Perhaps the only place your dog doesn’t join you is at the dinner table. You assume — sometimes correctly — that feeding your dog packaged food is the safest, healthiest choice for them. The problem is, some brands don’t share enough information about what goes into their food. Here are six reasons you should care about the ingredients in your dog’s food.

1. Long-Term Health

Just like you, your dog needs a balanced, nutritious diet in order to live a long and healthy life. A healthy diet can help ward off diseases, promote strong bones, muscles, and teeth, and help them fight off infections. A well-fed dog will also be more energetic and limber, and walk, run, and play with more ease and agility. They’ll also have a nice, shiny coat and other signs of good health.

The healthiest dog diets include fresh dog food with real, whole ingredients like meat, veggies, brown rice, and eggs. This ensures they get the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, plus plenty of vitamins and minerals. To make sure your dog gets all these crucial nutrients, choose a dog food brand that is open about exactly what its products contain.

2. Allergies and Sensitivities

You know the feeling when your dog suddenly gets sick and you can’t figure out what’s wrong. They’re coughing or vomiting or they just seem lethargic and “off” and all you can do is worry. They can’t tell you what’s going on, so you have to try and guess how serious it is. Then there are the expensive, time-consuming vet visits and potentially risky medical procedures.

If your dog has a food allergy or sensitivity, all of these fears are heightened 24/7. Many of the most common dog allergens are often found in all kinds of dog food brands. It’s way too easy for them to accidentally eat the wrong thing and risk severe illness or even anaphylaxis. That’s why it’s especially important for owners of dogs with food allergies and sensitivities to know exactly what’s in their dog food.

3. Harmful Chemicals and Additives

Many cheap, store-bought, low-quality dog food brands contain chemicals and additives that can be harmful to dogs. These can include corn syrup, BHA/BHT, white flour, MSG, artificial coloring, sodium nitrite, soy, melamine, and more. Some of these additives have been linked to issues like blood disorders, kidney damage, diabetes, and even certain cancers.

Ideally, you’d feed your dog safe, clean, whole food ingredients with no chemicals or additives at all. But whatever you choose to feed your dog, it’s important to carefully check labels and avoid potentially dangerous ingredients. Unfortunately, some popular dog food brands read like a long list of all the worst offenders. Choose a brand that shares its full ingredient list and make sure you’re aware of any potential dangers.

4. Specific Nutritional Needs

Some dogs have specific nutritional needs beyond allergies or general safety. For instance, puppies need different nutrients from adult dogs, and some breeds need a breed-specific diet. You may also have a dog with a chronic health issue that requires a special diet. Or at some point your dog may become over or underweight and need specific nutrients or calorie counts.

In any of these cases, you need to know exactly what you’re feeding your dog and how much. For instance, dogs with chronic kidney disease generally need to eat less protein, sodium, and dietary phosphorus, and more omega-3 fatty acids. Getting all of these nutrients right necessitates total ingredient transparency, including specific quantities of each ingredient.

5. Ethics and Sustainability

Commercial dog food, on the whole, is not particularly environmentally friendly or sustainable. The meat production involved in much of wet dog food processing leaves a huge carbon footprint. And, as with meatpacking for human food, animals used to make dog food aren’t always treated ethically. 

Knowing exactly what is in your dog’s food can help avoid unsustainably produced ingredients. The more transparent a brand is, the more you’ll be able to find out where it sources all of its products. In general, use of byproducts and organ meats is more environmentally sustainable than the cuts of meat most humans eat. If sustainability is important to you, look into what your dog food is made of.

6. Child Safety

Ideally, you’d be easily able to keep tabs on your childrens’ whereabouts at all times. But sometimes, we look away for a second, and our kids get into the pantry, the garbage, or the dog’s food bowl. Generally speaking, dog food isn’t toxic to humans, but it can have negative health effects over time. And if your child has a food allergy or ingests too much of a harmful chemical you could have a serious problem.

If you have kids in your home, it’s especially important to know what’s in your dog food. If it has an ingredient that could be dangerous to your children, you’ll need to keep it locked up. A better option is not to risk it, by avoiding foods that might have harmful ingredients. Either way, ingredient transparency can help you make the safest decision for your whole family.

Feeding Man’s Best Friend

You want the best for your dog, just like you want the best for all the most important people in your life. That’s why it’s important to feed them just as well as you’d feed yourself and your nearest and dearest. Just as you wouldn’t eat chips every meal, you don’t want to give your pets a bunch of chemicals and garbage ingredients. Feed your dog mostly whole, real foods to keep them happily playing by your side for as long as possible.

Get your furry co-pilot tired before the trip.

Your pooch knows when something exciting is about to happen, and this excitement will lead to extra energy. Get your pooch tired before setting out on a road trip. On the day of departure, take your pup out for a long walk, extended playtime, or a nice run. Getting your pooch’s energy out before being confined to a car will help him relax comfortably.

Not all dogs react the same to new situations. High-maintenance breeds and dogs that get nervous easily may not be as excited for a road trip as you are. Some pet owners, under the guidance of a veterinarian, use prescription medications to relax their dogs and make travel more comfortable. While prescription medications may be safe to use, they can come with negative side effects.

Why not give your dog natural supplements that are pet safe and improve their overall health? There is a CBD product for almost all health needs these days. CBD, or cannabidiol, works with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system to improve its functioning. Derived from various strains of hemp plants, CBD contains less than 0.3 percent THC levels. CBD oil or CBD hemp oil, hemp oil, full-spectrum hemp oil, and tinctures are all CBD products that have positive health benefits.

