The Dog Food Comparison Blog

Many pet owners are surprised to find out that diabetes is one of the more common diseases that veterinarians see in dogs and cats. Just like in humans, diabetes is caused by a deficiency of insulin, insulin is a hormone which is produced by the pancreas and is used by the body to absorb blood sugar. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin the body can’t process the blood sugar, and it increases.

Although diabetes is not completely curable, it is manageable with dietary changes, exercise and in many cases insulin injections. The important thing is to catch it early because left untreated, it can lead to blindness, kidney and liver problems, coma and sometimes even death.

The most common symptoms of diabetes in pets are increased thirst and urination, additional symptoms include cataracts, recurrent infections, weight loss and an increase in appetite.

With proper diabetic dog foods, exercise, blood sugar checks and insulin shots as necessary many diabetic pets can maintain good quality of life for five or six years after diagnosis.

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James Wellbeloved dog food testimonials from real James Wellbeloved customers and their happy dogs!

For more information James Wellbeloved at http://www.wellbeloved.com

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Dog food Ingredients – The Good, the bad, and the please don’t tell me that’s true. What the pet food manufacturers don’t want you to know. Become informed it could save your pet’s life. Also check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZUeGakmpaw

Duration : 0:3:9

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Just what do the pet food companies really put in there? Video autopsy of a Home Brand and Mid Premium Brand commercial canned dog foods. Examines the contents of the cans, the ingredients and some of the additives and makes a cost comparison.

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As consumers become more aware of some of the problems associated with feeding their dogs commercially prepared and processed dog food a growing number of them according to Jeanne Huff of the Idaho Statesman are feeding their dogs in the raw (The food that is) including raw meats, fruits and vegetables.

She quotes Rich and Debbie Bennett owners of a new company called In The Raw: “We feel that people who have dogs with bad breath, tarter build-up, allergies, skin problems or other more serious issues such as diabetes, arthritis, obesity, heart disease, cancer, kidney and liver disease – problems which never existed until commercial dog food became the norm in the 1920’s – would greatly benefit from In the Raw,”

Besides that fact that dog’s ancestors use to eat this way in the wild, raw dog food proponents point to the benefits of switching to a raw diet including a more energetic dog, the elimination of fillers that often cause allergic reactions or illness, reduced problems with arthritis, better weight control, reduced number of bowel movements, less gas, less pet odor, shinier coats and cleaner teeth.

Critics (including some vets) complain about the potential for bacteria such as E-coli and salmonella, but proponants state that these types of bacteria are found “in your fridge, your sink, on your floor, in your backyard, in your car, down at the park, and perhaps in your bed! Interestingly, the only cases I have heard of dogs and cats dying from e-coli or salmonella, were dogs fed commercial dog foods.”

“Keep in mind that vets are told very little about pet diet at university. In fact, in some universities, reps from the pet food companies, come and do presentations on pet diet, as part of the curriculum. Many vets get their education on nutritiion by pet food reps. And many vets make a lot of money by retailing pet foods.”

The potential problem is more of a concern for the dog owner since human digestive systems are not as robust as our dog’s, so it is important to be careful when feeding your dog raw meats by washing your hands thoroughly after feeding your pet, just as you would after cutting meat while preparing your own meals.

Another concern is dogs choking on bones.  Proponents claim that this is a myth.  “Raw chicken bones are fantastic for your dog or cat. They are soft enough so that they bend easily, and break well for the pet to digest.  On the other hand, cooked chicken bones can be a problem, and I recommend that you DON’T feed COOKED chicken bones.”

Some people are worried about their dog or cat choking on bones. While such incidents are very rare (far more incidents occur with dogs and cats choking on kibble), I encourage the feeding of bigger portions of meaty bones, or if available, whole carcasses, such as whole chickens or rabbits.”
Rick L. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977430849

Another negative is the messiness factor.  It is important to clean up after cutting meat and clean the dogs bowl as well as the dogs mouth and beard before letting him nuzzle anything. 

Though there is more and more evidence stacking up against the use of many commercial dog foods one thing is for sure.  This subject will remain controversial for some time to come.

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This week in review…

We’ve found some great blog posts on comparing dog foods you might like to take a look at:

• Dog Food Facts – dog food recipes dog food recipe homemade dog food homemade dog food recipe wellness dog food organic dog food dog food allergies dog food nutrition homemade dog food recipes home made dog food dog food comparison free dog food recipes …

• Healthy Nutrition through Dog Food Comparison – It is important for you, as a pet owner to read the pet food label carefully. You must read and understand the label in order to make a dog food comparison so that you can distinguish between the desirable and [...]

• Dog food comparison-What are you feeding your dog? – I’ve also learned that when it comes to dog food comparison, pet owners only compare two things.Price and flavor.If i knew a certain type food could cause my dog to get cancer or any other life threatening illness, price and flavor …

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Below are all the AAFCO dog food ratings… (Grade A) “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ABC Dog (Cat) Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for (appropriate life stage).” (Grade B) “ABC Dog (Cat) Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for (appropriate life stage) and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.” (Grade C) “ABC Dog (Cat) Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog (Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles for (appropriate life stage).” Could anyone tell me any Grade B and Grade A dog foods? I have looked at a lot of dog food in pet stores and they all seem to have the Grade C rating. Thanks.
You may want to check out the attached rating of dog foods. It’s not based on AAFCO (which I don’t consider a true measure of the quality of the food): http://www.naperdoodles.com/dogfood.htm I’ve done quite a bit of research into quality dog foods and find the rating to be a good source of information.