As we all know, sodium is an essential mineral for life. It is found in the blood and in the fluid that surrounds the cells in our body. Sodium maintains the cellular environment and prevents cells from swelling or dehydrating. It is also essential for maintaining proper nerve and muscle cell function.

In pet foods, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are good sources of sodium. Sodium may also be included in commercial pet foods in the form of table salt (sometimes listed on the ingredient panel as salt). Salt is an essential palatant for animals, as well as people. Palatants are ingredients that ensure food tastes good.

How Much Sodium Should A Dog Have?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials recommends that dry dog foods contain at least 0.3% (and dry cat foods contain at least 0.2% sodium) for both maintenance and to support average growth and development. These are the minimum recommended levels.

While high sodium intake may cause increased thirst and water consumption, the extra sodium is excreted in the urine.

Healthy dogs can consume diets with higher sodium levels than those found in most commercial pet foods without increased blood pressure or body water gain. Therefore, the sodium level in commercial pet foods is not a cause for concern in healthy animals.

Possible Sodium Restrictions For Your Dog

A veterinarian may recommend decreasing a dog’s sodium intake if the animal has some types of kidney, liver, or heart disease to help reduce high blood pressure or accumulate excessive body fluid. Although older dogs may be more likely to develop these diseases, healthy older dogs do not require a low or reduced-sodium diet.

Article written by Author: Timothy Brill

While certain dog foods now have the word “prebiotics” on the front label, check the product’s ingredient list. Look for the long term “fructooligosaccharides,” or FOS for short. Foods with this word have one of the best prebiotics now available. Although the name seems very scientific, it refers to fiber, according to Dicke. “FOS is found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, and grains,” she explains. “However, the concentration is typically deficient and does not provide the desired health benefits.”

Prebiotics For Dogs

During any given week, your curious dog has probably explored your house and neighborhood, which means it comes into regular contact with everything from dog park soil to favorite canine lampposts, all of which can harbor germs. Your dog’s immune system works to combat these invaders, and dog food with ingredients called “prebiotics” can now strengthen that defense.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and activity of digestive-system bacteria that are beneficial to your dog’s health. For the first time, they are now available in both wet and dry high-quality dog foods. Dr. Amy Dicke, an Ohio-based veterinarian, explains more about what prebiotics are and how they work.

Prebiotics in Dog Food

While certain dog foods now have the word “prebiotics” on the front label, check the product’s ingredient list. Look for the long term “fructooligosaccharides,” or FOS for short. Foods with this word have one of the best prebiotics now available. Although the name seems very scientific, it refers to fiber, according to Dicke. “FOS is found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, and grains,” she explains. “However, the concentration is typically deficient and does not provide the desired health benefits.”

How Do Prebiotics Work?

Sixty-five percent of your dog’s immune system is in its digestive tract. To infect your dog’s body, germs and other invaders must break through a mucous membrane barrier of cells lining the gut. Like a wall, this barrier can prevent unwanted organisms from moving into the body.

When FOS is broken down, it produces short-chain fatty acids, which serve as food or energy for the mucosal barrier’s cells, promoting their health and integrity. An increasing population of beneficial bacteria helps crowd out harmful bacteria through physical competition for space and nutrients and produce substances detrimental to the undesirable bacteria.

Health Benefits of Prebiotics For Dogs

Beyond supporting the immune system, prebiotics may also lead to other health benefits in your dog. Research on humans, who similarly use prebiotics, found that prebiotics appears to reduce inflammation. “Just as some foods can lead to poor health, it’s no surprise that others can have positive effects,” said Dr. Luis Montaner, editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, which recently published a study on prebiotics.

Prebiotics has also been shown to cut the development of skin allergies in human babies. A study in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood reported that prebiotics — very similar to those found in breast milk — ward off a dangerous form of dermatitis. Puppies receive comparable prebiotics from their mothers when they nurse, so prebiotics in dog food help may prevent skin and coat problems in adult dogs.

How to Begin Feeding Your Dog, Food Containing Prebiotics

If your dog is not currently eating food containing prebiotics and you’d like to make the switch, there should be a transition period of mixing the new food with your dog’s current diet. Here’s a sample feeding schedule over a week:

• Day 1 and 2: Feed approximately one-fourth of the new food mixed with three-fourths of current food.

• Days 2 and 3: Mix half of the old food with half of the new food.

• Days 4 to 6: Give your dog three-fourths of the new prebiotics-containing diet and one-fourth of its former chow.

• Day 7: Begin feeding your dog 100 percent of the new product.

Are Prebiotics Suitable for All Dogs?

