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	<title>Quality Dog Food</title>
	<link>http://qualitydogfood.info</link>
	<description>Feed Your Dog Good</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:03:49 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>7 Dog Food Ingredients that could be Hurting Your Dog!</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/7-dog-food-ingredients-that-could-be-hurting-your-dog/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/7-dog-food-ingredients-that-could-be-hurting-your-dog/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:03:49 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[What ingredients make for good and bad dog food?
With so many  dog foods available on today’s market that are commercially prepared, it is often quite difficult as only a dog owner to tell which ones are better than others and why.
First of all, many of the big companies are paying really slick marketers and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body"><em>What ingredients make for good and bad <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>?</em></p>
<p>With so many  <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods available on today’s market that are commercially prepared, it is often quite difficult as only a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> owner to tell which ones are better than others and why.</p>
<p>First of all, many of the big companies are paying really slick marketers and advertisers millions of dollars per year to advertise their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.  The amount of money they are spending on marketing has no relationship to the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.  This is unfortunate for you as some of the best advertised <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is inferior.</p>
<p>There is one way for you to guess the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> however it is not fool proof.  You can normally use the price of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> as an indicator as to the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span>.  Low priced foods are not always, but most often, the lowest <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> foods on the market and likewise the more expensive are normally better <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span>.</p>
<p>When feeding your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> you want to make sure that the adult <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> you are feeding is 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat.  The protein should come from a good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> source. Some dogs such as puppies, large breeds, and active breeds have different protein and fat requirements so make sure to discuss this with your vet to ensure proper feeding of your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.</p>
<p>When making an informed decision, you must know which ingredients are better than others.  When you look at the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> label, the following are the kinds of ingredients that you are looking for:</p>
<p>-	Human Grade Ingredients Chicken meal<br />
-	Turkey meal<br />
-	Fish meal<br />
-	Rice<br />
-	Potatoes<br />
-	Lamb meal<br />
-	Potatoes<br />
-	Rice<br />
-	Sunflower Oil<br />
-	Vegetables and others.</p>
<p>For a good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, the first four ingredients on the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> label should not be grains.  Instead they should consist of things like meat and proteins.</p>
<p>You also want to make sure it says chicken meal and not chicken as the primary ingredient. If it says chicken only, this means that the manufacturers are counting the entire chicken toward protein value. This includes all of the pieces they have probably scraped of the ground such as beaks, feathers, and feet. With chicken meal, they are only counting the cooked down version of the protein. This will ensure that your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> is getting the appropriate kind of protein and not by products.</p>
<p>Vitamins and fatty acids are also good ingredients in <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods. Some examples include Vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6, etc. These are very important for a healthy looking skin and coat.</p>
<p>Make sure your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is not laden with preservatives.  Some of the ingredients that you don’t want to see on your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance36" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance37" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> label are the inferior protein’s which consists of but are not limited to variations of the following: Wheat, Corn, Chicken by-products, Soy, Gluten.</p>
<p>These ingredients are hard to digest and can cause health problems later on if used for a long period of time. Sugar is another ingredient that you want to stay away from.</p>
<p>You are always better off making your own <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance38" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance39" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance40" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> treats from recipes such as those you can find at www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au, however if you are purchasing <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance41" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance42" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> you really should only purchase from a company that spends time and money field testing their products.</p>
<p>You can always be sure that companies such as Purina, the Iams Company (which also includes Eukanuba), Royal Canin, Nutro, Diamond, and Hill’s Science Diet are constantly testing their foods to provide the optimum <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance43" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> ingredients.  These companies offer different grades of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance44" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, however, from lower <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance45" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> to premium <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance46" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> so make sure that you always read the labels.</p>
<p>These are not the only companies by any means who make good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance47" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance48" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance50" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. The important thing is to read the label, do your research, ask questions of your veterinarians and pet professionals and always be informed. People who work at feed stores are usually a good resource and can help you find good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance49" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance51" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.  Breeders can also be a good source for finding a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance52" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance53" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance54" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.  <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance55" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> trainers will also often have a good knowledge of proper nutrition.</p>
<p>You should always follow your veterinarian’s recommendation on <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance56" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> as well. Many times dogs of certain ages or with certain health conditions need to be on a prescription diet. While these diets are often expensive, they do contain the proper nutrients that dogs in these categories need. Many times owners will switch to a commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance58" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> because of cost or palatability concerns and the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance57" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s health will go in to a decline.  Your veterinary staff know what is best for your particular <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance59" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.</p>
<p>While it is often confusing, proper <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance60" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> nutrition is vital to the health and longevity of your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance62" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.  By knowing what consists of good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance61" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> ingredients and which ingredients to avoid, you can be assured that you will choose the proper <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance63" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance64" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.  As always, if you have questions, ask your veterinary staff for more information.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">If you are looking for <a href="http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au/" aiotitle="healthy nutrious but yummy gourmet dog treat recipes" id="link_56" target="_new">healthy nutrious but yummy gourmet <span aiotitle="dog" style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance65" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> treat recipes</a> come and visit Justin Bryce who is the Proprietor of <a href="http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au/" aiotitle="http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au" id="link_57" target="_new">http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au</a></p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Justin_Bryce" aiotitle="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Bryce" id="link_58">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Bryce</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>Make High Quality Dog-Food at Home</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/make-high-quality-dog-food-at-home/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/make-high-quality-dog-food-at-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:02:47 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[At the time of writing this article, there has been a HUGE commercial dog and cat food poisoning scare in the USA - from contaminated dog food. Around 60 Million cans and pouches of prepared pet food were recalled.
