Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Why Raw Meat Should Be Used in the Best All Natural Dog Foods and Homemade Dog Food Recipe

By: Sherrie Chastain
ogs have not changed very much in the past couple of hundred years. It is their surroundings and environment that has changed the most, especially their dog foods. All natural dog foods a hundred years ago were the raw kitchen scraps and any table scraps that were left over. Many dogs also hunted their own food.

Wild Dogs and Why Raw Meats are Best for All Natural Dog Foods

Does your dog walk in circles to pack down the tall grass before sleeping even if there is no grass?

Have you noticed your dog’s sharp pointy teeth used for ripping meat? A dog’s neck muscles are still their strongest muscle for ripping and tearing the meat off their prey. Your dog will also eat his food as quickly as he can and protect it from other animals even if there are none.

Your dog’s sense of smell is 1000 times more powerful than a human’s sense of smell, which enables them to hunt.

Your dog’s digestive system has not changed since the wild; it is designed for high protein, fat and moisture meals. Your dogs jaws only go up and down to tear meat or swallow it whole, hence the saying “wolf your food down”, they do not move sideways like cows or horses that grind vegetation.

Warmth and Moisture in Your Homemade Dog Food Recipe for the Best All Natural Dog Foods

If you feed raw meat with normal fat content and hot purified water to make it moist and make it warm (since cold food shuts down the digestive system), you will be giving your dog the same all natural dog foods dogs have eaten since the beginning of time.

Meat should be fed raw because it also helps to stimulate the carnivore's highly acidic digestive system.

Bones should only be included if they are raw and fresh. Old or cooked bones become brittle and will splinter easily while fresh bones are still pliable.

Do you know of any animals that cook their food before they eat it?

All Natural Dog Foods Dogs Have Eaten for Centuries are Your Best Choice for Dog Foods

Since humans changed the way dogs have eaten since the beginning of time, dogs now get the same diseases humans have. The same diseases humans began to get after they began to eat so much processed food.

Coincidence? I think not. Remember Nobel prize winner Otto Warburg discovered in people that all disease ties back to a mineral deficiency. If we are getting sick because we began to eat processed foods that are nutrient and mineral deficient does it seem so odd that our pets are suffering from the same processed foods?

This alone should be enough to make us question the high grain content commercial dog foods available today and at least look for high quality all natural dog foods or use a good homemade dog food recipe so you will know exactly what is going into your dog. Your dog will Love you for it.


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Sunday, December 21, 2008

Heated Dog Beds - A Great Way to Beat Arthritis in Dogs

By Ian Patterson

Arthritis in dogs is more common than one may think. It is one of the most common health problems seen by veterinarians. Unfortunately, dogs that suffer arthritis are unable to tell us about it.

Arthritis in dogs is quite common in older dogs, and it is more noticeable in the larger dogs than in the smaller ones. That does not mean smaller dogs do not suffer joint problems, it is just more pronounced in the larger breeds. The larger dogs have greater difficulty moving around than the smaller ones when affected by arthritis. It is important for dog owners to be observant of their dog's behavior and recognize the symptoms when their pet is ailing.

Your dog may have arthritis if you notice:

  • Your dog is favoring a limb
  • Your dog has difficulty sitting down, getting up or standing
  • Your dog sleep more than usual. Animals reduce their metabolic rate to reduce pain.
  • Your dog appears to have stiff or sore joints and difficulty in walking.
  • Your dog doesn not want to jump, run or climb stairs anymore
  • Your dog is gaining weight due to less exercise
  • Your dog is less active or less interested in play

Unfortunately the early warning signs of arthritis in dogs are rarely noticed by dog owners and veterinarians because animals have the tendency to ignore the discomfort until the arthritis affects the joints significantly. Arthritis in dogs can be very difficult to diagnose since the dog may not limp or appear to be in pain. Arthritis causes swelling in the joints and movement becomes restricted.

Joints have a susceptibility to any number of diseases, including arthritis. Any damage to a joint may produce arthritis. It can occur in any joint but is seen most often in the hip, elbow, knee and stifle.

