Many brands of dog food that you will find on your supermarkets shelves contain animal by-products. Animal by-products are the leftover parts that humans don’t generally eat. These can range from bones and lungs to livers. Since these are not used for human consumption, they are often sold and used for things such as dog foods. The nutritional benefits that your dog receives from animal by-products really varies from batch to batch. However, these have been shown to be safe for your dogs to eat. Another very common ingredient in dog foods is something called “meals.”

The term “meal” means that the products used are not really fresh, the have actually been rendered. When something is rendered is it exposed to water at a very high temperature. This hot water is used to rid the product of parasites, bacteria and other unsafe substances. Now, while these have been shown to be perfectly safe for your dog to eat, some research has show that the nutritional benefit might be lower. The hot water used in the rendering process can alter or kill the nutrients found in these products. This means that your dog might not be getting the best nutrients available. Now that we have talked about the two most common ingredients found in dog food, let’s talk about natural dog food.

The ingredient list on natural dog foods, like Innova Dog Food, usually includes meat and turkey. Now the main difference between this and “meals” or by-products is that the meats are usually fresh and have not been altered in anyway, hints the reason they are called natural. Since these meats are not exposed to the rendering process, the nutritional benefits are not lost. Another ingredient that is often found in natural foods are fruits and vegetables. This actually adds many positive supplements such as antioxidants.

American’s are expected to spend over $11 billion dollars on pet food this year alone. If you are like I am, you treat your dog like part of the family. Just like family, it’s important to know what you are feeding your dog. Take a little time and look at what is going into the food you choose, whatever that might be. Making the right choice could mean a very long and healthy life for your four-legged friend.

If you would like more information on safe and all natural dog food, like Innova Dog Food just click over to http://innova-dog-food.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Pair

So what do manufacturers mean by ‘Holistic’ or indeed ‘Natural’ and are there any regulations governing these products?

It’s difficult to know where to begin, other than looking at the dictionary definition of ‘Holistic’

• ‘…dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part’
• ‘…Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.’
• ‘…relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts (holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body) ‘

Let’s look at how Pet Food brands attempt to explain what they mean by holistic.

Nutro have a holistic food, but omit to define what they mean, other than stating that the food is ‘A unique formula promoting better overall well being’

The Natural Dog Food Company offer what they say is ‘ THE FIRST CERTIFIED HOLISTIC DOG FOOD OF ITS TYPE’ but don’t define ‘Holistic’ other than by associating it with all natural ingredients.

Eagle Pack Foods, we are told ‘pioneered holistic nutrition in the 1980’s, by engineering a way to make a meat meal based food, removing soy from the formulas and meat meals to replace corn as the first ingredient’

Burns Pet Nutrition talk about ‘a holistic approach to health and nutrition’ and their founder John Burns links his approach to Holistic Medicine, stating that ‘The objective of Holistic Medicine is to follow a lifestyle which provides the conditions for the body to maintain a healthy, stable condition. The most important and simplest way of promoting that process is through the choice of food.’

It would seem then that by ‘Holistic’ we’re talking about a food that is made with good quality, easily digested, hypo-allergenic and natural ingredients and has a positive effect on general wellbeing, although individual companies might argue their own particular emphasis. There would seem to be no discernible difference between the use of the words ‘natural’ or ‘holistic’. The key point here I feel is the emphasis on well being, and the choice of ingredients is crucial; a food made with cheap cereal and animal by-products is unlikely to have the same health benefits as one made from higher quality single source meat and cereal components.

The simple fact is that there appears to be no rules and regulations, as far as I am aware as to how these foods are marketed, and this is maybe why there seems confusion even among manufacturers as to what they mean by ‘Holistic’

AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) has suggested a pet food definition for ‘natural’ as ‘of or pertaining to a product wholly comprising ingredients completely devoid of artificial or manmade substances including, but not limited to, synthetic flavors, colors, preservatives, vitamins, minerals, or other additives, whether added directly to the product or incidentally as a component of another ingredient.’

It has to be said that most so-called Holistic products in the UK use commercial and manufactured vitamin and mineral mixes to ensure that the food contains a consistent nutritional balance of these essential nutrients. Some however do contain natural sources of vitamins and minerals, which would seem to be where AAFCO would like natural products to be.

