WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR DOG?
By: Kelly Ryan
Copyright 2004

Just as with people, what your dog eats affects many aspects of their behavior and health. But, we rarely think about what we are feeding our dogs, not just the brand name, but what is in their food and treats. What we feed our dogs can have a dramatic impact on their attention span, energy level, and overall health. Unfortunately, it is difficult to come by reliable nutritional information. Most veterinarians do not take nutrition classes, and some receive benefits for selling particular brands. However, these brands may not be the best foods for your dog.
 
INGREDIENTS

Here are some ingredients you should be aware of, what they are and how they may affect your dog.

Corn – For some dogs, corn is difficult to digest and allergenic. Recently some dog food companies have set about defending their use of corn as a good carbohydrate source for dogs. What they have not addressed is, in a dog, corn metabolizes in much the same way as sugar metabolizes in people. So, when you feed your dog a corn-based diet, it’s like feeding your seven year-old a diet whose main ingredient is cotton candy. Your seven year-old is going to exhibit dramatic energy spurts and crashes, hyperactivity, lack of attention, and is not going to be very healthy overall. The same is true of feeding your dog a corn-based diet. Do not be fooled by the fact that you are feeding your dog a “Lamb & Rice” diet or a “Chicken & Rice” diet; it may still have corn as one of its primary ingredients.

Another problem with corn is it can act as an artificial stool hardener. One of the quickest ways to tell that your dog is sick is the consistency of his or her stools. If there are ingredients in the food which are falsely making the stools firm, you may delay seeking important medical treatment for your dog.

Some brands which are corn-based are Iams™, Eukanuba™, Purina™, Pedigree™, Hill’s Science Diet™, Nutro Max™, Atta-Boy™, and Old Roy™.

Some of the brands which are not corn-based are California Natural™, Innova™, Royal Canin™, Canidae™, Healthwise™, Sensible Choice™ and some of the Nutro Natural Choice™ brands.

These lists are by no means exhaustive, if you are unsure about whether your dog’s diet is corn-based, just read the ingredients label. Look for corn, corn gluten, corn meal and corn syrup. If any these ingredients are in your dog food, they are probably among the first ingredients you will see listed. While you are at it, look for molasses, caramel coloring and any other ingredients which you know add sweetness. They are also very high in sugar. If any of these ingredients are in your dog food, you should seriously consider making a diet change.

In addition to their regular commercial diets, Hill’s Science Diet and Eukanuba both produce prescription diets. If your veterinarian has placed your dog on a prescription diet, you should obviously discuss any concerns about the ingredients with your veterinarian prior to making any diet changes

Dried Beet Pulp – Dried beet pulp is good for a dog’s digestive system, however, it is also extremely high in sugar. Some companies have started removing the sugar from the dried beet pulp. When they do this, they generally list the ingredient as “Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed).” If the sugar is removed, dried beet pulp is a good nutrient for your dog. If not, it will cause many of the same effects as corn.

BHA/BHT – BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are used to preserve fats. However, studies have linked these preservatives to various types of cancers, including stomach, bladder and thyroid cancer. They are also suspected of causing liver and kidney dysfunction.

Ethoxyquin – A preservative which studies have linked to kidney and bladder cancer, and increased incidence of stomach tumors. The Department of Agriculture lists it as a pesticide.

Other things to look for. It's also important to watch for common allergens such as wheat, soy, and dairy.

DIET CHANGES

So, you’ve read your ingredient label and have decided to make a change? ANY DIET CHANGE MUST BE GRADUAL!!!! Your dog’s digestive system (and taste) needs time to adjust. If you change your dog’s diet too quickly you may see loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, refusal to eat or other problems.

Generally, you should start feeding your dog ¼ of the new food with ¾ of the old food. Do this for a few days until you are sure the stools are firm. Then increase the ratio to ½ of the new and ½ of the old. Again, do this for a few days until your dog’s stools are firm. Increase the ratio to ¾ new and ¼ old. Again, do this for a few days until the dog’s stools are firm, and then increase to 100% of the new food.

Many EUKANUBA™ and IAMS™ customers have experienced particular difficulty in weaning their dog off these foods, so you should be prepared to take this process even more slowly and gradually than recommended. Also, we have found using an intermediate food change may also help. We recommend initially making the diet change with Excel, feeding Excel for a month or two and then changing to one of the other brands listed.

Final Thoughts On Food

Frequently, people are concerned because the foods we have recommended (or others that don’t contain the ingredients listed above) may cost more per bag than the food they are used to buying. The bag of food we are recommending may cost more than the bag of food you are currently buying. That does not mean, however, that they are actually more expensive. The foods we are recommending contain higher quality ingredients, are more nutrient-dense and more digestible. This means you can feed your dog less, and the bag will last longer. Over the course of time, you may not be spending much, if any, more for dog food. Also, an added bonus ... you will have less “backyard” clean up. Don’t put off making a diet change because you just bought a new bag of food. Use the food to make the gradual diet change and then donate the remainder to a homeless person with a dog at Loaves & Fishes or to your favorite dog rescue.

There are many local retailers that carry these premium brands, including many feed stores. Generally, you will not find them at the supermarket, PetCo or PetSmart. Among the local retailers carrying these foods are Western Feed and Dog Show Specialties.

Sometimes people are confused about the appropriate amount of dog food to feed their dog. One place to start is the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag. But, remember these are GUIDELINES not rigid rules. Your dog’s activity level, age and the environmental temperature can all affect how much food your dog needs. Start with the guidelines and pay attention to your dog. How is his or her weight, are they gaining or losing? Do they leave food in the bowl? Adjust accordingly.

Finally, we recommend feeding your dog two times per day rather than “free feeding” or leaving the food available all day long. We suggest leaving the food down for 20 minutes and then taking it up. There are many reasons for this recommendation. If after three or four days your dog is not finishing his or her meal in 20 minutes, you are probably feeding your dog too much. Another early indicator that your dog is sick is a loss of appetite. If your dog has food available all day long, you will not notice this loss of appetite as quickly.

There are significant training benefits to making your dog work for his or her meals. Studies have shown that animals that have to “work” for their meals learn more rapidly. There are also significant benefits to your relationship with your dog.

Having control of a resource as valuable as food helps establish your position as the leader of your pack.