Dangerous dog food is not something we think we give to our treasured pets. They are our family. Our children. Our loved ones. Our friends. It wouldn’t occur to us that the kibbles Buttercup is chomping on are actually bad for her.

Doesn’t she deserve the best? When it comes to caring for our canine friends, all natural dog foods would seem the best option. However, if you’re like I was, we tend to shop for our dog’s food in grocery or chain stores.

In terms of our pet’s health and longevity, this could be costly.

The media has been broadcasting a slew of information concerning the bad ingredients in some dog foods, and it would benefit our pet’s to be a bit more particular.

Maybe we should get a clue and be a little more diligent and research the foods we give our canine children. Choosing natural dog food over chain store brands and actually reading the ingredients list could provide our pets with access to a longer life.

Watch the ingredients list for things that seem off or just make you think: “What in the world is that?” One trick I have always used is to implement the same mentality used when looking for foods for my two-legged family — if I can’t pronounce it, I’m not eating it.

Simply put, the dog food label ingredients must contain things that I can pronounce and would give to the rest of the family.

To keep our pets as healthy as possible, it is up to us as their parental units, to feed them all natural dog foods and avoid the dangerous dog food that lurks on the market.

Perhaps, we can assist in extending our dog’s lives by only a few months. But wouldn’t it be great if we could keep them around for several years longer?

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Some dog owners have concerns about the quality of the ingredients of commercial dog food. Holistic dog food is a healthier alternative to many commercial dog foods. Holistic dog food is dog food, either manufactured or homemade, that contains only natural ingredients.

Dog food manufacturers that make dog food with only natural, high-quality ingredients sometimes promote the dog food as holistic dog food. The quality of the ingredients is a common claim that differentiates the holistic dog food from the most popular commercial dog foods.

Most commercial dog foods use animal byproducts as the dog food’s animal protein ingredient. Animal byproducts are pieces of meat that are not considered suitable for human consumption. Some holistic dog food companies claim to only use human-grade meat instead of animal byproducts. Vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants may be added to holistic dog food.

Holistic dog food recipes blend natural ingredients. Natural dog food recipes can be found on the Internet. The dog owner needs to make sure that the recipes do not contain any foods that can be toxic to dogs including garlic, avocado, onions, chocolate, and grapes.

One basic dog food recipe for meat and brown rice dinner allows the dog owner to include ingredients that are available. The recipe includes four basic ingredients of one and a half cups of brown rice, half a cup of cubed meat, two teaspoons vegetable oil, and one-fourth to one-half cooked vegetables.

The meat can be beef, chicken, turkey, veal, ham, or liver. Ground beef or ground turkey can be used if cooked thoroughly. The meat should be cooked in the vegetable oil until well done.

The vegetables can be a mixture of cooked carrots, celery, cabbage, broccoli, diced potatoes, or other dog-safe vegetables. Some dog food recipes similar to this basic recipe include a half cup of plain yogurt. The ingredients should be blended and cooled before being fed to the dog.

The dog owner should avoid using the same ingredients for this recipe. The dog’s homemade dog food diet should include variety to ensure the dog is receiving a variety of vitamins and minerals. Liver and other ingredients of homemade dog food should not be given daily, but in moderation as part of the dog’s diet.

With the commercial pet food industry being under the gun in recent times, it can be hard for any of us to believe that we will not be seeing more pet food recalls in the near future. The sad truth is that the dog food we buy in the stores has the potential to cause extreme illness to our dogs.

The pet food industry did not just taint themselves, they also caused concern and heartbreak among many dog owners that will never be able to regain the faith that most of us all took for granted with this industry.

Many pet owners lost their dogs - someone they considered members of their families - over tainted dog food incidents. Many dog lovers will never trust the commercialized dog food industry ever again.

Unfortunately, even if the dog food isn’t “tainted”, it is still not a healthy choice for your dog. There are so many horrible ingredients in commercial dog food that can have long term affects on your dog’s health.

It’s no mystery that there has been a huge trend in healthy eating. As humans we are becoming more aware of the benefits of eating a healthy diet and eating nutritious food to keep our bodies well fueled.

