|
The subject of dog food has been given much attention during the past several years
and with very good reason. Prior to, let's say, 8 years ago the majority of breeders and nearly all dog owners relied on what the pet food industry told us as to what was good for our
pets. Rrecently, thanks to some very informed and caring individuals, what we feed our four legged friends, food
information has been "stood on it's ear".
I'm nearly 65 years old and most of those years
the main ingredient in all dog food was CORN and all the pet food manufactures assured us they only used the very best ingredients
in their products. I'm not talking about a few obscure companies, I'm talking about companies, including the
makers of Science Diet, Purina, Mainstay, Come & Get It, Kennel Ration, Gravy Train, Pedigree, Atta Boy, Old Roy and just
about every other label you can think of. Corn, to a dog's system is nothing more than"hollow calories"
which not only tend to make your dog fat but is used in pet food to create volume. This is one reason
that a 40 pound bag of regular Purina Dog Chow costs around $18 - 20.00 while 40 pounds of a truly good dog food will cost
in the neighborhood of $30 - 40.00 dollars (depending where you buy it). Your getting 40 pounds either way but with
the purina, your may only be receiving somewhere around 20 pounds of efficient dog nourishment. With the "good"
food, your beloved friend will surely be receiving more like 37 pounds of essential nutrition. This can translate into
being able to feed you pet less if feeding the good food.
PLEASE, read the ingredients on any food you may consider
feeding. Ingredients are listed in the order of their volume so, the first item listed is the ingredient of highest
volume. If the first item is "Venison meal" for instance, that would mean that probably around 55-70
% (depending on the brand) of the 40 pounds in the bag is Venison meal. If that same first ingredient is CORN,
guess what?????????? Right! 55-70 % CORN!!! How often do you think any wild canine searches
out a CORN field and sets to eating 70% of his meal each morning and evening? CORN IS NOT FOR DOGS! Corn, wheat,
soy and even beef have a strong history of not only causing skin problems but the corn, wheat and soy, in more than trace
quantities, will surly aid in making you dog FAT! Fat dogs and feeding dogs "meat fat" is
the leading cause of diabetes in our four legged friends. NEVER, NEVER feed you pet meat scraps, meat fats or the juice
from any meat that may contain any fat. Meat fats can cause inflammation of the pancreas gland (the gland which produces
insulin) and continued inflammation will lead to the reduction of insulin, hence diabetes. You may be surprised at how
many dogs suffer from this disease and most of the time it is caused by feeding table scraps and allowing your "supposed"
beloved friend to become overweight!
Here at La Terra Dios Ranch our West Highland White Terriers are fed "NUTRO" BRAND NATURAL CHOICE VENISON MEAL AND WHOLE
BROWN RICE FORMULA kibble (dry food) and our three "place dogs" (watch type dogs) are fed NUTRO
NATRUAL CHOICE CHICKEN RICE AND OATMEAL FORMULA. NATRUAL CHOICE CHICKEN MEAL, RICE AND OATMEAL is a very good
feed although, we have found some dogs are/could be allergic to chicken and/or turky protien. Another excellent
feed is NATRUAL CHOICE LAMB MEAL AND RICE.
There are several other brands out there, with more coming
onto the market all the time that are very good feeds. What ever you decide to feed you friend, be sure to carefully
read all the ingredients and the order in which they are listed (most quantity first - least last) and remember that
all protein must have some sort of fat to be digested but animal fat is not for your dog. Granola is probably the single
best but "purified chicken fat" will not damage the pancreas gland. This is not animal fat. It is from
fowl (birds). Even God said, concerning food for humans, "I give you the fish of the sea and the fowl
of the air".
I hope this has aided you in understanding the need to feed a "good" food to you loving
friend who will always be there for you --- you need to always be there for him/her also.
If there are any
questions you may have concerning this writing please contact me. I'll be more that happy to assist in any way I
can. Thank you for taking the time to read, what I feel to be, this very important information.
Rodger Morales
La Terra Dios Ranch
December 2, 2007
|