Some owners lost their dogs and cats, because a type of plastic called melamine had found its [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body">At the time of writing this article, there has been a HUGE commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> and cat <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> poisoning scare in the USA - from contaminated <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. Around 60 Million cans and pouches of prepared pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> were recalled.</p>
<p>Some owners lost their dogs and cats, because a type of plastic called melamine had found its way into pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>! This was traced to a Chinese sourced wheat gluten contamination with melamine. Why pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturers use wheat gluten in pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is a mystery - it is a VERY POOR source of protein!</p>
<p>We make our own homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for a number of reasons - one of them being the unknown composition of commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>!</p>
<p>Why DOES canned or packet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> look and smell so similar, no matter what brand you buy?</p>
<p>I was always suspicious, the commercials show lovely piles of beef or even chicken breast fillet and vegetables etc. How COULD they put that in there, those cuts are so expensive?</p>
<p>Well basic economics says they don&#8217;t! But what makes me angry is their attempts at deception!</p>
<p>We started making homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, some time after I got an Insiders look at what is called a “protein recovery unit”.</p>
<p>I nicknamed it the Beak Factory because this plant used leftovers from a chicken processor - heads (beak and all), feet, feathers and gizzards - and turned it into a foul smelling dirty brown powder destined to go into pet-<span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>!</p>
<p>It stank so bad and that smell got into my hair and on my clothes and I am not exaggerating when I say the smell hung around me for the entire day!</p>
<p>This protein powder is often among the first ingredients listed on the pack or can - and goes by the name meat by-products or sometimes meat meal. It&#8217;s part of the reason that commercial dry biscuits almost always smell the same! If you&#8217;re game - try eating one of those biscuits yourself - see what your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> has been putting up with!</p>
<p>But you see because this protein powder undergoes a high temperature process during manufacture, it&#8217;s deemed to be safe for pets.</p>
<p>But the huge dumpsters of heads, carcasses, feet, feathers etc I SAW were left at ambient temperature for who knows how long - so you can imagine the putrid condition they were in?</p>
<p>I REFUSE to feed this refuse, which is what it really is - GARBAGE - to our dogs! Because while they MAY have killed the bacteria in this rubbish, what they may not destroy are some of the toxins that the bacteria produce as part of their action!</p>
<p>In addition to the bacterial toxins; there may also be toxins produced by moulds and fungi; known as aflatoxins and mycotoxins and some of these are known to be heat tolerant!</p>
<p>Now I don&#8217;t want to bore you with a lot of technical info on toxins - but I do want you to see that I am not exaggerating!</p>
<p><span>So here&#8217;s just one article - on just one bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus. About 1/2 way down the page you&#8217;ll see a comment about the toxin it produces and its resistance to heat in cooking: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/staphylococcus_food_g.htm" id="link_56" class="linkifyplus">http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/staphylococcus_food_g.htm</a></span></p>
<p>And that is just one bacteria - there are lots more! Try Googling the words Aflatoxin, Mycotoxin or bacterial toxins for yourself!</p>
<p>Plus there&#8217;s potentially accumulated insecticide residues in the concentrated bird feathers&#8230;..AND I&#8217;m not even going to mention the stories we&#8217;ve read about euthanised animal carcasses from vets or abbatoir animals that were diseased - or road kill!</p>
<p>In short - it HAS ALWAYS BEEN potentially contaminated <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>! But even if you totally ignore the contamination issue - it&#8217;s STILL a very cheap and nasty source of protein!</p>
<p>Because it&#8217;s labelled as Pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> Not For Human Consumption - there is far less scrutiny, concern and accountability! FACT IS : they HAVE to label it as UNFIT - ask yourself why would that be?</p>
<p>Why would you feed this stuff to any pet that you care about? We love our dogs - so to avoid <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> based on rubbish, with added soy protein, colourings and other additives - we make our own homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> exclusively!</p>
<p>And here&#8217;s the thing - Homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is not only BETTER FOR YOUR <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">DOG</span> it&#8217;s also far cheaper than than commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> - here in Australia, we can feed an adult Staffordshire Bull Terrier for about 45c per day!</p>
<p>Now&#8217;s when the Pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> companies and some veterinarians comment that the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> that you make needs to be complete. It&#8217;s like it&#8217;s some sort of mystery; as if we are too stupid to do it ourselves! I take offense at their attempts to manipulate us into buying their products!</p>
<p>Dogs have shared human lives for thousands of years (long before pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> companies) - and NEVER became extinct due to malnutrition!</p>
<p>Let me state this - anyone who can read and can cook - can make their own high <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance36" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>! All it takes is a bit of time and planning and since its easier to make in bulk - a bit of freezer space.</p>
<p>Canine nutrition has also been very well researched and published and now that we live in an information age; this information can be freely distributed worldwide!</p>
<p>Sure there are some basics - when making homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance37" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance38" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> it&#8217;s important to remember that dogs are meat eaters (carnivorous). Since meat is almost entirely made up of proteins - protein is therefore an essential component in <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance39" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> diets!</p>
<p>But did you know that many canned or dried foods are based on plant sources of protein (often Soy beans - and no wonder they fart so much); because vegetable proteins are MUCH cheaper than animal proteins</p>
<p>But vegetable based proteins like those found in soy beans, chickpeas, lentils etc are not complete in all the amino acids found in animal proteins like meat, fish and dairy.</p>
<p>To overcome this lack of complete proteins pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance40" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturers add the the horrible smelling powder I  mentioned earlier!</p>
