Food & Nutrition
 |
We invite you to Become a member of our Canine Connections Social Network and begin building and engaging in our fast growing canine community. As a member you will have the ability to create a customized profile, access features such as uploading photos, videos, music, chat, send & receive emails, forums, blogs, join existing groups or create your own, keep up with the current news feed and so much more! Become a member by clicking on the link below or the flashing paw prints and enter our Canine Connections Social Network and start your Canine Connections journey with us today. Click Here To Visit Our Social Network Community |
|
 Food & Nutrition Have you ever walked into a pet food store and just starred or walked aimlessly up and down the aisles trying to figure out what you should feed your dog. Do I get the cheaper stuff or the more expensive? We hope we can bring you enough information that will help to alleviate the stress of purchasing dog food for the first time or changing your dog’s diet. What you feed your dog through the different stages of their life is very important. We understand there is a lot of controversy on what your puppy, adult dog, and senior dog should eat. We also have to remember there are many different size dogs ranging from tea-cup, toy, small, medium, large and giant breeds and each of them have their own puppy, adult and senior stage. What a lactating female eats will be different from what and adult female will eat and so forth. There is also some question on whether your dog should be eating an all grain free diet or a raw diet. Today so many dogs suffer from food allergies that some experimenting will need to be done by the dog owner. All the information provided in this section is just a guideline and reference point. When choosing a food please take into consideration your dogs breed and activity level. Two dogs of the same breed may need different foods due to one being a competing dog and the other a house pet. There is nothing wrong with either but the more active the dog the higher its nutrition must be. The following items represent some of The Dog Food Advisor’s most frequently asked questions about AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles. What is AAFCO? AAFCO is an acronym for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO is a non-profit organization that sets standards for both animal feeds and pet foods in the United States. What are AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles? In order for a dog food to be marketed as “complete and balanced”, it must meet the nutritional standards established by AAFCO. These nutritional adequacy standards are defined by two nutrient profiles based upon a dog’s stage of life… * Adult maintenance * Growth and reproduction What does growth and reproduction mean? Dog foods rated for “growth and reproduction” are designed for puppies and pregnant or lactating females. How can a manufacturer claim a particular product meets one of the two AAFCO nutrient profiles? In order for any dog food company to claim a product is “complete and balanced” for a specific life stage, that claim must first have been validated in one of two ways… * Laboratory analysis only * Laboratory analysis plus actual feeding trials How can a consumer know which method was used to verify AAFCO nutritional adequacy? The first method uses laboratory analysis of a sample to verify the food meets AAFCO nutritional standards. The label will read… “(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles” The second not only uses laboratory analysis but also proves that nutritional adequacy by conducting actual feeding trials with real dogs. This type of adequacy statement will probably read… “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition” What if a dog food cannot meet either of the AAFCO nutrient profiles? Any product that cannot meet either the AAFCO adult maintenance or growth and reproduction standards must state… “This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only” In other words, a product not intended for long-term use. How can I tell if a particular dog food is OK for my puppy? Any dog food that claims to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for either “growth” or “all life stages” should be fine for your puppy. Is it OK to feed a puppy a dog food claiming to be suitable for “all life stages”? AAFCO only recognizes two dog food nutrient profiles… * Adult maintenance * Growth and reproduction However, manufacturers are permitted to market a dog food as suitable for “all life stages” so long as it meets the more stringent guidelines for “growth and reproduction”. In other words, any dog food suitable for “all life stages” is also suitable for puppies. dog food nutrient profiles click here Search results for: video Dead Dogs and Cats Used to Make Meat Meal Revealing Pet Food Industry Video Mysteriously Reappears Dr. Karen Becker Reveals the Truth About Table Food and Dogs § Dr. Karen Becker: How to Control Food Allergies Dr. Karen Becker: The Best and Worst Types of Dog Foods Dr. Karen Becker: How to Choose a Good Dog Food Dr. Karen Becker: How to Choose a Good Dog Food (Part 2) Reference: www.dogfoodadvisor.com How much do I feed my dog? Since each dog food contains a different number of calories per serving, follow the feeding instructions on each package. If your dog is fully grown (and no longer a puppy), you can try using our dog food calculator. dog food calculator click here When does a puppy become an adult? In general, small to medium breeds may be considered adults after about six months of age. But large and giant breeds shouldn’t be fed as adults until they reach about one to two years (depending upon the breed).1 When is a dog considered a senior? As a rule, small to medium dogs are considered seniors at about seven years of age. But larger breeds reach senior status much sooner… some as early as five.2 Can you recommend a good food for senior dogs? Most senior dog foods are terrible. These recipes are designed to reduce calories by reducing meat content. Unfortunately, this same design makes these products notably high in carbohydrates, too. Today, most experts recommend dog foods for seniors that are higher in protein content (but also lower in fat, carbs and calories). Aren’t high protein diets dangerous for senior dogs? Recent studies confirm high protein dog foods make just as much sense for healthy senior dogs as they do for younger pets.3 To learn more, be sure to visit FAQ page about dog food protein. What’s the best way to transition to a new dog food? Most experts recommend transitioning to a new food gradually… starting with about 20-25% “new” and slowly increasing that amount to a full 100% over a 7 to 10 day period. Be