Dog Allergies and Your Dog’s Food : Why It is Important to Remove Corn

If you are experiencing dog allergies, and your dog’s skin is itchy, red, and sore, you can easily find a solution by feeding food that does not offer one main ingredient : Corn.  Dog allergies can result in a large amount of symptoms, but the main problem that you will experience is a lack of a resolution to these symptoms.  The problem is that often dog allergies are related to nutritional levels, and a lack of good nutrition.

The Dog Food Industry and Dog Allergies

The dog food industry began in the 1940s with Purina’s invention of Dog Chow.  The company began to create all kinds of animal and husbandry food for farmers, and when farmers started buying the food, it was great food for dogs.  The food was often dried protein based food, that was the scrap or end points of the meat industry.  The best part of this kind of food was that corn was not the main part of the food, but just a stabilizer.  Today, we have many people researching how to treat dog allergies, but the reason is the problem is growing is there is more and more dog food that has moved from nutrition.  The dog food that a majority of dogs are fed, has a key ingredient that supports a long shelf life, and is inexpensive.  This ingredient is corn, and it is not the same corn as a hundred years ago.  The kernel is mostly starch now, and is a white fluffy sugar that can be easily dried and mixed with a small amount of protein for consumption.

The corn addition has added great profit for the dog food industry.  Dog food mixed with only a small fraction of protein, needs a stabilizer, and corn is the most inexpensive option.  Most grocery and big box super food stores offer only dog food that is shelf life resistant for 2 or 3 years.  It is important that they purchase large palates of the food, and then that they stay on the shelf until purchase, and stay fresh.  The problem with this idea, is that the vitamins and minerals that may have existed at the time of manufacture actually are now inert.  The vitamins and minerals do not last for the time frame that corn lasts, and the protein in this shelf stable product, is actually oxidized easily over a few months, which is a perfect storm to create dog allergies.

Dog Allergies can Be Solved with Nutrition

Buy a dog food that has a short shelf life, and one that has no corn, and your dog will find that dog allergies are a thing of the past.  The nutrition solution can be the real solution, but it takes time to see the results.  Over a dog’s life, eating bad and shelf stable dog food, can offer some solutions for stores to see a profit, but it creates a really toxic situation in your dog’s cells and tissues.  When you offer new nutrition, and remove the corn based food, you are going to see a change in your dog, and sometimes the dog allergies will actually get worse.  This is really common, and do not stop your new dog food regime.

Dog Allergies can Get Worse With Good Nutrition

The reason your dog may see better nutrition cause more dog allergies, is the fact that your dog’s body will now release all the toxic elements that it was storing over the years.  Often when a new nutrition is offered, new vitamins and minerals will be so welcome to your dog’s system, that it releases all the stored meager value it was storing for a rainy day, and this release, will send out toxic stored chemicals as well.  It is not unusual for a few months of dog allergies to erupt during a new nutrition program.

Essential Fatty Acids : Why EFAs are so Important for Your Dog’s Health

Essential Fatty Acids are as essential for life and health as water and air.  With a low fat diet, often dogs who are overweight will suffer more than a lack of enthusiasm for their food, but they will suffer a loss of healing, and energy.  Essential fatty acids or EFAs are something our bodies cannot produce, so removing all fats from your dog’s diet, is a dangerous course of action.  The best dog food contains a good by balanced amount of essential fatty acids, to create good cellular structure, nutrient absorption, and the ability for joints and muscles to work in ease.

Essential Fatty Acids : What Are They?

fishoil caps 300x199 Essential Fatty Acids : Why EFAs are so Important for Your Dogs Health

Essential Fatty Acids are Really Your Best Step for Health

The essential fatty acids is defined as a good fat, that begins to fill an important part of your dog’s nutrition.  The energy and movement that your dog produces with exercise and regular activity, all come with EFAs.  Without the good fat in your dog’s diet, your dog cannot create good cell walls, were water, nutrients and vitamins are stored.  The dog will have a loss of energy, lack a good coat condition, and skin issues can erupt.  The hot spots that many dog’s suffer with each year, are often related to lacking essential fatty acids.  They are often fats that are defined as omega-3 and omega-6, and both are necessary for good health.