Yet, do we consider what foods we purchase for our dogs to eat? Are we simply buying certain dog food based on what we think our pets like the best to eat? You owe it to your pooch to pay close attention to what you are putting in it’s precious tummy.

The companies that produce commercial dog food rely on some of the worst possible ingredients when they put together their “formulas”. They look for the cheapest ingredients that just meet the laws in order to make the most money. The health risks are horrendous.

As an example, corn gluten is a by-product that is found in dog foods. This is used because it is an incredibly cheap filler. However, not only is it an extremely poor source of protein, but it is one of the most common causes of allergies in dogs.

Chicken by-product meal is also used in the dog food industry. This is made up of parts of the chickens feet, necks, intestines, etc. They use this as a source of protein as well, yet this it is of such low grade that it does nothing for your dog. It also has the potential to be toxic or tainted.

Soybean meal is also used as a protein source in dog food. The protein is a decent quality, however Soybean is also the number one allergy that dogs suffer from.

We could list several more ingredients, but I’m sure you get the point. The dog food you find in the stores is made up of such low quality ingredients that can put your dog’s health at risk. The companies aren’t looking to include the best ingredients for your pup - they just want to make as much money as they can.

It’s amazing to see how much of a difference feeding your dog the right type of food can make. Your dog will be happier, healthier and even better behaved once you pay attention to their diet.

Now, this article isn’t meant to make you think that there is no commercial dog food that is ok for your dog. You just need to know exactly what to look for to make sure your pup is getting the nutrition it needs. There’s a link at the bottom of this article where you can get more information.

It’s easy to find a diet for your dog that doesn’t include any of the nasty ingredients that you find in most of the commercial dog foods in the stores. The benefits to your dog are simple - a healthier, happier, and longer life!

Click Here to find out which dog foods you must avoid and how to keep your dog from getting sick. You need to know how to find healthy dog food to make sure your dog lives a long and healthy life!

Premium dog foods are definitely better than your garden variety economy counterparts. But how do you tell the difference between the two? Is price the only indicator of how healthy the dog food is? Does a premium pet food have a different kind of label? How do you know what is premium?

The quality of the ingredients in the dog food is what differentiates a premium dog food from an economy one. Dog food companies will try to lure you in with great advertising about how great their food is for your dog. Many now show delicious pictures of food on the bags. Don’t be fooled though. The only way to really tell a premium dog food is by looking at the dog food ingredients.

Look at the first 2 ingredients to see if you are purchasing a premium dog food. Economy dog foods use a lot of low quality grains and meat by-products. Premium dog foods list an animal meat as the first ingredient.

Grains: Economy dog foods usually have a grain as the first ingredient, premium dog foods will not. Dogs are able to digest some grains well, like rice and oats, but have difficulty with corn and wheat.

Some grains, such as soy, wheat, and corn, are also common sources for food allergies in dogs.When utilized as by-products, such as corn wheat gluten, they are nothing more than cheap fillers. Their main purpose is to fill up your dog’s stomach so that he feels full. It’s kind of like human junk food - fill your tummy with no nutrition.

Animal meat by-productsare another top 2 ingredient that just are not found in the best premium dog foods. Meat by-products are what is left from a slaughtered animal after all the human-grade meat has been removed - bones, feed, heat, lungs, brain, etc.

Like the grain by-products, these provide very little nutritional value to your dog, but do boost up the protein ratio in the dog food. The quality of the meat by-product is another big mystery that no one seems to be able to answer.

Premium dog foods will have a meat meal or meat as the top ingredient, with a meat meal being the better choice. Many premium dog foods will have 2 or 3 meats/meat meals listed in the top ingredients, thereby giving your dog better protein and nutrients.

What about price? Is that a good indicator of the type of dog food? Not really. Of course if you see a really cheaply priced dog food, it is probably an economy food. But just because the food is expensive, does not automatically mean it is a healthy, premium dog food. Again, you need to take a peek at the dog food ingredients list to really know what you are getting.

And now there are more types of dog food, like holistic and organic. To find out more about the different types of foods available for your dog and how to carefully select the best premium dog foods for your particular pet at the Healthy Dog Food blog.