<p>In his book Home Prepared <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance41" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> and Cat Diets, The Healthful Alternative, - when speaking about commercially prepared pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance42" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, Donald Stromberg had this to say:</p>
<p>“The cost of pet foods is lessened by using no more animal protein, than is necessary. Using sources of animal proteins not fit for human consumption also reduces the cost. For example, animal meat meals are unfit for human consumption. Some meat meal protein is from animals that died and were beginning to decompose.” (pg. 35)</p>
<p>Stromberg gives a figure of 13% protein for growing dogs and 19% for aging dogs.  I always aim that homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance43" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance44" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> falls into this higher protein range.</p>
<p>Since dogs in the wild are predominantly meat eating, most of their dietary protein will come from animal or insect sources - I use animal proteins.</p>
<p>However dogs also can and do eat fruit - foxes are known to eat blackberries and undoubtedly other fruit, for example grapes from a vineyard or fruit from an orchard. Our Staffords love all kinds of fruit - including banana!</p>
<p>I also vary the protein content of my homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance45" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance46" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, according to the needs of my dogs.</p>
<p>One of our girls (an Australian Terrier) is now 11 years old and diabetic, so her diet is quite high in protein and very low in fat. Pregnant bitches and growing puppies need considerably more protein and also need more total <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance47" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> quantity.</p>
<p>However when using meat as your source of protein, you CAN cause problems for the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance48" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> if the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance49" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is not balanced with the correct minerals. Red meat alone; will supply good levels of protein and iron, but almost no calcium and phosphorus for example.</p>
<p>Dogs in the wild forage on a variety of foods and would eat an entire rabbit for example - fur, bones gizzards and all! When they do this they are able to extract ALL of the minerals in the bones and intestines of the animal — so their diet is more balanced!</p>
<p>When making homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance50" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance51" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, it&#8217;s important to aim for this balance between protein, vitamins and minerals! When you use my homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance52" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance53" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recipes you&#8217;ll see that one of my principle protein sources is skinless chicken necks.</p>
<p>I use these because of their high protein/low fat ratio and low price - PLUS - the added advantage of the minerals like calcium, phosphorus and potassium etc, available in the bone!</p>
<p>AND skinless chicken necks are often available at low cost as human grade fresh meat in the deli departments of many supermarkets or poultry meat stores, which means they MUST be fit for human consumption!</p>
<p>Right here and right now then; your homemade <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance54" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance56" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is streets ahead of commercial pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance58" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, because you are using <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance55" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span>, nutritious and balanced protein from clean, safe <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance57" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> sources!</p>
<p>Try making your own Home-made <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance59" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance60" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> I guarantee that your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance61" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> will love the REAL <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance62" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> that you are giving - instead of the psuedo <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance63" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> that he has been forced to accept until now!</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">Steve Gaskin is an author of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance64" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> Training Articles - he and his wife own and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers. For more information on dogs and <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance65" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> training - for Ebook reviews and a FREE Home-made <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance66" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance67" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> Recipe visit: <a href="http://dogloverstoolbox.com/" id="link_57" target="_new">http://dogloverstoolbox.com</a></p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gaskin" aiotitle="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gaskin" id="link_58">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gaskin</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>What&#8217;s Really In Dog Food (Are You Slowly, Unknowingly Poisoning Your Dog Or Cat?)</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/whats-really-in-dog-food-are-you-slowly-unknowingly-poisoning-your-dog-or-cat/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/whats-really-in-dog-food-are-you-slowly-unknowingly-poisoning-your-dog-or-cat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:01:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[You need to know what&#8217;s really in the food you are feeding your dog. As your dog, cat or pet&#8217;s guardian, the greatest gift you can give is every chance at good health! The gift of good health starts with the quality of nutrition that affects every aspect of your dog&#8217;s well-being.
The diets of our [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body">You need to know what&#8217;s really in the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> you are feeding your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>. As your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>, cat or pet&#8217;s guardian, the greatest gift you can give is every chance at good health! The gift of good health starts with the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of nutrition that affects every aspect of your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>&#8217;s well-being.</p>
