You think Your Health Habits are bad but what about Your Pets?

I haven’t been feeling like myself lately, I feel tired and a little run down. I know I haven’t been eating properly, I just don’t have time to make those home cooked meals that I love preparing. When I go to the grocery store, meat, veggies and fruits are so expensive and frozen pre-packaged meals are so quick and convenient. I can just open a can of food for my dog Charlie, let him out into the backyard for 10 minutes to do his business and get some exercise and I’ll have more time to lie on the couch and watch my shows on the t.v.

Does that sound like you or even sadder…your poor dog?

How important is your health to you? How much is it worth? Your pets should be just as important.

We are all taking a better look at our lifestyles these days, trying to be healthier by making better choices when it comes to eating and physical activity. Why shouldn’t we be doing the same for our best friend, loyal companion and cherished member of our family?

Pets these days are suffering from the same ailments we all do, allergies, arthritis, digestion problems, constipation issues, even cancer. As with ourselves, they are not eating the proper diets or getting the required amount of physical activity to live their best life possible. You can make decisions for yourself but you are also in charge of making the decision for them, just as you do for your children. Why let your dog get sick and pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your veterinarian instead of investing the money into a raw healthy diet plan for your dog. When you really think about it, it’s not that expensive and the benefits are worth it.

We spend so much of our hard earned money on crap we don’t need yet we notice how much something costs that can improve are health and wellbeing and refuse to pay it. No one wants themselves nor their pets to get sick or frail and die earlier then need be, yet we are so ignorant not to see that the lifestyles we are living are killing us slowly. What is worse than death…nothing! So why aren’t we making better choices for our bodies and the bodies of our beloved canines.

Feeding your dog a fresh frozen raw diet will increase his health and happiness. You can purchase freshly made, frozen, pre-packaged dog food for your pet in a variety of flavours, he will think he died and went to heaven without actually dying to get there.

Your Pet and the Raw Food Diet Trend

When Lola, a 5-year-old cat from Montreal, digs into her meals, you won't see any Friskies or Meow Mix in her bowl. Raw meats and fresh vegetables from local farms right here in Quebec! Is more like it!

"I think there are more than enough pesticides, chemicals and such in human food," says Lola’s owner, Kerry Jones, on a recent trip to her local specialty pet store right here in Montreal. "I only eat natural food, and believe that there is no reason why I shouldn't give it to my cat."

These days, it is possible that our pets are eating better than we are. Pet stores and exquisite little pet boutiques shelves are increasingly stocked with gourmet foods that are corn-free, wheat-free, locally sourced, by-product-free, free-range, minimally processed and raw. Many come with welcoming labels, and some look appetizing even for humans.

And if you think your pet's diet is still lacking, you can enhance it with supplements — containing brewer’s yeast, alfalfa, blueberries and more — that assure shiny coats, bright eyes and limber joints.

As more of us turn toward more healthful foods, we're doing the same for our pets, and the market has caught on. "If there's a trend in human food and supplements, you'll see it on the pet food aisle," said Bob Vetere, president of American Pet Products Assn., based in Greenwich, Conn. "Gluten-free, vitamin supplemented, breed-specific, senior formulas — all of these have taken over the pet marketplace, and we're seeing the competition increasing."

It's a matter of discussion whether these foods are significantly better for pets than the typical brands — but just as with debates on human foods, emotions can run high. Some pet owners are sure that the mega-brand foods are inflicting havoc on our pets' body structures, and some veterinarians aren't too enthusiastic about them either, while other vets think they're just fine.

"From the scientific point of view, is there objective evidence that any commercial diet leads to a better outcome than any other?" says Dr. Tony Buffington, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences at Ohio State University. "If there is, I'm not aware of it."

Pet food in Canada is a growing business sector. It has sales of approximately $2.0 billion a year, according to the Pet Food and Pet Care Products in Canada published by Euromonitor International in 2009. This growth is partly due to the high value many owners place on the health and comfort of their pets and the expansion of specialty product sales. The company predicts that sales of natural foods will probably outdo overall pet food sales in the next five years.

Simply put, our attitude toward pets has evolved, says Dr. Nancy Scanlan, a practicing veterinarian and executive director of the Maryland-based American Holistic Veterinary Medical Assn. "More owners are treating their pets like one of the family."

They pursue food they believe is more wholesome and natural compared with large commercial brands. They want food free of by-products (animal parts such as feet, ears and snout), food they hope will improve allergies or stomach problems, and think that grain-free food or raw food (sold frozen or dehydrated) are healthier options for animals who wouldn't eat corn in the wild. Many owners moved to specialty foods after the 2007 recall of brands found to be contaminated with melamine.