With people looking for ways to save money it promised with the economy, using coupons is becoming a popular way to save. A dog owner can find printable dog food coupons at a variety of sources on the Internet.

Target and some other popular retailers occasionally have printable dog food coupons available on their websites. A dog owner may want to check for printable dog food coupons on the websites of the stores that they go to.

The dog owner should consider that any coupons printed from a retailer’s website is likely to only be able to be used at one of that retailer’s stores. The dog owner may be able to look at the current sales circular on the retailer’s website which could include a sale on dog food. Finding dog food on sale can sometimes save the dog owner just as much money as if they found dog food coupons.

The websites of some dog food manufactures may have printable dog food coupons. Instead of printable dog food coupons, dog food manufacturers may have coupon offers. Typically, the dog owner needs to fill out an online form and the dog food manufacturer will send a dog food coupon in the mail.

A dog owner who is looking for dog food coupons should check the websites of dog food manufacturers and the websites for their brands. Sometimes, the website for the brand and the website for the manufacture of that brand will have different dog food coupon offers.

Another thing to check on the websites of manufacturers and brands of dog food is if the company has any current offers for dog food samples. A dog owners should be somewhat careful when feeding their dog a sample of dog food. A dog food sample that is different than the dog’s current food should not be used as a meal for the dog.

Abruptly changing the dog’s food can cause the dog’s stomach to become upset. It would be better to give the dog about half of the sample with their regular dog food. No less than half the meal should be their usual dog food.

Some websites are printable coupon providers. These websites allow the user to view coupons that they can print and select the ones they want to print. Coupons.com is an example of a burnable coupon provider that often has coupons for dog food and other pet supplies.

At our site you will find out the top natural dog food recipes and recipes for homemade dog foods at our food for healthy dogs website. It is free to read and you will definitely benefit from the articles written by dog specialists.

With people looking for ways to save money it promised with the economy, using coupons is becoming a popular way to save. A dog owner can find printable dog food coupons at a variety of sources on the Internet.

A few popular retailers occasionally have printable dog food coupons available on their websites. One retailer that sometimes has printable dog food coupons is Target.

Printable dog food coupons from a retailer’s website can typically only be used at one of those retailer stores. The retailer’s website may also have a copy of the current sales circular or advertisements for the current sales at the store. If dog food is on sale, the dog owner may save as much money as they would with a coupon for dog food.

Printable dog food coupons may be available on the websites of dog food manufacturers. Some dog food manufacturers will send dog owner’s coupons for dog food in the mail instead of providing printable dog food coupons on their website. These websites have forms the dog owner can fill out to receive the current coupon offer.

Dog owners looking for dog food coupons should check dog food manufacturer’s website and the websites for the brands that the manufacture produces. There are often different dog food coupon off first one the dog food manufacturer’s website and the websites of their brands.

There also may be offers for dog food samples on the website of manufacturers and the manufactures brands of dog food. A dog owners should avoid replacing the meal of the dog’s usual food with a sample of different dog food. When giving a dog food sample, mix it in with the dog’s usual food.

Sudden changes in the dog’s food can cause the dog to get sick. Half of the dog food sample can be given with some of the dog’s regular food. The dog’s usual food should be at least half of the meal when dog food from a dog food sample is added.

Many websites feature a collection of printable coupons for a variety of products. One popular printable coupon provider that frequently has printable coupons for dog food and other pet supplies is Coupons.com. The users of these websites can select and print the coupons that they want.

A disease that can affect dogs and be potentially fatal if not properly managed is diabetes mellitus. As it does in humans, diabetes in dogs causes uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Diabetes in dogs is managed through diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.

Diabetes management and dogs should include proper diet and exercise. A diabetic dog may continue to be happy and healthy for a considerably long time if the diabetes is properly managed.

When a dog first develops diabetes, the dog owner may notice some symptoms. Two common symptoms are increased thirst and drinking and more frequent need for urination.

If the dog owner suspects that the dog may have diabetes, the governor needs to take the dog to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis. Because diabetes and other illnesses may show no noticeable signs, routine veterinary checkups are very important. The veterinarian may use a blood or urine test while the dog is fasting to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

Routine is a critically important characteristic of diabetic dog diets. The veterinarian may instruct the dog owner to feed the dog and administer insulin injections according to a strict schedule.

