Is Dry Dog Food Good For Your Labrador Retriever?

By Richard Cussons
The Labrador Retriever is an active and multi-talented breed of dog. It is expected to carry out various roles to be of service to people. In countries like United States and Australia, the Labrador Retriever is considered as the most popular breed of assistance dog and also makes excellent pets and working dogs. With all the happiness and countless help this breed offers, it is just right to give them what they deserve. For sure they will never ask for anything other than your attention, care, praise and love. Show them how much you love them by taking good care of them, providing toys and activities to entertain them, giving them a comfortable place to sleep, water to drink and food to keep them healthy and active.

The health of your Labrador Retriever depends on you. Choosing the activities they must do, how often they should take a bath and what foods to eat are some of your several responsibilities to your dog. Many issues concerning dog foods are coming out from all corners of veterinary world. Some claims dry dog food to be the best dog food because it has various health benefits for your dog. Others go for semi moist food because it taste better.

There is really no specific answer when somebody ask what is the best dog food. The answer will always be "it depends". Each dog has is own specific dietary needs depending on its breed, age, size, activities and health condition. Puppies and older dogs may need different amount of calories. Same with normal and overweight dogs. A dog with health problem, even as simple as fever, has different dietary requirement compared to healthy dog.

For some reasons, most owners consider dry dog food as the best. One obvious reason for sure is the convenience this type of food brings. Feeding your dog is a no sweat process in this type of food. All you have to do is grab one from grocery stalls, tear open the package and pour the contents into your dog's food bowl. Aside from that, dry dog food is known to contain the most nutrients your dog needs. However, this food contains 10% water making it hard to chew especially to older dogs. You can wet the food to make it easy for your dog. Dry dog food is also said to benefit the dog's teeth and mouth condition by preventing tartar buildup.

Not all dry dog foods are proven safe for Fido. Some brands contain unknown ingredients and are mainly fillers such as soybean meal, corn meal and corn gluten meal. Food colorings are also present in dog foods. These food colorings can be made from chemicals and can cause health issues.

Make it a habit to carefully read the product label. Check the ingredients making sure that meat is included in the list. Meat is important because it is the source of natural protein for dogs. Nutrition greatly affects your dog's health. Lack of it can cause high cholesterol, obesity and countless other ailments that could eventually shorten your dog's life.

About the author:
Richard Cussons writes articles about dogs. This site about Labrador Retriever contains valuable Labrador training tips.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

The Very Number Of Dog Breeds To Choose From Is Too Overwhelming ...

By Muna wa Wanjiru
There are probably more dog breeds in the world at this moment than there are different strains of bacteria! Okay, that was a slight exaggeration, but only a very slight one mind you. There truly are a staggering number of dog breeds around with more being recognized every year.

It’s not that new dog breeds are being found from the four corners of the earth, it’s that new dog breeds are coming into existence because of cross breeding programs. The resulting dogs aren’t always considered to be a new dog breed, but some of them do stack up to the standards to be considered as one of the dog breeds, and this is when the number of dog breeds starts to grow.

Since dog is supposed to be man’s best friend, it really is no surprise that the more ardent of dog lovers went on to cross breed different dogs to get what they considered to be the perfect dog for them.

This required many years of dedication on the part of these breeders as well as a love for the dogs. And the result of so many, many years of breeding programs by so many, many dog breeders is the large variety of dog breeds we have around us today.

And of these, one of the latest editions to the mix is none other than a cute cross breed called a Puggle who is crossed with a Beagle mother and Pug father. Of the latest new dog breeds to come to the attention of the public this cute, wrinkle faced dog with the big droopy ears and the soulful eyes, is one of the most sought after.

And just as with these Puggles, there are many new dog breeds which come into being on a regular basis. Some people believe that these cross bred dog breeds are better even than their pure bred parents as the cross breeds will have less chance of carrying the same genetic illnesses and diseases which the pure breeds carry in their genetic makeup.

If you’re on the look out for a good dog to suit you and you find that the very number of dog breeds to choose from is too overwhelming for you to look into, the best thing for you to do is to narrow your choices down depending on what your requirements of a dog are. Doing this will not only help you to wade through the many different dog breeds, but it will also help you find your perfect doggy soul mate.

About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Choosing Dog Breeds for Years. For More Information on Dog Breeds, Visit His Site at Dog Breeds

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Hear This Proper Ear Care For Labradors

By Richard Cussons
Dog breeds such as Labradors and Basset Hounds are prone to ear problems because of their long, floppy ears. Air is trapped inside when the ears fold and covers the ear canal. Organisms causing various ear problems grow best in this warm moist ear canal.

Regular check up and cleaning of ears is important for Labradors. Some dog owners check their dog's ears only when they see their dog shaking and scratching his ears. Do not wait for this to happen. Checking your ear's pet at least once a week helps prevent various ear problems.

Before cleaning, check first your dog's ears for any sign of ear infection. Otitis externa, an infection that occurs when water is trapped in the ear canal, causes painful sensitivity, redness and swelling. Presence of ear mites can also be seen in ear wax. Ear mites are very contagious that is why it is important to treat the infestation. Treatment with the use of insecticides usually lasts for approximately three weeks and repeat application may be necessary. Ear canker, an infection causing a dark-colored discharge and foul odor is another problem affecting dogs. It is a result of accumulated ear wax and lack of air circulation. Also, check your dog's ears for excessive matting of hair in the external ear, foreign material, retention of dirt, weeds and other organic matter. Some of these things can work their way down to your dog's ear canal causing serious problems.

Some vets suggest regular use of ear wash. But as a substitute, some use mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide or mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water or vinegar and alcohol. But these mixtures should not be used to dogs with open sores as this cause burning sensation. Some veterinarians are also discouraging the use of hydrogen peroxide and alcohol as ear washes for dogs.

For safety, it is best to use mineral oil in cleaning your dog's ears. Using a cotton ball dampened with cleaning solution or mineral oil, remove the dirt in the outer area first. To clean the inner ear, gently pour enough cleaning solution into the dog's ear to fill the canal. Gently massage the ear for about 20 seconds to help loosen dirt and wax. Wipe the dirt and excess fluid from the inner ear using cotton balls. Remember not to poke or probe the internal ear canal to prevent more serious problem.

Labradors are fun and multi-talented dogs. Do not let the ears ruin the positive characteristics of Labs.

About the author:
Richard Cussons writes articles about Labradors and other dog breeds. Learn more about Labrador dog training at labradorsavvy.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com