In Part 1 we talked about some of the tricks that pet manufacturers use to make their products look more appealing to consumers. After all, protein should make up the majority of the dog’s diet, right? We don’t want any of those nasty carbohydrate fillers do we? Do we???

Nutritional Common Sense

If you think about it, the dog’s diet must add up to be 100%. There are five nutrients to take into consideration here (not including water): protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.

According to accredited veterinary nutritionists, the average adult neutered house dog only needs about 20% protein, 15% fat, and all the necessary vitamins and minerals can fit into 5% of the diet. So what makes up the remaining 60%?

It only makes sense that if the diet is formulated properly and the list ACCURATELY reflects the relative weight of the ingredients, low calorie carbohydrates should make up the balance of the diet. Therefore, the list should have a grain as the first ingredient.

Rebecca Remillard, PhD, DVM, accredited veterinary nutritionist, and staff nutritionist at the Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, MA, states, “If a diet has the proper protein to calorie ratio and is properly formulated for the average adult dog, the meat source would not be first in the list.”

Despite this, many self-proclaimed pet food experts will try to tell you that carbohydrates are nothing but junk. While there is no minimum dietary requirement for carbohydrates in pet foods, the body does have a minimum glucose requirement to supply energy for critical organs such as the brain. In addition, most cells use glucose as their primary fuel.

Have you ever seen an animal or person who is hypoglycemic (lacking glucose)? Scary!

This glucose CAN come from protein or fats. However, the liver must manufacture the glucose from these sources in order to dump the nitrogen. Carbohydrates don’t contain nitrogen and don’t need to be metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. This makes carbohydrates an extremely important energy source because they basically allow the body to do less work.

According to Dr. Remillard, “Some pet foods do contain very little or no carbohydrates but overfeed protein and fat. This would most likely be no problem for the feral dog or cat not expected to live past 2-3 years of age. I suggest this is not the ideal diet when one expects your pet to live 10-20 years. It’s much like smoking in people–rarely are the effects noted before 20 or 30 years–so it seems OK at first.

I find it interesting when pet owners are concerned about the large carbohydrate fraction comprising pet foods but think feeding vegetables and fruit is more ‘healthy’ and/or ‘natural’. These same pet owners fail to realize that vegetables and fruits are primarily comprised of water and carbohydrates in the form of sugar, starch and fiber. You cannot get away from those carbohydrates.”

It’s OK–you don’t have to avoid a pet food just because it has a carbohydrate listed as the first ingredient.

Also keep in mind that the ingredient list in general cannot and should not be used as a way to assess the “quality” of a pet food. There are just too many factors to consider. We only wish it was so simple. While the list of ingredients may be helpful, it has certain shortcomings that limit its usefulness for evaluating the nutritive value of pet foods.

For better or worse, the consumer must rely on the reputation or word of the manufacturer to assess the nutritive value and safety of the ingredients appearing on the list. If you have any questions about your pet’s food just pick up the phone. All you have to do is look a little past the ingredient list to find the toll-free number.

They’re waiting for your call!

Amanda K. Jones is a licensed veterinary technician and e-book author. She has had several articles published in professional veterinary journals and is a Tails, Inc. Magazine Furry Forum Expert.

If you’re a pet owner interested in learning more about petfoodbible.com pet food ingredients, or are looking for more information on basic petfoodbible.com pet food nutrition, you may be interested in Amanda’s FREE 8-Week Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition. For more information or to sign-up please visit petfoodbible.com petfoodbible.com

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Tags: dog food

Before I say anything else, my sympathies for those who have lost a dog during this pet food recall. My border collie died after a trip to the vets where she was fed one of the premium vet approved brands. Within the week she was gone.

There may be something of value as a result of this widespread tragedy:

What ingredients are in the pet food?What traditional ingredients can cause problems for pets?This article addresses wheat gluten as a component in dog and cat food. The problems associated with wheat are: 1. Deadly molds like aflatoxin 2. Toxic preservatives like ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT 3. Toxic rodenticides like aminopterin

4. Pets may be allergic to wheat

If wheat is not stored properly, then deadly molds can develop like aflatoxin. There have been several major pet food recalls in recent years because of this type of contamination, that is deadly molds. This whole problem becomes almost a catch 22 if you insist on feeding wheat based dog foods. To store the wheat, one often use preservatives. The optimum level of preservative is always a trade off:

· Too much is toxic to the consumer of the wheat.

