Dog Food: Do Weight Loss Formulas Really Work?

If your dog's veterinarian has informed you that he is overweight, you will more than likely be changing his diet. Luckily, there are many quality pet food brands that offer weight loss formulas to help get the weight off of your four legged friend. But do these weight loss formulas really work?

Companies who specialize in weight loss formulas claim that their food will help your dog achieve a healthy weight. After reading many reviews from pet owners who have trusted these brands to help get the weight off, it is safe to say that light food that is geared towards losing weight does work. If your pooch needs to lose weight, you can go with a low calorie food available at your local pet store. You will see results!

Dog Food

What is so different about "diet" dog food?"

A dog's losses weight in a similar way as humans. When we diet we need fewer calories and less fat. This is exactly what weight loss formulas contain. To be approved as a diet food, weight loss formulas cannot contain a large number of calories. Many formulas focus on fiber so that the dog has the illusion of feeling full. Diet dog food still contains the vitamins and nutrients that your dog needs. He is just consuming fewer calories. Many dog owners feel that they can simply cut back the amount of food that their dog consumes during the day. While this does help the dog lose weight, the dog's health could be compromised because he could be missing out of key nutrients. Vets often recommend choosing a weight loss formula that will help your dog lose weight.

Where can I get it?

People are paying more attention to their pet's health. If a vet says that the dog should be on a lower calorie diet, owners are often quick to comply. As dogs get older and become less active, they will need fewer calories. Because of these facts, dog food with fewer calories is widely available. It is fairly easy to find a quality low calorie dog food in your local pet store or at large chain stores. Super premium brands may be a little more difficult to find. You may have to turn to online options when purchasing super premium dog food that contains a limited number of calories.

If your pet needs to lose weight, consider choosing a dog food that offers a weight loss formula. Gradually change your dog's diet. Begin by slowly mixing in the new food with the old. A sudden change in diet could cause your dog to have digestive problems. A gradual changing of the food will allow his stomach to adjust to the new food. When the change is complete, your dog will be on his way to losing weight. Ask your dog's veterinarian for more information on how you can help your dog lose weight. Diet and exercise will be key to getting him where he needs to be.

Dog Food: Do Weight Loss Formulas Really Work?

Dog Food

Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog?

==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========

If you're interested in premium dog food, then I probably don't have to tell you about the importance of diet in keeping your dog active and healthy. You already know you want something better than "average" for your furry friend.

Dog Food

But how much do you really know about what's in a premium food and what your particular pet's needs are? I'm no veterinarian but I do know a thing or two about health and nutrition. (As a family dentist who practiced for twenty years, I saw first hand the effects of poor dietary habits on human health -- and particularly on human teeth!!).

Like you, your dog has to deal with the effects of stress, age, exertion, a polluted environment, and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soils. Unlike you, he has to get practically all of his nutrition from a single food. Sure, you may give him a few treats or the occasional table scrap (not too many I hope!), but otherwise he's eating out of the same bag or can day in and day out. You want him to get complete nutrition out of that one food.

===========Complete Nutrition?===============

Even the experts seem to disagree on exactly what complete nutrition is. Maybe this explains why there are so many formulas for premium dog food out there. There's one thing they do agree on, though: premium dog food is better for your pet than economy and grocery store brands. Although you'll pay more, it usually holds true that you get what you pay for.

Experts also agree that, because premium foods are more nutritionally dense and easier to digest, your dog won't need to eat as much. One study even concluded that if you fed your dog the recommended amounts on each package, you'd end up saving money on the premium formulas. That's because your dog needs to eat a lot less of it. (You'll save on pooper scoopers too!)

Another way to know if your dog is getting a proper diet is simply to observe him. Are his eyes bright, his coat silky and shiny, and his skin free from dryness and itching? Is he at a healthy weight? How about his energy level? This may vary from one animal to another, but as you get to know yours, you'll know when your dog isn't feeling up to par.

Of course, any persistent health problems should be looked into by your vet, and the same goes for any special dietary needs. But in general you'll know if your friend is doing well on the diet you're feeding him. If you see signs that he isn't, try a different formula or another brand of premium dog food.

Introduce new foods gradually, especially if you have a picky eater. And while we're on that subject, it's always nice if your dog enjoys eating his food. This has a lot less to do with taste than it does with smell. Dogs have fewer taste buds than we do, but about 40 times as many scent receptors. So make sure he eats with gusto, and doesn't just pick at his food.
Here are some basic guidelines you can follow:

============Essential Nutrients=============

Every dog needs the right amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog must have all these in correct proportions to stay healthy. Needs vary with life stage, breed and activity level. Dog food companies make premium dog food for all life stages, from puppy to senior. An average adult dog needs a daily intake of about five ounces for every ten pounds of weight, with essential nutrients in the following proportions:

Protein --23% of total intake

Fats --5% of total intake

Carbohydrates --65% of total intake

Additional vitamins and minerals your dog needs are: Vitamins A, D, E, B-complex, Niacin, Biotin, Folic Acid, Choline, and Pantothenic Acid; Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Iodine, and Selenium.

