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Tips for Choosing Pet Food

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Many families consider their pets part of the family, so feeding the family pet healthy food should be part of the family dynamic. But how do you choose the best food for your pet to keep them healthy and active?

Here are a few tips to help you choose the food that will best suit your pet.

Read the ingredients in the food and the purchase the healthiest type of food that you can afford.

Choose a food that has the proper amount of protein for your pet. Age, activity and other factors will determine how much protein your pet will need. For instance, younger animals will need less protein than adults. Look for food choices that are labeled by age. For instance, choose one labeled puppy for your young canine companion. However, any food you choose should include protein sources such as lamb, beef or chicken. The protein should be the first ingredient on the list of ingredients.

Avoid animal byproducts such as chicken feet and bones that may be included in pet foods. Less expensive foods usually include these types of byproducts. More expensive food generally do not include byproducts. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations about higher-quality byproducts.

Check for and learn about preservatives. Almost every brand of dry pet food has preservatives. These preservatives can include artificial preservatives like BHT or ethoxyquin.

Choose whether to feed your pet dry or canned food, or even a mixture. Take into account that canned food is generally more expensive. However, both will provide your pet with a good nutritional balance, provided you have examined the ingredients.

Filed Under: Feeding/Diet, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Everything You Should Know About Your Pet’s Food

These days, food for just about any animal is available at a store. It’ll be at a pet store, a farm co-op, a grocer, or even a manufacturer with a retail outlet.

Remember the scandal with pet food not too long ago in which the manufacturers added something that was harmful to dogs? Millions of dollars were lost or spent in trying to right the situation, while a number of dogs actually died. Class action attorneys in Los Angeles and other firms like them had a heyday answering questions about claims against dog food companies.

One good way to ensure this never happens is to make your dog’s food at home. There are many good recipes online from people who feed their dogs no commercial foods whatsoever. They make meals that are nutritious for dogs, not just filling.

Find Recipes Online

Gluten-free recipes, grain-free recipes, and even weight-loss recipes can be found online, but make sure the recipe isn’t promoting homemade fillers. Nothing but meat, vegetables, and rice should be in them.

Here’s a good recipe, and you can change out the veggies for variety.

You will need the following:

  • 1 lb. ground meat (any kind)
  • A small package of frozen veggies (NOT corn!)
  • 1 cup of uncooked rice, cooked
  1. Brown the meat in a fry pan.
  2. While the meat is frying, cook the rice.
  3. When the meat has browned, add the veggies to get them warm.
  4. When the rice is done, fluff with a fork.
  5. Mix all the ingredients together.

All that’s left is to divide the food into portions appropriate for the dog’s size, and then store the rest.

Filed Under: Breeding, Pets Tagged With: , ,

Is it Safe to Artificially Feed Deer in the Winter?

The Marsh Deer.
Image via Wikipedia

If you live in a rural or wooded area chance are, from time to time, you’ve seen deer in your yard. Deer are more prevalent to coming into residential areas during the winter months when looking for food; especially if you live in an area that sees snow on a regular basis. While it is really neat to see deer in your back yard, it is not in the best interest of the deer to begin artificially feeding them.

Naturally fed deer if not fed on a regular basis can destroy a yard or garden looking for food. If you are going to feed a deer, this is not going to be something to do when you feel like it. Feeding deer can cost hundreds of dollars a year for one deer and when there’s one deer many more will more than likely show up to eat; making the cost of feeding deer cost hundreds more. If are going to feed deer always use food specifically formulated for a deers diet. No table scraps or human food.

When deer congregate in one area to feed without the protection of the woods or wilderness they are especially vulnerable to attack from both domestic and wild dogs, such as wolves. Feeding deer will also attract other rodents like skunks and raccoons that are prone to diseases like rabies that can be transferred to other animals and humans if bitten.

Deer are also prevalent to contracting diseases themselves when congregating and feeding in the same area. The saliva and mucus from a deer infected with tuberculosis or salmonella will be transferred to other deer eating in that area.

If you are wanting to feed deer in your yard or are concerned about deer in your area contact a local wild life agency. A wildlife will answer your questions and concerns pertaining to deer and other wild life in your area.

Filed Under: Feeding/Diet, Species Tagged With: , , ,