Your dogs nutrition is critical for leading a long, healthy and happy life. There are so many different types of dog foods available to you that it is sometimes difficult to determine which one is the right one for your dog. Just because a dog food is expensive, does not always mean it is the best food for your dog.

IMPORTANT One thing that is critical to the health of your dog is to know what NEVER to feed him. Some foods that humans can eat can be hazardous or even fatal to dogs. Some of these foods you need to avoid are: alcohol, baby food that contains onion powder, bones from fish, cat food (too high in protein), chocolate, coffee or tea, grapes or raisons, citrus oil extracts, onions, garlic, table scraps, mushrooms and more. Some of these are toxic and could cause death, whereas some will cause less severe health issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting.

There are quite a few more human foods that dogs should not eat. Research any food you plan to hand over to your dog. Trying to satisfy your dogs desires, could be a devastating result. In fact, chocolate is lethal for your dog, especially dark chocolate. The ingredients in chocolate are digested and excreted by a human in as little as three hours, but the same amount of chocolate in a dog can take up to 18 hours to leave a dogs body. Here are some of the symptoms of dog chocolate poisoning: vomiting, excessive urination, hyper, diarrhea, seizure, coma or death.
Read the labels of their dog food. Dogs diets should be rich in meat protein.

If you choose to have canned dog food, look for chicken, turkey meat or pork because they will help keep your dogs coat smooth and healthy. Give the foods that have a high vegetable protein level because these foods are more easily digested and give the dogs energy. They should also receive an adequate amount of carbohydrates, such as rice, corn, oatmeal and wheat.
Dont give your dog a bone! Once bones are gnawed to where they are soft enough to eat, they will feel like splinters inside a dogs throat and this could cause them to choke.

A natural dog food diet is a great way to increase your dogs overall health. People who have tried the natural dog food diet have been very happy with the outcome. They report that their dogs have shinier coats, their eyes are brighter, they have more energy and their breath is better. The idea of a natural dog food diet is to feed your dog quality human food, not just your leftovers. If you do not take care in what type of human food you feed your dog, than instead of making him healthier, you could be leading him down the path of degenerative diseases or diabetes. Many people are beginning to give their dogs more natural dog food diets.

Some people are making the meals right in their kitchen. However, the dog food industry has recognized that owners want to give their babies a variety of healthier foods, so you can find more natural dog food manufacturers on the internet. If you do choose to make your own food, be prepared to spend a little time in the kitchen. Prepare the food ahead of time, so that you are not tempted to give in to their desires of your leftovers. This can happen if you are simply too tired to get up and make your dogs meal after spending all that time making your own meal!
There are many different dog foods available. Be sure you are choosing a dog food that is high in meat protein. Before you prepare any meals for your dog from quality human food, check to be sure that the food is not toxic to your pet.

After feeding your dog his meal, take him on a walk. This will help to ensure a healthy lifestyle for you and your dog. Bring along the pet stroller so that he can have a relaxing ride back from the park after all of the playing. He will likely be ready for a nice long nap in his dog bed after his big meal and playtime!

Justina Mathews writes about issues that affect pet owners and thier loving pets. She writes for her own blog, as well as special in depth articles that include ways of improving your relationship with your pet. She’s also a staff writer for Pet Strollers.

Article Source: Tips For Choosing A Healthy Dog Food

My pet food was on the list of pet food recalls last year and now I feel I have to question EVERY product I want to buy for my pets!

Do you ever feel as though your entire grocery list for your pets is off limits? A lot of us who had never worried about safe, clean food got a VERY rude awakening the past several months. Even when we were used to reading labels to make sure we were buying healthy food and treats, we soon learned that was no longer an assurance of safety.

So, what can you do about it?

I’ve received many e-mails and phone calls asking for simple lists and recipes to make for your pet. While this was a pretty normal reaction to the storm of recalls, few pet owners realized the sacrifice and time that would be required to return to making your own pet food.

