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Potential Problems With Your Cat’s Dry Food

July 13, 2011 by
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Cat owners love to feed their cat dry cat food because it is easy to store and cost effective. The problem is that dry cat food that is being fed to your cat could be causing them more harm than good. When compared to moist cat food, the dry variety has numerous characteristics that could be potentially harmful to your beloved feline.

Here’s a look at some of the negatives that can come from feeding your cat too much dry food.

The Wrong Type of Protein

Cats need to have a diet that is high in animal protein. The problem with dry food is that is very high in plant based protein and not high enough in animal protein. This means your cat is not getting the proper nutrition or on the right type of diet for them.

Too Rich in Carbs

Like humans, cats need to worry about how many carbs they are eating. Feed a cat too many carbs and it can lead to heart and weight problems. One of the negatives about dry cat food is that it is mostly composed of carbs, which can lead to potential problems with your cat.

Not Enough Water

Cats need to stay hydrated and although they are often pictured drinking water they really don’t get enough water in their diet. Moist food can help compensate for the water they are not drinking. If you feed your cat mostly dry food it can lead to dehydration.

Dry cat food isn’t all bad for your cat, you just need to balance it out with moist, fresh cat food to ensure your cat is receiving the right amount of water and nutrients to keep it healthy.

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What to do if your Pet Food Is Recalled

May 8, 2011 by
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There are a lot of scares in the world today. A lot of them happen outside the home and seem less concerning than the ones that involve you personally. But when the scare enters your home it becomes personal and much more frightening. Take a pet food recall, for instance; you’ve been feeding your pet a particular brand of food that seems to satisfy their finicky tastes. Suddenly, the news comes to your attention that that brand has issued a recall for some reason.

First, remain calm. If your pet hasn’t been vomiting or showing other indications of an upset stomach, you’re probably in a safe beginning zone. Second, get out to the store immediately and purchase another brand of food. As much as people love their pets, it’s an all too common issue to forget to make necessary changes where animals are concerned. By buying another brand right away, you’ll nip the problem in the bud. Don’t be surprised if class action attorneys in Los Angeles get on the case.

Third, remove the recalled food from the house immediately. It’s best to remove it on the way to the store to buy another brand, so you handle the switch completely. By taking the offending brand out of your home, you’ll avoid the possibility of forgetting that there was a recall. And while you might not forget, remember that others could feed your pet. Sometimes guests will find pet food and feed your apparently hungry pet without your knowledge – and they won’t be aware of the recall!

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Partially Cooked Meats Instead

January 13, 2011 by

Partially cooked meats for a dog seem to be the healthiest option you can give your pet. In fact, their digestive enzymes seem to be able to tolerate this type of food better than the high protein, by-product filled alternative. Dogs are carnivorous canines, and their little instincts tell them that meat is good. That is why they are willing to chase the cat, they are essentially hunting their dinner.

There are those that say chicken with the bone in is a bad idea for dogs because the bone can splinter and hurt their intestinal track. Did you know that partially cooked chicken with the bone in is actually considered healthy for your pet? That is right. The reason for this is that dogs are carnivorous and their bodies are naturally designed for raw or partially raw foods. Things that would make you sicker than, well, a dog, makes Fido one happy camper. Think about this, when you feed a dog just simple dry dog food that is processed and full of preservatives and filler, you find that you pup is a little more ripe than at other times. With half cooked meats you will not have this problem. Their bodies are simply intended to be able to handle foods handled this way. Many are thinking that cannot be serious, but if you think about it, there are tons of animals that are living on the streets that are able to survive living out of dumpsters full of raw, rotten, half-cooked foods. If we as people ate that way we would not last that long. Dogs however thrive on a low carb half raw diet. This is one of the best things, other than regular exercise, that you can do for your pet. You will notice a difference in they way they respond and feel almost right away.