According to Dicke, prebiotics can be beneficial to nearly all dogs. “There are times during your pet’s life when dietary FOS may even have greater value,” she added. Dogs that may especially need the immunity boost of prebiotics include:

• Weaned puppies with developing immune systems
• Dogs with certain chronic medical conditions
• Pregnant females
• Older dogs that may suffer from decreased immune system function

Please consult with your veterinarian to see what he or she recommends. If your dog has a severe weight or medical condition, it might require a special veterinarian formula food to address its particular needs.

Article written by Author: The Dog Daily Expert

While all fats are not created equal, certain fatty acids are crucial for your dog’s good health.

“Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats,” explains Dr. Amy Dicke, a technical services veterinarian with Iams. “Certain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for your dog and must be supplied through the diet. These omega-6s and omega-3s are keys for maintaining healthy cell growth.”

What Are the Health Benefits of Fatty Acids For Dogs?

Your dog needs linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that your dog can convert to a range of other omega-6 fatty acids, says Dr. Denise Elliott, a board-certified nutritionist for Banfield, The Pet Hospital.  Alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, can also be converted into other useful fatty acids.

These acids offer a multitude of benefits for your dog’s good health, including:

• Healthy Skin and Coat

The mentioned fatty acids help make your dog’s coat glossy and soft. You should also see less dandruff and dry skin. Additionally, several studies have clearly shown the benefit of omega-3 EPA/DHA in alleviating the redness and itching and improving the skin and coat’s overall condition, says Elliott.

• Neurological Development

Just as human babies need fat in their diet for brain development, DHA is essential in developing neurologic and optic tissue. Commercial pet food containing omega-3 will positively affect the learning ability of puppies, says Dicke.

• Promotes Healing

Omega-3 acids can help your dog heal faster, reducing inflammation.

• Intestinal Health

The anti-inflammatory qualities of omega-3 is beneficial for dogs suffering from irritable bowel disease, says Dr. Katy Nelson, a veterinarian and member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council.

• Joint Health

Is your dog getting a little creaky when it comes to climbing up and down stairs or merely joining you on a walk around the block? A diet with a well-balanced combination of fatty acids may help. Again, it’s the reduction in inflammation that is key.

Finding the Right Fatty Acid Ingredients In Dog Food

Your dog’s food should contain a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids alone can be inflammatory agents, notes Nelson. High-quality dog food should have a ratio of five or ten omega-6 fatty acids to one omega-3 fatty acid. “Not all diets supply the level of omega-3 fatty acids to achieve the benefits,” says Dicke. “The increased omega-3 supplementation is found primarily in the premium diets. Owners can look for a guarantee of omega-3 fatty acids in the guaranteed analysis section of the package.”

Vegetable oils and animal fats, such as chicken fat, are common sources of omega-6 fatty acids in pet food. Fish meals, fish oils, and flax are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

It’s a good idea to discuss your dog’s diet and your interest in fatty acids with your veterinarian. “Fatty acids are a complex field,” says Elliott. While many supplements are available on the market, these supplements aren’t regulated, and they may have unintended side effects. For example, cod liver oil has concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D that can have adverse effects at high doses.

Adding fat through supplements to your dog’s diet also may lead to weight gain if not carefully monitored. If your dog receives the needed fatty acids through commercial food, then you can control caloric intake.

Consider these omega fatty acids a part of your overall health plan for your dog, not a miracle cure. If your dog is overweight or inactive, you’ll need to find a way to get it moving. “You have to do your part to allow the omega acids to be useful,” says Nelson.

How can dog food help give my pet a shiny coat? Is it just due to oils within the food?

Fatty acids are dog food ingredients that can help to promote a shiny, healthier coat. Omega-3s, derived from fish and some plants, form one group of fatty acids commonly found in quality dog foods. These oils do not cause inflammation, as some other fats can. 

Studies show that omega-3s may improve cardiovascular function while conferring other health benefits. Your dog can, therefore, not only look great but feel great too.

However, fatty acids aren’t the only dog food ingredients that can help maintain your dog’s coat. Vitamins A, E, C, and B2 also support your dog’s skin and coat, contributing to lush fur. Biotin, zinc, and copper additionally promote coat health. Copper, for example, helps your dog to metabolize fats and proteins better, ensuring that all those omega-3 fatty acids are put to good use.

Article written by Author: Kim Boatman

Suppose your dog has experienced tummy troubles in the past, such as diarrhea. In that case, your vet may have suggested feeding it a mixture of white rice, chicken, and yogurt — the latter contains probiotics, which help balance bacteria in the gut.

Now, there is a new dietary supplement that helps manage doggy diarrhea. Just as probiotics in foods with active live cultures like yogurt are being touted to maintain human digestive health, they can have the same benefits for dogs. Below, Dr. Trisha Joyce, veterinarian of New York City Veterinary Specialists, weighs in on dog stomach concerns and the utility of dietary supplements that contain beneficial bacteria for preventing them.

