MISTAKE #7: FEDDING LOW-QUALITY, TOXIC COMMERCIAL FOODS AND TREATS
Let’s talk about food and water, another critically important basic. With pet food recalls, contaminated food and water, poor quality (and toxic) ingredients, it only makes sense to buy better quality foods or just commit to feeding fresh food. This is a long term investment in your dog’s health and well being.
Many dogs are picky eaters these days. Could it be that the foods we are offering are actually bad for them? They can smell toxic substances and unless they are starving or just don’t have any better choices, they can only do one of three things. Eat it anyway even if it makes them feel bad, refuse it and fast, or find something else to eat. Sometimes they refuse it and wait, hoping we’ll offer them something better.
Look at your current dog food. Taste it! Smell it! How does it feel? Would you eat it? If not, why would you feed it to your dog!?
It’s important to read and understand the ingredients in your dog’s food. Chemical additives, dyes, preservatives and low quality fillers can cause significant health and behavior problems such as dry skin, allergic reactions, dental disease, poor health and degenerative organ dysfunction. The ingredient label should list meat as the first ingredient and no by-products at all. Feeding a fresh balanced diet can make a huge difference.
Beware By-Products! By-products are parts of dead or diseased animals and are not ft for human consumption! By-products are not even required to include actual meat! And if they’re listed first on the ingredient label, then they’re a major ingredient in the ‘food’!
Ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT, Benzoic Acid, and Phenolic Food Compounds (greasy coatings that mimic the smell of real food): Ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT are chemical additives used as preservatives. Ethoxyquin is regulated as a pesticide and is prohibited from being added to human food. BHA and BHT can cause kidney and liver damage. BHT is prohibited in Europe, and for good reason! It causes allergic reactions, red eyes, skin rashes, and increasing hyperactivity levels in some individuals...
Other ingredients to limit or remove completely are soy, corn and wheat. Organic foods are best, and my rule of thumb is to offer the best quality, least processed food possible. The money spent on good food is never wasted because you will wind up spending less at the vet. Plus, a healthy dog leads to a happier, less stressed you.
Also, be sure and add these four essential supplement basics to help combat our environmental toxic load and stress factors:
1. Essential Fatty Acids - The Missing Link has a nice formula of the omega fatty acids for dogs or you can look for another canine blend.
2. Antioxidants - use a blend of:
Vitamin C: Use a pinch of a whole food concentrate complex with bioflavanoids.
Vitamin E: Be careful not to give too much as it can, in rare cases, thin the blood. For a small dog (below 20 pounds), give 100-200 units per day, up to 800 units for a large dog (90 plus pounds). You can poke the gel cap and let them lick it off your finger, or just squeeze a few drops on the food itself.
3. Digestive Enzymes - use a plant-based formula including protease (to help digest proteins), lipase (to digest fats), and amylase (to help digest any carbohydrates). There are feline digestive formulas on the market or you can use a human-grade formula if it includes all these.
4. Probiotics - using a pinch of a good human-grade supplement is fine here.
A Word About Treats and Rewards: People want to give their dogs a nice life and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. However, some folks feel that part of fulfilling that promise includes giving their dogs treats many times a day! That may be okay if they are earning their treats and if their treats are good for them… But if you are treating them right into obesity and ill health by giving them too many, and giving them things that are actually bad for them (like some of your Cheetos, chocolate, or a sugary, salty snack or something like that), then you’re not doing them any favors.
If you think dogs can’t count, try putting 3 dog cookies in your pocket …
and then only give them 2 of them!
Good treats can be carrots, ice cubes, apple, a bit of bread with coconut oil or butter on it, vegetables, or a bite of high quality meat. The rules for ingredients in food applies to treats as well. Baking your own goodies is also an excellent way to create great treats.
Dr. Pitcairn’s book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, is an excellent resource that I believe every dog owner should have in their library. He talks a lot about diet, common ailments, supplements and natural remedies, and the book has recipes in it, too.
A NOTE ABOUT TREATS: Remember that only when the rules are established and enforced can treats be properly valued as a reward. Best of all, when we live this way, we’re balanced and they truly understand that this is something very special. It should be a real treat, not just something that’s owed them. I hate it when treats and cookies and all that stuff become expected … or even worse, demanded!, Then they’re not treats anymore – they’re just food. A treat is supposed to be something special, a reward for something, right?
Also, be sure they are earning their treat. That way they appreciate it! It should be a reward for something they did correctly at your request, not just something they can demand from you and get whenever they want it.
By the way, your dog should EARN all their food, attention, toys and treats. Making them work for those things is natural and normal behavior from a stable dog pack viewpoint. It also increases their respect for you and enhances their willingness to please you.
If your dog wants to and works hard to please you, then you are being a great pack Leader! And, your dog will be a happier and more confident individual.
