Having a friendly, loyal dog in the household is a real joy. But as a dog owner and dog lover you must be aware of certain facts about your dog’s health. Your awareness of these facts will help you to ensure that your dog is always in top shape because when you are aware what are the signs of good health in a dog you can pretty easily note the deviation from that and take precaution before the problem takes serious turn.

Here are the simple tips for every dog lover.

1. In general a dog’s nose is always moist and cool. If you find it is hot and dry then it is sign of problem. Most common cause of this is dehydration. Give it sufficient amount of water to drink. But don’t give lot of water at one go. Preferably mix some electrolyte suitable for dog with the water.

Dehydration problem is common in hot summer months especially if the dog spends lot of time outdoor. But dryness of nose may be because of some reason other than simple dehydration; in that case you should consider consulting your vet.

2. Body temperature is a very good indicator of normal health. Body temperature of a healthy dog is around 101 degree Fahrenheit. It can be up to 102 degree Fahrenheit. But if temperature deviates from this range, you should consult your vet.

3. Another easy check is your dog’s skin condition. Skin of a normal healthy dog is clean, free from dandruff and scurf, skin color pinkish white. Healthy skin also shows good amount of elasticity. When pinched or pulled dog’s skin should return to original place in no time.

4. Inside the ears should be light in color and free from infection. Deep redness or wax accumulation indicates help of veterinary doctor should be sought.

5. Much like human beings eyes of dogs also tells a lot if you can read. Eyes of a healthy dog are clear and alert. If instead of that you find there is an expression of pain and discomfort or eye membranes are deep red in color instead of healthy pink, it indicates trouble.

6. Teeth of a healthy dog is clean and free from tarter. Dirty, loose or infected tooth means trouble and should cause concern.

By any means this is not an exhaustive list of things one should be aware of about dog health. But these are easy to check (anybody can check these without being a vet) and would help to detect most common ailment at the outset.

This article is written by Tapan Sarkar a dog enthusiast. For more info about dog care check deardog.pwrinfo.com deardog.pwrinfo.com

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Tags: healthy dog

With the recent recalls of commercial dog food, it is time to assess your dog’s health. And if you consider your pet dog to be part of the family, then it is time to improve the health of your dog.

If you are not aware by now, most commercial dog food contains meat ‘by products’ which are often unwanted parts of an animal. What’s left is the bones, tendons, cartilage, beaks, feet and innards.

Also, the cooking process used in pet foods KILLS off a vital component: enzymes.

Enzymes are necessary in the breaking down the food for digestion. And since it is ‘cooked away’, it adds the entire burden for digestion on your pet’s pancreas to supply the enzymes necessary for breaking down nutrients for absorption!

No wonder the dog’s are not living to their fullest potential.

If you want your dog to live longer, listed below are “Dog Food Secrets” to boost a dog’s health-

1) A balanced proportion of nutrients that consists of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, healthy fats and minerals. These nutrients are essential for growth and development in a dog.

Too much or too little nutrients will harm a dog’s health.

2) Protein is one of the most important nutrients, and a healthy dog diet must contain a minimum of 40% protein diet. The amino acid in protein is beneficial for muscle development and regulation of antibodies.

Meat, fish and soy beans are great sources of protein.

3) Carbohydrates is considered an energy component in a dog’s diet. Sources of carbohydrates
can be found in rice, oatmeal, corn, yams, sweet potatoes and wheat.

Brown rice is an excellent source of highly digestible carbohydrates dietary fiber that is gentle on the stomach.

A recommended range of 40-60% of carbohydrates are essential for your dog’s health.

However, too much carbohydrates is harmful to a dog’s health, as excess carbohydrates will be stored as fat which leads to obesity and maldigestion, and other health problems.

4) Healthy animal fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 is another requirement for a healthy dog food.

Omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat, and also reduces the likelihood of inflammation and blood clotting.

Sources of fatty acids can be found in vegetable oil, fish and meat.

5) Dogs requires good doses of vitamins and minerals; it is an absolute nutritional necessity for dogs.

Without sufficient vitamins and minerals, your dog’s health will suffer and as a result will be vulnerable to a range of diseases.

Vitamins and minerals are good sources for muscle development and fighting diseases.

6) Like humans, dogs must drink plenty of water. Water not only helps to regulate a dog’s body temperature, it is also beneficial for digestion and transportation of nutrients

A healthy dog food is necessary to maintain a dog’s health and improving it.

At times, not knowing what to feed a dog can be difficult, but with the recent pet food recall it is more important than ever that the quality of food for a dog is paramount.

Dog Food Secrets has a list of homemade dog food recipes that is easy and simple to follow, and more importantly healthy for a dog. The fact is that the life span of your dog can be increased by up to 8 years just by changing and improving the diet of the food.

The above 6 Dog Food Secrets you should put into action now for your dog.

For more information on

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Tags: dog food, healthy dog

Some dog owners want to feed their dog the healthiest food possible, but are hesitant to make their own home made dog food, but they are hesitant to because of the cost. This doesn’t have to be the case. Home made dog food can cost whatever you decide. Here are three home made dog food cost saving tips:

1. Consider the meat you are using. The simplest solution is to look for what is on sale at the grocery store and make dog food around this. If turkey is on sale this week, go with that for your dog. If ground beef is cheaper, go with that. It is actually good to mix up the meat in your dog’s food. Doing so will give your dog more variety.