Fiber and complex carbohydrates are key ingredients for diabetic dog diets. If the dog should lose weight, the veterinarian may recommend dog food that is low in fat.

Diabetic dog diets need to be consistent. Feeding a dog treats, table scraps, or making homemade dog food are considered potentially dangerous for dogs with diabetes since these can cause too much variation in the contents of the dog’s diet.

The dog should not have drastic changes in weight. If the dog is overweight, losing weight can help the management of diabetes. Any necessary weight loss should be done gradually.

Routine veterinary visits are important for a dog with diabetes. Questions concerning the dog’s diet, the care of the dog, or the administration of insulin can be answered by the veterinarian.

The dog owner may be instructed by the veterinarian to test the dog’s ear and periodically for sugar. The veterinarian may show the dog owner how to use dog urine testing strips.

Daily exercise is considered very helpful in diabetes management. Again, consistency is important. The dog owner should set a daily routine of exercising for a specific amount of time such as walking or playing catch for half an hour a day.

There has been an increasing number of concerns and criticisms over a good number of commercially sold dog food. Because of such, many people have turned to feed their pet with natural dog food. In this writing, I am about to show you some important tips in choosing natural food for your dog.

* Understand What Food Your Dog Needs

The first thing to keep in mind is that there are different forms of natural dog food. Raw and cooked meat and vegetables are usually understood as being natural, but commercially sold natural food is also in this category. Your job is to find out which type most fits the needs of your dog.

The best way to find out is to get to know your dog personally. You have to know his nutritional requirements based on his breed and special health conditions. You can do a little research on your own. Supplement your knowledge with your veterinarian’s advice.

* Prepare Your Dog’s Food

Many dog owners feel that they should be the ones preparing natural dog food for their pets. Again, this is only a good idea if you are fully aware of what exactly your dog needs and in what quantity. Some may serve raw meat while others feel that cooking meat and vegetables is a better idea. Heating and cooking can help destroy harmful bacteria that may have found their way into food.

You should also note that many human foods can be dangerous or even toxic to your dogs. Examples of such foods include chocolates, raisins, mushrooms and onions. You can make the list complete with your own research and observation. To play it safe, commercial brands of natural dog food are probably better choices over self-prepared natural dog food.

* Read What the Labels Say

Just like what you do with human food, you should always check what is on the lable when you purchase dog food. As a general rule, natural dog food should not have such ingredients as wheat and corn fillers, artificial coloring and flavoring, animal and plant by-products, as well as artificial preservatives. Many of dog’s behavioral changes and health problems, such as gastrointestinal problem and malnutrion, can be attributed to these synthetic ingredients.

* Get Enough Proteins and Nutrients for Your Dog

Dogs are carnivorous and should be served with enough protein. Lean meat and poulty are good sources of high quality protein, and you should by all means stay away from low-grade meat by-products.

Aside from protein, natural dog food should also contain vitamins and minerals. You can get foods fortified with nutrients. You can also serve dishes with squash, beans and peas.

Buying a puppy can be likened to buying a used car. When the cars history is not known, smart shoppers demand a Car Fax report. Whether you are buying a used car or a puppy, the less educated you are, the more likely you will have expensive problems. The only way you will know for certain how a puppys mother was cared for; before, during, and post litter is to know the Breeder. Alas, buying direct from a Breeder is no guarantee that your puppy will be healthy! Breeders are often as ignorant of how to properly feed and supplement, as is the majority of MDs and Veterinarians in this country.

Pet Store and Rescue Facility puppies are a high risk to develop weak immune systems. The greater the risk, the greater the probability they will require advanced vet care throughout their lives. Why? Most of the animals sold in rescue facilities were either abandoned, or from feral (wild) mothers. Feral females are often impregnated before they are physically mature, and often become pregnant again, while puppies (or kittens) are still on the teat! Feral mothers survive by scavenging for food. Scavenged food is likely to harbor pathogenic bacteria. At best, this bacterium causes mild diarrhea, however, more likely it will cause chronic diarrhea, which leads to dehydration and fever, quickly followed by more advanced digestive and immune diseases, which compromises the milk.