QUOTE OF THE MONTH: "What one must remember in determining if a rescue dog is right for you is that these dogs have been neglected or abused and may be skittish, afraid, or have problems with eating or other issues. You may give the dog treats, the rescue society will tell you which ones are okay. You will need to reward the dog for good behavior and let it know who is in authority.
"At first, the dog may be fearful or act out with some sort of bad behavior until it knows what it is that you expect of it. However, if you are patient with the dog and are willing to understand the issues it might have and work to help it overcome those issues, you will never find a more loyal, loving and appreciative dog because you have given it a loving, caring home where it feels safe and is happy." -- Vikki Gigante
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"Who's Minding the Pet food Store?"
An Article by Sharda Baker
While the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that US pet owners are feeding their pets safe and nutritious foods lies with the Department of Agriculture and the same Food and Drug administration which oversees the safety of human food, both of these agencies turn to testing done by the American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, to set the standards for what ingredients should be permitted in dog food.
You, as a caring pet owner, will benefit from knowing just how the AAFCO arrives at its recommendations so you are able to then choose the best dog foods for your best friend.
The AAFCO Standards
When it comes to pet food, the AAFCO has created a uniformed model and definition for the ingredients which provides a common understanding of what is in each serving, including a common labeling procedure. That way there is no confusion and no contradictions between differing brands and types of pet food. This information is provided in an annual publication: the AAFCO Manual.
The AAFCO Statement, also referred to as Nutritional Adequacy, is given to those pet foods that have passed the requirements found in the AAFCO Manual. This statement is required on all pet foods and helps to ensure that the pet food is safe. Of course, many manufacturers such as those common to the Premium foods will make strides to go above and beyond the standards set forth by AAFCO.
There are generally two types of AAFCO statements:
- Pet foods with a statement such as “Tested…” have seen an actual trial with cats or dogs eating the product and receiving positive results.
- Those foods with a “Formulated” statement have not seen an actual trial but the product has been manufactured to meet the recommendations and the guideline set forth by AAFCO.
To meet the AAFCO guidelines and to receive the AAFCO Statement, pet foods sold on the market have to be graded and judged before distribution. With AAFCO being the only body to grade and judge the quality of the pet food, it is important to look for the AAFCO statement located on the label.
There are two nutritional profiles used to grade dog food; Adult maintenance and Growth (used for puppies). With these profiles in mind, AAFCO determines the nutrients that are needed for each category. The nutrients must meet standards above the minimum requirement and below the maximum requirement as to avoid deficiencies and over-nutrition respectively. These profiles must be defined on the bag. There is a third profile “Fit for all life stages” which meets stricter requirements and are suitable for both puppies and adults.
The testing protocol that is used by AAFCO has come under fire recently, but the tests used have proven adequate when it comes to determining safe products and products fit for the different nutritional profiles. Dog food manufacturers follow the findings of these tests in order to deliver quality products to the consumer and, of course, to the dogs which benefit from the information and diet that is provided.
AAFCO’s tests are among the most trusted and one of the only tests performed on dog food and pet food overall. They have been followed and used as guidelines since the organization’s formation in 1909. These protocols are enough to determine which foods go to the market and which foods are unfit to feed to our dogs.
Now, the AAFCO tests are for a relatively short amount of time compared to the length of the dog’s life span. With this in mind, it is important that other factors are taken into account when deciding the best diet for your pet. While the AAFCO tests are important and even vital when choosing dog food, also keep in mind that your dog may have specialized requirements and circumstances that will affect the results. Trial testing in home is also recommended to make certain that your dog is receiving the needed nutrients without the adverse results.
The AAFCO tests do show us the performance of the food being tested, the digestibility of the nutrients in the food and how willing the dogs are to accept the food. When deficiencies are detected in the AAFCO trials, they are able to be corrected and improved, creating a superior product.
It is important to look for the AAFCO statement when purchasing dog food along with quality ingredients which can be found in Premium foods. While lower quality foods, those containing corn based feed, or items like bone and meat meal, may pass these tests, owners must understand that AAFCO needs to make sure lower quality and higher quality dog food are suitable for purchase.
