Just like people, dogs need to eat the right foods and get plenty of exercise. The good news is that eating right is easier for dogs simply because we control their nutrition. People have to overcome years of bad food habits into order to improve health, but for dogs, it's just a matter of feeding them the right amounts of the best possible food.
Your dog's veterinarian is an excellent resource if you are seeking information about pet nutrition. The vet is the best place to get suggestions about food options, as well as understanding your pet's healthiest weight and learning the best exercises for your dog. This all differs based on the size of your dog, the age of your dog, their breed and their general level of activity.
You might be wondering whether it is best to feed a dog dry food or wet food or a combination of both. Typically, dogs enjoy wet food more, as it often has more flavor. It also has the advantage of having some water content, which can be great if you have a dog that doesn't tend to drink enough water in general. Dry dog food can be a bit better for your dog's teeth. You also can mix a bit of wet food with dry food to enhance flavor. In general, both types of food can be a good choice as long as the food itself is very high quality. In addition to taking suggestions from your vet, check the labels of the dog food. The ingredients, just like our own food, should be items we recognize and not a bunch of chemicals or fillers.
Your dog's dietary needs are quite different from a human's needs. While we get quite a bit of our nutrition from sources of carbohydrates, dogs really only need proteins and fats. Most dog foods do contain carbs and certainly dogs find these foods appealing, but they are not a true need for your pet. Still, they exist in most pet foods so simply opt for the healthiest carbohydrates such as sweet potato and whole grains. Proteins also should be higher up on the ingredient list, as eating chicken, salmon, lamb or other proteins is more of what your dog needs.
There are many foods that a dog should never eat. Most people know that chocolate is unsafe for dogs, but there are other healthy items that you might think are ok. Avocadoes, for instance, are considered healthy for most humans, but this fruit contains a toxin called persin, which can be dangerous for pets in large quantities. It is found in the meat, seed, leaves and bark of the avocado tree. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and dairy products can cause digestive upset. Any food with a large pit or seed also can be a danger if your pet consumes the large seed. These are just a few foods to avoid giving to your pet.
If your dog accidentally grabs a tiny tidbit of forbidden food, you probably don't need to be alarmed, but it wise to train your dog so that they know to leave an item alone when you command. That way if a chocolate bar is dropped on the floor or you see them chomping on leaves in the garden, you can command them to stop immediately and drop the item. Obedience training is a definite must for your dog, and this will keep them safe in a huge variety of situations, which in turn keeps them healthier. Obedience can be quite easy to accomplish if you use a dog training DVD. Dog training is definitely one of the many components of keeping your dog as healthy as possible.
Your dog's veterinarian is an excellent resource if you are seeking information about pet nutrition. The vet is the best place to get suggestions about food options, as well as understanding your pet's healthiest weight and learning the best exercises for your dog. This all differs based on the size of your dog, the age of your dog, their breed and their general level of activity.
You might be wondering whether it is best to feed a dog dry food or wet food or a combination of both. Typically, dogs enjoy wet food more, as it often has more flavor. It also has the advantage of having some water content, which can be great if you have a dog that doesn't tend to drink enough water in general. Dry dog food can be a bit better for your dog's teeth. You also can mix a bit of wet food with dry food to enhance flavor. In general, both types of food can be a good choice as long as the food itself is very high quality. In addition to taking suggestions from your vet, check the labels of the dog food. The ingredients, just like our own food, should be items we recognize and not a bunch of chemicals or fillers.
Your dog's dietary needs are quite different from a human's needs. While we get quite a bit of our nutrition from sources of carbohydrates, dogs really only need proteins and fats. Most dog foods do contain carbs and certainly dogs find these foods appealing, but they are not a true need for your pet. Still, they exist in most pet foods so simply opt for the healthiest carbohydrates such as sweet potato and whole grains. Proteins also should be higher up on the ingredient list, as eating chicken, salmon, lamb or other proteins is more of what your dog needs.
There are many foods that a dog should never eat. Most people know that chocolate is unsafe for dogs, but there are other healthy items that you might think are ok. Avocadoes, for instance, are considered healthy for most humans, but this fruit contains a toxin called persin, which can be dangerous for pets in large quantities. It is found in the meat, seed, leaves and bark of the avocado tree. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and dairy products can cause digestive upset. Any food with a large pit or seed also can be a danger if your pet consumes the large seed. These are just a few foods to avoid giving to your pet.
If your dog accidentally grabs a tiny tidbit of forbidden food, you probably don't need to be alarmed, but it wise to train your dog so that they know to leave an item alone when you command. That way if a chocolate bar is dropped on the floor or you see them chomping on leaves in the garden, you can command them to stop immediately and drop the item. Obedience training is a definite must for your dog, and this will keep them safe in a huge variety of situations, which in turn keeps them healthier. Obedience can be quite easy to accomplish if you use a dog training DVD. Dog training is definitely one of the many components of keeping your dog as healthy as possible.
About the Author:
Garrett McMahan loves watching dog show. For further information about the best DVD dog training videos, or to discover dog training video online, please check out the TheDogsWay site today.
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