Posts filed under ‘Canine Wellness Month’
50 Great Tips To Give Your Dog A Longer, Healthier, Happier Life
Dog Years. We all know the expression, most of us know the maths – 1 human year = 7 dog years (roughly). When you put it into a different context and say; ‘for every day you live, your dog has lived the equivalent of a full human week’ it’s quite a frightening thought.
Especially when you consider how much can happen in your life and with your health over the course of a week. Never fear, we’ve come up with 50 great hints and tips to keep your dog in top-shape and hopefully keep their tails wagging deep into old age…
Add comment February 2, 2010
The Importance of Choosing The Right Diet for Your Dog
Choosing the Correct Diet For Your Dog
By Fiona Campbell, Nutrition Expert at Burns Pet Nutrition
Read the label!
This is the best advice when looking for the correct food for your dog.
Firstly you should compare daily feeding costs. A good quality diet without bulking ingredients or cheap fillers will recommend very low feeding amounts. Low feeding amounts mean your dog produces less stools and it is more economical for the owner.
Secondly it is recommended that you look at the ingredient list. Avoid brands which state vague ingredients such as ‘meat and animal derivatives’ and ‘cereals’. These vague ingredient descriptions allow the manufacturer to change the ingredients depending on what items are cheapest each season. A good quality diet will name the ingredients and will keep the recipe the same. This helps to avoid digestive upsets and is better for dogs which suffer from food allergies and intolerances.
Thirdly avoid dog foods which contain coloured pieces. Red, yellow and green colourings may look appealing to the owner but these E numbers can affect dogs the same way as they affect children. Owners should also avoid diets with added sugar (glucose or caramel) and chemical preservatives. Naturally preserved pet foods usually use vitamin E to stop the food going rancid. Other pet foods use chemicals such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin which are thought to be detrimental to health. These are often labelled as ‘EC permitted additives’.
And lastly look at the levels of protein and fat (labelled as oil) in the food. Diets which contain high levels of protein and fat may contribute to weight gain and possibly hyperactivity. Too much protein and fat during growth can result in skeletal problems e.g. hip dysplasia especially in larger breeds so more is not necessarily better.
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Are you looking for the ideal natural diet for your dog?
High Oats from Burns Pet Nutrition is higher in natural fibre which is recommended for the overweight or diabetic dog.*Available in 2kg, 7.5kg and 15kg.
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Add comment July 20, 2009