So don't settle for the cheapest food with the AAFCO approval statement. You know your dog better than anyone else, and you know his or her special health and energy requirements. Give them the best dog foods you can, within your budget. We'll discuss in much more detail what the various label ingredients on AAFCO foods really mean for your dog, and you'll feel much better when the AAFCO's vigilance is backed up by your own!
Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling THE TRUTH ABOUT DOG FOOD
The Complete Guide to Your Dog's Nutrition can help you with everything to do choosing the healthiest food for your dog plus provides detailed help with managing all the common dog food issues you may experience with your dog.
"Store-Bought, Or Home Made: What's A Dog Owner to Do?"
An Article by Sharda Baker
The massive pet food recall of 2007 had millions of dog owners terrified that they had unwittingly been poisoning their beloved pets. If you and your dog survived that frightening time, you have undoubtedly been more careful in your choice of dog foods ever since. But how is the average dog owner to know what's really going into doggie's dish? One way to know for sure is to make your pet's food at home, but that can be very time-consuming. The other option is to know which commercial food is the the best dog food, that is both safe and nutritious.
The question of what to feed your dog is a sensitive one as there are many different camps advocating many different ideas, facts, and theories. For many owners, the question is solved by finances. To put is simply, if the owner can afford the dog food then that type and brand is going to go into the food bowl. While this approach may seem sensible, especially when the monthly budget is taken into consideration, it may not be best. Why feed the dog sub-par ingredients and face vet bills later on that may have been avoided in the first place by choosing the right food?
The dog foods found on most grocery store shelves, the generic or store brand ones, are not usually considered among the best foods for your pet. More often than not, these brands are full of ingredients that are lower in quality and inexpensive. While these brands provide a cheaper alternative to the other brands, they are generally not recommended. A quick glance at the ingredients can provide an example of lower quality food.
Generic meat ingredients without a specific species named is not a good thing to feed a dog. Avoid phrases such as “meat byproducts” or “meat and bone meal”. Look for brands that can list the animal that they use as an ingredient, like “chicken meal” or “beef”. Also, avoid any brands that list corn as their main ingredient. You are feeding a dog, after all, and not a pig or a cow.
But, you say, Fido is delighted with the store brand food, which retails for half of what the brand names do? That's because Fido's been tricked. Chemicals have been added to that food, creating a pleasing color and aroma which Fido finds irresistible and which hides the fact that the food is not one of the best dog foods. These chemicals are easy enough to spot if you know what to look for. Coloring agents, drying agents, and texturizers are just some of the tell-tale ingredients that should cause you to sit up and take notice.
There are, of course, premium commercial dog foods which provide the highest grade ingredients free of harmful additives, and in another newsletter we'll explore how to find them. But they will cost a premium price, and if you are a hands-on dog owner, you might be more interested in preparing your pet's meals yourself.
This option of making pet food at home has become more and more popular over the past few years as it allows owners to choose directly what is going into their dog’s bowl. Feeding doggie homemade food, however, does not mean allowing him or her to dine on the family's leftovers. It means researching the proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for your dog, and finding the foods which will provide them in an easily digestible form. One of the best known homemade diets for the canine set is the BARF diet.
And now–what does BARF stand for? Seems you can say it stands for a couple of things, but the most often cited explanation is Bones And Raw Food. The other one floating around on the Internet is Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, which is attributed to Dr. Ian Billinghurst, one of the original Barfers.
The BARF Diet is suitable for many dogs but it takes time and dedication on the owner’s part. While there are noticeable differences between the BARF diet and a diet based on commercial dog foods, the purpose of both diets is to provide the dog with the best nutrients possible.
BARF is about feeding a biologically appropriate diet for a dog that is made up of raw whole foods like those eaten by their ancestors. This would include muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that mimic what the wild ancestors ate.
The BARF diet, however, is not always the best method of feeding your dog and it takes a great amount of time to prepare and research the foods. Conversely, commercial brand dog foods have undergone several tests to insure that they are compatible with the dietary needs of the dog. Basically, a dog will receive just about the same benefits of the BARF diet if he remains on a commercial diet and may even receive more nutrients that way.
The important thing you, as a dog owner, should know is that commercial dog food is not all the same. You can learn much more about what is in each can, pouch, or bag of dog food by becoming educated in label reading, and the AAFCO standards. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what's the best dog food for your dog.
Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling THE TRUTH ABOUT DOG FOOD
The publisher, Sharda Baker has been around for a long while and is well known on the internet for her top quality dog ebooks and audios She has put together a thorough and easy to follow resource on dog food and nutrition that lists 12 of the best dog foods for your dog!
"Finding the Right Adult Dog Food"
An Article by Sharda Baker
The AAFCO has different testing standards for commercial puppy and adult dog foods, and the ingredients in and AAFCO approved puppy food will not continue to meet your dog's changing nutritional needs. The AAFCO's Growth testing protocol applies to puppies, and its Adult Maintenance protocol applies to all adult dogs. So if you are enticed by a commercial dog food labeled as "Senior," don’t think it has been tested by the AAFCO on older dogs.
With your dog coming into adulthood, you will have to change the food from puppy chow to a food formulated for older dogs that is one of the best rated dog food. This should start around the one year mark for your puppy. Changing foods should be done carefully and with great care and consideration.
Pay close attention to your dog’s likes, dislikes, and attitude toward the new food. When choosing the new food, make sure that it contains the six major nutrient groups which will provide your dog with a healthy diet. These groups are the proteins, fats and oils, minerals, water, carbohydrates, and vitamins that can be found listed on the Guaranteed Analysis on the dog food package.
It is also important to consider your dog’s special needs and circumstances while choosing an adult formulated food. Breed and size are two factors as well as any health issues and if your dog is active or inactive. Smaller breeds metabolize much faster than larger breeds and will need twice the calories. Larger breeds will need to eat more and will also need food that helps strengthen their bones and joints. Active dogs will need food with high levels of fat which will not help the inactive dog.
The dietary needs for adult dogs will vary dog to dog depending upon condition, size, and breed. In general, the aim of adult dog food should be the continued maintenance of well being for the immune system, skin, coat and muscles. Always try and buy one of the best rated dog foods.
No matter what food you choose, make sure that it will meet your dog’s dietary needs. Remember that the feeding recommendations below and those found on other food’s labels are merely guidelines. You, as the owner, will be the first to know if your dog is benefiting from the diet or that adjustments are needed. And, as always, do not hesitate to consult with your veterinarian if you should have any questions or concerns.
Adult dogs will be eating less often than their puppies, averaging two servings a day; some breeds will only need one serving a day. It is vital to ensure that your dog is meeting all of the nutritional requirements at each meal to keep it healthy and happy. Routine is also important and allows your dog’s digestion system a sense of regularity.
It is important to remember that with a regular feeding schedule and consultations with veterinarians, feeding your adult dog should not be stressful. Usually, there should be two feeding times for healthy adults; morning and evenings with enough food to sufficiently meet the dog’s daily requirements. To do so, simply divide the daily nutritional requirements in half.
With a stable routine, your dog’s body will come to expect meals at the appointed time which will help the digestion process and even his mental health. When deciding what time to feed your dog, take into consideration your own daily habits and choose times that will allow you to follow through with the plan each and every day. In time, you and your dog will fall into habit of reducing stress and making life much easier for both.
One thing you should keep in mind when feeding your adult dog is that his or her metabolism will begin to slow over time. While properly balanced adult dog foods will not by themselves make your adult dog fat, continuing to feed a dog with a slowing metabolism the same amount of food will. So you should either give your aging pet more exercise to burn off the calories which aren’t being burned by his or her slowing metabolism, or cut back on the portions at meal time.
What you decide to feed your adult dog, whether you go with a commercial food or decide to try the BARF diet or your own home made dog food, will be the single most important factor in his or her continuing health and happiness. So do your research before you make the switch from puppy to adult food, and pay attention to how well your pal is responding to the new food.
It's perfectly alright to try a variety of adult foods until you discover the one the best rated dog foods which has you dog both thriving, and looking forward to mealtime as the best part of the day! But make an educated choice!
Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling THE TRUTH ABOUT DOG FOOD
If you realize that your dog is not eating a healthy diet, then by all means make whatever changes are necessary to rectify the situation. Just do it in a way which eases the transition for you pal so that meal times still remain the high points of his or her day!
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