ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR DOG?
What we feed our dogs can have a dramatic impact on their behavior and overall health. Unfortunately, it is difficult to come by reliable nutritional information, as most veterinarians do not take nutrition classes outside of basic animal nutrition. In addition, some of the larger commercial brands provide food to veterinary schools, as well as nutritional studies from their labs, which ultimately influence which foods some veterinarians suggest.
Here are some ingredients we recommend avoiding and how they may affect your dog.
be fooled by the label! “Lamb & Rice” foods may still have corn as one of the primary ingredients.
For some dogs, corn is difficult to digest and can cause skin problems.
In addition, corn
may inhibit your dog's natural ability to send sufficient seratonin to the brain. For dogs that are overexcitable or have problem behaviors such as aggression, this can exacerbate problems. Seratonin is an important chemical that reduces stress and anxiety. Recent studies suggest that low seratonin levels can lead
to impulsive behavior, aggression and other behavioral problems.
Here is a brief list of foods that are known to be corn-free and those which are known to contain corn, often in high amounts:
||Contains Corn/Corn Products
Chicken Soup for the Dog
Kirkland Signature (Costco)
Nutro Natural Choice Ultra
Taste of the Wild
Nutro Natural Choice High Energy
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Large Breed
Purina (all brands)
These lists are by no means
exhaustive, if you are unsure about whether your dog’s diet is corn-based,
just read the ingredients label. Look for corn, corn gluten, corn meal
and corn syrup. If any of these ingredients are present, they are
probably among the first ingredients listed.
addition to their regular commercial diets, Hill’s Science Diet
and Eukanuba both produce prescription diets. If your veterinarian has
placed your dog on a prescription diet, you should discuss any
concerns with your veterinarian prior to making
any diet changes
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
are used to preserve fats. However, studies have linked these preservatives
to various types of cancers, including stomach, bladder and thyroid cancer.
They are also suspected of causing liver and kidney dysfunction.
A preservative which studies have linked to kidney and bladder
cancer, and increased incidence of stomach tumors. The Department of Agriculture
lists it as a pesticide.
So, you’ve read your
ingredient label and have decided to make a change? ANY DIET CHANGE
MUST BE GRADUAL!!!! Your dog’s digestive system (and taste)
needs time to adjust. If you change your dog’s diet too quickly
you may see loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, refusal to eat or other
Generally, you should
start feeding your dog ¼ of the new food with ¾ of the old
food. Do this for a three days, or until your dog's stools are firm. Then
increase the ratio to a 50/50 blend of both foods. Increase
the ratio to ¾ new and ¼ old, and finally switch to 100% of the
FINAL THOUGHTS ON FOOD
Don't be concerned if one of the recommended foods above costs more per bag than the food you are currently buying. That does not mean, however,
that these brands are actually more expensive. The corn-free foods listed above contain
higher quality ingredients, are more nutrient-dense and more digestible.
This means you can feed your dog less, and the bag will last longer. Over
the course of time, you may not be spending much, if any, more for dog
There are many local retailers
in Sacramento that carry premium brands, including Animal Nutrition Center, Launder Dog, Western Feed and Pet Department Store.
HOW MUCH PER SERVING?
Sometimes people are confused
about the appropriate amount of dog food to feed their dog. One place
to start is the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag. But, remember
these are GUIDELINES not rigid rules. Your dog’s activity level,
age and the environmental temperature can all affect how much food your
dog needs. Start with the guidelines and pay attention to your dog. How
is his or her weight, are they gaining or losing? Do they leave food in
the bowl? Adjust accordingly.
Finally, we recommend feeding
your dog two times per day rather than “free feeding” or leaving
the food available all day long. We suggest leaving the food down for
20 minutes and then taking it up. Another early
indicator that your dog is sick is a loss of appetite. If your dog has
food available all day long, you will not notice this loss of appetite
There are no laws that say your dog must eat his meal from a bowl. You can use your dog's food as training rewards or hidden in interactive toys or scattered in the backyard to give your dog additional mental stimulation.
Dog Food Advisor
List of Corn/Wheat Free Dog Foods
Food Allergies and Intolerance