The Best Dog Food

There are many pet owners who are frustrated, because they are looking for healthier options for their dog. They are tired of their dogs literally being force fed the products that are on the market. These products are being passed off as food. In some cases, the product comes very close to being the type of food that a dog needs. But in most cases, these cans and bags are being deceptively marketed as food. As a matter of fact, there are some products that are so inferior, they actually carry the name 'kibble' in their branding. As a result, there is a movement to give dogs the true food that they need by giving them homemade food. The problem with this is that many people have no clue as to what the best dog food is for their pets.

This leads to another issue for dog owners. In order to find the best dog food for their pets, the pet owner feels that they need to either research the topic on the Internet, or in books. Since most people are too busy and tired for this task, they'd rather simply stick to what they know, which is feeding the dog out of a bag, or out of a can. These pet owners would be glad to know that they have an alternative that would allow their pet to eat food that is appropriate for them. At the same time, this food is packaged and sold in a convenient method that doesn't drain the time resources of the pet owner. This food is called raw dog food. It's packaged and sold frozen. Many manufacturers sell this food in bite sized bits. There is a triple benefit of not only selling this food, but in selling the food in this way.

First, frozen raw dog food is made only from food sources that is suitable for a dogs digestive system. Canines in the wild hunted for their food. Their prey was another animal, and as such, canines ate lean meat, animal organs, and bones. Of course, the domestic dog has evolved from this time, and it has since been proven that dogs can eat many of the same vegetables that humans eat. Not only this, but dogs can eat fish as well. These are the types of foods that make the best dog food for a pet's dietary needs.

The second benefit of a dog eating in this way is in the way the food is packaged. It's often portioned into bite sized pieces, and then frozen solid. The intent is to give the animal the frozen food, so that they can gnaw on it. When the dog gnaws on their frozen bits of food, their teeth will naturally get the cleaning and polishing that they need. Canines in the wild naturally sharpened their teeth on the bones of their prey. Not only will the frozen food sharpen the teeth, but the bones in these dog food bits act to do the same. Sharp and polished teeth are white and healthy teeth. All of this reduces dental issues for the dog.

The third benefit of a dog eating frozen raw dog food is that the dog is forced to eat slowly. Usually, the average domesticated dog gobbles down their kibble or mush. This causes all sorts of digestive issues in the dog, such as indigestion, constipation, gas, and nausea. On the other hand, when the dog is forced to eat its food slower, the dog will be able to digest its food properly. Their digestive issues will clear up. Nutrients from the food will be absorbed properly. The dog will be able to fight off disease and allergies.

With all of the health benefits that will come to a dog that is fed a frozen raw food diet, it's very obvious why this is the best dog food for one's pet.

Raw Food Diet for Dogs

Just as humans have digestive issues, dogs can experience the same. While some dog ailments might require a vet to figure out, digestive issues in dogs can in most cases be fixed with a change in their diet. There is a movement amongst dog owners to move away from processed and standard dog foods, to feeding the dog a diet of raw food. Raw food is just as it sounds. It's a diet of different food groups that hasn't been cooked or processed with chemicals. Some people might wonder why they would want to feed their dog raw food, and they would wonder how their dog could possibly benefit from a diet of raw food?

First, a look at why a dog owner would want to feed their animal raw food, especially when the idea sounds so distasteful to humans. That's just it; humans aren't bred to eat or to process raw food, but canines are. Humans fall so much in love with their dogs, and they get so attached to the dog's human qualities, the human owner forgets that their dog is of a different species. Canines traditionally were predators. They hunted in packs for their food. When they found a food source, they attacked it and ate it immediately. This means that the food source was raw.

In later times, canines evolved into species that were suitable for domestication. Domesticated canines, or the common household dog, do not have to hunt for their food because their master will feed them. Masters typically feed the animal processed food that is made from fillers, and from food sources that dogs weren't created to eat, such as corn meal or certain animal scraps. Although the dog has been domesticated, it still is and always will be a canine. As such, its body can't process foreign food sources that have been created from mush, and dried material. The animal isn't used to eating formed mush from a can. This is exactly why dogs have the digestive issues that they do.