There are, however some who warn against this, based on inconsistencies in the natural alternatives. Burns pet Nutrition state ‘Natural ingredients, by definition, are very unlikely to contain consistent quantities of these nutrients (e.g. due to seasons, weather, soil type, etc) therefore, supplementation with exact quantities is necessary in order to avoid chronic deficiencies or toxicities…For example, seaweed can contain high levels of magnesium which interferes with the uptake of zinc and copper from the diet. Also, in order to meet the minimum levels of less prevalent nutrients such selenium; you would need to add high quantities of seaweed, which could in turn lead to toxic levels of other nutrients, such as iodine.’

At the end of the day, it is up to the consumer to make the choice of pet food that best fits in with their lifestyle and food ethic. Marketing managers are very good at targeting trends in the food industry and applying those to the pet food market!

The author, who originally trained as a food technologist has, in his time owned dogs, cats, hamsters and birds, sold pet food and spent the past decade marketing it. Now down to one cat, one dog and running Pet Food Choice, a website full of information on pet food choices, money-saving ideas and much more - http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Birch

Three main sources of protein, chicken, lamb and salmon are found in Nutro dog food providing essential amino acids for muscle development and toning, along with natural oils such as sunflower oil and fish oils to aid the dog’s digestive tract. Tocopherol, a natural preservative is also a source of vitamin E helps maintain freshness without the use of chemical preservatives.

Linoleic acids help maintain the dog’s shiny coat as well as fight against skin diseases as part of a holistic approach to treat the entire animal instead of just one symptom by providing all ingredients in Nutro dog food for overall health. The inclusion of DHA in Nutro dog food has also shown to help the dog through training by providing an aid to its learning processes. The natural inter-reactions among the pet food’s ingredients are beneficial to the animal’s well being.

Nutro Dog Food Passes Animal’s Taste Test

Putting all the health and nutrition into a dog food will not serve any purpose if the taste is not palatable to its intended end user, the dog. In many taste tests, Nutro dog food has come out on top and the company claims that 95 percent of the dogs tested preferred Nutro dog food over other brands of similar formulation.

see the full article at:http://www.bestdogfood.com.cn/Nutro-Dog-Food-Offers-Holistic-Alternative-For-Pet-Food.php

For more information on Dog Food do visit bestdogfood

a website that specializes in providing Dog Food

and other related Information, Advice and Resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Neal

Dogs, like human any being, have nutritional needs that must be met in their diet. If you think dog foods are enough for your dogs to stay fit and healthy, you are definitely depriving your dog of the essential nutrients and vitamins that they need. If natural food is beneficial to your body, it is but natural to assume that they can be good for your dogs, too. Thus, more and more dog owners provide their dogs with natural dog treats.

Going Natural

What comes to mind when you hear of natural dog treats? Beef bones? Nope. Not like the dog food you buy in the groceries, natural dog treats are not chemically processed to ensure that the nutrients in the food are intact. Since it has not been artificially processed, you can be sure that natural dog treat is free of chemical preservatives and fillers that are generally present in dog food that can be bought directly off supermarket shelves. Dog treats use edible ingredients that are safe for human consumption.

Pig’s Ears

There are commercial and fresh dog treats. If you don’t have time to prepare your dog treats, go for the commercially prepared one. Commercial dog treats’ main ingredient is pig’s ears. Can you imagine your dog eating a pig’s ear? Well, that’s the natural favorite of your “best friend” because of its enticing flavor. The good thing is, they also contain a reasonable amount of fat to keep your dog healthy and fit.

The best way to cook pig ears is through baking so as to maintain its natural taste. Before pulling a dog treat off the shelf, carefully read the label. Make sure that it is not chemically processed, free from preservatives and without food colors added.

Greenies

Another favorite dog treat is Greenies. Greenies, as the word suggests, is packed with chlorophyll, the green coloring of the plant. Dog owners give Greenies to their dogs to naturally freshen their dog’s breath. Like any natural dog treat, it does not contain preservatives, artificial flavors or colorings. Dog owners find Greenies the effective way to a dog’s fresher breath and cleaner teeth. The dog’s teeth are also cleaned as they chew the food. Eating Greenies is like a more pleasant way of brushing your dog’s teeth.

