Canine Health & Wellbeing
THE TRUTH ABOUT PUPPY MILLS
Puppy mills thrive because they exist out of the public eye. Though they are legal, it's a breeding factory for puppies that has been the cause of many behavior and medical problems. Learn more about the undercover world of puppy mills.
* Puppy mills are factory-like facilities that produce large numbers of purebred puppies.
* Puppy mills use the internet and newspaper ads to sell directly to the public, as well as selling their puppies through pet stores.
Every year, more than one million purebred and expensive “designer” dogs are born and bred into puppy mills — often packed in tiny wire cages, neglected, dehydrated, dirty and chronically sick, with little or no human interaction or affection. These puppies are then sold legally to pet stores throughout the country. Dogs bred at puppy mills can typically exhibit hyper or nervous behavior, acting fearful, obsessive or aggressive.
*** Nutrition ***
-Is a Vegetarian Diet Right For Your Dog?
First things first - dogs are naturally omnivores. Omnivore (omni - everything, vorare - devour) meaning that your dog will eat both plants and animals as its primary food source. It is important to note that dogs are not carnivores (i.e. solely meat-eating) like cats, which means a dog's body does need vegetables and grains on top of meat.
That being said, many dog owners are turning to a vegetarian food diet in light of the recent pet food recalls (March 2007), tainted meat stories and the increase of human vegetarian lifestyles.
Homework
When thinking of switching your dog's diet - do your homework. Talk to your vet, research options on the Internet and reference people who have successfully made the transition for their dog. A good resource is the book Vegetarian Dogs by Verona re-Bow and Jonathan Dune. This pro-veggie book covers everything from supplements for vegetarian dogs to home-cooked recipes to proper feeding habits. The key is that changing your dog's diet must be well-thought out as it is a major lifestyle change. Take the time to thoroughly research the essential vitamins and minerals your dog needs for a nutritionally sound diet.
Allergies
There can be multiple reasons to change your dog's diet to vegetarian, and one main reason is if a dog suffers from skin problems or allergies. Often vegetarian pet food is made without common ingredients that may cause food intolerances such as beef, corn, wheat, pork or dairy products. Many are lactose-free and contain no artificial preservatives. On top of that, for dogs with digestive or constipation problems, a vegetarian dry food is ideal due to the high amount of fiber used. Just as dogs will eat wild grass to ease an upset stomach - the fiber in dog food can also relieve stomach distress.
Ethics
For some people, switching their dog to a vegetarian lifestyle comes more from an ethical point of view than for health reasons. Additionally, many pet owners who are vegetarians prefer not to feed animal-based products to their dog. Ivana Surjan, a vegan and proud owner of mixed breed Curo explains, "I didn't want other animals to be exploited for Curo's food. Curo's health is excellent since he eats premium quality vegetarian food which has all the necessary nutrient ingredients".
Protein
Whether it is ethical or health related, a vegetarian diet can work for a dog if it is well-rounded and the appropriate protein substitutions are made. While a dog's body needs protein (studies suggest around 30% of the diet should be protein), and is very resourceful about breaking down protein and using it for energy, meat is not the only source for this. Given the rich amount of protein found in soy, beans/legumes, mushrooms and lentils, it is possible to produce a dog food high in protein without any animal derived product. Taste, however, is something often lacking in such products, so it may take some enticing to get your dog to eat it. You can try using olive oil to fry the food, which will add flavor and fats (remember, dogs need more fat in their diet than we do, so don't be too scared of fat!).
Puppies & Protein
If you are contemplating a vegetarian diet for your puppy, be aware that their nutritional requirements are high during the first 6 months. Puppies' rapid growth requires the support of protein, (think about it - it takes us humans about 18 years to fully grow, while your dog does it in about 12 months!), so it is vital to feed your pup eggs, milk or a protein supplement if they are not eating meat. A strict vegan diet may be too restrictive during this vital growth and development stage. Make sure you discuss this with your vet or veterinary nutritionist.
Carbohydrates
Dogs use carbohydrates as a main source of energy, so carbs can form the basis of your dog's diet. So luckily for those who want to feed their dog a vegetarian diet, it is simple enough to feed carbohydrates like rice and pasta.
If you do make the choice of adapting a veggie diet for your dog, make sure you change the food gradually and include some type of binder - white rice or cottage cheese are great options - that will prevent the loose stools and diarrhea common when switching foods.