A raw diet enables the animal to eat as nature intended it to. It will eat lean meat, bones, vegetables, and certain grains that have been frozen. This helps the dog in a couple of ways. First, freezing the dog food will require the dog to gnaw at it, instead of gobbling it down. All pet owners know that when the dog gobbles down its food, it leads to indigestion and constipation just as it does in us. When the dog eats the wrong types of foods, this leads to issues such as gas and/or diarrhea.

Beyond this, gnawing on frozen raw food and bones is excellent for the dog's dental health. Dogs need to eat in this way to keep their teeth sharp, polished, and white. When dogs eat mush and dried meal, then plaque builds up on the teeth and hardens. This leads to yellow teeth, bad breath, and gum disease. These all lead to other health issues in the dog.

So, if a dog owner wants their animal to eat in the way that they were created to eat, then they should feed the dog a raw food diet.

Home Made Dog Food

Many dog owners will admit that sometimes the biggest issue with their dog is their digestive issues. The dog will either have diarrhea or constipation and will also release very strong gas. Or, the dog might be a very picky eater and will seem to turn up its nose at its food. Of course if the dog isn't eating, then it won't get the nutrients that it needs. Dogs that are underweight and malnourished are also a problem that a lot dog owners face. What these dog owners might not realize is that the issue isn't so much with the dog, but with the dog's food. Dog owners don't consider the fact that most dogs live off of a diet of food that is processed, or that is made from ingredients that are not suitable for a dog.

For example, the dog will typically eat kibble. This type of dog food can be thought of as something like our breakfast cereal. As a matter of fact, many brands of dog food look exactly like breakfast cereal, and the ingredients are very similar as well. Ingredients such as rice, cornmeal and wheat are used. If the ingredients call for meat, the so called meat is usually made from animal scraps, like knuckles, tails, or other parts of animals that aren't suitable for dogs to eat. Not only this, but they come from animals that dogs don't eat. Some manufacturers will claim that their food is made with vegetables, lean meat, and fish. However, there is no regulations that make these manufacturers state how much of these ingredients are included. So that means that a fraction of these healthy food sources might be included and the producer can sell the product as being made with healthy food sources.

Or, a dog food producer might state that their food is made with vitamins, minerals, and with probiotics. It's true that certain dog foods can be vitamin fortified, which means vitamins are added to the food mixture. However, there is a natural way to make sure that the dog is not only getting its proper nutrients, but the dog is truly eating healthy sources of food that are suitable for its body. This happens when dog owners feed the dog homemade dog food.

Homemade dog food is food made from lean meat, fish, bones, and vegetables that are suitable for dogs to eat. Homemade dog food isn't made from meal, mush, or inedible animal parts. This is the same quality of food that would be suitable for humans, but is made with dogs in mind. Your dog will be able to eat as nature requires them to. Dog owners will find that the dog's digestive issues will clear up within weeks, sometimes days. This in itself makes finding a homemade

Dog Food Reviews

People may think that the only option they have when it comes to feeding their dogs, is canned or processed foods. This is because this is what advertisers have drilled into the minds of the average dog owner. It really is no wonder that this is the way that most dog owners feel, because vets are being told the same thing. It's not really the vet's fault in most cases. The vets of today really aren't being trained to examine the dog's diet. Or, they are being taught through dog food reviews that many of the major dog food manufacturers are being endorsed by major veterinarian boards. Therefore, if a powerful veterinarian board endorses a certain brand of pet food, of course the average vet is going to recommend it!

Having said this, there is a movement amongst concerned vets and pet owners. The concern is that dogs are developing a host of digestive issues and diseases because they aren't eating as nature intended for them to eat. This is because the average dog is trained to have as many human qualities as possible, and because of the dog food reviews.

When we take a look at what dogs ate in the past compared to what they eat today, we can easily see why dogs suffer in the way that they do. In short, they are eating food now that wasn't meant for their consumption, and they aren't getting the nutrients that they need from the sources that they need to get them from. For example, processed dried food, or kibble as it's called in the industry, is made from dried meal. Meal in most cases is corn meal. This corn meal is blended with dehydrated animal scraps. These scraps are usually pieces of animals that are unfit for eating. Not only this, but the meal and scraps are fortified with rice, wheat, and sometimes milk! Then, they are formed and preserved with chemicals. In short, none of these ingredients were meant to be a part of your dogs diet.

Canned food is gelled mush. Of course, dog food reviews don't mention this. This mush is usually made out of grain fillers, and again, animal scraps. While some canned foods are marketed as having lean meat sources, there is no regulation that governs how much actual lean meat needs to be contained. So, there could be a trace amount of lean meat in the recipe, and manufactures can market the mush as being a meat filled product. The fact is that the consumer has no idea of what they are getting when they buy these products. However, they know exactly what they are getting with a raw food diet plan.