If you can find natural dog treat in the groceries, you can do so too in your home. As carrots, apple and celery are great for a human body, they are also good for a dog’s body. These are then the most natural dog treats, fresh from your refrigerator or garden. To give your dog a more special treat, add peanut butter and raw oatmeal to the chopped fresh fruits and vegetables.

Whether it is instant or garden fresh dog treat, the important thing is you give your “best friend” the essential nutrients and vitamins that his body needs. It’s a great way of showing how you care for your dog’s health. Though you spend a little extra for your dog, it’s worth it for your unscheduled visits to the vet will definitely be minimized. You don’t only save money; you will also be assured that your dog will live longer and better.

Do you want to know more about dog care or anything about the crazy world of dogs? Visit us or share your opinions at the worlds best homepage or free content resource

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hartwell

Almost all commercial dog food contains ethoxyquin (EQ). EQ is a powerful and toxic chemical. Factory workers exposed to EQ have exhibited side effects similar to those of agent orange. These include a dramatic rise in kidney and liver damage,hair loss,blindness,leukemia,cancerous skin lesions, fetal abnormalities and chronic diarrhea.

In addition to EQ most commercial dog food contains 6 other deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods because they cause…kidney, bladder, skin, stomach, spleen cancer & leukemia. So if you think that buying dog food labeled “chemical and preservative free” makes them safe, think again.

Here is another alarming fact. Before the meat and by-products are shipped from the slaughterhouse to the rendering plant the product is “denatured.” This means they are sprayed with carbolic acid, cresylic disenfectant, or citronella. Poisons one and all.

Prepare to be Horrified !

Your dogs food contains Dead Pets! Many animal shelters send their dead cats and dogs to a pet food plant to dispose of the remains. The city of Los Angeles alone sends two hundred tons of euthanized cats and dogs to the rendering plant every month. Many of these dogs and cats are thrown into the rendering vats still wearing flea collars, I.D. tags and collars, and in the plastic bags they came in. It is also a common practice to accept euthanized animals from zoos and decaying road kill.

Here’s some more shocking news. The drug used to euthanize these animals, Sodium Pentobarbital, is Not broken down by the rendering process.It is present in active form in your dogs food!

What You Must Do Today To Protect Your Pet

1. Starting today you must stop using commercial dog food as your dogs main source of food.

2. Learn how to read commercial dog food labels. (Yes there are a few completely safe products you can buy).

3. Learn how to make healthy natural dog food at home. It’s cheaper than store bought too.

These few steps can increase your dogs lifespan by up to 134%-it’s been proven!

To learn more about protecting your “best friend” visit www.Love-Your-Dogs.com

Robert Dark is a successful author, publisher, consumer advocate and government skeptic.

He may be reached at darkstarpublications@earthlink.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Dark

Benefit #1 - Fewer Incidents of Allergies and Skin Problems - One of the great benefits of feeding your dog natural dog food is that there are fewer incidents of allergies and skin problems to worry about with your dog. If you have a dog that deals with skin problems or with allergies, you may have tried a variety of different products to help provide your dog with some relief from the problem. Well, giving your dog natural food may actually do the job for you. It does not have all the toxic pesticides, artificial colors, and chemicals in it that can cause problems, so your dog is less likely to deal with these types of problems.

Benefit #2 - Maintain a Healthy Weight - Another benefit of going with the natural route when it comes to dog food is because it can help your dog to maintain a weight that is healthy. Sure, pudgy puppies are very cute, but you don’t want your dog to develop problems like diabetes, back problems, or organ problems because they are overweight. This is more nutritional and will provide all the nutrition without the bulk fillers that can make your dog overweight.

Benefit #3 - More Energy for Your Dog -You’ll also find that food that is natural for your dog will also provide them with more energy. This will enable them to exercise more, which can also help with the weight control issue as well. Since your dog will be getting more nutrients and better nutrition, no doubt he will feel like he has a lot more energy.

Benefit #4 - Few Problems with Digestive Disorders - There are many dogs that have digestive disorders and foods that have artificial substances and chemicals in them can make these problems worse and even cause these problems. When you give your dog natural dog food instead you’ll find that they have an easier time digesting it. This means that they won’t have as many problems with various digestive orders.