Essential Fatty Acids Omega-3 and Omega-6

Found in many fish, and in some vegetables and loose oils, the omega family offers the best in vitamins A, D and E.  When you offer these great vitamins in an essential fatty acids solution, you are offering life, health, and vitality.  No mammal can live for long without the essential fatty acids, and often in the wild, many young animals perish when a meal is not offered with these ingredients.  The dog you love will benefit from essential fatty acids for heart, lungs, liver, and skin health.  Of all the steps you can take to help a dog with allergies, the addition of EFAs to any diet will be a great opportunity for your dog to find better health.

Where to Find Essential Fatty Acids

The Omega-3 EFA should be offered once a day, and Omega-6 twice a day.  In order to do this, nature takes care of this prescription for health, by offering you these essential fatty acids in many fish.  Look for sardines, salmon, cod, and trout.  You can buy smoked fish, but I would not recommend any dried fish offering, as they are often not from the best sources, and can include too many heavy metals.  The best way to offer essential fatty acids, is to create a day where you and your dog eat salmon, and they get a bite too.  It is a great practice for you as you find health not just for your dog, but for yourself too.

As well, buy a nice bottle, and fill it with a recipe for a daily dose of essential fatty acids, to add to your dog’s dinner or breakfast.  The dry dog food can begin with good essential fatty acids, but they degrade in the bag over time.  Any dog food over 1 year old, has no EFAs remaining of value.    Here is the Recipe for Essential Fatty Acids, care of  the Whole Pet Diet, by Andi Brown.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

6 oz Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 oz Cod Liver Oil with Heavy Metals Removed(look on the label)

1 oz Wheat Germ Oil

1 oz  Flaxseed Oil

1 crushed garlic clove

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Recipe is from Halo, Purely for Pets, and is care of Andi Brown, Founder of Halo.

You can use this recipe in this portion:

up to 11 pounds:  1/2 tsp

12-25 lbs 1 tsp

26-50 lbs 2 teaspoons

51-100 lbs 1 tablespoon

Do not over do essential fatty acids, as they can create some digestion problems, such as loose stools!  Keep your bottle in the fridge, and it is safe up to 2 months, and if you need to, buy a bottle pour spout, to allow ease of your oils to be dropped into your dog’s food.  Do keep the remaining oils, in a cool dark spot in your fridge too, and use this recipe for your cats, as they need essential fatty acids for health too.

Dogs are Emotional Sponges: Allergic Reactions can be Caused by Stress in Your life

Allergic reactions in dogs can be caused by low immunity, or an overactive immune system, and one factor that can cause an over active immune system is stress.  Any time you are stressed your dog feels it just like you do.  The economic struggles you feel, are felt by your best friend.  Your emotional challenges with family and friends, are felt by your best friend.  They do not suffer as much as you do, as they can move forward so much quicker, but keep in mind, if your dog is an emotional sponge.  Whenever your life offers you trouble and pressure, your dog is right there suffering with you.

High Emotion Triggers Allergic Reactions

Shih tzu and lhasa apso 300x200 Dogs are Emotional Sponges: Allergic Reactions can be Caused by Stress in Your life

Dogs are Emotional Sponges which Stress can Create Allergic Reactions

When you change a job, a house, or add a new family member to your home, the stress this emotion causes, even if it is a good change, can be very powerful.  The dog who is sensitive to allergic reactions will often physically muster a red itchy spot, or start chewing on her paw.  The dog you live with feels all the pressures that you do, and does not need to be exposed to your angry boss directly, to feel the pressures you feel.  The dogs we love are so very empathetic, that they will try to take on your stress, and become stressed themselves.  For this reason, it is really important that good dog food nutrition is always part of your dog’s mealtime.  A healthy holistic dog food is the way to go, and offers you great nutrition buffers from making an immune system go haywire.

Happy Days can Cause Allergic Reactions as Much as Sad Days

Imagine you just won the lottery, and you are amazed and super excited.  Your life is going to change!  Suddenly, you are moving faster, on the phone day and night, stopped dog walks, and are always inviting new strangers into the home, and your dog feels lost.  She might try to destroy something you love, pee on the floor, anything that will capture your attention.  You have become consumed with this new reality, and suddenly your dog is in a new car that smells really strong of chemicals, and now a new house?  All of these changes, with the lack of attention, will erupt into a full blown allergic reaction, and your dog will be itchy and sad.  Even though you are happy and all is well, you may be changing life in a way that is very disruptive and quick for your dog.  For this example, a day with your best friend, a long walk in the sunshine and wind, would have done the trick easily.  The time would have been good for you and for your dog.

