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[Cassiepeia]

themonitor.com

Dogs make great companions — it’s no wonder they’ve earned the title of “man’s best friend.” In addition to being great companions, they have even been shown to help lower blood pressure and improve a person’s sense of well being. Dog owners want the same for their furry friends — a healthy life. Making the right food choices, taking time for daily exercise and regular vet visits can make a huge difference in the health and longevity of your dog.

Most dogs go through life with tails wagging, seeming happy with their routine and their food. But just as we humans get educated about what choices are best for us — a healthy mix of nutritious fruits and vegetables, plenty of proteins, grains and foods rich in vitamins and minerals — don’t forget to do the same when it comes to making diet choices for your pooch to be sure he’s getting all he needs to be healthy and happy.

“I think that it need to be stressed that once pets are spade or neutered they don’t need to eat as much,” Cindy Klaunch, hospital manager at North 23rd Street Veteran Clinic, said.

Once the dogs are fixed their body doesn’t use as many calories, so if a pet owner gives them the same amount of food they tend to gain weight.

Also dogs should have three major diet changes in their life times. They should be feed puppy food – as much as they want – until they are six months. Then they graduate to an adult food diet and should only be fed once day. When they reach six or seven dogs should transition to food for older dogs.

“If you notice that the pet has gained too much weight you can put him on a low calories diet,” Klaunch said. The diet food is available at H.E.B. or pet stores, or if you take the dog to the vet he will give you a reducing and then a maintenance diet for the pet.

Special diets are available for dogs with kidney problems, diabetes and allergies.

“You generally know if dogs are allergic (to their pet food), if they’re scratching their face, or rubbing their face on the carpet,” Klaunch said.

But whether dogs react or not, they should not be given people food.

“If the dog just has people food, the dog will not have a nutritious meal,” Klaunch said.
“It’s like giving your child cookies and candies all the time.”.

Typically, a dog needs more fat for energy and a healthy skin and coat, and less fiber for good intestinal health than people. Good fat sources for dogs include chicken fat and fish oil. A combination of carbohydrates, such as corn, barley and other whole grains offers optimum digestibility and helps maintain energy levels. Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, like those found in Iams’ new Healthy Naturals formula, can help boost dogs’ immunities. Just as you would check the nutritional information on the labels of the foods you choose, be sure to review and compare the nutritional analysis on the label of your dog’s food.

Feed the relationship between you and your dog with tools, tips and special offers at www.iamsheathynaturals.com.

Mix It Up: How to Easily Change Your Dog’s Food
If your dog is a finicky eater or shows signs of a reduced appetite, consult your veterinarian and discuss the possible need for a change in his diet. If you decide to make a change, a key to a successful transition is to introduce the new food gradually. Start by mixing 25 percent of the new food with 75 percent of the old food, and gradually adjusting the proportions over the course of three days until he is eating 100 percent of the new food. Dogs love routine, so feeding them at the same time and place every day will help the transition. Also keep in mind premium pet foods often contain more nutrients, therefore, smaller portions are usually recommended.

Doggiecise Dos and Don’ts
According to leading experts, trim pets that eat well and enjoy plenty of physical activity can live, on average, 15 percent longer than overweight pets.

Dogs need at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity, Klaunch said. Certain breeds like border collie and lab need more than that. One way to know that your dog isn’t getting enough exercise is when he starts destroying things in the house.

For dogs, lack of exercise can result in behavior problems or even lead to physical ailments. Bad-dog behavior such as biting, chewing, digging and house-soiling is significantly lower when dogs get enough exercise. An exercised dog rests more calmly at home and is less nervous when left alone. Consider these dos and don’ts when it comes to dogs and exercise:
• The best exercise provides both physical and mental stimulation.
• Letting a dog out into the yard is not enough. They rarely exercise alone, but wait for “their people” to play with them.
• Let your pet play with other dogs to help him learn to enjoy other dogs and people. Consider taking him to a dog park.
• Retrieving is easy exercise. Throw a toy or ball far rather than high. Jumping high in the air and landing awkwardly can lead to knee injuries.
• Playing tug games is a great substitute for walking if exercise space is limited.

The Look of a Healthy Dog
Just as you look and feel better when you eat right, feeding your dog the right balance of nutrients is often the best way to achieve the glow of health.
There are easy signs of health to look for in dogs:
—Strong, white teeth and pink, healthy gums
—Supple skin and a glossy coat
—Firm muscles in legs
—Energetic, enthusiastic personality
—Small, firm stools without excessive odor
—A defined “waistline” with abdomen tucked up
- A happy dog is a healthy dog. Any pet that’s not acting right, not being his normal self is sick.

[k9hullio_sam]

This is GREAT! VERY informative!

A question--do you really think it is best to feed them once a day, or multiple times throughout the day. Mandi has free choice but she does tend to eat only once a day--2 if we do extra 'exercising.'

[Cassiepeia]

I think it depends on the dog in question, but personally I would feed twice a day. For no other reason than I'd hate to only have one meal a day myself.

Cass.