<p>The diets of our pets are a far cry from the primarily raw protein diets with a lot of variety of their ancestors. Canines and felines cannot live healthy lives without eating meat. Your pet&#8217;s teeth are designed for tearing meat and their stomachs are built to break down meat into important nutrients. One increasingly good popular choice is a holistic raw diet &#8212; a diet that has been popular for European pets for decades that supplies higher <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> protein sources coming from high <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> meat, with only natural preservatives, no by-products and no <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> coloring.</p>
<p>Do you know what&#8217;s really in <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>? Many <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods are manufactured so poorly that vitamins are supplemented. Heat processing, standard in the pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> industry, destroys important nutrients with up to 100% loss of certain vitamins, up to 60% loss of amino acids, and up to 10% loss of fatty acids. Probiotics and enzymes are destroyed, and fats used in processing can be toxic or rancid. But that is not the worst of the story, and why you should know what is really in the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> you are feeding, and why a holistic diet should be chosen.</p>
<p>Not all of the pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturing companies use poor <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> and potentially dangerous ingredients, but the vast majority do. Commercially rendered meat meals are often highly contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, sourced from animals that died from disease, injury, or natural causes, that may not be rendered or cooked until days after death. While the cooking process may kill bacteria, it does not eliminate the endotoxins resulting from the bacteria. These toxins can cause disease.</p>
<p>Multinational pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> producers through advertising have a tremendously loyal market in which to capitalize on their and others&#8217; waste products, and have a reliable source for such bulk materials.</p>
<p>In 1990, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that euthanized animals were being used in pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. Pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturers have vehemently denied the report; however, the American Veterinary Medical Association has confirmed the Chronicle&#8217;s story as to what is really in the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> and cat <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.</p>
<p>Companion pets and zoo animals are euthanized with sodium pentobarbital and then processed and rendered. The sodium pentobarbital poison does not break down in the processing and goes into many commercial pet foods and feed for cows, pigs and horses.</p>
<p>The FDA&#8217;s Center For Veterinary Medicine concluded that it is highly unlikely a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> will experience any adverse effects from exposures to low levels of pentobarbital found in popular commercial pet foods, but such foods would not be allowed for human consumption. Furthermore, informed consumers who love and want the best for their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> companions would not choose to feed such ingredients if they knew what was really in their dogs&#8217; <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.</p>
<p>Part of the &#8220;witches brew&#8221; processed into <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is slaughterhouse waste including possibly diseased and cancerous meat, grains considered unfit for human consumption, rancid grease and different fats, stabilized with powerful antioxidants to retard further spoilage. These fats are sprayed directly onto dried kibble to make an otherwise bland or distasteful product palatable.</p>
<p>The most commonly used antioxidant preservative is ethoxyquin(EQ) that has been found in dogs&#8217; livers and tissues months after it had been removed from their diet. EQ has been proven to have a synergistic effect that may lead to the development of certain types of cancer and may promote liver disease and other medical problems.</p>
<p>Governmental rules require ingredients to be listed from the largest amount to smallest. Protein is crucial to your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>&#8217;s health, yet sources such as soybean meal, corn glutens, corn meal, whole corn, and ground or crushed corn is what is really in many <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods as protein ingredients. While dogs do need some grains, too many commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods use grains as a substitute for meat. As a result, most <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods list grains long before meat in their ingredients, but proponents of holistic <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance36" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance37" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> know meat should be the number one ingredient in any decent <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance38" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance39" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. Ideally, the meat should be high <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> human grade, making your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>&#8217;s chances for developing a protein deficiency very low. A good holistic feeding plan provides the proper level of vitamins and minerals &#8212; greater than many commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods &#8211;so you don&#8217;t need to give your pet supplements.</p>
<p>Sadly, protein deficiencies are common among dogs and result in health issues such as excessive shedding, damaged whiskers, poor appetite, compromised immune systems, gas, burping, smelly stools, diarrhea, vomiting, chronic skin and/or ear infections, smelly breath, brown teeth, dull and/or smelly coat, and personality issues associated with aggression or timidity.</p>
<p>Up until now you my not have realized what is really in <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance40" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance41" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. Now that you have been exposed to some facts, become informed about what&#8217;s really in your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance42" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>&#8217;s <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance43" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> to give your pet companion the best chance at good health.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.callofthedog.com/reallydogfood.php" id="link_56" target="_blank">Informative Video</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance44" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of <a href="http://www.callofthedog.com/" aiotitle="http://www.CalloftheDog.com" id="link_57" target="_new">http://www.CalloftheDog.com</a> and <a href="http://www.callofthedogshop.com/" id="link_58" target="_new">http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com</a> &#8212; created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance45" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance46" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.</p>