Allergic Reactions are Symptomatically Progressed

Good dog food, clean filtered water, happy exercise with you and your dog, and some playtime each day are important elements to keep allergic reactions at bay.  Sometimes, even with the most caring and kind interactions between you and your dog, good nutrition and happy exercise, you will still have allergic reactions occur.  Do not despair, as there are so many elements that can erupt into an allergic reaction, like being around a new funny chemical, a smoky fire, a dry environment, salt on the road, humidity for days, or even very loud music near the home.  The added change can be something your dog must somehow work through, but with a constant good nutrition plan, and a stress free life, allergic reactions can be avoided more than they happen.

Pug and Shih Tzu Correct Dog Food Choices

Anytime you are feeding your pug or your shih tzu, you should remember they need special dog food, food that is good nutrition and  dog food that does not hurt their livers.  These two little dogs, have tendencies to have dental and eye troubles, and if they do not get the right nutrition, these problems can be escalated, and cost you as a proud pet owner.  Your small best friend needs good dog food that always provides quality vitamins and minerals, and the right amount for their little bodies.  Too much sugar and starch can create an improper imbalance in their toxicity in their digestive systems, and that is why you must choose the correct dog food for these breeds.

Any small breed with benefit from Correct Dog Food Choices

pug and shih tzu 300x236 Pug and Shih Tzu Correct Dog Food Choices

Dog Food Should be Quality to Be a Value

A great dog food, that offers good vitamins and minerals for a small dog offers a correct mix of protein and carbohydrate, little amounts of omega healthy fats for heart and skin, and the correct amount of minerals for their small livers and pancreas activity.  Often times, dog owners forget how small their pug or shih tzu is, and feed for a medium or larger dog.  Nothing could be more damaging, as this love is not going to be a benefit to the dog or the owner.  The best dog food to feed to small breeds like the pug or the Shih tzu is a premium dog food that comes with a digestible duck meal, with a good amount of vegetables like carrots and is fortified with taurine.    This important ingredient adds a layer of health for cardiovascular or a healthy heart.

Good Dog Food Should be Made in America or Canada

The best dog food is made in America or Canada, as they are close to you as the consumer, and offer good traceability for ingredients that are healthy and the best ingredients for your best friend.  Often times, the cheaper dog food offerings are made in asia or in eastern europe and do not have the best ingredients or ingredients that will bring good health.  The inexpensive fillers and by-products that these dog foods offer, are necessary for shelf life.   Your best dog food does not have a shelf life of more than 2 years, and if it has no expiration or date of manufacture, do not buy it.

Dog Food Should always come with a Guarantee

If your pug or Shih Tzu is ill, and is seeing a vet, be sure to speak to your vet about nutrition.  Often this conversation does not come up with the diagnosis of an allergy or a common ailment, and symptomatic treatment for hot spots or itchiness is applied, but the real solution is a long term one, and may not see short term results immediately, but will solve your allergy issues eventually.  When looking for good quality dog food, be sure to look for a guarantee, as this often will be a good indication of quality, value and nutritional optimum variety.

Dog food should always be made of ingredients that you would eat yourself, not by products, corn meal, or anything that you are not sure of.  Looking at fiber and essential oils, you will find a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, and good vegetables.   Be aware, and ask other dog owners what they feed, and always spend more on dog food, and you will spend less at the vet.

Veggies and Meat for Your Dog

min pin Veggies and Meat for Your DogThe most amazing thing you can do for your dog is to feed him the right kind of food, and that does include meat and protein, but more than that, it includes some fiber and some minerals as well.  The best way to accomplish this, is to feed a mixture of protein and vegetables that will provide the best nutrition that you can ever hope to provide.

Buy the Best Dog Food

Your money may be tight, and you might be purchasing some very economical dog food at the local supermarket or the box store, and see that your dog enjoys it very much.  The truth is, most of the very inexpensive dog food is really just that, inexpensive.  It is usually loaded with less than adequate nutrition, and can be very difficult to allow your dog the right amount of minerals and essential vitamins for health and vitality.  Without the right ingredients, you are only filling your dog with fluff, and the most difficult of health issues will  not evolve or disappear on this kind of diet.  It is a recipe for disaster, and can only bring your dog more of a risk for health issues to evolve into real tragic consequences.