At national chain stores like Petco or PetSmart you can find vegetarian formulas offered by Nature's Recipe, Avoderm or Natural Balance. Smaller brands like Evolution, V-Dog, Tykie's Long Life or Natural Life can be found the Internet or at local shops. For the most part, dogs do not require food supplements when on a commercial vegetarian diet because the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) requires vegetarian foods to be as complete as meat-based foods. Home-cooked vegetarian diets however, will require supplementation such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc and other vitamins and minerals - do consult a pet nutritionist to help formulate and advise on a balanced, home-cooked vegetarian diet.
As mentioned vegetarian gourmet dog treats are gaining popularity - household brands like Old Mother Hubbard, Newman's Own, Buddy Biscuits and PetGold offer vegetarian biscuits for dogs. Starting with treats is a great step towards incorporating vegetarian food into your dog's diet.
Monitor Your Dog
So if, after thorough research, you decide a vegetarian diet is what you want to feed your dog, be sure to monitor your dog carefully as you gradually introduce the new diet. Keep a watch on your dog's weight, energy levels, skin and coat condition and other general health signs to monitor for any adverse effects the vegetarian diet may be having. If so, don't hesitate to consult your vet or veterinary nutritionist to assess the balance of the diet. And if your dog has been suffering meat-related allergies, you may find you have a healthier, happier, new vege-dog on your hands!
*** Exercise ***
Exercise Promotes Your Dog's Health - In Many Ways!! |
Your dog needs daily exercise to stay healthy and free from illness, and to avoid putting on weight and becoming obese. Exercise gets the heart pumping, the blood flowing and the muscles working. But apart from the physical benefits, here are some more good reasons why you and your dog should get out and exercise every day!
Boredom = Mischief
Giving your dog sufficient exercise will mean a less bored and agressive dog at home, which will mean a less mischievous dog too. Think about a young child kept indoors all day when it's raining outside.
All parents will be shrinking back in fear of this scenario, as they know how bored kids translates to rascal kids! It's the same for dogs! If they are inside all day, or even outside in the same ole' same ole' yard, they become bored, and this boredom can cause various behaviors such as chewing furniture, digging holes or excessive barking. This is one of the reason's I like to take my dog, Pico, for a walk first thing in the morning, because I know then that he will sleep most of the day, until about early evening when we take another small walk before dinner. If he doesn't get his morning walk, he'll be nipping my heels and biting my toes as I sit at the computer! I see him wander from toy to toy, from couch to chair to table, all around the apartment, just looking for something to do! So our morning walk not only provides him with daily exercise, but means he doesn't get into as much mischief!
Mental stimulation
Exercise is not just about burning calories, toning muscles and keeping joints functioning. It also importantly provides mental stimulation for your dog. Getting out of the house provides a plethora of smells for your dog's sensitive nose to enjoy, and many news sounds to prick her ears up to. Even if your dog has a big yard to run it, she will soon become familiar with every blade of grass and every plant and rock, so exercising outside of the yard will give her something interesting to explore.
Socialization
When you take your dog to the park for a run around, it gives her the opportunity to meet other dogs and humans too. This is necessary for good socialization. A dog that does not interact with other dogs can be overly aggressive or overly shy and timid, both of which are problematic. Of course, a sound basis for socialization needs to be provided when your dog is a young pup, but socialization should be kept up throughout your dog's life. Just think of it as keeping your dog away from her friends - she may love you to death, but she's a dog and she needs her furry friends too!
Bonding
Exercising with your dog provides you both with a great opportunity to bond together. Whether you're throwing her tennis balls or jogging next to her, it's a great way to strengthen your relationship, especially if you're away at work all day. It also gives you the opportunity to reinforce your training with her, by practicing things like heeling when you walk and coming when you call her. (Read more about commands in Training). Sharing activities with your dog can help you better understand her and improve communication between the two of you.
Dual benefits
OK, so this benefit relates back to the physical side of things, but taking your dog out for a walk means you also get exercise too! Take her for a hike in the hills, a jog on the beach, a swim in the lake, or just a wander to the park and back, and you too will be getting the physical and mental benefits of being outdoors and moving!
Links:
www.ilovedogs.com
-All the canine info on this page comes from the internet-