dog nutrition.
kleineralsdrei, Flickr 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 ...
No, boy. Not food. slava, Flickr 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 ...
teddy23901, Flickr 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 ...
Anna Westhoff 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 ...
Getty Images 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 ...