I’m back beating the drum again!
FOOD!
DOG FOOD!
We know that so much of the food that is pushed on us by giant manufacturing concerns is undermining human health. The British Government is now clamping down on what may be advertised on tv at times when children will be watching.
So no more burgers, chips, battered food, skeatos, meatos, freakos, chocolate, ice cream, biscuits, and so on, will be appearing on our screens shortly.
This is good news for the nation’s health!
But who is looking after our pets’ health?
Not the big manufacturers, for sure. Of course, they say that their stuff is the best - but they would, wouldn’t they.
When it comes to the health of our dogs, it’s up to us to work it out.
I’m doing my best to make you aware of the hazards and traps that are set for us. Here are some of the posts I’ve written to guide you:
Is raw feeding safe for my dog? Let’s get to the Bare Bones
How much should I feed my dog?
Beware the deadly mince pie! Christmas hazards for dogs
Keep your dog and your Christmas food safe!
What are the most effective dog treats?
I'm not spending good money on a DOG!
What are the most effective dog treats?
And I’m revisiting this subject now because it’s coming up to the festive season - when there is unsuitable food all over the place - and you may be given dangerous toys or chews for your dog by well-meaning people who don’t know what we know.
First of all, Christmas food on the forbidden list
🦴 Cooked poultry and ham bones
🦴 Chocolate
🦴 Avocado
🦴 Grapes
🦴 Raisins
🦴 Bread/pizza dough
🦴 Christmas Cake
🦴 Mince Pies
🦴 Alcohol
🦴 too much of anything
Even a small amount of any of these things could have you spending an anxious Christmas with your dog in intensive care. And he may not survive.
So what CAN I give him?
Lacy is nearly 15 and has a full set of white gnashers
When it comes to foods, check out the articles listed above to help you make your choice.
I choose to feed a varied raw diet for my four dogs. It works out ridiculously cheaply if you put a bit of effort into sourcing, and my dogs all live to a great old age with all their teeth white and intact. (I don’t clean their teeth, the bones do.)
But there are plenty of good quality foods available if you don’t want to go down the raw route. I recommend you check out www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk This is a British site run by a Canine Nutritionist. BUT most of these foods are international, and there’s even a recipe generator there which will assess any food you key in. So, just copy down the list of ingredients on your bag of food and see how they rate it. You want to aim for 85%.
I can also heartily recommend to UK readers the foods, treats and chews you can get here:
Skippers Use this code for 30% off your order!
Butternutbox Use this code for a completely free supply of meals for your dog! (It’ll last days or weeks, depending on the size of your dog)
And to find out more about what’s really in all those prettily-packaged foods and chews you see on the groaning shelves of your local supermarket or pet store, check out the Resources below.
But be prepared to have a few frights!
Don’t berate yourself for having given your dog these things in the past. The past is gone. Just be sure you know how to avoid them in the future!
And if you’re starting out afresh with a new puppy - check out this book which gives you the lowdown on when, how, and what to feed
RESOURCES:
🐶 Skippers: Use this code for 30% off your order!
🐶 Butternutbox: use this code for a completely free supply of food for your dog! (It’ll last days or weeks, depending on the size of your dog)
🐶 All about dog food Check out that food before you buy it!
🐶 Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Treats | Harmful & Unsafe Ingredients
🐶 Finding the Right Rawhide Chew For Your Dog
🐶 Burke, Anna. Are Rawhide Chews Dangerous for Dogs? American Kennel Club, 21 May 2020, de Godoy, Maria R C et al. “In vitro disappearance characteristics of selected categories of commercially available dog treats.” Journal of Nutritional Science vol. 3 e47. 10 Oct. 2014, doi:10.1017/jns.2014.40, In vitro disappearance characteristics of selected categories of commercially available dog treats
🐶 Home Cooking Options for Dogs, Dodds, Jean. “Bones.” Dr. Jean Dodds' Pet Health Resource Blog, Tumblr, 31 Mar. 2015.
🐶 “The benefits, though, are tooth cleaning, fresher breath, physical exertion, and mental stimulation for the dog.” Hooda, S et al. “In vitro digestibility of expanded pork skin and rawhide chews, and digestion and metabolic characteristics of expanded pork skin chews in healthy adult dogs.” Journal of Animal Science vol. 90,12 (2012): 4355-61. doi:10.2527/jas.2012-5333,
🐶 Pell, Sheila. The Dangers of Rawhide Dog Chew Toys. The Bark, 18 Feb. 2020, https://thebark.com/content/dangers-rawhide-dog-chew-toys
🐶 United Pet Group Voluntary Recalls Multiple Brands of Rawhide Chew Products for Dogs Due to Possible Chemical Contamination. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 8 Feb. 2018.