· Too little and the wheat will spoil.

Next in line as a storage problem are rodents. To control the rodent problem one might use rodenticides. Again the optimum level of rodenticide is always a trade off:

· Too much and you have poisoned the wheat

· Too little and the rodents eat the wheat, leave excrement and other rodent related problems.

The fourth issue is an allergy to wheat. In the same manner that some people are allergic to eggs or peanut butter or milk, pets can be allergic to wheat. This may not be dramatic but could easily cause sluggish behavior and lessen life span.

One obvious solution is to avoid dog food which uses wheat as an ingredient. With the tragedies of the past weeks I hope that we learn to pay attention. Use the internet and common sense. If you are concerned about wheat related pet food recalls and deaths, then use a wheat free or grain free dog food. This is not the whole solution. Shelf life is always an issue with any dog food. Accordingly, preservatives may be involved. Read the labels, know what you are feeding your dogs.

Since I was 5 years of age, I have had two dogs, sometimes more than two. That is 54 years of dogs. There were several breeds and a myriad of personalities. All but 1 has passed on; amazing memories from amazing friends. Treat your dogs like the true and loyal friends they are, you can not go too far wrong.

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Tags: dog food

If your dog is ill but you can’t figure out why, he could be suffering from a dog food allergy. Some symptoms that would indicate this possibility are swollen stomach, lethargy, skin rashes or dermatitis, weepy eyes and labored breathing (wheezing). Sometimes your dog will simply just not seem well.

There are so many additives in most commercially prepared dog food products that a dog food allergy should be the first thought when we see our pet looking unwell. The easiest way to test for this is to change your dog’s diet. The best diet for a dog is a raw meat diet with vegetable scraps, sardines and crushed egg shells added. The next best diet is to use an organic dog food product from a reliable and caring manufacturer who clearly has attempted to use ingredients and recipes that enhance a dog’s health. Organic dry dog food can be used sparingly and general commercially prepared dry dog food products should not be used at all.

It may take some time for the dog food allergy symptoms to disappear. You need to keep your dog on this new diet for at least three months and monitor the results. Whether or not the allergy symptoms are related to the dog food, your dog will be a lot healthier and happier if you do not return to the regular commercial brands.

If you have changed your dog’s diet and allergy symptoms persist, you may need to carefully look at the actual food he is eating. He may have a food allergy as opposed to being allergic to preservatives and other additives. The most likely source of such a dog food allergy is grains, so make sure there are no grains or grain based foods in his diet. Watch carefully to monitor results. It’s very important that family members and friends do not feed your dog during this time. It will be difficult to solve the problem if you are giving him a strict diet that others are disregarding. Also make sure that whatever vegetables are included are not known cause a dog food allergy. If you get no improvement by removing grains, you may need to remove vegetables one at time to observe results.

However, if symptoms persist your dog may not have a dog food allergy after all and instead be exhibiting symptoms of something more serious. Your dog will probably need a professional checkup with your local vet. It may help to take along a record of your dietary changes and any health results you have observed.

Lee Dobbins writes for dogbreeds123.com Dog Breeds 123 where you can learn more about dog breeds as well as dog care and find out more about symptoms of a dogbreeds123.com/dogfood/dogfoodallergy.html dog food allergy.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, dog food, feed your dog

Why Dog Constipation Can Be Bad For Your Beloved Dog

Dog constipation can be a problem for many dogs. There are various causes but most are harmless and can be avoided or treated.

First of all your dog needs exercise. If the dog is lying around all day long then dog constipation is more than likely. Give him less food when he does not move much. This brings us to the second most important aspect, dog food. The wrong food can easily cause dog constipation or other symptoms.

Choose the food which is appropriate for your dog, its age and weight. Not all pet food is made similar. In fact there are some pretty bad pet foods out there. You should look out for quality food and also give him fresh food from time to time. Instead of giving him one large amount of food, feed your dog twice a day instead. For constipation is is recommended you increases the amount of fiber in the food.