The most kind and supportive thing you can do for your dog, and all of your pets at home, is feed them the most natural and healthful food that you can afford.  It was not so long ago, that all of our dogs, cats, birds and other pets ate what we ate.  We prepared a home cooked meal, and the dog was anxious at the end of the meal, for their share of the food.  The scraps of the meal were given to the dog, and often if a hunted animal was prepared, we gave the dog a raw bone, or some of the less than scrumptious parts of the kill.  The reality of this situation is that this was actually closer to best nutrition for our dogs, as the dog would have eaten this way in the wild, and the raw meat, and scraps of vegetables are exactly what a dog needs for good health.

Now, with the advent of pet food companies, the regulations are often fairly relaxed on what a pet food company can include in a pet food, and they often fill it with many less than best choices like corn, potatoes, rice or even some by-products like chicken feet, beaks, or even feathers.  If you are buying a meat “meal” you are feeding your pet these ingredients.  It is not healthy, and lately, they have realized that even some forms of the chicken are exposed to arsenic, which is in the cheaper chicken feed.  The chain is not built on health, but on cost control, and this will only cost you dearly in the future.

Cost of Food will Result in Health and Vet Care Costs

The reality of the inexpensive food choice, is that you in fact, will be spending more money than you would like to spend, in the area of veterinarian care in the near future.  When you feed a corn based pet food, or a food that is “cheaper” you are risking some of your wallet in the future to be spent at the vet.  The terrible outcome of allergies, joint problems, digestive and nervous system issues, and scarier health concerns like cancer and terminal disease are possibilities.  It is impossible to link all of the health issues that you may result with by your choice of food, but there are many times where the change of food can result in a better outcome.  For this reason, the connection between poor nutrition, and increased vet care costs seems to be valid.  The choice is yours as a pet parent, and if you are willing to spend a bit more on the front end of your pet’s food, you will most likely see a great result with any health issue you are experiencing.

Think of it this way, if you run your body to the ground, and you keep going and expecting your body to produce, but do not offer valid minerals, proteins or vitamins for healing and health, your body will pull from the tissues and cells to find vitamins and minerals to keep you working.  If you are not adding minerals and vitamins to the overall needs of your busy body, you will feel sick, tired and will not be able to see good results from your health.  Your overall life will suffer as a result of the lack of support from your nutrition.  The same thing follows for your dog, and many dogs today are suffering from allergies and do not see good results in health.

For this reason, the most important thing you can do as a good pet parent, is buy nutrition that is real.  The food that you should look for is something you can recognize, and a food that you would be sure was actual meat, vegetables and provides the necessary vitamins and minerals.  The ingredients should be easily understood, and if there are words that you are  not sure about, do not buy that food.  Organic is a great way to go, as the standards are higher for this kind of process.  Take the field to your table for yourself and your pet, and you will save money in the long run.

Dog Food Nutrition

terrier puppies Dog Food NutritionDog food nutrition starts with ingredients that do not host any preservatives or chemicals.  The reason that chemicals, additives, and preservatives are added, is to preserve the dog food on the shelf, and keep it ready for you to buy, when you need it.  The problem with this remedy, is that the preservatives will be a major health issue in your dog’s life.

Toxins and Your Dog’s Liver

If you are looking to keep your dog’s life healthy and happy, be sure to understand the process that a chemical food will take on your dog’s body.  Your dog is a small and very susceptible organism to toxic and heavy chemicals.  The fact that dog cancer and other digestive illness has risen over the years, is due in part to the chemicals in dog food.  The unhealthy path you will follow, leads right back to a chemical filled dog food.

The hardest part, is that the market place is often very easily deceptive, and can use the word natural or healthy whenever and wherever they choose.  Be sure to keep your eyes open, and read the ingredient list on your dog food bag with awareness.  No chemicals, no ingredients, you can not understand.  If you have a question, there should be a phone number on the bag, and you can call to see if the food is really a good choice.   If the reasons and description are enough for you, you may have found a good food to choose.  If you can not get a good feeling from the call, you should move on.

The fact that chemicals and preservatives cause poor nutrition, are not limited to the fact that often chemically laden dog food has few nutrients to offer as well.  If a food sits on a shelf for long, all anti-oxidants are lost in the time they sit waiting to be consumed.  Nutrients added, are often slim to none in this case.  The reality of the situation is that the dog food nutrition needed is not really offered, and your dog could have a poor health outcome.

