Supjustin Dog Blog
Lucy Mecklenburgh shows off incredible nursery transformation as star prepares to give birth
Charles takes Aston Martin DBX for a spin during a visit to South Wales factory
Before pet owners place their dog on a home-prepared diet, there several points they need to be aware of.
With the dog food recalls in recent years and the development of dog allergies and sensitivities, an increasing number of pet owners are considering the home-prepared or “homemade” diet for their dog. However, pet owners should obtain a good understanding of what is involved with making food for their dog before they begin.
Home-prepared or “homemade” pet diets are not to be confused with “table scraps”. The latter is a mix of leftovers from a human’s meal. A home-prepared diet for a dog is based specifically on meeting a dog’s nutritional needs.
In “Pet Nutrition: Guidelines for feeding your pets”, Dr. Ihor Basko, DVM, recommends “you cook and feed your pet based upon: breed and body type, personality, age, sex, current problems, inherent genetic weaknesses, climate of the season, and the level of exercise and activity and stress.”
There are four things dog owners should know before making food for their dog:
Determine Your Dog’s Nutritional Requirements
Some dogs and puppies eat stool, which could stem from digestive problems, the dog’s diet or health conditions. Several methods exist to deter the behavior.
Some untrained dogs practice coprophagia. While the word sounds sophisticated, it actually just means that these dogs eat poop. It could be the dog’s own stool, the cat’s or any other organism’s feces.
In some cases, coprophagia is a normal behavior. For example, a bitch often eats its puppies’ stool to maintain a clean living area so that harmful bacteria have no chance of developing there. Naturally curious puppies also often eat their own poop as they explore the wonders of the sense of taste. Most puppies discard the nasty habit as they grow up.
Non-nursing adult dogs should not eat feces; those that do might suffer from a compulsive disorder or other medical conditions. The dog might have digestive problems that cause ineffective digestion, gastrointestinal upset, or increase in stool appeal as food. The dog might also suffer from a disease that increases appetite such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, thyroid disease or diseases that require the dog to take steroids. Generally, stool that contains much undigested material is usually more likely to be eaten by the dog.
Dogs might also eat stool because they are fed an inappropriate type of food, particularly if it is high in protein and low in fiber. Irregular feeding schedule, boredom, lack of attention and not enough food could also cause coprophagia.
Medical Conditions and Digestive Problems in Dogs
Dogs and puppies sniff, poke and chew, that’s a fact. There are foods they like and some they don’t. It’s important to understand the foods and plants that can harm them!
Even when they’re not hungry, dogs will still chew on paper, shoes and whatever is in its path, especially during the puppy phase. Since they don’t understand the dangers around them, their owners must take precautions.
Of course, it goes without saying that household cleaning products, insecticides, and human medicines should be kept out of their reach, but there are many things that may seem harmless, that aren’t.
Some “People” Foods Make Dogs Sick
Many dog owners feel they should share at least a bite of whatever they are eating with their dog. But if they understood the risks for their pet, they would change that thinking.The ASPCA has a full list of people food that puts dogs in danger, an example of common ones are:
They emphasize that chocolate is the worst offender for a dog. Regarding chocolate, the ASPCA states, “if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures”. If a dog ingests any of these foods, a trip to the vet might be needed immediately!
What “People” Food is Okay for a Dog?
Various classifications have been made of the domesticated dog that can enlighten us to their individual needs and abilities based on genetics and learned behaviors.
Canis lupus familiaris (aka “man’s best friend”) is a domesticated subspecies of the Grey Wolf. Taming occurred nearly 15,000 years ago and the dog quickly became omnipresent in cultures across the globe. He was extremely valuable to early human settlements, and in fact, it is often suggested that successful emigration across the Bering Strait may not have been possible without the help of dogs that pulled sleds of people and supplies. Currently it is estimated that there are more than 400 million dogs in the world. Each breed and individual dog’s abilities however are shaped by various genetic traits and learned behaviors. Some were intentionally bred by humans, others were a result of the need to survive. Due to his wide range of traits, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds representing more behavioral and morphological variations that any other land mammal.
One-hundred and fifty-seven breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) which have been separated into Sporting, Non-Sporting, Working, Hound, Terrier, Herding, Toy and Miscellaneous groups. However, there are other terms used to describe dogs that enlighten us to their abilities and needs. A dog can fall into several of these types, but knowing your dog’s type can better help you know your dog.
Try cute dog names for small dogs. These include teacup puppies, toy dogs; & Shih Tzu, Poodle, Dachshund, Terrier, Yorkie, Beagle, small breed mixes & personality mutts.
Try cute dog names for small dogs. These include teacup puppies, toy dogs; & Shih Tzu, Poodle, Dachshund, Terrier, Yorkie, Beagle, small breed mixes & personality mutts.
Check out some cute small dog names that are also human names used for girl babies and boy babies. These names work well for teacup puppies, toy dogs, like Shih Tzu, Poodle, Dachshund, Boston Terrier, Yorkie, and Beagle puppies. And, they’re good for small breed mixes or any cute mutts with personality.
Many dog lovers are giving their puppies regular people names because, well, they are little fur-babies and are just as much a part of the family as anyone else. Just make sure that a puppy’s name is not close to the name of a human family member, or the pup will show up whenever one calls the human’s name.
Dog Names
Both fat and water soluble vitamins are important nutrients for dogs and cats. Excesses or deficiencies can lead to a serious nutritional imbalance.
Vitamins serve many essential functions for both dogs and cats and play an important role in both canine and feline nutrition.
Vitamins are organic molecules that are not carbohydrates, proteins or fats. They are essential canine and feline nutrients and are necessary in very small amounts in the diet of all dogs and cats. Although there are a few exceptions, in most instances vitamins cannot be synthesized by the body in the quantities that are needed to allow the body to function normally. If vitamins are not present in sufficient quantities, nutritional deficiencies can result, leading to health problems and illness. It is also possible to over-supplement and produce illness.
What Functions do Vitamins Play in Canine and Feline Nutrition?
For the first weeks of a puppy’s life, touch, smell and taste are the most important senses. Exposure to a variety of these stimuli leads to stable adult temperaments.
Which common human foods pose a threat to puppies? How can pet owners choose the best dog food? Here’s the nutritional dog care information to keep puppies healthy.
When first researching dog care information, new pet owners are likely to be blown away by the isles devoted solely to dog food in the pet supply store. Finding the best food doesn’t necessarily mean picking up the bag with the highest price tag.
Dog Care Information on Choosing Food