patient and don’t rush the transitioning process. Take your time to minimize the chance of GI upset. While switching to a new dog food, my pet developed gas, soft stools or diarrhea. What should I do? If you’ve transitioned slowly (and with patience) and your dog still develops problems, he may be allergic or intolerant to one of the ingredients in the new recipe. In that case, you may need to cut back on the percentage of new food or stop feeding it altogether. If symptoms continue, it may be necessary to contact your vet. Is it OK to change a dog’s food on a routine basis? Since there’s no such thing as a perfect dog food, it’s reasonable to assume every product is deficient or excessive in some way. Too much of one nutrient… or too little of another. And many can contain traces of dangerous toxins. So, built-in flaws are magnified when the same food is fed continuously… day-in and day-out… for a lifetime. By periodically switching dog foods (diet rotation), the unhealthy consequences of these defects can be minimized. Is it OK to feed my dog table food? That depends on what you mean by table food. After all, there’s a notable difference between table scraps and leftovers. Leftovers usually include good quality (but surplus) food remaining after a human meal. Table scraps tend to include the fatty trimmings from whole meat. In most cases, fat is a very normal part of most any meaty meal. But table scraps tend to include only the fatty trimmings from whole meat. When you serve fatty waste, you’re feeding an above-average concentration of animal fat… which can lead to a painful condition known as acute pancreatitis. What’s better… canned or dry dog food? Both canned and dry dog foods each has its own unique benefits and disadvantages. For more information, be sure to read our article, What’s Better-Canned or Dry Dog Food How long does dry dog food stay fresh? With proper storage, dry food can be safely used until it reaches its “Best By” date. That date can be found printed on the package and is commonly about one year from the date of manufacturer. But the freshness of any dry dog food is unstable and gradually deteriorates over time. So, avoid purchasing or using products as they get closer to their “Best By” dates. What’s the best way to store a dry dog food? Air and moisture are the enemies of dry dog food. Be sure to store all kibbles in a cool, dry location. Squeeze out any excess air as you seal the open bag. If you prefer to use a resealable container, try to leave the food in its original package inside that container. Or save the bag in a safe location. That’s because the packaging contains critical information needed to identify the product in case of a recall. How long does a canned dog food remain usable? Depending on the brand, canned dog foods are usually good for about three years from the date of manufacturer (and sometimes longer). However, once opened, canned products must be tightly sealed and immediately refrigerated. Opened wet foods can last up to about 3 days in the refrigerator. Any uneaten canned food should be taken away from your pet and discarded no more than 30 minutes after serving. Footnotes 1. Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 4 ↩ 2. Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 16 ↩ 3. Finco DR, Brown SA, Crowell WA, et al, Effects of aging and dietary protein intake on uninephrectomized geriatric dogs, Am J Vet Res 1994; 55:1282 ↩ This Dog Food Calculator can help you estimate the proper serving size for your pet. It’s based upon a scientific study1 published by a respected veterinary research institute. The dog food calculator’s formula2 uses a dog’s metabolic weight and suggests an appropriate serving size. metabolic weightand suggests an appropriate serving size. * Your dog’s Ideal weight (what he should weigh) * Your dog’s activity level * Your dog food’s calorie content A Dog Food Calculator for Adults Only The Dog Food Calculator was designed to be used for adult dogs only… not for puppies. And it should never be used for pregnant or lactating females. Small to medium breeds may be considered adults after about six months of age. But large and giant breeds shouldn’t be fed as adults until they reach somewhere around one to two years (depending upon the breed).3 When Is a Dog a Senior? Older dogs have significantly lower energy needs than younger ones. So, it’s easy for them to put on extra weight. In general, small to medium dogs are considered seniors at about seven years of age. But larger breeds reach senior status much sooner… some as early as five.4 Converting Calories to Serving Size Once you’ve entered your dog’s ideal weight and activity level, you’ll know the number of calories per day. But to convert calories into something you can actually use, you’ll need to enter the number of calories in your dog’s food. The number of calories in a given amount of dog food is known as its metabolizable energy (ME, for short). It’s usually reported somewhere on a dog food package like this… Calories per cup (kcal/cup) Calories per kilogram (kcal/kilogram) By the way, the calculator assumes you’re feeding your dog justonce a day. If you prefer to feed your dog twice a day, be sure to divide your result in half so that both meals add up to the full daily calories suggested. The Bottom Line Since each dog has its own unique energy requirements (just like people), it’s impossible to accurately predict the exact serving size that’s right for your pet. So, I’d suggest starting with the package’s feeding instructions. Or the amount suggested by our calculator. Weigh your dog every few weeks. Then, adjust (or titrate) that suggested serving size up or down to reach and maintain your pet’s ideal weight. Of course, determining the ideal weight for a growing puppy can be a challenge. So, check with your vet, an experienced breeder or another canine professional. Always measure the food with a real measuring cup. Not a scoop. Never guess. Keep a record of how much you’re feeding. And be sure to weigh your dog periodically (every few weeks or so). Then, adjust the serving size as needed to stay on track. Sure, it’s a little work. But in the end, it’s the only real life method you can scientifically rely on. 1. Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 14 ↩ 2. ME (kcal/day) = 110 (body weight in kilograms)0.75 to maintain a typical adult dog ↩ 3. Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 4 ↩ 4. Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 16 ↩ Dog Food Advisor Pet Food Recalls Pet Food Recall Products List Dog Food Recalls |
|||
|
|
Copyright© All Rights Reserved Canine Connections www.canineconnections.net |
Vistor Paw Count
|
Website Designed By Zion Web Designing
Click Here To Visit Zion Web Designing |