2. Think about buying in bulk. You may be able to reduce the cost of your home made dog food by buying in bulk. Consider shopping at a warehouse store where you can buy and freeze a few extra pounds of meat or vegetables. Saving a few cents per pound can add up very quickly.

3. Be creative. Did you make a little too much rice for dinner last night? Are there a few extra pieces of bread that you are not going to eat? If so, work those extras into your home made dog food. It is often overlooked, but the ingredients in food for people are very similar to the ingredients in dog food. Take advantage of this to make the most of your budget.

Those three tips will help you to make home made dog food on a budget. When you make home made dog food, you will know what your dog is eating. You will have a happier and healthier dog and you will be able to rest easier, knowing that you have done the best possible things for your dog.

Mike Thomas provides free dog food recipes and other tips to keep your dog healthy dog.mikelikesit.com/ on his website.

Stop by and dog.mikelikesit.com/ sign up for his free newsletter and you will receive free recipes and other tips to keep your dog happy and healthy dog.

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Tags: dog food, healthy dog

If you feed your dogs manufactured dog food do you really know what you are feeding them? I recently came across a class action lawsuit that been filed against various pet food manufacturers, having read the details and done further research I decided that I couldn’t safely feed my dogs any manufactured food so I needed to research some healthy homemade dog food recipes. The priorities when looking for good recipes was to ensure that the food would be healthy, it would be quick to prepare and it would be cheap.

My first stop was my local butcher who I use every week. I explained to him that I was going to make my own dog food and asked him what he could supply that was cheap. He now happily provides me with a large bag of off cuts and meat that would soon be out of date every Saturday evening. I you don’t have a local butcher speak to the local supermarket and see what they can provide you with. You’ll often find that they drastically reduce prices on meat that will soon go out of date.

After sourcing the meat I then managed to source a supple of cheap vegetables from the local farmers market. Many farmers use to throw away misshaped or bruised vegetables at the end of the market, not anymore! The final ingredient I sourced was large catering packs of brown rice. The rice is very nutritious and helps to bind the food together.

Now that I have assembled all the ingredients it’s time to prepare the food. A really quick and simple recipe is to take 2 cups of cooked rice, 1 cup of meat which can be raw or cooked and a cup of grated vegetables, carrots and cabbage are good but try to avoid onions. Mix all these together with a small bit of lard or vegetable oil and feed to your dogs. I can guarantee that after only a few weeks on a menu like this your dogs will be fitter and healthier than before.

There are a few things you need to be aware of before you start to change your dog’s diet. Firstly their digestive systems aren’t as advanced as human ones so you’ll need to change their food gradually over a few days. Start by adding a small amount of your homemade dog food to your dog’s meal mixing it with the normal food. Over a period of three to four days gradually increase the amount of homemade food and reduce the manufactured food. Always ensure that you keep plenty of fresh water available for your dog to drink with his meals. Small dogs need only to be fed once a day while larger dogs should be fed twice.

By choosing simple homemade dog food recipes it is possible to extend your dog’s life span significantly and to save money. Why not try it for a month and see the improvement in your best friend.

Allison Thompson who is an expert author and owner of several different breeds of dogs including a Spanish Mastiff and a Boxer has dedicated time to finding out everything she can to ensure that hers lead healthy and happy lives. She has also dedicated a large amount of time to finding out what is the best kind of foods that you she is able to feed her dogs. If you would like to learn more about all aspects of owning a dog then please visit healthypetsarehappypets.com/food healthypetsarehappypets.com/food

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Tags: dog food, feed your dog, healthy dog

Your dog will live a longer and healthier life if you feed him (or her) right. While processed food that you buy at the store is often the easiest option, it is not best for your dog. Spend some time learning about home made dog food and you will have a healthier, happier dog.

There are three types of dog food: basic, store bought foods, premium, store bought foods, and home made dog food. Basic, store bought foods are the most common. This is what you will find in virtually every grocery store, drug store, and convenience store. While these foods are widely available, they are also typically made with cheap ingredients and often contain unhealthy fillers.

Premium, store bought foods are a significant step up (particularly the brands that you can buy from your veterinarian). However, the downside to these foods is that they are considerably more expensive, which puts them out of many people’s budgets. Also frustrating about premium dog food is that in some cases the ingredients are no different from the basic, store bought foods. Essentially you end up paying for a brand name, which supposedly gives you peace of mind. Ignore the brand name and pay attention to the ingredients.

The best way to ensure your piece of mind is to feed your dog home made dog food. Yes, this will take some time as you will need to prepare your food. But the benefit is that you will know what you are feeding your dog, which helps to ensure your dog’s health. An added benefit is that you will likely save money.

Many options are available to you for dog food. Traditional store bought foods present many dangers, mainly because of inexpensive ingredients and fillers used. You can avoid these cheap ingredients and fillers by making your own home made dog food.

Mike Thomas provides free dog food recipes and other tips to keep your dog healthy dog.mikelikesit.com/ on his website.

Stop by and dog.mikelikesit.com/ sign up for his free newsletter and you will receive free recipes and other tips to keep your dog happy and healthy dog.

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Tags: dog food, feed your dog, healthy dog