<p>The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jay_Jacovitz" aiotitle="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Jacovitz" id="link_59">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Jacovitz</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>Are Pet Food Feeding Trials Essential?</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/are-pet-food-feeding-trials-essential/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[In the course of a year several new dog and cat food products will be launched onto the UK pet food market. Some of these will be manufactured by the big boys, Masterfoods or Nestle Purina, who will conduct scientific feeding trials, but others come from small companies who really are just marketing and distributing [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body">In the course of a year several new <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance1" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> and cat <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance2" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> products will be launched onto the UK pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> market. Some of these will be manufactured by the big boys, Masterfoods or Nestle Purina, who will conduct scientific feeding trials, but others come from small companies who really are just marketing and distributing - they have no manufacturing facilities and make use of independent manufacturers who produce <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for anyone. Several well known and well advertised UK brands and a host of smaller brands are produced centrally and simply distributed by the brand owners.</p>
<p>Small companies cannot afford the luxury of Research &amp; Development facilities, they also do not have the facilities to do their own pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> feeding trials. Let&#8217;s face it, they are up against the might of the Waltham centre for Pet Nutrition operated by the company that brings you Pedigree, Royal Canin and the like. Their publicity states</p>
<p>&#8216;Set in the heart of the English countryside, the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition is a state-of-the-art facility that unifies all of the research and development expertise of the Mars group of pet care companies worldwide.</p>
<p>Waltham collaborates with many of the world&#8217;s most prestigious universities and academics in advancing nutritional research and worldwide the Mars Group employs more than 100 dedicated veterinarians and 500 scientists (plus several of the world&#8217;s leading companion animal nutritionists).&#8217;</p>
<p>No small company can compete with the might of such a multi-national company.</p>
<p><strong>So is the pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> I feed safe?</strong></p>
<p>That&#8217;s an interesting question! Large pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> companies can afford the facilities of a testing centre, so what goes on there?</p>
<p>Well, the rules for conducting feeding trials seem to be all based around  AAFCO guidelines.</p>
<p>Masterfoods say this about their feeding trials &#8216;Adult maintenance trials may take six months to complete. A full veterinary examination is also conducted to ensure the pets used in the trial are healthy. <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> intakes and body weights are recorded throughout the trial period along with other important indicators such as oral health, skin and coat health, body condition and faecal <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span>.</p>
<p>&#8216;At the conclusion of the trial a blood sample is taken to detect any nutritional deficiencies or excesses. As a further measure to assess palatability, in home feeding trials are conducted as we have access to approximately 8,000 households. This ensures we get a true reflection of pets&#8217; acceptance and preference of the product range. Some pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> products may take up to three years to develop because of this rigorous three-step testing process.&#8217;</p>
<p><strong>What about a small company?</strong></p>
<p>You will probably find that small companies tell you that they do not conduct feeding trials because they do not consider them necessary - usually a new <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is given to staff and family to try out on their pets. If there are no adverse comments from users over a four or six week period then the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is launched to the general public.</p>
<p>This can work out fine, but essentially they are using pet owners around the country to do their long term <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> trials. I know of ocassions where a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> has been launched in this way and then caused health problems that were not picked up during the initial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> tasting.</p>
<p>However, it also has to be said that all new pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recipes have their origin at feeding trials which have been done in the past. The AAFCO nutritional guidlines have been used for years as the base figures for formulating pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recipes, and you or I could probably put together a fine <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> based upon those guidlines - but we have to bear in mind that these were established through nutritional feeding trials, and have been ammended no doubt since based upon current knowledge.</p>
<p>For this reason, unless a recipe is using very novel ingredients, or formulated with proportions of ingredients that vary greatly from other foods on the market, it is generally assumed that these foods will be perfectly safe for the pets that they have been created for.</p>
<p>So, maybe pet owners do need to ask themselves a question. If I am trying a new pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, am I happy that this <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> has been extensively trialled over a period of 6 months to 2 years and proved by scientific methods to be beneficial to health - or am I comfortable that a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> has been formulated to a similar recipe to others on the market, given out to a dozen or so pet owners and over a short period of time no adverse comments made?</p>
<p>The choice is ours!</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">The author, who originally trained as a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> technologist has, in his time owned dogs, cats, hamsters and birds, sold pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and spent the past decade marketing it. Now  down to one cat, one <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> and running Pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> Choice, a website full of information on pet <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> choices, money-saving ideas and much more -  <a href="http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk/" aiotitle="http://www.pet- food -choice.co.uk" id="link_55" target="_new">http://www.pet-<span aiotitle="food" style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>-choice.co.uk</a></p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Birch" id="link_56">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Birch</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>What&#8217;s in Your Pet&#8217;s Food: Is Buying a Top Premium Dog Food Worth the Money?</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/whats-in-your-pets-food-is-buying-a-top-premium-dog-food-worth-the-money/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/whats-in-your-pets-food-is-buying-a-top-premium-dog-food-worth-the-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[There is a lot of controversy with dog owners over which dog food is better. Some people have no idea what makes a good dog food. They buy the most expensive brand because they assume it must be a top quality dog food. Others feel that dog food is dog food and if their dog [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body">There is a lot of controversy with <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> owners over which <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is better. Some people have no idea what makes a good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. They buy the most expensive brand because they assume it must be a <strong>top <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.</strong> Others feel that <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and if their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> seems to be healthy then they see no reason to spend the extra money on a premium brand.</p>
