nutrition

May

11

2022

Natural Dog Food – Is It Better For Your Dog?

Explore, Tipsnutrition

We recently took a look at the alarming number of unnecessary, and potentially toxic ingredients in commercially prepared dog kibble. Dog owners want the best for their pups, but asking busy people to make their own dog food from scratch is a step too far for most folks. Many people are turning to so-called “natural” dog foods to fill this gap. But are they any better? It just makes sense that most dog owners believe that less additives and less processing in their dog’s food is better. And overall, that’s true. But caution is required, as just because something is…

May

10

2022

By Ellen Britt

Seven Common Pet Food Ingredients You Should Avoid Feeding Your Dog

Explore, Tipsnutrition, tips

The majority of dog owners are not likely to pay too much attention to the food they feed their canines. As long as it’s a reputable brand put out by a well known company, they tend to trust it will provide the nutrition it claims to provide. Other dog owners feed a brand that has been recommended, or even sold, by their vet, especially if their dog has a health condition, such as a digestive problem or kidney disease for example, that requires a specialized diet. But perhaps it’s time for dog owners to start paying more attention to what…

Jun

09

2020

By Ellen Britt

How To Feed Your Puppy In His First Year Of Life

Explore, Tipsfeeding, nutrition

All puppies are different so if you have any concerns about your ability to meet his nutritional needs, please consult with your veterinarian. Here’s a general guide to feeding your pup in his first year: Puppies Six to Twelve Weeks Old - Feed a high quality food especially formulated to meet the caloric and energy needs of growing puppies. Dog foods formulated for adult dogs do not have the nutritional requirements your pup needs to grow up healthy and strong. Pups at this stage are usually fed four meals a day. Puppies Three to Six Months Old - During this…

Jun

08

2020

By Ellen Britt

How Many Times A Day Should You Feed Your Dog?

Explorenutrition

If we left this question up to our dogs, the answer would probably be ten!! All kidding aside, many owners wonder just how many times a day to feed is optimal for their dog’s health. While there is really no hard and fast rule on this, most canine veterinarians recommend friend your dog twice a day. But some of this depends on the breed and activity level of your dog. Large breeds generally require more calories than smaller breeds and will often require more frequent feedings than small to medium size dogs. We are speaking here about adult dogs. Puppy…

May

04

2020

By Ellen Britt

Should You Make Your Own Dog Food?

Exploredog food, nutrition

Canine nutrition is a complicated topic. And, there are many well meaning dog owners who are interested in bypassing commerically produced dog foods so they can provide meals that they deem are more wholesome and contain ingredients that are healthier. Or maybe they have a dog who is a really picky eater and they want to make foods they are sure their dog will eat. But if you want to prepare your dog’s meals at home, how do you know you are feeding your dog a balanced diet? How can you be sure the food you make for him is…

Apr

23

2020

By Ellen Britt

Wet or Dry Dog Food – Which Is Best For Your Dog?

Explore, Tipsdog food, nutrition

Which is better for your dog, wet (canned) food or dry kibble? The answer is… It depends! Most dog owners come down forcefully on one side or another and others feed a combination or skip commercial food altogether and make their own. Whether to feed your dog wet or dry food will depend on 1) your dog and their nutritional requirements and 2) your preference. Let’s look at wet food first. Dogs themselves are often big fans of wet food, as it more closely resembles meat and tends to be more flavorful. Of course wet food contains more moisture than…

Mar

09

2020

By Ellen Britt

Can Dogs “Go Vegan?”

Explorediet, nutrition, vegan

With the phenomenal rise of plant based meals and more people choosing to go vegan or at least vegetarian every day, many people are asking if their dogs could also go vegan. The short answer, according to veterinarians at Tufts University Cummings Medical Center, is yes. But it’s a bit more complicated than that. As they point out, many people, dog owners included, believe that dogs are carnivores because they are descended from wolves and that they must eat meat in order to survive. But this is incorrect. Yes both dogs and wolves are in the same scientific order, Carnivora,…