If you don’t know much about the food you are feeding your dog you are not alone. I have some thought provoking questions for you and a little on my opinion about dog food.
Do you know how to read the ingredients label? or do you buy based on fancy packaging, cute commercials or what the guy at the pet store said was ok? Are you aware how common food allergies are in dogs? and would you know if your dog had food allergies? How does your dogs skin and coat look? (Yes I mean their fur, not doggy clothing!) Is it clean and shiny? Soft? Is there lots of dandruff? Red spots? A rash? Is your dog frequently itchy? Does he lick his feet a lot? These are some questions you need to ask when choosing your next bag of food.
Now I wont even get into the kibble vs canned vs cooked vs raw debate. I could go on about food for pages. All I want is for you to know what you are putting in your dogs mouth. What we (and your dogs) eat plays a HUGE role in health, and the quality and longevity of our lives. I’ve recently stumbled upon a brand called TLC. Now there are LOTS of good pet foods on the market… this is only one, and I’m not claiming its THE best, but its passed my test and its what my own dogs currently eat.
Here are some quick tips:
Look for real meats as the first ingredient/s (not by-products, but “meal” is ok). Stay away from wheat and corn and opt for foods that contain barley, oatmeal, brown rice or potato instead. Know your dogs specific needs: is your dog extra active? a big couch potato? does he have trouble with too high protein diets? known allergies or skin conditions? Talk to your vet about switching foods if you are unsure and remember to do it gradually. Never abruptly change foods. Mix food for several days- a week, slowly increasing the amount of new food daily until change is complete.
Sorry I cant offer further details in this short blog, but feel free to ask me questions and/or speak with your vet.
(To read more about TLC go to www.tlcpet.com/28481 and get $5.00 off your first bag by entering the promo code 1025)
Maggy the Bichon Frisee/Lhaso Apso