It is important for your dog to rest comfortably on a bed that will help to ease the discomfort. Heated dog beds are great for dogs with arthritis or older dogs suffering from other aches. There are few better methods of letting your dog sleep off the pain than with one of these beds. Heated dog beds are equipped with built-in thermostats which allow you to control the temperature and create a snug warm place for your dog to sleep. Many have built-in thermometers that automatically adjust the warmth according to your dog's temperature and the ambient air temperature to provide heat when needed.

I have been using heated dog beds for years for each of my dogs as they have grown older and are terrific for dogs recovering from sickness or injury. Most dogs enjoy cuddling deep into their heated beds when the weather is terrible and the nights are cold. Heated dog beds are a great idea during the winter months.

Heated dog beds have been specially designed to deal with dog's nails and claws and are very durable.

Contrary to the belief of many people, not all dogs like to be outside and certainly no dog likes to be cold. They suffer from the cold just as we do and suffer arthritis just as we do. Do your dog a favor and ease their joints with warm and comfortable sleeping conditions. I recommend using a heated dog bed.

Ian Patterson has over 30 year's experience with dogs and gained extensive knowledge in dog behavior and obedience training.

For more information about dogs, their behavior and training, visit his website http://www.obedient-dog-behavior.com where he gives information on dog behavior, care and obedience training.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

5 Ways to Prevent Dog Bladder Problems

By Laura Ramirez

If you're like me, you're probably wondering if there is a way to prevent dog bladder problems. Bladder problems are very common in dogs and one of the biggest reasons for visits to the vet. They can be very dangerous if not treated in time.

The problem with bladder infections in dogs is that they often recur even after treatment. Constantly taking your dog to the vet to get treated for bladder problems can also be expensive. Your best option is to use preventive treatment. Here are 5 ways to prevent bladder problems in your dog.

1. A canine bladder problem can be prevented by making sure your dog gets enough exercise. Exercise is important for a number of reasons. First of all, when your dog gets enough exercise, he can maintain an overall good state of health.

Exercise is also important because when you take your dog out for a walk at least twice a day, he has the chance to empty his bladder. When dogs hold their urine in for too long, it can lead to bladder infections and other problems.

2. Commercial dog food should be avoided at all costs if you want to prevent dog bladder problems. Commercial dog food is full of artificial ingredients like preservatives, colorings, and flavorings. It also contains too much protein and is not balanced in minerals.

Furthermore, commercial dog food contains a lot of grains because they are cheap and filling. However, if your dog consumes too many grains, they can alter the pH level of your dog's urine and make him more susceptible to developing a urinary tract infection.

3. To prevent a canine bladder problem from affecting your dog, make sure to give your dog plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. You can't force your dog to drink water so one way you can make sure he is getting enough fluids is by soaking his food in chicken broth or water.

Don't give your dog tap water because it contains contaminants that can cause infection. Give your dog filtered water instead because it is clean and can help your dog flush out fluids.

4. Give your dog Vitamin C every day to prevent dog bladder problems. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system. It is also an anti-inflammatory and prevents bacteria from adhering to bladder lining. You can give your dog around 250-500mg today depending on your dog's size.

5. The best defense against bladder problems in dogs is a homeopathic remedy. A canine bladder problem can be both treated and prevented with a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies are 100% safe and don't have any risk of side effects.

You can give your dog a homeopathic remedy every day. Homeopathic remedies help to restore balance at a cellular level and maintain a healthy bladder, healthy urinary tract, strong immune system, and healthy urine flow. Homeopathic remedies are affordable and easy to administer. They come in a granular form that can be sprinkled into your dog's food or on his tongue.

Do yourself and your dog a favor by making these preventive treatments a part of your dog's routine. Taking your dog to the vet for dog bladder problems is as expensive as it is a nuisance. Make bladder infections a thing of the past by changing your dog's diet, giving him plenty of fresh water to drink, and administering a homeopathic remedy.

Believe me. By making these simple changes to your dog's lifestyle, you will be able to prevent bladder problems from ever affecting for your dog.

Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of natural remedies which heal disorders and keep pets vibrant and healthy. Find out more about safe, effective ways to maintain your pet's urinary tract health at http://www.pet-ut-health.com.

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