Sera Labs Health is an organic CBD company in the United States that offers a full line of CBD products suitable for both humans and dogs. They feature a pet relief CBD product that offers similar benefits to human-use hemp oil. Their Pet Releaf Hemp Oil is derived from hemp to treat inflammation, anxiety, nervousness, and help improve your dog’s overall health. All of Sera Labs Health pet relief hemp CBD products are made in USDA regulated facilities and are safe for use on dogs of varying sizes. Consult with your veterinarian first to ensure that a cannabinoid product is a healthy option for your dog.

Stop for breaks often.

Riding in a car for hours at a time isn’t always comfortable. Give your body and your pooch’s body a chance to stretch by stopping for breaks often. Your pooch needs bathroom breaks at least every three hours. Not only is it healthy to stretch out your legs and your pooch’s legs while on a road trip, but breaks will help keep Fido’s energy at bay. Frequent breaks keep your pooch from getting restless.

Remember to pack your furry friend’s essentials.

Your furry friend has essentials just like you. It’s a good idea to make an essential packing list for your pup. This includes extra ID tags, leashes, vaccination, and medical records, food and bowls, a kennel and dog bed or blankets, plenty of doggie bags, and some favorite toys.

There’s nothing wrong with your pup being extra-excited to check out new places, but if excitement turns your pup into a puller, casual walks quickly become a tug-o-war contest. A durable leash that gives you extra control over your canine companion’s instinct to pull is a great option to break poor leash behavior.

Joyride Harness offers a product line of dog harnesses and accessories that provide a perfect fit for larger dogs and smaller dogs. Their vest-style no pull dog harness features a snug fit around your dog’s chest and slips easily over your dog’s neck. The versatile harness is made from a durable material that’s comfortable on your dog’s skin and has adjustable straps to ensure a perfect fit on your dog’s body.

The simple design of the no-pull harness won’t irritate your dog’s armpits or front legs and best of all, it will never pull on your dog’s throat. The no-pull dog harness has adjustable straps and a side ring leash attachment point that discourages dog pull behavior. A vest-style harness from Joyride Harness is a great option when you need better control over your pup’s pulling. It’s a great training tool to teach puppies and mature dogs alike how to walk nicely. Be sure to pack the best harness made of reflective material with a front clip leash attachment and enjoy your road trip knowing that your pup is ready for a no-pull walk everywhere you go.

Getting ready for a weekend escape with your pooch is easy with these tips on how to calm Fido and prepare him for a road trip.

1. Gradually Build Up the Amount of Time Your Dog is Home Alone 

Begin the process of leaving your dog home alone in gradual increments. Provide your dog with a safe and cozy area in the house where they can feel comfortable and calm. A soft bed and some classical music playing on the radio creates a calm environment. The first step is to leave your dog home alone for five minutes then gradually build up the time as your pet demonstrates a calm demeanor along the way. If they get nervous, go back a few minutes and start again.

2. Find the Perfect Place in the House for Your Dog to Stay Home Alone 

Many pet parents place their dogs in a part of the house that is normally off-limits to their pets such as the laundry room, kitchen or utility area. Placing your dog in unfamiliar areas of the house will cause more anxiety compared to places your dog already spends most of their time such as the living room area. Designate your dog to a familiar part of your home to help reduce anxiety. Also, don’t forget to put their bed and music in the same area.

3. Use Distractions to Entertain Your Dog 

Your dog is highly intelligent and requires mental stimulation. If your dog is sitting home alone for hours while you are at work they need distractions to entertain their mind. An excellent way to keep your dog occupied while home alone is to provide interactive toys, treat dispenser toys, and your dog’s favorite cuddle buddy toys. These items will allow your dog to stay busy throughout the day.

4. Take Your Dog for a Walk Before Leaving them Home Alone

 It’s important to create a routine for your dog before you leave the house. Your dog will begin to sense you will be leaving for work at a certain time of the day and become anxious. Create a routine that includes taking your dog for a walk. This type of exercise helps your dog shake off their nerves and get some fresh air which creates a calm state of mind.

5. Don’t Be Dramatic when You Come Home or Leave 

As a dog owner, you are happy to see your dog when you get home. Many pet parents immediately drop all of their belongings and hug and kiss their very excited dog. This type of reunion feels great during the moment but it also creates anxiety when you leave the house again. You can avoid causing this type of anxiety by not being overly dramatic about your comings and goings. The key is to teach your dog that leaving the house is a normal procedure that doesn’t require any emotional or dramatic behavior.

6. Be a Good Example for Your Dog When You Leave the House 

As the leader of your pack, you need to lead confidently. Dogs can sense negative energy and if you are feeling upset about leaving your dog home alone your pup will pick up on this negative energy. As a pet parent, you need to banish guilty feelings and negative energy when it comes to leaving your pup home alone. Instead, you want to be confident as you prepare to leave the house and remain calm.

7. Be Consistent and Patient when Dealing with Your Dogs Separation Anxiety 

Canine separation anxiety is a terrible experience for your dog to go regularly. You need to stay in control and create a calming routine and stick to it every time you leave the house. This routine also needs to continue even after your dog no longer exhibits signs of separation anxiety.

Have you lost hope for solving your dog’s separation anxiety? If so, Noosa dog training will help you gain control of the situation. Contact us today to make an appointment!

About the Author:

Lisa Eclesworth is a notable and influential lifestyle writer. She is a mom of two and a successful homemaker. She loves to cook and create beautiful projects with her family. She writes informative and fun articles that her readers love and enjoy. You can directly connect with her on email – lisa@lisaeclesworth.com or visit her website www.lisaeclesworth.com

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