I apologize in advance for the not so wordless Wordless Wednesday post.
Lately both Luna and I have been trying to eat better. I am by far not an expert in dog food and still have much to learn, but I have been looking into better food and treat options for Luna. There was not any one instance that spurred this sudden change. Fortunately, Luna seems to have a pretty good stomach and has not yet reacted to anything she has eaten. Chatter on the pet blogosphere got me interested in learning more about pet food and treats and I would like to challenge you to do the same.
We may not all be ready to feed our dogs a raw food diet or only feed them homemade dog treats, but we can be knowledgeable about what our dogs are eating. Reading the ingredient lists, staying curious, and asking questions is a great way to keep your dog healthy. If you see something listed that you are not familiar with, look it up or ask about it. It could very well be something your dog should avoid eating.
Like I said, I am no expert. I have learned a few things from various chats, blogs, and research of my own.
In the #GetPetClean Facebook Q&A, Charlotte Reed gave the advice to set Google Alerts on all your pet’s food and treat brands. This will help notify you of any recalls or issues with these products. This is a great idea and is super easy. Check out Google Alerts here and start adding your pet’s brands.
Use resources like Dog Food Advisor and Dog Food Analysis to help determine the quality of foods you are already using or ones you may be considering.
Avoid artificial preservatives whenever possible. Common artificial preservatives in dog food and treats include Propylene glycol, Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and Propyl gallate. These are all chemical additives, so if you find these in your dog’s food, you may want to switch to a new product. Natural preservatives such as rosemary oil, may be a better solution.
If you choose to feed your dog kibble, avoid what you can buy in the grocery store. Your dog’s food should have a main ingredient that is a meat like chicken and not a grain. Dog’s need meat and protein, but do not need grains.
Always feed your dog the best you can afford. Although I love saving money and finding deals, I know cutting corners on the quality of Luna’s food and treats is a bad idea. Feeding low end products could reduce life expectancy and even cost money in the end with medical bills. On the flip side, do not feel pressured to feed your dog the most expensive dog food out there. Wonderful options exist in all price ranges and resources like Dog Food Advisor and Dog Food Analysis can help you find them.
Remember, your pets are what they eat (just like you).
Do you have any tips for feeding your dog well?
Here comes the wordless part… I promise. I had a coupon to a pet store, so I decided to pick up some new treats for Luna to try.
We will be trying Little Jacks and Little Gooberlicious from Bil-Jac, assorted bones from Old Mother Hubbard, and Carrot Crunchy Treats from Nutro.
We also picked up an assortment of cookies from the The Reign of Cats and Dogs, a local pet store in Leesburg, Virginia.
We will let you know what we think!
One more piece of advice: Always introduce a new food or treat slowly and only do one at a time. You always want to make sure your pet does not have any reactions to the food, but this can be difficult if you introduce many new items at the same time.
Have you ever tried any of these treats? Which are your favorites?
This post is part of the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. Take a look at other Blog Hop posts by clicking below! Happy Hopping!
[BlogHop042413]
- Happy Birthday Ralph! - July 11, 2019
- How to Entice Your Dog to Eat {Stocking Stuffer Giveaway – Day #10} - December 14, 2018
- Must Have Travel Items for Dogs {Stocking Stuffer Giveaway – Day #9} - December 13, 2018