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Natural Food

January 11, 2011 by

There are many natural foods available to help your pet maintain a healthy diet. In fact, it has been proven that feeding your dog dry naturally cooked foods, without preservatives can help your dog live a long and healthy life. This would include foods that do not have any type of by-products such as fillers of oatmeal or flour. Dogs need high protein, and these fillers are providing weight gaining carbohydrates. Which can translate to a much shortened life span. Dogs have very particular needs, and sometimes with the more inexpensive foods, these internal needs are not being met. In fact, some of these foods can cause other issues like problems with teeth, bones, and digestive tracks. If you find your dog is a little more stinky than normal, there is a high probability that it is the food your are providing.

When considering different types of foods for your pet, look at the bag, not just the pictures. The pictures are always going to depict the perfect combination of food for your pet. What you want to look at is how much of the food is horse meat, how much is fillers. Is the food dried naturally or baked? These are important factors in considering what food is best for you furry best friend. The choice in food that you make could mean years of enjoyment with your pet, or years of costly veterinarian visits because your dog is simply not getting the proper nutrition. The largest contributor to the health issues is the weight of your pet. If you pet is too heavy for their size, it can take years off of their life. Have a food with too many filler can help your pet gain unnecessary weight. It is better to spend a little more on a natural food that contains real beef, chicken, or pork, and real vegetables.

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Canned Food or Kibble?

December 21, 2010 by
Canned foods, in the grocery store for the non...
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Pet nutritionists definitely agree that cats need to receive a wide variety of different foods including both dry foods and canned foods, and there are several reasons that make this true. Many people wonder if they should be feeding primarily wet food, primarily dry food or both. Here are some facts that you should consider.

* Dry foods are convenient and are capable of being left out all the time, allowing the cat or cats to "free feed."

* Canned foods contain water, which is beneficial for cats that are not getting enough water on their own.

* You will want to make sure that you are balancing wet food and dry food so that your cat is getting all the right types of nutrients.

* Your cats can easily become bored when you feed them the same type of food all the time. If you change up the food that you are giving them, it will keep them entertained and ensure that they will not become bored.

* If your cat is allergic to any of the ingredients in his or her food, you can head the allergic reaction off more quickly by changing up the food. Cats can also develop allergies with time, but if you are changing the food on the occasional basis, then you can prevent food allergies from becoming a problem, or can identify the presence of food allergies by changing the food ingredients out to determine which food is causing the reaction.

This does not mean that you are going to need to change out your cat’s food every day, but you should combine high-quality canned wet foods with dry foods to make sure that your cat is always getting a well rounded education. Well rounded nutrition is vitally important in keeping your cat healthy for a long time.

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Basic Nutritional Needs for a Cat

December 11, 2010 by
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Just as you are the sum of everything that you eat, this is also true for cats and dogs. Cat and dog food products are some of the most important purchases that you will make as a pet owner, aside from basic veterinary care. The proper diet can actually work to eliminate or delay a number of veterinary expenses for medical conditions that can be brought on by poor diet or nutritional deficiencies.

The basic nutritional needs for a cat are not difficult for you to have a grasp on. It is important for you to understand what your cat’s needs are so that you can meet them and raise a healthy, thriving feline companion. Some of the basic nutritional needs for your cat include:

Protein: Your cat needs a protein source such as fish, meat or poultry. So make sure to include it in their diet.

Taurine: This is an essential amino acid that your cat needs in order to be healthy.

Other Vitamins: Your cat will need other minerals, vitamins, fatty acids and enzymes for healthy eyes, skin and coat, liver function and other vital and essential functions.

Water: Water is absolutely essential as part of your cat’s diet, providing your cat with adequate hydration at all times. Your cat should always have access to clean, fresh water.

Cats do not require carbohydrates the way that people do. Carbohydrates can be found in many commercial cat foods, both canned and dry, as they act as a filler. Some examples of cat food fillers include rice, wheat and corn. Other ingredients can be found in the food as well, including flavorings, binders and colorants.

Fresh food is vitally essential, which is why there are preservatives in your cat’s food. Keeping your cat’s food fresh means you will be providing your cat with adequate nutrition all the time.

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