

There have been a number of studies that show the negative effects of processed and preserved foods in the human body. According to these studies, the chemical additives in processed and preserved foods can cause cancers in the human body. Since the body of your dog is just as sensitive as the human body, what could affect your healthy could also affect the heath of your dog. In other words, if processed and preserved food is harmful to the human body, it could also be harmful to dog. To make sure that your dog is eating natural balance dog food, give your dog natural and organically grown food.

Natural balance dog food which is derived from organically grown plants and animals do not contain any harmful chemicals that could cause cancers in your dog. What is more interesting about the natural balance dog food derived from organically grown plants and animals is that it can help your dog grow healthier and stronger. According to studies, dogs that are feed with organically grown food have stronger bones and muscles as compared to those dogs that are feed with processed foods.

Finding The Right Type of Natural Balance Dog Food

There are a number of dog food companies around the country that are specializing in natural balance dog food. If you are not really very familiar with these companies that are producing natural balance dog food, ask your fellow dog lovers about it. If you belong to a dog club, you can ask the other members of your dog club who are using this type of food for recommendations. The good thing about asking for recommendations from other dog lovers is that you can be sure that these people know a lot about dogs. In most cases, dog lovers are very much open to sharing their ideas about how to take care of their pets so you it will be generally easy for you to get the information that you need to take care of your dog. Most dog lovers are very enthusiastic about their pets that they often talk about their pets like proud parents.

If you are not a member of any dog club in your locality, you can ask a local breeder in the community about natural balance dog food. Most breeders belong to different associations of dog breeders all over the country and they have easy access to information about dog foods so he or she may be able to share some information to you about natural balance dog food.

Bring a puppy home can very exciting for the whole family. Children are especially thrilled to have a puppy in the house and would to spend so much type fussing over the puppy. If your kids love to spend a lot of time with your new puppy, you might as well teach them to take care of the puppy and to feed it. To make sure that your little puppy gets the right type of food, take your kids along and pick up some merrick dog food from the supermarket.

The good thing about taking your kids along to pick of some merrick dog food from the super market is that they will have some idea how to choose the right type of food for the puppy. Besides, taking your kids along to pick up some merrick dog food will give the puppy sometime to rest and get some sleep. Always remember that the puppy is just a baby and it can tire easily especially if a bunch of very energetic kids play with it constantly.

Teaching Your Kids To Feed And Take Care Of The Puppy

Once you have the merrick dog food, you need to instruct your kids how and when to feed the puppy. If your kids still cannot read the feeding guidelines that are usually written on the package of the merrick dog food, you will need to carefully instruct them what to do. First, you need to get something that your kids can use to measure the food. A small measuring cup will greatly help your kids determine how much food to give to the puppy. Give them the measuring cup and let them use it to measure the food that they put into the puppy’s food dish. Caution your kids about feeding the puppy too much merrick dog food because this could make the puppy sick. Besides, a overfeed puppy will most likely to defecate more often which will make it difficult for your to supervise the puppy when it potties.

If you have three kids in the house, make sure that they take turns feeding, grooming and taking the puppy for walks. You can ask your kids to agree among themselves who should feed the puppy in the morning and in the evening. Asking your kids to decide among themselves who will give food to the puppy will help them learn the value of teamwork and cooperation.