It's generally agreed that dogs do better on a protein source that's primarily meat rather than soybeans and grains. Check the label. All US food labels must list ingredients in order of their quantity. If meat by-products are listed, they should come after the real meat, not before it. Meat by products are an inferior source of protein, and are basically what remains after the good quality meat has been removed. "Crude protein" can be a similarly poor source, since it may include parts of the animal that can't even be digested or absorbed by the average dog (hair, beaks, etc.).

Omega fatty acids are a hot topic in human nutrition these days, and have been found to be just as important in the canine diet. Both should be present, and in the right ratio. Most premium dog food companies have done the research on this and adjusted the ratios, but as usual, ask your vet if your uncertain.

===========Wet vs. Dry============

You can buy premium dog food in just about any form, but which one is best? Again, most experts seem to agree. Dry food is less likely to allow plaque to accumulate on the teeth, less likely to harbor bacteria if left out too long, and results in firmer, more compact stools. Semi-moist foods are convenient but for some reason (I'm not sure what) don't offer the same nutritional benefits as premium kibble or canned foods.

That said, I have also heard arguments suggesting that a diet of exclusively dry food can be a strain on a dog's kidneys. So, to be on the safe side, check with your vet.

===========Life Stages============

Puppies need more calories and essential nutrients than adult dogs. They need up to twice as many calories per ounce of body weight and should get 25% to 30% of their energy from protein depending on the breed.

Most premium dog food brands take this into account in their puppy formulas, but it doesn't hurt to check the label. By six to eight weeks of age a puppy should be fully weaned and eating his dry food consistently. After that, different breeds reach their mature weight at different rates, by anywhere from 9 months to 24 months old. So it's hard to give an age or weight by which you should take your pet off puppy food. Again, your vet can help out here.

Also, remember not to try to "rush" the growing process by overfeeding. If she grows too fast, a dog can develop bone growth diseases. A puppy should get three to four meals a day because he's growing fast but still has a small tummy, but don't overdo it with portions size.

Adult dogs need to eat according to their size and energy requirements and should be fed two meals a day. This is frequently referred to by the premium dog food companies as a "maintenance diet".

Unlike cats, dogs are not strictly meat eaters. In fact, a dog is more like an omnivore and will eat just about anything, whether it's good for him or not! A certain amount of vegetable matter is part of a dog's natural diet. Dogs love vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peas, and beans, and fruits such as bananas, apples, and melon. These make great low-calorie treats, too!

One thing you should never feed your dog is chocolate--it contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to dogs.

Senior dogs need a premium dog food that will help head off and manage the effects of aging. Since different breeds vary so much, it's hard to give an age by which you should switch to a senior diet. The ASPCA recommends using weight as a guideline, and offers the following:

Small breeds or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds:7 years of age

Medium breeds or dogs weighing 21 to 50 pounds:7 years of age

Large breeds or dogs weighing 51 to 90 pounds:6 years of age

Giant breeds or dogs weighing 91 pounds or more:5 years of age

The ASPCA recommends that you begin dealing with the symptoms of old age before they're obvious. Just like us, dogs will begin to accumulate more body fat as they age even as they consume fewer calories. (At least we're not alone!). Muscle mass will tend to decrease, but this doesn't mean you should lower your older dog's protein intake. If anything, protein is more important than ever to help maintain muscle mass, so avoid senior dog food formulas with reduced protein.

One thing you will want to feed him less of is calories. Obesity is a real problem with adult dogs, and many owners don't even realize their dog is overweight. Aside from portion size and calorie content, one way to avoid an overweight dog is to resist giving him table scraps. Most human food isn't good for your dog.

===========How Much to Feed============

How's your dog's weight? You should be able to feel your dog's backbone and ribs with light finger pressure, but not actually see them. If you have to "dig" to find them, your dog is overweight and if you can actually see her ribs, she's underweight.

If you're not sure how much to feed, you'll love the interactive Dog Food Calculator on PetsMart's home page! It's the result of considerable research that has been published in scientific journals and accepted by industry experts. You can determine the right amount of food to feed your dog and find out how long that 40-lb bag will last!

===========Supplements============

If you're all ready feeding a nutritionally complete premium dog food, do you still need supplements? This is another hotly debated topic. As a rule, it seems that most dogs do just fine without supplements. For certain dogs and certain conditions supplements can make a differenced. For example, a dog who isn't thriving and there's no other medical explanation for it might improve with supplements. Or, dogs with certain skin conditions have been known to improve on supplements. Since there's a danger of doing more harm than good, you should definitely discuss supplements with your vet.

If you do decide to use one, pick one that's made from natural sources and is designed as a multivitamin formulated specifically for dogs. That way she'll get everything in the right amounts and ratios. Add it to the diet twice weekly so you won't overwhelm or suppress your dog's own internal regulating mechanisms.

