Daily exposure to preservatives and environmental toxins, including necessary pesticides like flea/tick prevention and some vaccinations, may take a greater toll on dogs. We can help them live longer lives by feeding a healthy diet that is close to nature. It is recommended to reduce the amount of processed food and treats in general, go natural or organic whenever possible, and provide lots of variety in their diet.
TIPS|
1. Read labels and pay attention to the first 5-10 ingredients. If you’re unfamiliar with the item, then don’t feed it to your dog.
2. Look for protein sources with identifiable species (e.g. chicken, turkey, buffalo, lamb) versus the generic term “meat”.
3. Avoid anything listed as a “by-product” especially a “meat” by-product.
4. Don’t feed food or treats with any form of “corn” as the first ingredient.
5. Avoid generically named sources of protein or fat (e.g. poultry, liver, animal fat), as they are usually poor quality.
6. Look for treats made with 5 ingredients or less such as turkey breast strips or sweet potato chips.
7. Buy the highest quality food you can afford. Consider feeding a natural raw diet such as locally prepared K-9 Kraving Raw Diet Dog Food. (After much research, that’s what I feed my dogs.)
Pauline Houliaras, CPT, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and co-owner, Doghouse Girls, Inc.