<p>Before we look at <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> costs, let&#8217;s begin with what makes a good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. A top <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> depends on the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of ingredients and the nutritional power of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. It should offer a balanced diet and contain superior sources of protein as one of the first two ingredients. This can include whole fresh meats or single-source meat meal like chicken meal (rather than poultry meal). A top <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> would also contain whole, unprocessed grains plus vegetables and even fruits. It would have few fillers such as corn, soy, brewer&#8217;s rice and wheat bran. It would use natural preservatives instead of chemicals like propylene glycol and BHT or BHT.</p>
<p><strong>Supermarket <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> Foods vs. Premium Brands: Which is a Better Value for the Money?</strong><br />
Some people experience sticker shock when they compare the price of a premium <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> with an economy brand. Many <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods found in supermarkets are so-called economy brands, which, surprisingly, end up costing more to feed your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> than top rated premium <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods. Why? Because &#8220;economy&#8221; <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods tend to be lower in nutrients than premium foods and you have to feed your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> more to get the same nutritional punch of a more expensive premium brand. For example, the recommended feeding instructions for one supermarket brand say to feed approximately 6 cups a day for a 35-50 lb <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>. The label on an ultra-premium <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance36" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance37" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recommends about 1 ¾ to 2 cups per day. That&#8217;s around three times as much of the standard <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance38" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance39" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> vs. the premium <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance41" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. So now which costs less? And just think about the extra poop you will have to scoop if you&#8217;re feeding your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance40" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> six cups a day! Some lower end <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance42" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance43" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturers have even reduced the recommended feeding amount to make their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance44" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> look more economical.</p>
<p>Lower end <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance45" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods usually contain corn meal as one of the main ingredients (an acceptable protein source, but may cause allergies in some dogs), plus chicken or animal byproducts or rendered meat/poultry. Byproducts are ground, rendered, pieces of the carcasses of slaughtered animals or poultry and can include heads, feet, necks, and viscera. These are less nutritious but are often used in lower-<span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance46" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance47" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods because they are much cheaper than whole turkey, chicken, or meat. Rendered is often referred to as &#8220;byproducts meal&#8221; and it means the cooked and processed remains of the leftovers in meat and poultry processing. Yuck!</p>
<p><strong>What Should You Look for in a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance48" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance49" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span>?</strong></p>
<p>Learn how to read the label. Better <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance50" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods are made from whole product, such as chicken, turkey, and lamb. Also check the label to see if the protein source is free of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. Chicken fat is a very good source of linoleic acid, which helps makes dogs&#8217; coats healthy and shiny. Also check the fiber content. Three to four percent fiber is recommended for solid stools. Avoid <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance51" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods that have rendered meats, poultry or fats, animal byproducts, added growth hormones, brain or spinal tissue, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and for dogs that may have allergies, avoid corn, soy, wheat, and eggs.</p>
<p><strong>So what About the Cost?</strong></p>
<p>There are many excellent <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance52" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods on the market, and a <em>variety of prices</em>. Buying a top <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance53" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance54" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance55" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> doesn’t necessarily mean you will be paying the most; understanding the ingredients list and getting value for your money is what counts.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of <a href="http://www.my-favorite-dog.com/" id="link_56" target="_New">My Favorite <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance56" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span></a> featuring articles and information on <a href="http://www.my-favorite-dog.com/dog-food.htm" id="link_57" target="_New">top <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance57" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods</a>, <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance58" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> health issues, training, and more.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Goettsch" aiotitle="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Goettsch" id="link_58">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Goettsch</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>Best Quality Dog Food For Your Dog&#8217;s Health</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/best-quality-dog-food-for-your-dogs-health/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/best-quality-dog-food-for-your-dogs-health/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:59:18 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Food is where we get the nutrients we need to keep us healthy and full of energy. Like humans, dogs need nutrients to be healthy all the time. Dogs should be fed with the best quality dog food and not just any commercial food available.