Stress can be another reason for dog constipation. If your dog has to live outside then weather conditions, cold or heat can cause constipation. A dog is an animal which does not like to be alone but always near you or with other dogs. This can cause stress too.

Before changing the diet for your dog you should also talk with your animal doctor. He knows much more about pet food, especially when it comes to dogs. He can also make a proper diagnosis which helps to find other reasons for your dogs constipation.

Unfortunately it is not always about food and exercise. Sometimes the problem is bigger. Dog constipation can also be caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses for example. Also poisoned food can be a cause. Here the veterinarian can help as well.

Your dog can not really care about himself so you have to do is. One of the best things to do is to check his excrements on a daily basis. While this does not sound like fun, it gives you important information about your dogs situation. It gives you early warning signs when something is wrong.

The ideal dog poop does not smell much, is moist but can easily be taken away without breaking apart. Any major changes in your dog’s poop can indicate an upcoming disease or - in the best case - are just a sign for you to change your dog’s nutrition.

There are many good dog food recipes which you can try out to make your dog healthier. On my web site I have some tips about this. One final word of warning though. When you choose high quality dog food then supplements should not be necessary. They could cause imbalances and also lead to dog constipation.

Nick Prisbrey as published many helpful tips about

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Tags: dog food, feed your dog, parasites

There once was a man who wanted to make money utilizing his pet dog. So what did he do? He took all of his dog’s expenses and deducted them on his taxes, dog food, leashes, dog food bowls, veterinary bills, etc. His rationale was that his dog acted as a watchdog for his home and was therefore a security system, an allowed deduction by the IRS.

Was his deduction legal? I have no idea, I’m not an accountant. But I can certainly sympathize with the man. Pets, dogs especially, can be an expensive endeavor. In any given year you will spend on your dog hundreds of dollars on veterinary bills and medical treatments, hundreds or thousands more on dog food, and then you’ve got equipment, leashes, collars, and such. Your annual dog maintenance bill could easily reach into the thousands. What if you could take your love of dogs and turn it into a money making venture? Thousands have and are much better off for having done it.

There are several traditional ways to turn your dog-loving self into a pet entrepreneur. Thousands have gone into the dog training industry. These professionals spend thousands of dollars and years learning their craft. Dog training can be a tough and competitive industry, but very rewarding for those who are successful.

Thousands more have turned their love of dogs into a career as a dog groomer. This is another dog career that requires extensive training and ongoing learning. Commissions can be high, though, given enough clientele.

Within the last decade there have been an increasing number of pet professionals in the pet sitting/dog walking industry. This can be a fun dog-job for a pet lover. This job provides variety and a good living.

None of these pet careers compares, however, to a burgeoning new industry for people who wish to make a care working with dogs. Direct sales has typically been a career dominated by products marketed to people. Only in recent years has this business model been adopted to cater to pet products.

The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Pet owners for years have purchased their pet food at grocery store or big box pet outlets. The pet foods purchased are typically full of fillers, preservatives, rotting animal carcasses not fit for human consumption, covered in throw-away grease purchased from restaurants, and completely lacking in nutrition.

A few pioneering companies are fighting this trend. These companies are creating quality dog and cat foods without these damaging by-products, and are selling them in a way never before attempted in the pet industry; direct sales and network marketing.

These new pet food representatives are finding an opportunity to not only provide superior pet foods and supplements but to line their wallets in the process. A successful pet food representative can quickly build a network of consumers who find that their pets are healthier and happier due to quality food, but are also saving money on vet bills, allergy treatments, and smaller portions. Representatives are able to harness the power of the internet, word-of-mouth, print advertising, etc. to build their business effectively. Representatives work part time, full time, and around their own schedules.

Do you love dogs? Do you want to have a career working with dogs and other pets? Consider becoming a pet food representative.

Author Ty Brown is a renowned dog trainer whose training adventures and clients have taken him to 18 states and 5 countries to teach others how to properly train their dogs. Go to his site

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Tags: dog food, dog training, groom