Food

Products appear alphabetically by best-known name. In some cases this is the name of the company that makes the food; in others, it’s the...

On what do we base that ranking? While it's difficult to get nutritionists to agree on just about anything, it's likely that most would agree on the following general idea: that a diet that was formulated to be complete and balanced" and comprised of fresh

Here are a few things to keep in mind before feeding your dog pumpkin.

such as "meat

Two common questions among pet owners is whether their dogs can taste spicy food and, more importantly, whether they should have it. The short answer is no to both questions. Dogs can’t “taste” spicy food and, no, they should not have it. It may even lead to diarrhea, vomiting, gas, and stomach pain.

If your dog is eating treats but not food, the reason could be you! I have come across involve dog parents so dedicated to training that they are wearing a treat pouch 24/7 and reinforcing far more behaviors than necessary.

There may be some benefits to feeding your little dog a diet specifically formulated to target many of the issues small breeds face. When looking at labels for healthy dog foods for small dogs, consider these elements:

Most animal lovers know that dogs need high quality protein, fat, and a complete complement of vitamins and minerals in their diet to remain healthy. We know that the foods our canine companions eat should come from clean, wholesome sources, and that a good diet must be combined with ample exercise and a healthy living environment. But when planning a diet for a companion animal, many of us overlook some very important aspects of what constitutes complete nutrition for an animal.

Diet directly influences your dog’s urinary tract by affecting the pH of their urine, the concentration of minerals, and the overall volume of urine produced. A variety of commercial urinary care dog foods are designed to support urinary tract health. The best choice for your dog will depend upon his specific needs and any diagnosed urinary conditions.

Recently we've heard from a number of dog owners who are concerned about the use of ethoxyquin to preserve fish meal that is used in dog foods. We've had one e-mail forwarded to us several times expressing worry over links between undeclared ethoxyquin in pet foods and canine cancer. We have long advised owners to pass over dog food that contains artificial preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), propyl gallate, and ethoxyquin, in favor of products made with natural preservatives, such as tocopherols (vitamin E), citric acid (vitamin C), and rosemary extract. Though synthetic preservatives were once – as recently as 20 years ago – the usual preservative found in all dry dog foods, today, they appear only on the labels of low-cost and lower-quality products.

Were you aware that, according to Federal law, it's okay for a certain percentage of the chicken you buy in the supermarket to contain some Salmonella bacteria? The legally acceptable amount depends on the kind of chicken we're talking about; if we're talking about whole raw broiler chickens, up to 9.8 percent could be infected, but if we're considering raw chicken parts, the number is even higher. In fact, up to 15.4 percent of the raw chicken parts may contain that pathogenic bacteria, without setting off any sort of recall or hysteria. In contrast, even a single positive test for Salmonella in raw dog food triggers a recall and headlines and a certain amount of hysteria among dog owners. What gives?

We want the best not only for ourselves but for our pups too. If oranges have benefits for humans, it’s natural to wonder if they can help our pets stay safe, healthy and prolong their lives. But not everything humans eat is safe for dogs.