It is essential to choose the right kind of food for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body"><span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> is where we get the nutrients we need to keep us healthy and full of energy. Like humans, dogs need nutrients to be healthy all the time. Dogs should be fed with the best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and not just any commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> available.</p>
<p>It is essential to choose the right kind of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your canine companion. <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> owners sometimes make the mistakes of just feeding their dogs with unhealthy <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> overlooking their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s health. Best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> increases the lifespan of your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>. There are cases that some commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> foods are linked to the deaths of thousands of dogs. This can be prevented if you feed your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> with nutritious <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>.</p>
<p>The nutrients needed by your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> cannot be supplied by just any commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> available and if your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> is deprived of the needed nutrients, he will eventually become sick and weak. Aside from lack of nutrients the preservatives in commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> can destroy your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s health. Be cautions and learn to read commercial <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> labels. Best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> can only be obtained from a well-balanced <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recipes made at home.</p>
<p>It will surprise you that preparing home made <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance36" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is a lot cheaper and rich in nutrients. If you love your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance37" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> you should make time to prepare his <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance39" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and make sure it is healthy. Of course to help you prepare the best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance38" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance40" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, you need to understand the nutritional needs of your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance41" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>.</p>
<p>&#8220;<span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance42" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance44" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> Secrets&#8221; will help you become an expert in <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance45" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> nutritional requirements with the simple-to-follow guide to the 6 major <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance47" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> components essential for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance48" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s health.  You will instantly learn how to prepare the best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance43" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance46" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance49" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> at home.</p>
<p id="sig" class="sig">Super charge your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance50" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> with hand-picked, all-natural, nutritionally balanced, easy-to-make, home-made <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance52" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance54" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> recipes. This one of a kind, step-by-step survival guide makes your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance55" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> live a longer, healthier life, so you enjoy up to 8.3 more years of happiness and companionship with your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance58" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>. Discover how to prepare the best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance51" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance53" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance56" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> visit  <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance57" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance59" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> Secrets at <strong><a href="http://dogscorner.great-discovery.com/" id="link_56" target="_new">Dogs&#8217; Corner</a></strong></p>
<p>To know more about pets visit <strong><a href="http://luv-pets.blogspot.com/" aiotitle="All About Pets" id="link_57" target="_new">All About Pets</a></strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects Best <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance60" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">Quality</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance61" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance62" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">Food</span> for Your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance63" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span>’s Health. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Restrivera" id="link_58">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Restrivera</a></p></blockquote>
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		<title>Doggy Dinner: Choosing a Quality Dog Food</title>
		<link>http://qualitydogfood.info/doggy-dinner-choosing-a-quality-dog-food/</link>
		<comments>http://qualitydogfood.info/doggy-dinner-choosing-a-quality-dog-food/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:57:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[quality dog food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[With slick advertising, colorful bags, and multiple aisles of different brands, choosing the right food for your dog can be a confusing and daunting task. However, a number of key factors that contribute to making the right decision can be found right on the dog food label!
