Posts tagged "dog food"

It doesn't have to be the holidays for us to want to treat our dogs. We love to indulge ourselves-and them-and are careful to avoid poisoning pets with high-risk foods like chocolate, macadamia nuts, avocados, or raisons/grapes. Artificial sweeteners keep owners lean, but any goodies sweetened with Xylitol could cause canine liver failure.

So when the aroma of baking and roasting turns on the doggy drool, what human foods are safe for dogs to snack on? Actually, dogs have been eating the same foods people do for centuries and not only live to tell about it, they thrive. And holistic vets often recommend some of these foods for a more natural way to treat your doggy best friend.

1. Lean Meat: Chicken is a favorite but dogs will relish nearly any type of meat. A hunk of firm beef also can scrub teeth for dental health then your dog must chew. Turkey contains tryptophan, a natural sleep aid that works to calm excited pooches during holiday visits.

2. Organ meats: Don't toss out the giblets when you roast your holiday bird. Tongue, heart, liver and gizzards are power-packed with vitamins and minerals that help support the dog's own organs-so even if you don't care for liver, your dog will thank you for this healthy treat.

3. Green veggies, fresh or cooked: Dogs are omnivores and often relish vegetable treats. Some favorites include broccoli, asparagus, spinach and green beans. Does your doggy graze on grass? Offer him parsley-it will also freshen his breath.

4. Beets: Holistic veterinarians say raw beets pack a powerful punch for cleansing the liver. Dogs may relish small amounts of cooked beets as a treat.

Supper time is almost as exciting for owners as it is for their dogs. When you see the excited joy on your best buddy's face as you fill his food bowl, it cheers up even the gloomiest day. That's why supper time ranks just below coming home from work as the best moment dog owners have with their pets every day.

This dog-food commercial is an ode to those seconds when a dog hears the tempting sound of kibble and comes a-runnin'. It's high-definition and super-slow-motion video, so you can really observe and savor the palpable joy.

Owners fill bowls with nutritious food to keep dogs healthy. So why do dogs eat weird, disgusting and even dangerous stuff?

Dogs use their mouths the way we use our hands. They pick up objects and explore their world by mouthing, tasting, and chewing. That sometimes gets them into trouble if they swallow something they shouldn't.

Eating Grass
As omnivores, dogs benefit from eating vegetables or fruits. Even coyotes and wolves eat vegetable matter found in the stomach of prey, as well as roots, grasses and fruit. Dogs often beg for and enjoy snacks of raw vegetables like lettuce, green beans and carrots.

Most pet dogs occasionally eat grass, which may provide vitamins the dog craves, or it may simply like the taste. Dogs also eat grass to stimulate vomiting when they feel ill. Occasional grazing isn't a cause for concern unless your dog turns it into an obsession or it gnaws poisonous houseplants.

Everyday pet products -- from food storage to kibble bowls to cat climbers -- are often more serviceable than stylish. That's why we like to highlight products that get high marks on both form and function. Here are 3 we love.


The sleek stainless steel Pet Food Can from simplehuman is fingerprint-proof and features an airtight seal, keeping food fresh and nosy pets out. Even better, it's sleek enough to keep out in your kitchen -- no more hiding that ugly plastic bin in the closet! $99.99-$119.99 online.


If you're going to put some thought into the dishes you eat from, shouldn't some consideration go into your pet's dinnerware, too? This Tuxedo bowl by ModaPet holds four cups of food and also features a non-skid bottom, smooth, simple shape and BPA-free materials. $24.99 online.

We already knew that Halo, Purely for Pets and Freekibble.com were doing some amazing things for shelter pets -- after all, in December, we reported that they had teamed up to deliver a million meals to shelter pets in 2010.

And the good news keeps coming. Halo, which is co-owned by animal-loving comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, has helped Freekibble.com, which was created by Mimi Ausland (pictured above) when she was only 11 years old, reach the amazing goal of five million meals!

Have you done your part to help? Every day, you can go to Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com to answer a fun trivia question. It doesn't matter if you get it right or not -- either way, your click provides 10 pieces of kibble to animal shelters to feed animals awaiting their forever homes.

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More from Paw Nation: Pet On The Street
In this clip from our weekly video series, we are asking dog owners what celebrity is your dog most like?

Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife, Anna, adopted as a puppy in late 2009.

Pippi seems to be back in good spirits after her illness while boarding at the vet's and the hunger strike we described last week. She hasn't yet regained all of the weight she lost, however. That isn't for lack of trying -- we've been giving her all sorts of extra food since then, table scraps, treats, you name it. Though we can still see her ribs, we thought she was doing better. Apparently, we were wrong. Upon our recent trip to the vet, she gave us a surprising assessment -- Pippi remains underweight.

