| Once again we are reminded that we need to | | | | This is a sign that food is undigested and is not |
| carefully look at what we are feeding our pets, what | | | | absorbing water in the digestive process |
| ingredients our pet food contains, where these | | | | 4. Is the stool volume quite large and invariably quite |
| ingredients are coming from and whether pet food | | | | smelly? |
| supplies are operating under strict standards of | | | | This is a direct result of undigested fermented food |
| hygiene and vendor agreements. To ensure the | | | | 5. Does your dog have allergic problems or regular |
| health and well being of your pet you should look for | | | | allergic reactions to fleas, grass, corn or wheat? |
| a pet food supplier who uses a manufacturing facility | | | | If your dog's body defense mechanism is constantly |
| that is a USDA certified APHIS (Animal Plant Health | | | | in action fighting allergens in the food and if your dog |
| Inspection Service) plant. APHIS certification allows | | | | also suffers from grass or other allergies, the extra |
| the sale of a finished product to the International | | | | attack breaks the camel's back. Remove the food |
| market, including the European market, which has | | | | allergen and the body can cope better with the |
| extremely high standards on ingredient sources. | | | | seasonal allergies. |
| Under APHIS certification, the plant and ingredient | | | | 6. Is your pet's activity level unacceptable either |
| facilities are routinely inspected. | | | | way? |
| Your pet's foods should be fresh when it reaches | | | | The nutritional balance of your dog's food is a key |
| you and the best pet food nutrition is void of | | | | factor not only to their health but also their energy |
| chemical preservatives as these can be detrimental | | | | levels. Too much protein can create hyperactivity. |
| to your pet's health. Choose pet foods that are sold | | | | Energy calories also need to come from fats and |
| exclusively through small specialty stores, small locally | | | | complex carbohydrates. |
| owned stores, veterinarian offices & or | | | | 7. Does your dog's hair or skin look unhealthy or does |
| independent distributors Does this all make a | | | | your dog suffer from hair loss? |
| difference? You bet it does. Remember, your pet | | | | The protein in your dog's diet may not be the right |
| eats the same food every day at every meal so | | | | quality or is being used for energy. A vitamin and |
| what you give them is critical to their health and | | | | mineral deprivation will also have the same effect. |
| longevity. Serving your 'best friend' foods full of | | | | 8. Is your dog always eating grass, shredding sticks |
| chemicals, by-products and preservatives would be | | | | or digging up roots in the garden? |
| like letting our children eat at a fast food restaurant 3 | | | | This can indicate that your pet's food is not being |
| times a day 7 days a week. We all know that would | | | | digested properly. It can also indicate a lack of |
| be a recipe for nutritional disaster. | | | | minerals or that the digestive system needs more or |
| Why should you avoid serving your pet table scraps? | | | | a better quality fiber. |
| Well a dog's digestive system does not like it. A dog's | | | | 9. Is your dog eating paper, tissues or toilet paper? |
| digestive system is designed to recognize and digest | | | | Searching out and destroying fiber bases products |
| each particular type of food. It then produces a form | | | | can indicate a digestion problem. It may indicate a |
| of bacteria which helps it break down and digest that | | | | need for a more effective dietary fiber. |
| food. If you change your dog's food constantly by | | | | So How Can You Choose a Quality Premium, Holistic |
| giving it snacks and bits and pieces from your plate, | | | | Dog or Cat Food? |
| then the digestive system will not have the bacteria | | | | "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" |
| necessary for proper digestion and your dog will have | | | | - Hippocrates |
| runny and/or smelly movements. If you feed your | | | | - Speak to somebody who understands pet nutrition |
| dog or your cat a superior quality food then you | | | | - Choose a food product that uses human grade |
| should not need to add bits and pieces from your | | | | ingredients |
| plate. | | | | - Avoid preservatives and chemicals |
| Is there a need to change your dog's diet? Here is a | | | | - Don't just read the guaranteed analysis, understand |
| 9 point questionnaire modified from the original | | | | the quality and source of each ingredient |
| version published by John Fisher author of ThinkDog | | | | - Don't avoid the premium foods because of initial |
| (2003): | | | | cost, you save hundreds of dollars in veterinarian bills |
| 1. Does your dog's food contain any corn, wheat, | | | | if your pet is healthy and your pet will most likely |
| chemicals or preservatives? | | | | need less food because a quality product is more |
| Cereal and Grains such as corn, wheat and soy are | | | | nutritionally dense. |
| often labeled under several other names. When they | | | | - Make sure the food has antioxidants, minerals and |
| are grouped together they increase the protein | | | | vitamins |
| allocation in the Guaranteed Analysis. Yet cereals and | | | | - Avoid corn and wheat - they are hard to digest and |
| grains contain allergens. Corn is #3 on the list of | | | | just a filler item. |
| allergens affecting pets reported by pet owners and | | | | - The food should contain fruits and vegetables |
| veterinarians. Chemical preservatives are used to | | | | - Look for foods that contain Omega 3 Fatty Acids |
| maintain pet food for extended periods, chemicals | | | | Make an educational well informed decision about the |
| that can cause cancer such as BHA and BHT known | | | | pet food products you purchase. Remember |
| carcinogens | | | | veterinarians believe, with the correct nutrition, our |
| 2. Does your dog have flatulence? | | | | pets could be living for years longer than the current |
| The food you are using may be difficult to digest | | | | national average and a side benefit will be less money |
| 3. Are his or her stools inconsistent in quality, | | | | spent on medical bills. |
| sometimes loose and sometimes firm? | | | | |