Benefit #5 - Stronger Immune Systems and Great Health - No doubt you want your dog to be in the best health possible, and when you feed them dog food that is natural, you can provide your dog with the best possible health. Not only will they be healthier, but this type of food will help them to build up their immune system as well. All the great nutrients in the food will help your dog build and maintain an immune system that is very healthy, which will save you on expensive vet bills in the future.

Benefit #6 - Longer and More Quality Life - All owners want their dogs to live as long as possible, but they want a quality life for their dogs as well. When you give them the quality diet of natural dog food, it will improve their quality of life. It will also aid them in living a long life as well, so you’ll have your dog around longer. Since this food helps to maintain their immune system and ward off problems, they will be more likely to live a long time.

Now that you see all the great benefits that can come along with giving your dog food that is natural, you may want to consider purchasing this type of food for your dog from now on. No doubt you want to have a healthy dog that is well cared for and in the best of shape. With natural dog food, you can keep your dog feeling great, looking great, and around for a long time.

Dr. Mayra Alfonso, the author of the new ebook “The Nature of Dog Healing, The Definitive Alternative Guide for your Dog” has compiled a very useful resource on dogs, including the challenges they face in health and nutrition. This ebook is an excellent source for all those who want to know the real facts about their dogs’ health. Visit Dr. Alfonso’s blog at http://www.CoolDogHallofFame.com to get the latest, fun and valuable information about dogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mayra_Alfonso

A diet that reflects enhanced nutrition through attention to what you eat, and what your pet eats on a daily basis is important. Adding natural herbal supplements help to strengthen not only your health, but your pet’s too! Herbs also fight illness!

Your pet relies on you to see to their needs including attention, quality foods, fresh clean water, exercise and their general health. As an integral part of your family, you want your pet to enjoy great long-term health and this month I want to share a few easy tips for prevention, for every day, and for limited periods of time for certain conditions or symptoms.

• Healthy pets generally do not incur expensive veterinary care costs
• Healthy pets have more energy and live longer
• Healthy pets enjoy a better quality of life long into old age

“So what can I do to help my pet?” “Can I really use herbs for pets?”

Your pet will respond very well to the correct selection of quality herbs because our herbs are natural plant based products that your pet’s body system will recognize as food. (Your system benefits for the very same reasons)

Pets are like us, and they benefit tremendously from adding a few herbal supplements to insure optimal health and vitality. Herbs can be used in liquid or capsules format, just open and mix with their foods. Tablets can be crushed and mixed with foods. Chewable, they usually love them as treats.

Dosage is according to weight. Usually 1 capsule a day/25 lb Note that liquid extracts can be applied directly to paws and the belly too).

Tip 1 - Provide Quality Pet Food

Just as we humans are discovering that the highly refined foods are hazardous to our health, our pets are experiencing similar reactions from the general processed foods widely available at most supermarkets. In the wake of the massive pet food recalls, attention to pet food ingredients is essential.

It’s fun to share our table foods with the pets but when you do, you’re introducing foods your pet has a very hard time digesting. I do not represent nor distribute pet food products but I do recommend you consider natural products based on natural wholesome ingredients. The cost is a bit higher, but your pet will be much healthier and medical costs much lower.

This applies to humans and pets alike: avoid any product that contains by-products, chemical preservatives artificial flavours or artificial colours.

I feed our 10-year old Beagle (Stanly) Performatrin Ultra available in Canada and the USA. If not available in your town, they make a good reference guide. There are a number of good quality suppleirs so do a little investigation to find what works best for your pet

Tip 2 - Provide Fresh, Clean Water

Always ensure you pet has fresh clean drinking water available. I like to add a few drops of Liquid Chlorophyll to their drinking water. They like it too!

• The spearmint flavor helps reduce “doggy” breath
• Gives daily nutrients and minerals
• Very mild cleansing
• Improves digestion and colon, cleans and builds the blood
• Restore alkaline balance and it’s great to avoid burning the lawn

Tip 3 - Everyday Nutritional Support

A well-rounded herb which you can think of as general multi-vitamin mineral is Morinda (aka Noni), my top pick for pets of all ages and specifically for puppies up to 3 years and elderly animals because it supports the immune, nervous, respiratory, muscular and skeletal systems.