She's about 46 lbs. right now, down 4 to 5 lbs. from her where she had been before we went on our trip, and this is below average for a dalmatian, which is 50 to 59 lbs. We could hardly believe it, though, when the vet said we should double her food, to 3 cups in the morning and night.

Pet store aisles are lined with dozens of brands of dog food. There's dry food, canned food, and semimoist food. Then there are all the labels: natural, holistic, super-premium, organic. How do you know which one is right for your dog?

To help you find the best food for your furry companion, WebMD went to the experts to get answers to eight common questions about dog food.

1. If a dog food is more expensive, does that mean it's better?
Many dog owners these days splurge on expensive dog foods, thinking they are buying the best for their dogs. But when it comes to quality, price isn't a good guideline, says Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I've seen 'all-natural, holistic' dog foods that perform really poorly in dogs, and I've seen some dog foods that you might not want to feed your dog, that perform better," Wakshlag says. "I don't think you get what you pay for."

2. What is dog food made of?
Dog food ingredients vary, depending on the manufacturer and the brand, but most meet standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Those standards cover protein, which supplies necessary amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Depending on the manufacturer, the food could contain protein from animal and/or plant sources, grains or other types of carbohydrates, fat, moisture, vitamins and minerals. The FDA is responsible for ensuring that pet foods are safe and labeled appropriately.

Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife, Anna, adopted as a puppy in late 2009.

After I adopted my cat Nora in 1999, my brother Alex -- a longtime cat caretaker himself -- cautioned me about cat food. "Don't just buy her the cheap stuff," he said. "It's the equivalent of feeding your cat McDonald's every day." Indeed, I've always gotten her Iams, usually, and believe that's part of the reason she's never had a single health problem in her nearly 12 years.

So when we got Pippi, I assumed Iams would be the brand for her too, and we began feeding her the Smart Puppy Proactive Health Plan. Only it seemed to have regularly caused her diarrhea. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with the brand, it just didn't seem to work for Pippi. And so, on the recommendation of our vet, we switched to Purina Pro Plan, and her irritable bowel issues pretty much cleared up overnight.

Ellen DeGeneres has delivered on a goal set in April -- through Halo, Purely for Pets (the pet care brand she co-owns) -- she's provided a million meals to shelter animals this year.

It began when DeGeneres helped promote the United Postal Service's social awareness stamp, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet. The campaign kicked off on April 30 when the talk show host and animal advocate announced that, in celebration of this newly launched stamp, Halo would work though social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Freekibble.com, as well as contests to feed 1 million meals to shelter dogs and cats. Just before Christmas, that goal was attained.

More than 100 shelters across the country benefited from the program. Halo CEO Steve Marton says, "We are thrilled with the success of the campaign and the incredible number of supporters who helped us to achieve this goal. It's our mission to make a real difference for pets, and part of that mission is to ensure shelter pets are provided healthy, nutritious food."

Picture this. You live in a fifth-floor walk-up in a big city. You don't have a car. It's a cold, wet day and you realize your dog is nearly out of food, leaving you with no choice but to trudge to the nearest store and pick up a bag. Lugging home 40 lbs. of dog food presents a physical challenge in addition to an inconvenience, but you love your pet and you do what you have to do.

Or maybe you live in a rural area and there's no store nearby. You don't notice that your cat is down to the last few kibbles until it's too late, meaning you have to make a late-night run to the store, which is pretty much the last thing you want to do at the end of a long day.

In either case, there's a simple solution -- delivery. But as many have learned, the cost of pet food delivery (especially if you've got a large pet or multiple pets and need a large quantity of food) can be steep, and remembering to order and allow time for shipping can be difficult. And that's where PetFlow.com comes into play.

PetFlow.com offers a large assortment of pet food and treats and, best of all, there's a $4.95 flat rate shipping cost on all orders.

You know not to feed your pet from the table -- even when the table is as bountiful as it is on Thanksgiving -- so how can you safely and happily include your dog in the upcoming holiday festivities?

Whether you're a master chef or a microwave-only kind of cook, we've got you covered. Here are three mutt-friendly meals you can make: one from a pre-assembled kit, one that any home cook can put together while making Thanksgiving dinner (no extra time in the kitchen necessary), and one for serious, canine-loving culinarians.

"Bone" appétit!

Doggie Thanksgiving from a Kit:
Chef Edward Mac, founder and chef de cuisine at Barks Bistro, received his culinary training from Le Cordon Bleu. So you know that his Three-Course Prix Fix Thanksgiving Dinner Kit ($15) will be tasty. The kit contains a ready-to-eat beef pâté starter, followed by your choice of ready-to-eat entree: Tender Turkey, Crispy Chicken, Pork Sirloin Chops or Veal Cutlets. For dessert, the kit contains cupcake-making materials: cupcake liners, a packet of vanilla yogurt icing and a recipe booklet for whipping up your own batch of cupcakes, featuring Mac's favorites (like Alaskan pink salmon and rosemary cake).

