The Road to a Healthier Dog Designing a Balanced Canine Diet

Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet - Healthier Dog Food The Abc Way

Ancestors and canine cousins of our dogs didn't eat krunchy kibble or meat n gravy in a can. They ate what they found or caught... and it wasn't cooked or enriched either! It was high in protein, with balanced fats, and usually included a few fruits, vegetables and grasses. Steve Brown, an expert on canine nutrition, shows how you can bring the benefits of the canine ancestral diet to your dog by feeding him differently as little as just one day a week. And no, you won't need to lead a pack of dogs on a hunting expedition! Just follow Steve's well-researched and easy to follow ABCs to make improvements to whatever your dog currently eats. BONUS! Raw food or home prepared feeders will learn how to balance nutrients more precisely, especially fats, for optimum health. A dog diet to get wild about! Learn about the latest research on the importance of protein and healthy fats in your dog's diet. Find out why commercial foods can't include these fragile-but-crucial nutrients, and how you can make sure your dog gets them. Just one day a week, or more frequently if you choose, follow the simple recipes that balance the nutrition in the commercial food you are feeding wet or dry! What experts are saying about Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet Brown has done his homework and is able to present his case for feeding a nutrient mix that more closely matches what has been health food for hundreds of generations of canines. Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet is chock full of information that supports his premise that the ancestral diet is good stuff for today's dogs. It's a good read, packed with scientifically-backed information, and it presents a practical approach for achieving the goal of helping us to make a healthy diet for our dogs. As easy as ABC. Randy Kidd, author Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care This book is enlightening and invaluable. I especially like the fact that his guidelines can help balance canine diets no matter what the caregiver's level of commitment is to the ancestral diet. Dry food feeders can greatly enhance their pet's nutrition with just one homemade meal a week. Raw fed dogs can benefit from a balancing meal as well. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, author The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog To prevent chronic disease in dogs you must get a critical balance of species appropriate foods and fats in your companion's diet. Steve Brown understands this and you can too by reading his book.Karen Becker, DVM Steve Brown turned his passion for canine health into developing leading-edge products and educational programs to improve canine nutrition. He developed Charlee Bear Dog Treats, one of the best selling dog treats in the US and, in 1998, he developed Steve's Real Food for Pets, the first AAFCO-compliant, frozen, raw meat-based diet. Brown is the co-author of See Spot Live Longer and has written numerous articles on canine nutrition published in leading pet health and veterinary journals. Steve lives outside of Eugene, Oregon. Click here to view an excerpt. What reviewers are saying... THE VITAL CIRCLE We just discovered a great new book about the role of omega-3s in canine health. Canine nutrition expert Steve Brown presents what must be the most exhaustively researched resource on the diets dogs have eaten over many millennia. And in Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet: Healthier Dog Food the ABC Way, he's used that research to show how people can enhance their pets' health by approximating the ancient canine diet as closely as possible. He finds evidence that most dogs ate diets that were high in protein, with balanced fats including omega-3s, sometimes in large amounts (as with salmon-loving wolves) and usually included a few fruits, vegetables and grasses. Brown presents a compelling analysis of dogs' nutritional needs, and provides practical ways to meet them in his ABC diet plan, which owners only need to provide one day per week. Here's what Brown means by an ABC diet: Add high-quality protein with hearts, eggs, and sardines Balance the fats with sardines Complete the nutrition with hearts, eggs, sardines, and vegetables. He also custom-tailors the plan to each animal's weight and to an owner's preferences for various kinds of commercial dog food (dry, wet, etc.). Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet represents a landmark in canine nutrition research and in practical feeding advice for owners. Craig Weatherby MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW "Dogs weren't meant to eat dried animal byproducts. "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet: Healthier Dog Food the ABC Way" is a guide for pet owners who want a more healthy and vitamin packed diet for their dog, drawing back on their instinctual diet of real meat, uncooked and raw, along with the scattered fruits and vegetables they may have ate. Stating that treating your dog to this special diet if only once a week will have numerous long term positive effects, "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet" is a fine read that should not be ignored for those who care about the health of their dog." James A. Cox, Editor DOG WORLD Steve Brown is not a veterinarian or a nutritionist, but he has extensively researched canine nutrition since 1998. Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet presents his recommendations on enhancing the average canine diet. Brown admits that we don't yet fully understand canine nutritional requirements and that much information is extrapolated from human nutritional studies. He writes, for instance, Cooking tomatoes increases the amount of lycopene that humans can absorb. This is probably true with dogs, as well. Essentially, Brown's program advocates feeding his ABC diet once a week, which entails adding high-quality protein to commercial food, balancing fats, and completing nutrition with fresh foods. He includes recipes for homemade diets, and provides nutritional analysis which are often missing from most dog food recipes. However, these recipes might not be practical for anyone lacking time to prepare complicated meals containing costly ingredients. Amy Fernandez DOGS IN CANADA ABC stands for amount, balance and complete, and the ABC philosophy recommends feeding fats, proteins and carbohydrates in amounts approximating what your dog's ancestors ate. Brown points out what he believes to be weaknesses in modern dog food, explains the chemistry of fats, and describes how to complete your dog's diet with fresh foods, including recipes for replacing, altering or augmenting whatever you're currently feeding. For those reluctant to invest the time to cook for their dog on a daily basis, Brown provides a plan for practicing ABC just one day a week . Natalie Ann Comeau

