Please don’t feed my dog without asking

Thanks for the sweet thought and your generosity, leading you to want to offer a treat or table morsel to my dog. But, please, no.

Don’t do it!

My dog is adorable and sweet, and I want her to stay that way.

She doesn’t nip or beg. She doesn’t eat people food. She’s on a regular schedule for meals and potty breaks. And she eats a special and extra-healthy canine diet. We’ve tried other dog foods, and the result is not pretty. (Trust me on this one. You don’t wanna know.)

Sure, sometimes I will use treats to reward my dog for tricks and training successes. But I choose these morsels carefully. And she has to earn them.

Freebies, even offered with the best of intentions, can dilute the importance of these rewards.

People who do not have dogs (or people who have outside-only dogs) perhaps don’t understand the importance of this.

When someone gives another person’s dog a handout, it may be intended as a kind gesture. And maybe it is. But it can upset a dog’s diet, digestive system, demeanor, and daily habits.

And God forbid a pet has some sort of food allergies or sensitivities.

I don’t want my dog to learn to beg or nip. I don’t want her to start having accidents in the house, simply because her system has forgotten when mealtimes and walk times occur.

So, please. Don’t feed my dog anything without asking me first.

Image/s:

Created by this user

with public domain artwork

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter.  You are invited to subscribe for free to my General Pets Examiner column, so you will receive email notifications whenever new articles appear.

Raw food may sicken dogs and humans

Raw food is all the rage among plenty of dog owners. Pet lovers shell out significant sums to purchase fresh or frozen raw meats and other portions for their pups.

Maybe it’s the back-to-nature, basic food thing that appeals to these dog owners. After all, dogs survived for centuries in the wild by eating raw food.

Now, however, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says raw food may be dangerous to dogs. Apparently, such food-borne illnesses as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can crop up in some raw foods.

These bacteria can possibly infect pets who ingest foods containing them, as well as the humans who feed those animals and handle them.

What is raw food?

Generally, raw pet food is comprised of uncooked meat. This may include beef, bison, pork, poultry, or a host of other types of natural protein. Often, raw food contains animal bones, organ meats, and skin as well.

What are the symptoms of raw food infections?

Food poisoning symptoms in pets and humans may include

• appetite loss
• decreased activity
• diarrhea
• fever
• joint pain
• lethargy
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting

In the most severe canine cases, dogs may suffer neurological disease, particularly if such infections are not promptly treated.

Among humans, pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with immune system impairment are at particular risk.

What precautions can pet owners take to prevent raw food illness?

Ideally, pet owners will cook raw foods to kill any bacteria those products may contain.

Proper hygiene is essential for those who choose raw foods for their pets. These food products must be produced under strict quality control practices, packaged well, and used quickly to ensure freshness.

In addition, humans should wash hands thoroughly after handling raw foods. Cooking and serving utensils and dog dishes also need to be sterilized.

In the face of this FDA warning, dog owners may be well advised to pay particular care when feeding butcher bones and leftovers to their canine companions, in addition to products marketed specifically as raw pet foods.

Image/s:

Dog Eating Raw Bison Meat

- Creative Commons Licensing

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page Facebook. You are invited to subscribe for free to my General Pets Examiner column, so you will receive email notifications whenever new articles appear.

Is dry dog food best for your pet?

Dry dog food tends to be the most popular choice for canine nutrition. This form of feed is available in nearly unlimited flavor choices at a wide range of prices. It’s easily stored and simple to use.

From generics and store brands to mid-range choices and even high-priced designer and gourmet feeds, dry dog food options abound.

Unlike canned or semi-moist dog foods, dry feeds can actually help maintain a canine’s dental health. Crunching and chewing on kibbles tends to reduce tartar and buildup on a dog’s teeth. Dogs also enjoy the process, as every dog owner well knows.

Because dry dog feeds are not filled with water, they may be more nutritionally rich (by the pound) than other options. Of course, this means dogs who consume this type of food must be offered sufficient supplies of fresh drinking water to aid in digestion and to ensure proper hydration.

Dry dog food is easy to store, as long as it is kept in a well-sealed container, so it remains dry and fresh.

Here is an assortment of popular dry dog foods, representing a wide range of brands and prices.