The first thing to remember when selecting a food [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="body">With slick advertising, colorful bags, and multiple aisles of different brands, choosing the right <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance3" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance4" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> can be a confusing and daunting task. However, a number of key factors that contribute to making the right decision can be found right on the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance5" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance6" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> label!</p>
<p>The first thing to remember when selecting a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance7" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance8" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> is to completely ignore the bright and colorful pictures on the fronts of the bags! Many <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance9" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance10" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> bags are designed to attract the attention of the humans seeking them out and use adorable pictures of dogs and appealing colors to give the impression that the contents of the bag are as wonderful as the outside design. In many cases, however, this is not the case and, in fact, this is usually an indication of the exact opposite! Although people are often fooled by cute pictures, clever slogans, and perfectly shaped and colored nuggets of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance12" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, the reality is that the most important aspect of any <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance11" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance13" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is its nutritional content and not the clever packaging design or delicious-looking nuggets.</p>
<p>One of the best indicators of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance14" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of a particular brand of <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance15" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance16" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> is the list of ingredients and, by far, the most important ingredient to look at is the very first one that appears on the list! Generally, the first ingredient comprises between 70% and 80% of the total content of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance17" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> and the first three ingredients combined make up 90% to 95% of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance18" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>! Dogs are naturally carnivores and, as such, they require their main staple to be some kind of meat in order to achieve optimum health.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is always best to choose a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance19" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> that uses some type of meat as the first ingredient. The best foods will list meats as all three of the first ingredients and others will list one or more “fillers”, or digestible content that adds little or no nutritional value to the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance22" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>. Nearly all <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance20" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span> <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance23" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> manufacturers use some kind of filler in their <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance24" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span>, such as corn or wheat and the general rule is that the highest <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance21" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> foods will have the least amount of fillers.</p>
<p><span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance25" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">Dog</span> foods can basically be broken down into three separate categories based on nutritional content and <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance26" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of ingredients used: Super Premium, Premium, and Generic. Super Premium foods are often manufactured by smaller sized companies and are usually only available in specialized pet stores. They use the highest <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance27" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> ingredients and have an outstanding nutritional balance that can possibly add years to a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance28" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s life! Some Super Premium brands include, Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Artemis. Premium foods use good <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance29" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> ingredients and generally have a proper nutritional balance. Some Premium brands include, Iams, Science Diet, and Nutro. With the exception of Iams, Premium brands can usually only be pound in pet stores. Generic foods are usually the least expensive and the easiest to find (these are the one found in grocery stores, Walmarts, etc). They use the least expensive ingredients and some brands change ingredients frequently, based on meat market prices (this can be very detrimental to a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance30" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>’s digestive system, especially in sensitive breeds). Some Generic brands include Pedigree, Alpo, and Beneful.</p>
<p>When choosing a <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance31" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor2">food</span> for your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance32" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>, it is important to understand what each brand offers nutrition and <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance33" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span>-wise. With a quick glance at the ingredient label, you can often make a fairly accurate assessment of the <span style="color: black; background-color: #ffffcc" id="dnl2baSTH-instance34" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor0">quality</span> of any given brand and make the right choice for you and your <span style="color: black; background-color: #ccffff" id="dnl2baSTH-instance35" class="dnl2baSTH-term dnl2baSTH-termColor1">dog</span>!</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="sig" class="sig">Learn more about Dogs and Puppies on Don Krnel&#8217;s site <a href="http://www.dogsandpuppies.info/" aiotitle="dogsandpuppies.info" id="link_56" target="_new">dogsandpuppies.info</a></p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Krnel" aiotitle="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Krnel" id="link_57">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Krnel</a></p></blockquote>
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