Obviously, the decision to make your own pet food depends on the type of pet you own. For example, it’s much easier to cook up or mix up food for a cat than for a large St. Bernard. If you are determined to go this route, there are some ingredients that you SHOULD NOT include in a diet for your cat or dog. This list comes from the ASPCA and is based on illnesses and deaths in pets, not on hearsay.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

- Alcoholic beverages

- Avocado

- Chocolate (all forms)

- Coffee (all forms)

- Fatty foods

- Macadamia nuts

- Moldy or spoiled foods

- Onions, onion powder - all forms

- Raisins and grapes

- Salt

- Yeast dough

- Garlic - all forms

- Products sweetened with xylitol - artificial sweetener

Now, if you’re concerned about the pet food recalls and want to try a homemade cat chow and dog chow recipe to keep your pets healthy, here’s one to get you started.

This simple, healthful chow mixture is easy to make for your dogs or cats. I like this recipe because it includes meat, vegetables and rice. I prefer recipes that do not include large quantities of wheat or white flour as main ingredients because many pets can become sensitized to those ingredients.

Meat, Vegie and Rice Stew

INGREDIENTS

3 pounds minced chicken meat or ground hamburger

2 1/2 cups frozen vegetable blend (no garlic or onions), minced

4 cups rice 6 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Place chicken, vegetables, and rice into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Stir in water until the mixture is smooth. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Everyday Common Sense Precautions

Now that we’ve dealt with the issue of feeding your pets healthy, safe food, the next most important thing for you to remember is to have a qualified veterinarian examine your pet if anything unusual occurs - whether it’s from food or from other products they’re exposed to during an average day. Unusual symptoms might include vomiting, lethargy, listlessness, incontinence, loose bowel, or general loss of appetite.

I like to remind pet owners that their companion animals can be affected by products they are using in their homes or cars where the animals live and ride. For example, most people don’t realize that air fresheners with synthetic chemicals and fragrances settle to the floor where pets walk in the residue, clean their paws and ingest the toxins.

As a result of the indoor pollution many pets are exposed to, we are seeing an increase in the number of chronic illnesses in our pets just as we see the increase in the general human population.

Learn about toxins that can affect your pet’s health, not just about the food they eat. Your pet is counting on you - be their advocate! Look for natural, organic products that are certified by an organization you trust.

Linda Chaé is President & Chief Formulator for Chaé Organics, Inc. and a pioneer in ‘go natural’ skin care for consumers. She is committed to clean, safe toxic free products for the whole family, including pets. Her organic pet waterless shampoo is an easy to use foaming shampoo that requires no water or rinsing. For more information or to order her products, visit http://www.chaeorganics.biz

Article Source: After the Pet Food Recalls, What Can You Feed Your Pets to Keep Them Healthy?

Chicken can be just as healthy as a salad, especially if it is skinless and you choose to grill instead of fry. This healthy chicken breast recipe has it all. With a mouth watering plum sauce, it is sure to please. That good flavor will give your family something to talk about between each and every bite.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless-skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups fresh plums, chopped
• ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. plum jelly
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. black pepper

Parsley as a garnish (optional)

To Make:

Preheat the oven to 375. The glaze for this recipe may be made the day before you plan to make this dish. It just will need to be refrigerated. If you use fresh plums, they will need to have the pits removed before using.

You can use canned or frozen varieties of this fruit if you want to. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the plums, the plum jelly, cornstarch, and the soy sauce. If the mixture is too dry, add a little water.

Now gradually add the brown sugar while stirring. Next, add the lemon juice and ginger. Continue mixing. Lastly, add the garlic and onion powder, and the black pepper. Once this plum glaze has been mixed well, it is ready to use.

Place each chicken breast, one by one, into the mixing bowl and cover each it with the plum glaze. Do this for each chicken breast. Then put the chicken breasts in a baking pan. You can add one more spoonful of plum glaze to each chicken breast before putting them in the oven if you wish. Bake this dish on 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven. Top each piece of chicken with parsley before serving.

Serves 4.

Hans is an enthusiast cook he writes recipes and articles about body sliming he loves to cook healthy and tasas possible. Visit us for more at http://www.steaks-guide.com

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