=======Special Diets==========

There are many reasons why a dog might be put on a special diet. Some dogs are very sensitive to certain ingredients in commercial dog foods. Even if you're feeding her the best of premium dog food, if your dog isn't thriving, it's possible her diet is a problem for her. Owners have resorted to alternative diets -- holistic, raw foods, even kosher -- to optimize their pet's health. Some choose these diets simply because they believe they're better, not because their dog is having any issues.

We'll discuss special diets in a future article. For now, I hope you've gained some useful insights about the benefits of premium dog food over and above economy brands.

Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog?

Dog Food

What Does the Phrase 'Holistic Pet Food' Really Mean?

Holistic pet foods are, often reflexively, considered by many to be the healthiest pet foods available. What is the definition of 'holistic' and what does it mean in the pet food industry?

dog food storage bin

The term 'holistic' is derived from the Greek word 'holos,' which means 'all,' 'entire,' or 'total.' It implies that the sum properties of a system (e.g., a body) can only be explained adequately if all its parts are considered in unity instead of on an individual basis. Or, as Aristotle summarized it, 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.'

Dog Food

The principle of 'holistic medicine' has been recognized and applied intuitively by many cultures to the present day. Although the holistic approach was eventually lost to the majority of people in the Western world, eventually the concept was rediscovered by 'holistic' physicians, who realized that one cannot heal the whole person if one considers only the part of the body that shows the most obvious symptoms of disease.

Increasing numbers of veterinarians have come to see the importance of the holistic approach in the treatment of their animal patients. For example, what's the benefit of recommending repeated administration of a stool softener to an animal that is constipated without correcting the underlying cause of this symptom? In many cases, this would simply amount to evaluating the animal's diet for possible causes of the condition. The same applies to other diseases, such as eczema, which are often caused by food allergens. How could a topical cream restore health if a food allergen was the culprit?

Holistic treatments look beyond the surface veneer of disease symptoms, and a good holistic veterinarian will always inquire about a pet's diet, which is one of the most prominent factors determining states of both health and disease. Considering that the vast majority of a pet's immune system is located in the intestines, it is understandable that food is supremely important for maintaining good health. Food loaded with toxins or deficient of nutrients will eventually affect the entire body. Although symptoms may only become obvious in one location, it is likely that more than one organ will be knocked out of balance. Instead of treating the symptoms, one might consider the fundamental causes of the ailment and treat the animal holistically.

Here's where holistic pet foods come in. As food is a major determining factor of pet health, the concept of a food that nourishes the entire system becomes extraordinarily important as a major means of disease prevention. Any sincere attempts undertaken by pet food manufacturers to offer holistic pet food is the highest ethical endeavor in this industry. The term 'holistic pet food' is being exploited excessively, much as the terms 'organic' and 'natural' have been misused for some time.

What Does the Phrase 'Holistic Pet Food' Really Mean?

Dog Food

Our Dog Trix - A Boxer Mix Has a Really Sensitive Stomach

We have a six-year old boxer mix that has had a sensitive stomach since she was a puppy. Now that she is an adult the vomiting she had experienced as a puppy is rare but she still gets indigestion a lot. We have had to keep her on a dry food diet to keep her from getting sick which has worked well now for several years.

dog food for sensitive stomachs

One morning when I was preparing to feed her I noticed a loud grumbling coming from her stomach. It was so loud that I heard it across the room. That was on a Saturday morning so I took her to the Vet right away. I was afraid that she may have bloat, a problem that can occur in a dog with a deep chest. What happens when a dog gets bloat is the stomach actually rotates within the chest. The Vet told us that if bloat is not dealt with quickly the animal would die. He took x-rays and found that her stomach was in the correct position ruling out bloat.

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

The vet at that time figured that she must have a virus because one was going around and he had had several complaints similar to ours that same morning. He prescribed some medication for the dog and we thought that was the end of it.

Around two weeks went by and the dog's symptoms had disappeared so we thought she was ok, that it was only the virus. Then one morning we were having hard boiled eggs and the dog was crazy about eggs so we gave her some. Later that afternoon she threw up everything that she had eaten all day undigested. The food had been in her stomach for at least eight hours and no signs of digestion at all. So we went back to the Vet to try to find out what was wrong with her this time. She had never thrown up undigested food before so this was possibly a new problem. Well, after another x-ray and exam the Vet saw what was wrong right away this time. It turned out that the piece of egg that we had given her earlier in the day had plugged the outlet from her stomach preventing digestion from taking place.

It was one of the tips of the egg that acted like a plug and it fit perfectly. Our mistake was thinking that she would chew the egg but she didn't. The vet also determined that the food that we feed her is too big. The kibbles for that type of dog should be no larger than a pea so if she swallows some of them whole they will be able to pass through her digestion system. My mistake was in giving her larger kibbles thinking that they would help keep her teeth clean and that probably would have been the case if she chewed all of her food. So if you have a dog that is having some stomach problems that you really can't pinpoint the cause of make sure the food is not too large for the type of breed dog that you have. Your Vet should have a chart to show you the size kibble your dog should have.

Our Dog Trix - A Boxer Mix Has a Really Sensitive Stomach

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs