Whether you are looking for a best prescription diet for your dog
or you just want to know the difference between raw and dry food, being
able to differentiate between fact and fiction goes a long way.
Keeping that in mind, here are some of the most common myths that have surrounded dog nutrition since decades:
1. The best dog foods are often sold by the veterinarians
The vets’ sell premium and top-of-the-line nutrition, yet the ingredients of these products tell a different story. These brands and many other similar products usually contain poultry by-products, mainly consisting of the leftovers and the meat deemed unfit for consumption. These products may include anything from the feet, beak, developing eggs to intestines, everything except the healthy meat. At the premium price, what you actually get is a low-quality and cheap protein source that is not even as digestible as clean chicken meal. These ingredients tell all about the low-quality food and are no different from the products available at discount value in dog food stores.
2. Dry food helps to clean the teeth of your dog
This is quite common perception among many of us. However, this is not the case. Dogs have very sharp teeth, which are not flat. These teeth are made to chew, bite and tear into the raw meat. Therefore, when a dog eats dry food or kibble, it swallows them completely or crushes it underneath teeth. Kibble does not reach around the gums or the lower parts of teeth, which is where dental infections start.
3.There should be different diet for different stages of dog’s life
This myth is promoted due to it being the part of marketing strategies of several companies. Manufacturers develop several formulas to get more shelf space. Though this is true that kittens and pups need more food than adults do, yet they do not need special formulas in accordance with their age. All you need is a high quality and varied diet for your young dog.
4.Table leftovers and “human” food is bad for the health of your dog
The majority of veterinarians encourage dog owners to feed people food to their pets. Healthy leftovers are an excellent substitute to the regular fare; however, you would like to stick with these two rules:
1) “People food” must be healthy. It could be meat or steamed and chopped fruits, veggies, baked sweet potatoes, oatmeal, or rice. Make sure not to feed junk food to your pet.
2) If you give them a little bit of your food, make sure to reduce the quantity of pet food, so that they do not put on extra pounds.
5. Due to the risk of salmonella and E. coli, feeding raw food is dangerous
Gastrointestinal tract of dogs are very different from humans. While human digestive tract is about 25 to 28 meters with stomach acid ph between 1.5 and 2.5, dogs have shorter digestive tract of about 10 to 13 feet with acidity less than 1ph. The food consequently moves through the system in time that is less than half of what it would take it to move through a human being’s digestive system. The high acidity of pets’ digestive system kills most of bacteria. Even if the raw food is contaminated, the high acidity levels make sure that bacteria do not enter into the bloodstream.
6. Changing the formula or pet food brands is difficult on dog’s digestive system
A healthy dog can eat different foods without any problem if the food is high in quality. Veterinarians are aware that variety in pet food is of utmost importance for several reasons; one of them is to avoid sensitivity to a specific food type.
Give your dog a healthy diet to add several years to his life. Spend less by making wise and informed choices. It does not require much effort or money. With little knowledge and the will to provide your dog with a healthy body, you can feed him with the food he deserves.
source from: Common myths surrounding dog nutrition since decades
Keeping that in mind, here are some of the most common myths that have surrounded dog nutrition since decades:
1. The best dog foods are often sold by the veterinarians
The vets’ sell premium and top-of-the-line nutrition, yet the ingredients of these products tell a different story. These brands and many other similar products usually contain poultry by-products, mainly consisting of the leftovers and the meat deemed unfit for consumption. These products may include anything from the feet, beak, developing eggs to intestines, everything except the healthy meat. At the premium price, what you actually get is a low-quality and cheap protein source that is not even as digestible as clean chicken meal. These ingredients tell all about the low-quality food and are no different from the products available at discount value in dog food stores.
2. Dry food helps to clean the teeth of your dog
This is quite common perception among many of us. However, this is not the case. Dogs have very sharp teeth, which are not flat. These teeth are made to chew, bite and tear into the raw meat. Therefore, when a dog eats dry food or kibble, it swallows them completely or crushes it underneath teeth. Kibble does not reach around the gums or the lower parts of teeth, which is where dental infections start.
3.There should be different diet for different stages of dog’s life
This myth is promoted due to it being the part of marketing strategies of several companies. Manufacturers develop several formulas to get more shelf space. Though this is true that kittens and pups need more food than adults do, yet they do not need special formulas in accordance with their age. All you need is a high quality and varied diet for your young dog.
4.Table leftovers and “human” food is bad for the health of your dog
The majority of veterinarians encourage dog owners to feed people food to their pets. Healthy leftovers are an excellent substitute to the regular fare; however, you would like to stick with these two rules:
1) “People food” must be healthy. It could be meat or steamed and chopped fruits, veggies, baked sweet potatoes, oatmeal, or rice. Make sure not to feed junk food to your pet.
2) If you give them a little bit of your food, make sure to reduce the quantity of pet food, so that they do not put on extra pounds.
5. Due to the risk of salmonella and E. coli, feeding raw food is dangerous
Gastrointestinal tract of dogs are very different from humans. While human digestive tract is about 25 to 28 meters with stomach acid ph between 1.5 and 2.5, dogs have shorter digestive tract of about 10 to 13 feet with acidity less than 1ph. The food consequently moves through the system in time that is less than half of what it would take it to move through a human being’s digestive system. The high acidity of pets’ digestive system kills most of bacteria. Even if the raw food is contaminated, the high acidity levels make sure that bacteria do not enter into the bloodstream.
6. Changing the formula or pet food brands is difficult on dog’s digestive system
A healthy dog can eat different foods without any problem if the food is high in quality. Veterinarians are aware that variety in pet food is of utmost importance for several reasons; one of them is to avoid sensitivity to a specific food type.
Give your dog a healthy diet to add several years to his life. Spend less by making wise and informed choices. It does not require much effort or money. With little knowledge and the will to provide your dog with a healthy body, you can feed him with the food he deserves.
source from: Common myths surrounding dog nutrition since decades
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