Article Title: Good For Your Dog Or Junk?
Author: Lori Matthews
As a dog-owner, have you ever thought twice about the actual
nutritional value of the food and treats you are feeding your
dog? If you are concerned about the health of your pet and loyal
companion, you should be more aware of what the ingredients are
in the dog food and products that you buy. Sadly, the labels of
most commercial dog foods don't tell the whole truth about what
they contain and unfortunately some can contain what I like to
call useless fillers. Yes, many people feed their dog not so
healthy food and they don't even realize it.
Dog food production has `developed' in the past few decades but
the life-span of these beloved animals have gotten shorter in
contrast. The reason: because these `developments' actually
benefit commercial dog food manufacturers more than they do the
dogs. It means using poor-quality and even toxic ingredients to
ensure cheaper costs of production and longer shelf life. It
means very poor nutrition for your pet so that these companies
can make higher profits.
The truth about most available dog products is that they are
made from low-grade grains, unthinkable meat by-products and
artificial preservatives that are not fit for humans and pets to
eat. For instance, substitution for meat protein and good
carbohydrates are often done with poor-quality grain meals using
soybean, corn, gluten, and wheat. These ingredients in fact
commonly cause allergies in pets. Meanwhile, the meat
ingredients typically used can include unwanted body parts of
animals like the neck, head, guts, feet, lungs, and bones. Even
harder to the stomach is that these can come from animals that
are diseased, dying or already dead and decaying. All of these
are mercilessly dumped, ground and mixed into a more acceptable
form called `meal' and made into dog food.
To add to this already unhealthy mix, chemical ingredients used
by dog food manufacturers have been found to cause early dog
deaths due to heart disease, kidney failure and certain cancers.
So why pay for junk that will eventually kill your dog?
Dogs age much faster than humans and they require the same
quality of nutrition as ours. Naturally, like any other kind of
animal, a dog needs fresh and healthy food too. The ideal diet
for your pet should consist of high-quality protein,
carbohydrates, natural fats, fiber, and even antioxidants.
Chicken and fish are good sources of protein that you can look
for in dog food. Eggs also provide protein, amino acids, biotin,
sulfur, as well as vitamins A, B, E, and K. For carbohydrates,
brown rice is an easily digestible carb-source that is now being
used as a dog food ingredient.
A new advancement in health food for dogs now includes
antioxidants in the ingredients, specifically from whole foods
like apples, carrots, celery, spinach, alfalfa leaf, and garlic.
Grape seed extract is also being used for its antioxidants that
may help slow down your dog's aging and to keep its immune
system strong. This new kind of dog food likewise has beet pulp,
which is a source of fiber and the short chain fatty acids
needed by good bacteria in the digestive tract. Lactobacillus
acidophilus in this dog food similarly aids digestion by
encouraging the growth of helpful bacteria.
By providing this kind of nutritious dog food, you can ensure
that your pet will live healthier and stay by your side longer.
About The Author: Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and
wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people
and pets. Please click here if you would like more information
on http://www.premium4
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