We want everyone to be able to participate in the Meet the Breeds event in New York City on October 16 and 17. 160 dog breeds, 41 cat breeds and tens of thousands of people will be coming together for two days of entertainment, education, kids' activities and more.

Paw Nation is the official blog of the event so, if you are able to attend, be sure to stop by our booth. But if you can't, don't worry. You can still get in on some of the fun. For the next week we are going to be having a Meet the Breeds Giveaway Bonanza with contests launching every (work) day. We are kicking it off with a special giveaway from Iams.

As sponsors of Meet the Breeds, and in honor of the upcoming event, Iams wants to make buying your pet's food just a little easier. They're giving away a year of Iams dog food! The winner will receive the prize in the form of vouchers, allowing them to pick up the food at the retailer of their choice.

A year's worth of dog food (240 pounds) is a terrific prize, valued at $250. And, as always, entering to win is simple!

To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about your pet's mealtime routine.

The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Friday, October 15, 2010.

You may enter only once.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing.

One winner will receive vouchers for 240 pounds of Iams dog food (valued at $250).

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address!

Do you want to win 6-months of free food for your small dog? Check out this giveaway.

Small dogs have specific dietary needs other than needing to eat less than their larger canine counterparts. Anyone who's owned a small or toy breed can certainly attest to that.

The folks at Hill's Science Diet are well aware of this. As sponsors of Meet the Breeds, and in honor of the upcoming event, Hill's Science Diet is giving away a coupon good for six months' worth of Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed Dog Food! That's a $200 value!

To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us why your dog is special.

The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Friday, September 24, 2010.

You may enter only once.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing.

One winner will receive a coupon good for six months' worth of Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed Dog Food. (valued at $200).

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address!

You adore your little dog, but are you taking care of his or her special nutrition needs?

It isn't just about feeding your dog the proper serving size (though that is critical), it is also about taking into account a variety of factors that determine a pet's metabolism requirements, including age, activity level and reproductive status. To help guide you, Paw Nation spoke with animal nutritionist Susan Lauten, Ph.D., of Pet Nutrition Consulting, and Liz Palika, author of "The Ultimate Pet Food Guide," about how to ensure that our tiny friends live long, well-fed lives.


1. Use food manufacturer's guidelines as the starting point for determining proper portion size.
Unlike humans, there is no specific recommended daily calorie allowance for dogs. So begin with what is on the package and then modify to keep your pooch at the right weight. (See more on this below.) If you want to create a special diet for your dog -- whether by mixing types of store-bought foods or preparing meals from scratch -- consult a professional to make sure you are meeting your animal's nutrition and portion needs.

2. Adjust food amounts depending on whether you have a lazy lap dog or an active dog.
As with humans, healthy eating is all about calories in versus calories out. "Calculated caloric intake can vary up to 30 percent based on a dog's activity level and breed. What they recommend for active terriers is 30 to 40 percent higher than active dogs in general. Terriers, like the Jack Russell, are zooming around. But small pets that are carried around everywhere don't require as many calories," explains Lauten. Most bigger dogs are inactive in comparison.

You know you're not supposed to feed your dog chocolate, onions, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts and avocados. And you monitor for sensitivity to common food allergens such as meat, corn, wheat and soy.

But you're only human, and sometimes it's hard to resist your dog's sweet stare as he begs you with his eyes to share some of your delicious homo sapien cuisine. When you want to give him a treat from your table, do you know which "human" foods are safe to feed your pup?

To find the answer, we called upon Liz Palika, author of "The Ultimate Pet Food Guide," and animal nutritionist, Susan Lauten, PhD, of Pet Nutrition Consulting, to explain which fresh, frozen and canned foods people typically eat that are safe for dogs to consume too.

1. Melons: Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are all healthy options for your pooch. "My dogs will take me down over cantaloupe," says Lauten. "I am required to share the whole thing with them." Consult animal poison control before feeding your dogs any of the more exotic melons.

2. Sunflower seeds (shelled): Skip the salt if possible, or serve in moderation, recommends Lauten. "Remember, treats should not comprise more than 10 percent of your dog's daily calorie intake. If your dog gets 500 calories a day, 50 calories could come from treats."

3. Peanut butter: Peanuts don't appear to cause allergies in dogs like they do in people, says Lauten. "I have some highly food-sensitive dogs for whom peanut butter is a large part of their diet."

4. Berries (fresh and frozen): Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, huckleberries or raspberries -- all are good for your furry friend for the same reason they're good for humans: free-radical-fighting antioxidants. "A lot of dogs like them frozen," says Lauten.