The Benefits Of Raw Dog Food

Much talk has been done these days when it comes to giving raw dog food to pets. There is still much debate surrounding this seemingly growing fad. Though if you come to think of it, feeding raw dog food to pets is not really that different from how it’s like in the wild. Dogs such as sled dogs ads well as greyhounds used for racing are known to feed of a raw diet. However, the idea of extending such kind of diet to other types of dogs was only created in 1993 by Ian Billinghurst-an Australian veterinarian.

The main proposition for eating raw dog food is that this process would allow canines to evolve as naturally as their predecessors did. It is assumed that they would also be able to function much better as they do when fully domesticated as household pets and made to eat processed food just as humans do. According to Billinghurst, these commercialized dog food offered in the market today may actually do more harm for our beloved dogs.

There are also lots of known positive results that emerge from allowing dogs to eat raw food. Among them is a recognizable change in their coat which becomes shinier as compared when they are made to eat commercialized or cooked food. Their skin also becomes noticeably healthier. A cleaner set of teeth that is likewise stronger is also said to be achieved by canines that eat raw dog food.

Even the bowels can attest to the positive effects of raw dog food. They are smaller in size as compared when digesting commercialized products. In addition to these, dogs are expected to have better immunity against diseases and have lesser chances of becoming prey to certain diseases because of the nutritional quality they are able to intake. Because they are able to eat fresh food without any alterations on its flavor and content, they are more likely to get better nutrients out of it.

Although there are many benefits now attributed to eating raw dog food, you should still take careful consideration when following this diet. If your pet dog has been fed with commercialized or cooked meals since he was a puppy or since you have come to own him, it would be best to ease him into taking raw dog food first. It is even advised that you substitute at least one of his usual meals to raw food diet. This way, your pet would be able to undergo the needed physiological changes.

When it comes to feeding raw dog food to your pet, you should also be wary of the kind of food that you let them eat. It’s not because it’s raw you can immediately give it to them especially when it comes to bones. It’s advised to give them chicken bones instead because they are easier to break down and does not result to dangerous splinters when chewed.

Jamie is a pet health practitioner who specializes in raw diets for dogs.

Reasons Why Dogs Eat Dirt

If your dog eats dirt, your pet may be trying to tell you something. The health of the pet is important. Dog owners would not mind the cost of high quality foods as long as the health of the pet is maintained. A lot of dog owners have taken to giving the dog home cooked meals. A dog owner would therefore feel irritated if the dog is seen eating dirt.

Pet parents are either amused or irritated by the pet’s peculiar behavior. Dogs would eat just about anything thus owners should not be surprised if the well fed pet would still raid trash cans, dig and eat rotting carcasses of animals. Dogs also have the disgusting habit of eating feces! Dogs can suffer from the dangerous effects of this disgusting habit. This habit can result to poisoning if the dirt has toxic substances. This behavior can also result to parasite infestation. It is but necessary for a dog owner to understand the reasons behind this bizarre behavior so that this unwanted habit can be stopped.

Hunger can be one of the reasons why the dog eats dirt. A hungry dog would eat anything including dirt, spoiled food just to stop the rumblings of the stomach caused by hunger. The habit of eating dirt can be one of the effects of having a super sensitive scenting ability. The dirt may have an interesting smell and because dogs have voracious appetites, they would not pass up the chance to feast on whatever is contained by the dirt.

Dogs know how to doctor themselves, look how they eat grass to induce vomiting. Eating dirt can be the dog’s way of filling up a nutrient deficiency. Even high quality commercial foods may not contain the right amounts of nutrients needed by the dog. Eating dirt can be a sign that the dog is suffering from a genetic digestive system disorder that prevents vital nutrients from being absorbed by the body.

Dog owners that cannot provide the attention needed by the dog had best take another animal for a pet. Remember, dogs are social animals and as such, they would want to have the attention of the human family. Eating dirt can be the dog’s way of attracting the attention of the family. Dogs that do not receive attention from the family will get bored causing them to develop unwanted habits like excessive barking, destructive chewing and eating dirt.

