Category Archives: Best puppy food

Dog Food Advisor: What Human Foods Are Safe for Your Puppy?

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Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Dog food advisor: what human foods are safe for your puppy? This is a question that should be asked more often, and it’s alarming what pets are being fed by their owners. Much of the obesity problems that pet owners are dealing with across the country are often a result of feeding too much, or feeding your dog the wrong foods.

Rather than dwell on the foods that you shouldn’t be feeding your puppy, I thought it might be a great idea to address the human foods that are actually good for your dog. Be sure you are fully aware of the human foods that present risks to your animal, and offer only a proper, dog-friendly diet for the happiness and well-being of your dog.

Dog Food Advisor: What Human Foods Are Safe for Your Puppy?

Dr. Nicole Pajer wrote this informed article for Cesar Millan:

Dog Food Advisor: What Human Foods Are Safe for Your Puppy?

Dog Food Advisor: What Human Foods Are Safe for Your Puppy?

We try to keep our dogs on their canine diets but sometimes we just can’t resist slipping them an occasional human morsel. If you’d like to reward your pet with a table scrap, make sure that you choose people foods that are safe for canine tummies.

Here are a few “dog-approved” people foods:

1. Peanut butter. A favorite treat of many canines. Not only is it a good source of protein, but it also contains heart healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin, and vitamin E. Stuff peanut butter into a Kong to keep your dog busy for hours. Choose raw, unsalted peanut butter.

2. Cooked chicken. Can be slipped into the bowl along with your dog’s regular food to add a spice and extra protein to its diet. This also makes a good meal replacement if you’re in a pinch and out of dog food.

3. Cheese. A great treat for a dog as long as she isn’t lactose intolerant, which a small percentage are. Make sure to monitor your dog’s reaction. Opt for low or reduced fat varieties and don’t overfeed, as many cheeses can be high in fat. Cottage cheese is typically a good choice.

4. Baby carrots. Good for a dog’s teeth, carrots are low calorie and high in fiber and beta carotene/vitamin A.

5. Yogurt. High in calcium and protein. But make sure to only choose yogurts that do not contain artificial sweeteners or added sugars. Yogurts with active bacteria can act as a probiotic and are good for your dog’s digestive system.

6. Salmon. A good source of omega 3 fatty acids, which are responsible for keeping your dog’s coat healthy and shiny, as well as supporting your dog’s immune system. Feed your dog cooked salmon, add salmon oil to her food bowl, or slip him some of your unwanted fish skins.

7. Pumpkin. Good source of fiber as well as beta-carotene/vitamin A. It can help keep the GI tract moving and can aid with digestive issues.

8. Eggs. Scrambling up an egg for your pup is a great way to give her diet a protein boost. Eggs are also a source of easily digestible riboflavin and selenium, making them a healthy snack.

9. Green Beans.Make a great treat for your dog since they are filling and low in calories. Select beans that have no added salt.

10. Apple Slices. Help to clean residue off a dog’s teeth, which helps to freshen her breath. Apples are a good source of fiber as well as vitamin A and C. Make sure to take out the seeds and the core before feeding to your dog, as these can be choking hazards.

11. Oatmeal. A great source of soluble fiber, which can be especially beneficial to senior dogs with bowel irregularity issues. It is also a great alternate grain for dogs allergic to wheat. Make sure to cook oatmeal before serving it to your dog. Do not add any sugar or flavor additives. (Original article here)

Dog food advisor: what human foods are safe for your puppy? If you’ve wondered what these foods are, now you know, but I must add that it’s vital to keep moderation in mind, and the list above should be an exception rather than a rule. The best advice is to stick to dog food. A lot of research and scientific data has been collected in recent years to come up with specific dog foods that are designed to meet all of your puppy’s nutritional requirements. Therefore, check with your vet first before serving up a plate of human food to your dog. Remember, a dog is a dog is a dog…

What’s the Best Puppy Food: Dry, Semi-Moist or Moist?

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Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

What’s the Best Puppy Food: Dry, Semi-Moist or Moist?

What’s the Best Puppy Food: Dry, Semi-Moist or Moist?

As a dog owner, you’ll want to know what’s the best puppy food: dry, semi-moist or moist? These categories are all readily available in the supermarkets and pet food stores, but it’s not always clear as to what’s the best for your particular puppy.

It’s important to keep in mind the size of your dog as well as the type of dog. It should also be obvious not to feed your puppy the same food as you’d be feeding to an adult dog. The needs of a puppy are much different from an adult dog in that a puppy is much more energetic and needs a protein rich diet in order to replenish the puppies fast-growing and demanding system.

What’s the Best Puppy Food: Dry, Semi-Moist or Moist?

Dr. Katy Nelson advises the following:

There are three types of dog food:

  • Dry kibble
  • Semi-moist that comes in sealed packages
  • Moist or canned

Most veterinarians and trainers recommend dry kibble food for your puppy. They recommend dry kibble because of its fat content and also because moist dog food can spoil. Dry kibble also helps with tarter control which is important for developing teeth.

When you are shopping for dog food there are a couple of things that you want to look for:

  • Check the label for “Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food Nutrient Profiles for Growth”
  • Read the ingredients list on the back of the package and look for real meat as the first ingredient

Puppies grow the fastest during the first six months of their life. Because growth rates differ among breed sizes you need to feed your puppy the formula designed to address the needs of your puppy’s breed and size.

Puppy food should contain animal based protein for strong muscles. The protein requirement for puppies is higher than that for adult dogs. High quality protein is critical for puppies to create new body tissue as they grow. Puppy food should also contain calcium for strong bones and teeth. It should contain iron for healthy blood and DHA for the brain, central nervous system, and vision. Puppy food should also contain prebiotics for a healthy immune system and it should be high in calories for all the energy a puppy burns.

Nutritional needs differ for the different breed sizes. Large breed puppies grow more quickly. Because they grow more quickly, they need less calcium so that their bones don’t grow too fast. Medium breed dogs need a careful balance of calories and nutrients so they don’t gain excess weight. Small breed puppies need nutrient dense food in small bites because their metabolism is faster and they have different energy needs than larger dogs.

What is good for humans is not necessarily good for dogs. Proper nutrition is critical for a puppy’s optimum development and human food doesn’t offer the proper balance of nutrients that puppies need; therefore, it is important to not feed your puppy table scraps.

It is very important to monitor your puppy’s weight.

A fat puppy isn’t necessarily a healthy puppy. Click here to visit the original source of this post

Now that you’re more informed, when someone asks you, what’s the best puppy food: dry, semi-moist or moist? Hopefully you’ll have a much clearer picture to offer an educated answer. Much the same with modern advancements in food for humans, food scientists have studied the best foods and nutritional requirements for our pets, and this helps in keeping them healthier for longer, and remaining as part of your family for much longer too.

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