Best Puppy Food Brand

rottie puppy 300x217 Best Puppy Food BrandPuppy food is a keystone for great nutrition, and a healthy life ahead!  If you want to avoid many problems in the long run, be sure to look for the best puppy food brand you can resource.  Here is how to do this!

Best Puppy Food Brand Ingredients

  • 100% Organic Protein
  • Green beans
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Acai berries, blueberries, or organic berries
  • 100% organic EFAs or essential fatty acids
  • Squash, zucchini,carrots or celery
  • Garlic, vitamin C and a good mix of nutrients, with careful explanation

This list is very generic, and many processors and manufacturers look for quality ingredients that they can find an include in their food, that offer value, and are available.  Of course, you need to read the labels and ensure that they all are complete and accurate, in terms of there should not be many unknown chemicals, or nutrients that you do not know what they are.

The value of being able to find the best puppy food brand, as well, is that it is fresh, does not have a long shelf life, and is offered with a story on the bag.  Many people who are dedicated producers, are people who have lost pets to the poor nutrition dog foods in their past, and will have a reason why they are so passionate about their journey.

Prescription Dog Food

golden Prescription Dog FoodDoes your vet prescribe a dog food for your dog?  It is good advice to always follow your vet’s advice, but be sure to continue to find the right information as well.  Often, my vet would prescribe a dog food for our dog, and it would not be accepted by my dog, or it just didn’t seem to work for her digestive system.  If you are looking to have a good conversation with your vet about your dog’s food, be sure to arrive with some questions and information.

Prescribed Dog Food Choices

Sometimes, the dog food that is used for prescription, is very quietly full of corn, soybean, or rice.  Even white potatoes have been a main ingredient in this list.  The confusing part to this ingredient list is the fact that it is often hard to digest.  I have had good results with less carbohydrates in a time of stress, illness or injury, than the prescribed dog food choices offered.

In most cases, a very lean protein, like venison or 100% organic chicken, will be better for your dog.  Even a green vegetable, like green beans, and some dried sweet potato, can be much better for the pancreas, the liver, the bladder and kidneys.  The dog in stress, should not be given any sugar or starch, as the glucose created can be hard to digest or manage.

Be kind to your dog, and question your vet, so that you can bring the best results to your dog.  Clearly, in times of disease or illness, they may find the higher starches laden prescription foods, will be accepted by your dog more readily, so a mix could be considered, but working towards a holistic solution, will in the end assist your dog to actually solve the related problem, and be the great solution that you require.

A genuine discussion with your vet, should be a way to actually try to find a solution, provide health and happiness, versus covering up the symptoms and problems that are occurring.  The keys to health all reside with appropriate levels of nutrition, interactivity with drugs and medicine, and great prescription dog food information.

Why Organic Food is So Important

german shepard puppy1 Why Organic Food is So ImportantIf you are feeding a puppy for the first time, are searching for great dog food,  search no further than a organic or holistic dog food choice.  The fact that they take the time to certify the ingredients of the product will, create a better result for nutrition.

Great Dog Food is Often Organic Dog Food

The reason that organic dog food holds good nutrition, is that the ingredients are certified to be labeled organic, and this creates more of a valid reason for the food to be controlled and safe.  In the pet food world, the dog and cat food industry is largely unregulated, but, if it is labeled organic, there are a series of rules that a company must follow to use this label.

The rules are very strict, and are properly regulated by the USDA, and the FDA.  The uniform standards for labeling and processing of organic foods, have a series of rules that they must follow to use the label.

  • No genetic altering or radiation
  • No fertilizer
  • No Synthetic Fertilizer
  • No Pesticides in producing the product, or in the process of organic produce

 

As well, some products can be labeled in the following manner:

  • 100% Organic is all organic in ingredients
  • Organic on the label is at least 95% organic
  • Made with Organic Ingredients must be at least 70% organic
  • Anything less than 70% organic can not have organic on the package, but may use the organic ingredients in the label ingredient list

This means you must use the term organic as a true indicator of properly controlled items, and it will be important to rely on the label for good nutrition information.  If you use the list as shown above, you should be able to come up with some good options for your dog food choices, and bring great results to your dog’s food choices.

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