Nutrition and Weight Control
Pet owners have always liked to show their animal family a little extra love with the occasional treat, but modern treats have gone way beyond slipping Rover a little turkey under the kitchen table. These days pet owners can visit pet bakeries, buy frozen dog desserts at the grocery store, or make homemade treats from a pet treat cookbook. With all these options, how do you know the right thing to feed your pet?
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If you see the words "veterinarian approved" on your pet food label, look out. That claim is always untrue.
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Is your dog or cat eating right? There’s more that goes into proper pet nutrition than meets the eye! Good nutrition will enhance your pets’ quality of life and help them live long, healthy lives. To learn more, check out the highlights from the
AAHA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
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As pets move through life, it is essential to recognize that how they are fed is as important as what they are fed.
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- Obesity (the storage of excess fat) is usually caused by excessive food intake and insufficient exercise.
- Estimates show that 40% to 50% of dogs are overweight and 25% of dogs are obese.
- Dogs can develop many obesity-related health problems.
- By examining your dog, veterinarians determine whether he or she is overweight or obese and help you create a weight-loss program.
- The most effective weight-loss plans involve increasing activity and feeding fewer calories.
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Taking care of a dog or puppy is a big job! Find out what supplies you will need and what responsibilities you will have to take care of your new best friend.
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Even small amounts of theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets. Learn the truth about chocolate and your pet.
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Why does my dog eat dropping? What can I do? The technical, more polite name for what you are describing in your dog’s behavior is coprophagia.
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It’s finally summer, but can all of the pretty flowers in bloom spell trouble for you and your kitty? Make sure to check all fresh and garden flowers to make sure that they are not dangerous — or deadly — for your pets.
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Pet food labels contain a lot of information, if you know how to read them.
The Association of American Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) has its own set of regulations regarding pet food labels, which many states use. AAFCO labeling guidelines cover aspects such as product naming standards, guaranteed analysis (minimum percentages of protein and fat, and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture), and nutritional adequacy.
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Read about weight loss methods and information to reduce your pets’ chance of tearing ligaments, wearing down their joints and avoiding pain.
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A healthful, balanced diet is as important to pets as it is to people, but with hundreds of different food brands to choose from, how do you decide what — and how much — to feed your pet?
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Lifelong diet of dog food formulated for weight loss helps formerly obese dogs keep the weight off.
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Why it’s safest to feed your pets the kind of food formulated to be healthiest for their specific species.
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There are many questions to answer if your dog is experience a loss of appetite.
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Do dogs eat grass because they need to vomit, or do they vomit simply because they eat grass?
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The truth behind the urban legend that feeding tomatoes to dogs decreases urine from burning the backyard lawn.
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My young dog pokes at his food and sometimes cries during mealtimes - what can I do to help him eat normally?
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Not only can exercise extend your furry friends’ lives; it may also expend some of their nervous energy and make them a little less likely to chew on the living room drapes.
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Ignoring the content of your pet’s food and need for exercise can lead to dangerous habits that may haunt you and your pet in the future.
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Well-cleaned, thoroughly cooked, deboned fish of any kind probably wouldn’t hurt your dog.
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Learn about the safety and effectiveness of "natural" or "alternative" therapies.
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Make sure you know the hazards of the holidays to ensure a happy time for everyone.
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The answer to this one is easy - as much as she wants! You don’t have to limit dogs’ intake of water, the way you sometimes do with food.
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We have a four-year-old, mixed, neutered male dog who is our child! He resembles a Basenji, but of course is too large and barks. He has this habit of frequently eating grass.
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This is a very good question! Few dog owners know that most dogs tend to be lactose intolerant.
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Iron plays a vital role in a large number of metabolic pathways in almost every living organism, and in animals either too much or too little iron can have dire consequences.
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Nutritional supplements make up one of the fastest growing segments of the pet product industry. It’s estimated that almost one in five pet owners give some kind of nonprescription supplement to their dog or cat.
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Ralph Schickel, DVM, MBA, with Hill’s Pet Nutrition talks to Steve Dale about ways to curb pet obesity.
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Take these precautions at home to make sure your pet is never poisoned.
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Why the popular raw food diet could be a danger for your pet.
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My dog loves carrots. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t give carrots to them?
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1. Do not assume all dry food or canned food is the same, even if it is formulated for the same “lifestage.”
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Diabetes is a treatable disease, but it does require a continued commitment from the pet owner since most diabetic dogs and cats need daily or twice daily insulin injections. Learn more about what insulin is, why it takes a while to determine how much insulin your pet needs, how to store and administer insulin and more.
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Resolving to lose weight? Exercise with your dog!
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Learn about a few common problems that could be leaving your pet dehydrated.
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To determine whether your pet has a food allergy, you’ll need to see your veterinarian. Once your pup is diagnosed with a food allergy, you can give him some relief by finding a diet that contains only "novel" food sources, for example things that your dog has never eaten and therefore probably hasn’t developed an allergy to.
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Weight gain affects both the quality and the length of your dog’s life. Obesity is associated with other serious conditions such as heart and respiratory problems, and diabetes. Overweight pets are also likely to tear ligaments and wear down joints, making them reluctant to exercise, which then adds to their weight problems.
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My Scottish terrier recently started eating dirt. He eats one cup of dry food every day, as well as fruits and vegetables that I give him for treats. I believe that he is lacking some element in his diet, any suggestions?
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