Discover Winning Nutrition Tips For Brilliant Canine Health

by Rebecca Foxton

Pet food marketing spiel will generally seduce you with images and messages which strike an emotional chord, such as food which echoes the breakdown of the human diet, or one which appears to be based on natural ingredients but is still heavily processed.

It is vital to pay attention and use common sense. The consequences of pet illness, costly vet visits and the pain and suffering in which your pet endures, prove the importance of boosting your dog’s health. There’s more to good dog nutrition than simply finding the proper food for your dog.

Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins could cause problems with the health of your dog’s eyes (the eyes are very sensitive and like in humans, can get infected). In many cases of poor canine health, eyes can be a key indicator that all is not well. Be sure to look your pet in the eyes often, and tell him how much you love him.

Additionally, your animals paws should be especially cared for by regularly inspecting the pads and claws, as well as checking their teeth. Your pet can experience good digestion starting with healthy teeth.

If you start out with a raw food diet, or at least one with no byproducts or gluten, your pet will rarely need to see a vet. If your pet happens to have medical needs, your vet may prescribe a prescription pet food diet.

Raw Food & The Parasite Myth: The wrong-doings within the pet food industry which resulted in pets being fed toxic ingredients has caused many pet owners to turn to raw foods for their animals. The BARF diet is not harmful to your pet although many people who are not educated on this matter initially believe that the raw diet could be harmful due to parasitic infection.

Raw food can contain parasites and bacteria, like; Roundworms, Hookworms, Tapeworms, Trichinella – Trichinosis, Protozoa, Trematodes, Toxoplasma (cats only), and Salmon Poisoning Disease (dogs only).

When we discuss Bones and Raw Food (BARF) for dogs however, we are discussing meat and meaty bones that would be suitable for humans to eat. When non-raw aficionados discuss the risks of parasites, they fail to mention that the level of parasites is practically non-existent in human grade quality raw dog food.

Freezing raw meat and bones usually does kill most parasites and bacteria, like the parasite in salmon that can kill a dog. Deep freezing salmonids (which include trout) for a day or two takes care of that parasite very effectively.

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