• Canidae Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb and Fish
• Diamond Naturals Dry Food for Adult Dog, Beef and Rice Formula
• Hill's Science Diet Adult Advanced Fitness Original Dry Dog Food
• Iams Proactive Health Adult Minichunks Premium Dog Nutrition
• Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro Meals Oven Roasted Beef Flavor with Spring Vegetable & Baked Apple Flavors Dry Dog Food
• Nutri Life All Gold Dog Food
• Pedigree Complete Nutrition dry dog food for Adult Dogs
• Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food

Image/s:

Puppy with Dry Food –

MorgueFile

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page Facebook. You are invited to subscribe for free to my General Pets Examiner column, so you will receive email notifications whenever new articles appear.

Is semi-moist dog food best for your pet?

Do you prefer semi-moist, canned, or dry dog food? What does your dog like best, and what is the healthiest for him or her?

Semi-moist dog food is perhaps the most convenient of all three basic forms of canine nutrition. Each serving comes in a handy disposable packet or pouch.

This dog food choice also tends to be the most expensive, and it may contain more additives (such as preservatives) than canned or dry varieties. Usually, semi-moist dog food is approximately 30 percent water.

Semi-moist dog food has been the subject of more than a few pet food recalls (for possible contaminations or spoilages) in recent years as well, especially with products offered by foreign manufacturers with varying quality control standards. Perhaps for this reason, this type of dog food may be difficult to find at local retailers or online.

Plenty of pet owners pack semi-moist dog food or treats for quick trips, out-of-the-home visits, and traveling. Others choose these savory morsels for use as treats and training rewards, instead of their dogs’ primary diets.

Here are a few popular semi-moist dog foods, representing a wide range of brands and prices.

• Dogswell Vitality for Dogs, Chicken Breast Minis, Flaxseed & Vitamins
• Moist & Meaty Soft Moist Dog Food, Rise and Shine Awaken Bacon and Egg Flavor
• Pedigree Little Champions Grilled Flavors Variety Pack Food for Dogs
• Pouch Dog Food Chicken and Liver in Gravy
• Purina Moist & Meaty Dog Food Packs

Image/s:

Dog with Full Dish

WP ClipArt

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page Facebook. You are invited to subscribe for free to my General Pets Examiner column, so you will receive email notifications whenever new articles appear.

Is canned dog food best for your pet?

Dog owners, canine nutritionists, and veterinarians possess varying opinions, when it comes to recommending the best dog foods.

Generally, dog foods are produced in three basic forms: canned, dry, or semi-moist.

Canned food may look and smell the most appealing to dogs, as the fragrant juices attract the canine appetite. Many canned dog foods are chunky, resembling real meats.

However, dogs that eat only canned food long-term may miss out on the dental health benefits of crunching kibbles. This soft food form does not offer dogs the opportunity to crunch and munch, which can help keep teeth and gums in better shape.

Gum disease can lead to serious health problems in dogs, potentially affecting the kidneys, liver, and other internal organs.

For this reason, plenty of dog owners who do choose to provide canned food for their canines opt to supplement feedings with crunchy dog treats. Others may alternate feedings, giving their dogs both wet and dry forms of nutrition.

Puppies, especially teething puppies, may need more crunchiness in their food than canned food is able to provide.

Certainly, when a dog is recovering from major surgery or dealing with medical special needs, a veterinarian may recommend a special or prescription canned food diet – at least for a specified period of time.

Here are a few popular canned dog foods, representing a wide range of brands and prices.

• IAMS Dog Food Chunks with Tender Beef & Vegetables
• Kibbles 'n Bits Wet Dog Food
• Natural Balance Canned Dog Food, Grain Free
• Pedigree Choice Cuts
• Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
• Wellness Grain-Free Canned Dog Food for Adult Dogs

This post represents one installment in a three-part blog series on various dog food formats: canned, dry, and semi-moist. Be sure to c’mon back and check out the rest of the pack.

Essentially, all three forms of dog food may contain healthy nutrition, depending upon the individual canine food products selected. The choice may depend largely on personal preference and smart label reading by dog owners.

Image/s:

Dog with Bowl

WP ClipArt

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page Facebook. You are invited to subscribe for free to my General Pets Examiner column, so you will receive email notifications whenever new articles appear.