| Here are 6 tips for choosing the best food for your | | | | 5. Speaking of friendly bacteria, look for a food that |
| Shorkie puppy! | | | | has probiotics in it. Probiotics are what they add to |
| 1. ALWAYS look at the first 5 ingredients on your | | | | yogurt and they definitely fight off the bad guys |
| dog food bag. This will help you determine the quality | | | | (bad bacteria) in the colon! And, if you haven't |
| of the food. Protein like chicken meal and catfish are | | | | started adding probiotics to your own diet, nows a |
| some of the best sources. Chicken meal is a more | | | | great time to do it. |
| concentrated protein than chicken alone because the | | | | 5. No by-products!! By-products are the "leftovers" |
| water has been removed. | | | | after the best meat has been removed. These |
| 2. Stay away from foods that have hard to digest | | | | inferior ingredients get added to many commercial |
| grains in them such as corn, wheat, soy, dairy or | | | | puppy foods. This could include chicken feet, |
| glutens. Some dogs are allergic to grains like corn and | | | | intestines, etc.... definitely a yukky thought! Not |
| wheat so starting your Shorkie puppy off on these | | | | something you would eat, much less feed it to your |
| foods could cause problems in their future health. | | | | sweet Shorkie. So be sure and read your labels! |
| 3. The best food for your Shorkie should include | | | | 6. Choose a high quality, all natural food; then there is |
| antioxidants in it. Antioxidants help protect your dogs | | | | no need to feed a puppy food. Find a food that is |
| immune system and will keep your dog healthy. | | | | formulated, and tested according to nutritional profiles |
| 4. Look for a good quality fiber added to the food. | | | | of AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control |
| Beet pulp is an excellent fiber that increases the | | | | Officials) for ALL stages of life, both puppy and adult. |
| intestinal size and allows more nutrients to be | | | | Did you know that dogs fed a high quality dog food |
| absorbed by your puppy. Fiber also feeds friendly | | | | live on average 5 or more years longer than dogs |
| bacteria in the colon. This keeps the colon balanced | | | | fed lesser-quality food? |
| and in turn keeps your puppy healthy. | | | | |