Raw food diets are frozen bits of meat and vegetables that is highly beneficial for your dog. This includes lean meat, edible organs from traditional meat sources, bones, and vegetables. Not only will these food sources nourish your dog, but the bones help to clean their teeth, and keep them sharp and polished. Not only is the dog getting the proper food for its body, but it's getting the dental care that is also needed. If there were enough dog food reviews that spoke of the benefits of a raw food diet for dogs, then more pet owners would make the switch.

Act Now! Use Raw Dog Food Recipes to Feed Your Dog

Act Now! Use Raw Dog Food Recipes to Feed Your Dog

With so many benefits being talked about with canned and dry dog food these days, you might have a hard time deciding to feed raw foods to your dog. However, with raw dog food being readily available today, it is quite easy to do. You need to stop and think how natural it is for dogs to prefer raw over cooked foods. Did you know you do not need to feed your canine the same raw foods each day? Dogs like their meals varied just like people do. It is also easier to provide all the nutrition they need if you do offer different food during the week.

There are many recipes for raw dog food online today, because so many have been willing to share their positive experiences with changing their pets to a raw diet. An effective way to give your dog variety in food is to develop a menu just like you do to feed your family. This way you can always know what you are going to be giving him to eat next. The secret to doing this correctly is with organization and this holds true for people of dogs.

One huge benefit to making a menu in regards to your dog's food is the fact that you will know what to purchase for a whole week of meals, along with being able to stock up and purchase in bulk during sales. With using your menu to do your shopping, you will be able to easily purchase all the meals you need for the whole week.

Another benefit of making a menu for a week or two at a time is being able to see if your canine companion is consuming all the nutrients it needs. As an example of this, you might notice you are going too heavy on the meat and not including enough vegetables. With a menu made up you can clearly see where the adjustments need to be made.

You should consider your dog's age when figuring out the menu for the raw food. There are recipes that suggest pureeing the food for puppies, which have just been weaned, along with older dogs, because they cannot chew as well. Also know the size of portions your particular dog needs. You never want to overfeed or underfeed your dog.

Avoid any recipes that mention cooking anything. This is especially true for bones, which should never be fed to the dog once cooked. Bones that have been cooked are too brittle for the dog to digest, however, served raw they will digest effectively in your dog's stomach. Also cooking food can deplete the enzymes, minerals and vitamins in it.

Remember you can alter any of the raw dog foods you find to fit your dog's needs. You can also vary the food nicely by using the menus. You will see that your pooch will love the raw food you are feeding them

Help Your Dog Adapt to a Raw Diet

Dog food recalls have countless dog owners converting their pet's diet from dry pet food to a raw food diet. A raw food diet for dogs consists of raw meat, bones, and vegetables. Supporters of the raw food diet claim this type of feeding leads to shinier coats and healthier animals. If you have opted to go the raw foods route with your dog, take the time to make the transition easier for your pet.

- Modify your dog’s feeding plan. If you normally leave food out all day, devise a schedule. Set your pets food out once or twice a day and then take it away after 15 minutes. Follow this routine for six days.

- Place only water out on the seventh day. Double check with your Vet to make sure your dog doesn't have any issues that would make fasting unsafe.

- Combine the new, raw food with the old food you've been feeding your pet. For young, healthy dogs, start with a ratio of 25 percent raw food and 75 percent dog food. Do this for three to five days. Older dogs and dogs with health issues may be more challenging. Start with less raw food and conceal it in the old food.

- Decrease the amount of old food and replace with raw food slowly but steadily until your dog is eating only raw foods.

Beware!

- All dogs are diverse. Some may adapt to the new diet without any problems. If this is not the case, monitor your dog and its eating habits. Slow down the transition if necessary.

- Some suggested foods include only fresh, locally-sourced meat from farms in Quebec!

- There are a few companies that sell raw foods specifically for dogs. Raw food should be additive and preservative–free. Vacuum-sealed and frozen it into bite-size portions in order to be kept fresh, to make it easy and convenient to feed your dog.

- According to Dogchannel.com, some veterinarians have concerns about feeding your canine a raw diet. There are questions about injury from improperly chewed bones, bacteria from raw meat and possible dietary imbalances. Be certain to check with your vet and keep a close eye on your dog’s health and performance if you choose to switch to raw foods.