What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?

Joyce emphasizes that the most common cause of diarrhea in your dog is you. “Pet owners should not be feeding table scraps,” she says. “People food is too rich, and dogs are not accustomed to it. It is likely to cause soft stool or watery diarrhea.”

Some dogs have sensitive stomachs, especially as they age. Stressful situations like a new pet in the home or even a veterinarian appointment can be the precursor to an episode of runny poop, which can change your pet’s formula. “Always transition from one food to the next by mixing them in shifting proportions over a few days,” says Joyce.

Finally, some digestive ailments are chronic and need to be treated with a prescription diet. These include irritable bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn’s disease. “The nature of those digestive signs is different for a dog that got a pizza the night before. The pizza eater will go from having formed stools to having sudden watery diarrhea. The dog with IBD will have low-grade chronic signs over a long period.”

When to Worry About Diarrhea in Dogs

Joyce says that diarrhea is common in dogs and can last about five days, though the first 24 hours are usually the worst. Diarrhea is only an emergency if it is:

• Very profuse.
• Accompanied by vomiting.
• Primarily bloody, like raspberry jam, says Joyce. “A little bit of blood is common with diarrhea because the rectum and the colon become inflamed. A couple of drops of blood are not a big deal.”

If your dog’s diarrhea fits the description above, a trip to the emergency veterinarian is in order.

Best Probiotics For Dogs

One right way to start is to feed your dog a supplement that contains Bifidalis, which includes a strain of live and active culture. It can help balance the microflora in your pet’s gut, reducing the likelihood of diarrhea and uncomfortable digestive issues like gas and bloating. Ask your veterinarian about such supplements.

“Live and active cultures are effective for maintenance of a healthy GI tract,” says Joyce. “These treats are not preventive against dietary indiscretions or diseases like IBD, but they may promote general intestinal health. They certainly won’t hurt, and they may help. They’re easy for a veterinarian to recommend.”

Joyce also suggests:

• Avoid table scraps and quick switches between different pet formulas.
• An annual fecal exam to confirm that your pet is dewormed. “Parasites sometimes don’t flare up until your dog is stressed. Doing regular fecal exams guarantees they’re not carrying anything.”

Article written by Author: Rose Springer

Providing your dog with vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional components is essential to your pet’s health and well-being. The best way to do that is by feeding it a high-quality, complete, and balanced diet. Often you may be tempted to supplement your pet’s diet with table scraps or vitamin supplements. It is, however, better for your dog if you forego supplementing its food.

Should I Give My Dog Vitamin Supplements?

Concerned pet owners like you need to realize that quality dog foods are carefully formulated to meet your pet’s caloric needs. 

Also, quality dog food provides essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals specific to your dog’s nutritional requirements. Quality foods are complete and balanced for a particular life stage or lifestyle. By adding table scraps or other supplements, the delicate nutrient balance can be disrupted.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates the pet food industry and has established specific nutritional requirements for dogs and cats. These requirements are published annually in the AAFCO Manual. Only pet foods that have met the strict testing criteria established by AAFCO can carry the “complete and balanced” statement on the label. Check to make sure that your dog’s food has it.

Why Is Giving My Dog Supplements a Bad Idea?

So, while supplementing begins with good intentions, it is often unnecessary, and it can upset the delicately balanced nutritional requirements of your dog.

Part of this delicate balance occurs because the interaction between different minerals is very complicated. Research has shown that the individual mineral levels in a diet are essential, but so is the proper balance. An excess of one mineral may affect the absorption of a second. As a result, this excess could lead to a deficiency in that second mineral.

One common supplement is feeding additional meat. However, because meat contains 20 to 40 times more phosphorus than calcium, adding meat to a balanced diet will upset the calcium to phosphorus (or Ca:P) ratio, which is essential for proper bone development and maintenance. This imbalance may prompt your dog’s body to absorb calcium from the bones to reach the right balance. Ca:P ratio should range between 1.1 and 1.4 parts of calcium for each 1 part of phosphorus.

Excess amounts of calcium have been associated with several bone diseases that affect growing puppies. For example, if you own a large-breed puppy, you may believe it requires extra calcium for the proper development of bones. However, adding yogurt, cottage cheese, or calcium tablets to the pup’s diet will only upset the body’s delicate mineral balance. Remember that large-breed puppies will consume more food and receive the calcium their bodies need by eating the recommended portions.

The best way to support a healthy growth rate is to feed growing dogs adequate, but not excessive, amounts of food that are part of a balanced diet, using a portion-controlled regimen.

Article written by Author: Anne Black