How to Choose the Best Dog Food

In an ideal world, all dog food would be created equal. Instead, dog owners are presented with an overwhelming array of options, all claiming to be the best dog food on the market. Wading through these choices to find a dog food brand that is healthy, affordable, and appealing to your pet is often frustrating. Weve compiled expert advice to help you narrow down your options.

What Makes a Dog Food Good?

Most people feed their dogs dry kibble or canned wet food. These processed foods might not be appealing to us, but they contain all of the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy. Quality commercial dog foods are highly regulated and have undergone rigorous testing by veterinary specialists. So what exactly is in these dog foods?

Dogs, unlike cats, are not strict carnivores. While meat makes up the majority of their diet, domestic dogs can also derive nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not simply fillers, but can be a valuable source of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dogs digestive system.

Dog Food Nutrition

The best dog food for your canine companion should meet his nutritional needs. While most commercial dog food brands are specially formulated with at least the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs, it is important to remember that not every dog has exactly the same nutritional needs.

Dogs require a wide range of nutrients in different quantities over the course of their lives. The nutritional needs of a puppy are different from an adult dog, which is why it is a good idea to feed a puppy formula or an all life stages food to your young dog. If you are unsure about the differences in nutritional requirements between puppies and adults, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists the recommended nutrients for dogs, along with the recommended amount by weight and age. Large breed dogs and puppies have different nutritional requirements than small breed dogs and puppies.

Dog Food Myths and Misinformation

There are plenty of dog food myths and misinformation about dog nutrition on the Internet. You can sort through it by following one simple rule: check your sources. Many well-meaning individuals make claims about dog nutrition without backing them up with scientific evidence. As you do research, always check to see if the information is supported by a credible source, like a veterinarian, canine nutritionist, or scientific study. It never hurts to be skeptical, either. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Many people have questions about grain-inclusive orgrain-free dog food, pea-free dog food, or dog foods containing animal byproducts. If your dog has been diagnosed with a food allergy caused by grains, you may choose a grain-free diet under the guidance of your veterinarian. For most dogs, grains are actually a source of wholesome nutrients. Quality animal byproducts are also nutritious. These include organ meats and entrails, which often contain more nutrients than the muscle meat consumed by humans. Regulated byproducts do not include hooves, hair, floor sweepings, intestinal contents, or manure. As with any pet-related inquiry, feel free to discuss your concerns about your dogs food with your veterinarian.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

One way to decipher a good dog food from a bad dog food is to read the label. This is easier said than done, as labels can be hard to read, both due to the small print and just plain awkwardness of handling big bags of dog food in the store! But labels can also be misleading, as the Merck Veterinary Manual explains. Dog food labels are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to tell you eight key pieces of information, and individual states may also have their own labeling requirements:

• Product name
• Net weight of the product
• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Guaranteed analysis
• List of ingredients
• Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
• Statement of nutritional adequacy
• Feeding guidelines

Product Name

The product name alone tells you a lot about whats inside the can or bag. The term beef means that beef must make up at least 70 percent of the entire product. The terms beef dinner, beef entre, or beef platter, on the other hand, only require that beef makes up at least 10 percent of the entire product. With beef only requires that 3 percent of the total product be beef, and beef flavor simply implies that there is enough beef in the product to flavor it (less than 3 percent). The same holds true for other named ingredients like chicken.

Ingredients

The ingredient list on a dog food label will not tell you the quality of the ingredients or where they came from, and some manufacturers split up the ingredients to make the distribution more equal. For instance, different types of corn, such as flaked corn, ground corn, or kibbled corn, can be listed separately. This bumps corn down on the list of ingredients, even though the actual content of corn in the food is high. Meat is another tricky ingredient. Whole meats contain a large percentage of water weight, which means that the overall percentage of meat after processing is lower than it appears. Meat meal, on the other hand, sounds less appealing to people, but actually contains more meat than whole meats, as there is no water weight to throw off the calculation.

While the ingredient list might not tell you the quality of the ingredients, it does tell you what is in the food. This is especially important for dogs with special dietary needs or allergies and is also useful for owners who wish to feed their dogs specific sources of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.