• Help for those pets who are excitable
• Provides bone support for growing puppies
• Supports for elderly pets who need help climbing the stairs, or sofa, or simply to breathe better

A great everyday powerhouse of health building herbs is strong>Zambroza or Thai Go for its remarkable ability to strengthen and build the immune system. With over 138 anti-inflammatory properties, it’s the best choice for anti-oxidant features that combat the effects of stress and fatigue plus its anti-viral, anti fungus and anti-bacterial properties.

Tip 4 - Natural Heartworm Care

Spring through fall is the season for heartworm and the combination of using both our High Potency Garlic and Black Walnut Extract will work wonders. I do this for 6 months, from ground’s thaw to first frost.

Our High Potency Garlic is odor controlled, not odorless. It is essential to have the odor which is caused by one of the active ingredient called allicin for maximum therapeutic benefits. In order to control the garlic smell, the garlic is coated with chlorophyll. This way, you get the full allicin potential and the therapeutic benefits. (I grind this with a mortar pestle and mix with food and my dogs never have ‘garlic’ breath) The Black Walnut Extract is liquid and a few drops mixed in the food is all it takes.

• Oxygenates the blood
• Controls parasites, ringworm, worms and toxins
• Restores tooth enamel
• Antiseptic and healing properties
• Supports the thyroid

CAUTION: NEVER GIVE BLACK WALNUT TO A HORSE – IT’S TOXIC!

Tip 5 - Addressing Digestive Flatulence (Gas)

It works for people and it’s great for the pets. For digestion/flatulence (gas) Garden Essence and/or Stomach Comfort are great choices that provide instant relief for you and your pet. Even when eating good quality food, some pets are gassy so by simply adding Garden Essence (open and sprinkle to their food), it really helps them digest their food better, therefore eliminating gas.

Our dog Stanley loves the Chewable Stomach Comfort, we use them as a treat, and he will do his “tricks” to get one. They also help with gas and digestion. On the other hand, Elmo does better with Marshmallow and Pepsin while Isaiah has great success with Garden Essence.

Just as in people, there is no one right answer so you may have to experiment to discover which works best for yours. Remember, these are plant based herbs and your pets body will ingest them safely because they are real foods.

Tip 6 - Little Wet Accidents

It happens and when it does, there are steps you can take to help your pet overcome the problem. For younger animals, if they need to urinate frequently and it is not because of an infection, the Chinese combination KB-C helps to internally strengthen the urinary system. It can also be rubbed in circular motion on puppy’s belly.

For older animals with a leaky bladder Cornsilk strengthens their bladder and removes inflammation. If your pet is suffering from an infection, Cranberry and Buccu plus Echinacea Golden Seal will clear the infection and help prevent further reoccurrences.

• Strengthens the urinary system in young pets
• Strengthens the bladder in older pets
• Clears infection and helps prevent further reoccurrences

Tip 7 - Natural Clean Ups Around The House Just Got Easier

No matter how hard we try to care for our pets, accidents happen at some point and for cleaning up naturally, there is no better product than Nature’s Fresh Spray. In fact, this product is great for a wide variety of typical cleaning needs at home and in the car.

• Eliminates pet odors plus those created by foods, smoke, urine, feces, vomit and mildew
• Eliminates stains caused by food, juices, blood, pets, urine and other organic substances
• Safe for all fabrics and not harmed by water
• Unscented, non-irritating, hypoallergenic
• Environmentally safe

Diane McLaren C.C.Ir, R.N.C.P.

As a Natural Health Practitioner and Wellness Coach, Diane incorporates her knowledge of Western and Eastern natural health philosophies to integrate her certifications in Clinical Iridology, Nutrition, Herbs, Reflexology, Kinesiology, Biochemical Blood Analysis, B.E.S.T. and Sclerology for her clients and students.

In her practice since 1994 and through http://www.healthyyounaturally.com Diane has shared the lessons and experience of her many years as a successful business woman, wellness coach, holistic health care practitioner and gifted teacher for thousands of clients, students and partners.

“I invite you to discover for yourself just how effective and rewarding a natural approach to health can be.”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_McLaren