"I really need to get in shape."
It’ easy enough to say that we need to exercise our dogs more and watch what they eat in order to keep them at a good weight and therefore healthy. This is the same principle we humans should follow. Long walks and lots of play will usually take care of the exercise part. Watch as Cesar Millan has a dog walking on a treadmill , most of us will probably not be doing this however this pretty amazing. Besides most of us can use the nice walk outside!
The other part of the equation is all about the food. Walk into any pet store or supermarket pet section and you will notice that a large part of it is devoted to pet food. Big decision here; which food is best? Not only do we have to decide which food is better but which place to buy the food is best. A pet store will have more premium or top quality foods but the super market will have the lower prices which is a big deal these days.
Wherever you buy it there are two basics to look for:
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Choose a dog food that has a high meat content, be sure it is the first ingredient listed. The can may say meat meal which is meat with the moisture removed. It’s even better if it has meat as two or three out of five top-listed ingredients.
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Grain will also be listed, you want to see the high quality ones such as Oatmeal, Brown Rice and Barley. There should also be vegetables, maybe even fruit.
Because a puppy’s body is growing so fast, special consideration should be paid to what you feed it. Here a Premium dry food is the best choice. It will fulfill the nutritional needs with special vitamins and minerals a puppy needs to grow strong and healthy. Whether you have a puppy or grown dog always check with your veterinarian and follow the instructions on the bag or can for feeding amounts.
Some people like to do home-cooking for their dogs; what did we do before commercial dog food? I remember that when my Silky Terrier Katie was having medical problems my vet had me feeding her chicken and rice for quite a while. She loved it and did very well eating it and of course I loved her. My sister used to feed her dog apples and carrots in addition to her regular dog food, it was like a treat! Her dog thrived.
You want the best for your dog so spend some time and find out what that best is. There is a site that has lots of great detailed information, Best Dog Food Guide that I recommend for starters.
Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!
Photo by exfordy Released under Creative Commons
