The right dog chow

Joseph A. D’Abbraccio, D.V.M.
Posted 8/21/12

There are so many different types of diets for us to choose from when we visit the grocery store. You can go find four different variations of any product you use on a daily basis. Choices such as …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

The right dog chow

Posted

There are so many different types of diets for us to choose from when we visit the grocery store. You can go find four different variations of any product you use on a daily basis. Choices such as gluten free, organic, produced in the USA only, natural and, of course, the traditional. If you have taken a stroll down the aisles of the pet store or local feed store, you will appreciate the exact same options for your dog. During that stroll you may encounter organic foods, natural products, organic, raw, frozen and traditional. It is easy to be overwhelmed with all the choices available. The most valuable resource when it comes to choosing the right diet for your pet regardless of dog, cat, bird, ferret, rabbit, or horse, is your veterinarian. Be sure to consult them or a member of their healthcare team as to what they recommend.

What about semi-moist dog foods?

Semi-moist dog foods may be a favorite of many dogs, but they may not always be the best choice for them. A familiar semi-moist diet may be Purina’s Moist and Meaty Burgers with Cheddar Cheese. These foods may be convenient and tasty, but they are filled with more sugars and salt than other options. They contain 60-65% water by weight, which makes it a more expensive. Semi-moist diets are not recommended for dogs with diabetes, and the increased sugars make blood sugar levels difficult to manage.

What are the pros and cons of dry food?

Dry food remains the cornerstone of the dog food industry. Kibble is a great diet form for your pet, as it is a very versatile item. It can be used as a treat during training, accurately measured and even placed in food dispensing toys to further enrich and stimulate your pet. Kibble comes in various sizes, which is helpful when you have a smaller dog like a Chihuahua, so that you may select an appropriate size kibble for the breed. Discussing the proper calorie content of the food with your family veterinarian is just as important as the food you select. Your family veterinarian is happy to go over with you the types of foods available and the different number of calories they contain.

What are the pros and cons of canned food?

Similar to the semi-moist food, canned food contains a large amount of water and therefore you have to give a large volume of food to meet specific energy requirements. Some dogs prefer the taste and formulation of canned food over traditional kibble, and therefore this attracts them to have a better appetite. One of the major negative factors of canned food is periodontal disease. There are some diseases for which the increase in water content of the food would be helpful. A common example of such a disease is kidney disease. For kidneys to be healthy, they require a healthy consumption of water.

Regardless of the type of food you feed your dog it is important to look at the ingredients, where they are sourced, and consult your family veterinarian. There is no one more trained and available to help you then your fveterinarian. Each patient has different needs and there is not always a general diet that fits everyone’s needs.

[Contact Dr. D’Abbraccio at www.facebook.com/CatskillVeterinaryServices, www.catskillvetservices.com, or jdabbracciodvm@icloud.com.]

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here