Warning: Onions Are Dangerous To Dogs

Many dog owners have been informed about the bad effects of chocolates on the pet. However, it is not generally known that onions also have toxic effects on the dog. Onions are unsafe for dogs as consumption can result to the development of serious health concerns.

Onion is a favorite cooking ingredient as it improves the taste of dishes. Onions are one of the people-safe foods that have toxic effects on dogs. Dogs are much loved pets thus owners have develop the habit of feeding the pet human foods. Consumption of onions in any form – cooked, raw, powdered or dried can result to a life threatening concern.

The toxicity of onion depends in the amount ingested. In some dogs, the effects of ingesting large amount of onions will be readily apparent. As toxicity is dose dependent, dogs that have eaten small amounts of onion may not show signs of poisoning. However, regular consumption of this human food would result to buildup of toxicity. The dog will develop a serious condition known as hemolytic anemia.

Onions are toxic to dogs because these animals do not have the enzyme needed to metabolize thiosuphate, a substance contained by onions. Thiosulphate has the dangerous effect of causing the premature destruction of the red blood cells. Red blood cells have the very important function of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the different tissues and organs of the body. Thiosulphate would cause the oxidation of the red blood cell. Bubble-like clumps will be formed on the oxidized red blood cells. These projections make the red blood cells weak so that they would rupture easily. Premature destruction would considerably lessen the numbers of red blood cells giving rise to various health concerns one of which is heart failure.

Toxicity symptoms of onions will not be seen at once especially if the dog has only ingested a small amount. A one-time onion eating episode may not have dangerous effects as the bone marrow can still cope with the regeneration of the red blood cells. Regular onion consumption on the other hand would result to the accumulation of the toxic substance and to the ongoing formation of Heinz bodies. The dog would show the signs of hemolytic anemia when the bone marrow can no longer cope with its task of regenerating destroyed red blood cells.

Dogs would eat just about anything thus there will be no need to entice the dog to eat its food by adding onions. To ensure the well being of the pet please – refrain from adding onions to its food.

Will A Dog Get Sick If It Eats Chocolates

Chocolates are comfort foods for humans but these products derived from the seeds of the cacao tree are poisonous to dogs. Similar to humans, dogs too would love this delicious dark brown food. People that regularly binge on chocolates would suffer no ill effects from this food aside from getting a thickened waist. In man’s best friends, eating significant amounts of chocolates can result to death.

Chocolates are safe for humans thus many dog owners cannot believe that this food would have poisonous effects when consumed by dogs. Chocolate products became poisonous to dogs because the cacao seeds from where these products are derived contain the chemical Theobromine. Theobromine causes poisoning because this substance cannot be metabolized by dogs. Chocolate poisoning would depend on the amount and kind of chocolate eaten by the dog. The level of Theobromine contained by chocolate products vary thus the poisonous effects would vary as well.

Misinformation would cause a dog owner to panic if the pet was seen eating the milk chocolate bar left lying around. A bar of milk chocolate will certainly be loved by the dog. Mixed with milk and sugar, the chocolate content of this product would be low One bar of milk chocolate would not poison a dog.

Signs of chocolate poisoning will be shown by a dog that has eaten large amounts of dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate are almost pure chocolate and a gram can contain about 16mg of Theobromine and it only takes 130mg per kilogram of the dog’s body weight to cause poisoning.

If a dog ingests sufficient amounts of Theobromine signs of poisoning will occur. A dog poisoned by chocolates would vomit and suffer from abdominal pains . Owners that have not seen the dog eating chocolate would know what is happening to the pet as the vomit will contain not only blood but also bits of chocolates. The dog will appear to be intoxicated as it would have difficulty walking or standing. Frequent urination and increased heart rate would be seen in dogs poisoned by chocolates. If treatment is not administered at once, these poisoning symptoms can lead to seizures, coma and to the death of the pet. There is no antidote for Theobromine. The dog must be taken immediately to a veterinary facility for the needed management.