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The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

Dog Food Information

The Top 5 Things to Look for on a Commercial Dog Food Label

Recently I visited a fancy new pet supply store?* – seriously, the fanciest store I've ever seen. It boasts a fenced and rubber-matted area for patrons' dogs to play while their owners shop; an area where owners can bathe their dogs (with warm water, cross ties in the raised tubs, shampoo and conditioner on tap, waterproof aprons, cool blow driers, and plenty of towels); an area where visiting veterinarians can provide vaccinations and basic health exams; a climate-controlled, glassed-in area for puppy and dog training classes; and, oh yeah, aisle after aisle after aisle of toys, beds, treats, shampoos, and lots and lots of dog (and cat) food.

Dog Food Logic – Make Smart Decisions on What You Feed Your Dog

The following is an excerpt adapted from a new book that can help you make smart decisions about what to feed your dog.

Whole Foods in Vet-Prescribed Dog Food

Three months ago, I asked, Why can't veterinary nutritionists design recipes that meet most nutritional needs through the use of whole foods

Humanization of Dog Food

Industry analysts frequently observe that “humanization” has been a hot trend in pet food for the past few years. The term is used to describe products containing ingredients that are popular in the human food industry, as well as those that are manufactured and/or packaged to resemble human food.

New Guides In Town

When buying food for their dogs, owners depend on the product manufacturers to deliver a “complete and balanced” diet in those bags, cans, and frozen packages. Perhaps without even being aware of it, owners also understand that there are government agencies responsible for setting standards as to what constitutes a “complete and balanced diet” for dogs, and for making sure that pet food makers meet those standards.

Choosing the Right Top-Quality Dog Food

premium / natural / holistic pet food makers.üToo many choices? Never! It's good to have options

The Dog Food Industry Has Come a Long Way!

the smart companies have found ways to offer products with the kind of ingredients that discerning pet owners want to see on the label. It's doubly smart
Dog food labels are required to give accurate information. However, the contents of food are not always clear to an untrained eye.

Finding the Truth on the Dog Food Label

Have you ever wondered whether the label information on your dog's food packaging is accurate? If so, welcome to the club! We fret about this sort of thing, too – and sometimes, our worries turn out to be well-founded.
Dietary fats in dog food begin changing as soon as they're packaged.

Dietary Fats in Dog Food

As soon as a food is manufactured, it begins to undergo a variety of chemical and physical changes. It's a basic law of the universe (the second law of thermodynamics) that everything degrades over time. This includes the proteins and vitamins in dog foods, but it's the fats I worry about the most.

Corn-Containing Dog Food at Increased Risk of Aflotoxin

Fungus is more than a nuisance when it comes to corn; it can be deadly to dogs (and humans). Actually, it’s not fungus itself that’s a problem; the peril is a secondary chemical product created by the metabolic process of certain fungal species, in particular, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin, the chemical produced by these fungi is not just toxic, it’s one of the most carcinogenic substances known to science.

The Benefits of Fish Oil to Your Dog’s Health

Fish oil is probably the most important supplement you can add to your dog's diet, regardless of what type of diet you feed. EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, provide widespread benefits, but they are fragile and unlikely to survive storage in bags of kibble, or may be rancid even before being added to pet foods. Krill oil and whole fish also provide EPA and DHA that may be better absorbed, providing similar benefits in smaller doses.

Calculating a Dog Food Diet’s Protein, Fat, Carbs, and Fiber

It is not easy to figure out how much fat and other nutrients are really in the food you feed, whether it's kibble, canned food, or a home-prepared raw or cooked diet. Here are some tips that can help. There are three different ways of measuring amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber in foods.

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Have a Happy (and Safe) Halloween with Your Dog

Halloween can also traumatize dogs, or cause them to go missing (all those open doors and distracted door-answerers!). Here are some tips to make sure your Halloween is a safe and happy day for your dog.