In recent years, individuals have become more preoccupied
with
nutrition issues than ever before,
so you would think that we should naturally have equal
concern for our
dogs and cats … especially since we generally consider
them to be a part of the family.
We should want the ingredients in our pet food
to be human grade or at least nearly so.
If byproducts are shunned in our own food, why
are they be allowed in our animals” food? Do we want them to
live to their maximum lifespan?
Of course we do. Nobody enjoys seeing their beloved pet,
whom they have truly formed a bond with, get sick and slowly
die.
We are
now seeing that our dogs and cats in fact need daily
supplements the same way that people do, in order to take
care
of their bodies for the inevitable stresses of the aging
process. In the
span of an
animal”s life, an early start at good health ensures less
vulnerability to certain degenerative diseases, joints that
are less
likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart.
Holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks claims that when
studying dog food, one should be be on the lookout for dyes,
and other chemicals as much as possible.
For example, BHA, which is one of the primary synthetic
antioxidant preservatives used to prevent food
discoloration, has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory
rats at some
doses. In lesser doses, the preservative does not show a
cancerous effect but who knows what BHA can do to
their bodies in small doses over a long time span.
Dr. Jane states that the maximum life span of dogs is
estimated to be between 25 to 30 years, but the average dog
often lives no longer than 13 to 14 years.
And she says that this difference is caused mostly by
inadequate nourishment.
She also states that protein is an overlooked but vitally
importartant part of a dog or cat”s
natural development.
Harder working or more energetic dogs and cats need more
protein
as well as fat in their diets to support their stamina. A
dog food that is complete and balanced and includes
at least 26 percent protein and 1650 kilocalories of
metabolizable energy per pound. During the seasons
when dogs are not working, feed them less of the
caloric-dense
dog food. For more information about dog and cat nutrition,
go to
http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/