Complete and Balanced Dog Foods

One of the first things you should look for on a dog food label is the statement (Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. This isnt just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs (or cats). Complete and balanced diets must contain the minimum amount of all of the nutrients necessary for dogs, which is also indicated in the guaranteed analysis. This analysis gives the minimum amount of crude protein and fat, along with the maximum amounts of water and crude fiber. The analysis does not, however, give the exact amount of these components, which means there is room for considerable variation. The manufacturers average nutrient profile is often a better tool for evaluating a product.

You can always contact the dog food company directly to get more information about its product. A reputable company that has your dogs interests at heart should be happy to answer your questions and in many cases will give you more information than what is available on the website or product label. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has a helpful sheet with questions you can ask a company representative.

Best Dog Food for Small and Large Breeds

Small breed dogs and large breed dogs have different nutritional needs. Large breed dogs are more prone to musculoskeletal problems than smaller breeds, and so they often require large-breed dog food with different balances of certain nutrients to promote musculoskeletal health, especially as puppies. Small breed dogs, on the other hand, can choke on large-sized kibble and have their own nutritional requirements that can be accommodated with a small-breed dog food. Research your dogs breed to find out if there are any additional nutritional requirements you should be aware of.

Best Dog Food for Puppies

The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dogs life, making it easier to narrow down your choices. If you are concerned about which is the best dog food for your dogs life stage, consult your veterinarian to see what stage food is appropriate for your dog.

Your puppy requires a different nutrient balance than an adult dog. This is especially true for large breeds. Feeding a large breed puppy food can help, as their growth needs to be monitored carefully to prevent bone and joint problems. Other puppies do well on both puppy food and food labeled for all life stages. The best food for your puppy depends on your puppys size and breed. Always consult your veterinarian for recommendations on puppy feeding, and advice on how to switch puppies to adult dog food.

Best Dog Food for Senior Dogs

Senior dogs, usually considered 7+, vary in their individual nutritional needs. Younger senior dogs may struggle with being overweight and older senior dogs may struggle with being underweight, which is why there is such a variety.

Choosing the best senior dog food may come down to what your dog finds palatable. Many older dogs prefer wet food while others may need their food warmed up to enhance the aromas. Ultimately, your vet can help choose the best dog food for an older pet.

Best Food for Dogs With Special Dietary Needs

Allergies, sensitive stomachs, and dietary restrictions affect dogs, as well as people. Feeding dogs with special dietary needs can be tricky. Your best course of action is to consult your veterinarian for advice about the dog food that best helps with their condition.

Best Dry Dog Food

The most widely available and affordable dog food is dry dog food. Dry dog food does not require refrigeration, which is its main advantage over wet dog food, as it contains approximately 90 percent dry matter and 10 percent water. This makes it easy to store. Dry dog food is made by combining and cooking ingredients like meat and grains. This process converts the starches in the food into an easily digested form, while also destroying toxins and flash sterilizing the ingredients. There are many different varieties of dry dog food on the shelves. The best dry food for your dog depends on your dogs dietary needs. In general, a higher quality dry dog food that contains the appropriate ingredients for your dogs life stage and breed is the best choice, but talk to your vet or veterinary nutritionist about the healthiest choice for your pet.

Best Wet Dog Food

Wet dog food, or canned dog food, is a perfectly viable alternative to dry dog food. While generally slightly more expensive, wet dog food is more palatable than dry food and can help stimulate the appetite of picky eaters. Wet dog food contains many of the same ingredients as dry dog food, but not in the same quantities. Wet food contains higher amounts of fresh meat, poultry, fish, and animal byproducts, along with more textured proteins derived from grains. Canned dog food has a long shelf life, however it must be refrigerated once opened. The best wet food for your dog, just as with dry dog food, depends on your dogs life stage, breed, and any special dietary needs or allergies. Talk to your vet about the wet dog food that he recommends for your pet.

How Much Should I Feed My Dog?

Dog obesity is a growing concern in the veterinary community and has been linked to many health problems in dogs. Luckily for our pets, we are usually more disciplined about controlling their diets than we are about controlling our own. Knowing how much to feed your dog and what healthy dog weight looks like can be tricky. Many owners accidentally overfeed their pets, which is why it is important to take your dog in for regular checkups and to talk with your vet about appropriate portions. The guidelines on the back of the bag are just that guidelines. Some dogs may require more than the recommended amount, whereas others require much less. Activity level, time of year, nursing, illness, and more factors can all impact how much a dog needs to eat. Dog people will often advise that you should feed the dog thats in front of you instead of strictly adhering to dog food serving size guidelines that may or may not be exactly what your dog needs.

Choosing the Best Dog Food

The best dog food for your dog is ultimately up to you to decide. As an owner, you are the one who sees your dog on a regular basis. If your dog produces firm, healthy stool, is active and fit, and has a healthy appetite, then your dog food is probably working just fine.

Your veterinarian is a valuable resource to you during this process. They know more about pet nutrition than the average owner, and they also have access to research and resources that owners do not have. Your vet can help you narrow down your options and should be more than happy to help you find the answers to your questions about your dogs food.