Health, Nutrition and Fitness
From puppy to mature dog, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle is key. DogXtreme will be featuring some of the hot new natural dog food recipes and links to great guides on raising a healthy pet. Check back often or subscribe to our email, we will be offering daily updated news feed and dog food recalls recalls if any.
Vitamins & Supplements For Your Dog
We all want our dogs to live healthy and long lives, and so we do all that we can to ensure that our dogs are as healthy as they can be. In the last decade vitamins for dogs have emerged on the pet market, and these products are intended to keep dogs in tip top shape. However a daily vitamin for dogs is only recommended in specific cases and in some instances too many vitamins can cause harm.
Helpful Guidelines
As long as you are feeding your dog a pet food that has a seal of approval from the Association of American Feed Control Officials your dog is most likely getting all the vitamins and nutrition needed; these diets are specifically formulated to provide the exact amount of vitamins, calories, and fats that dogs need. If you are feeding your dog a home cooked diet, then it is recommended that you give your dog a daily vitamin. It is almost impossible to meet all of the vitamin requirements your dog needs through a home cooked diet; in this case a daily vitamin will ensure that your dog is not missing any necessary vitamins.
If your dog is pregnant, nursing, recovering from an illness, and in any kind of extra strenuous activities as in the case with working dogs or training dogs, then your dog may gain benefits from extra vitamin supplements. In these cases you should talk with your veterinarian about which vitamins to use and how long they should be given.
There are some reported cases, though rare, of dogs becoming ill from being given too many vitamins by their well meaning owners; in some cases pet owners who had dogs that were ill tried to use vitamins to help the dog recover but ended up giving them way too much. If you wish to give your dog vitamins talk to your veterinarian first, and always follow the recommended dose on the vitamins' label.
Source: PetWave
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Helpful Tips for Exercising Your Dog
Congratulations!
You are interested in exercising your dog, keeping your dog fit, and spending quality time with your dog. Exercise with your dog will help your dog to stay healthy, and this practice will strengthen the bonds of friendship between you and your canine friend. Below you will find some helpful tips to keep in mind when you are exercising your dog. CLICK FOR MORE...
Why Should Pet Owners Buy Pet Health Insurance?
Cost Savings
Pet health insurance can save pet owners on their pet's annual health care costs and cover yearly physical and screening tests as well. Pet health insurance may also provide a financial cushion in the event of an unforeseen accident, emergency, or occurrence of disease.
Pets are living longer than ever thanks to the type of health care that is now available for pets, but this health care doesn't come cheap. Expenses such as yearly vaccinations, physicals, blood exams, and monthly expenses such as heartworm prevention and flea control, can all add up to one big bill. Pet health insurance can reduce the amount of money that a pet owner pays for their pet's health care. The insurance may also enable pet owners to schedule yearly screening tests and physicals for their pet that they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Emergency Protection
In the event of an accident, emergency, or development of a disease, pet health insurance can be a life saver for the pet and the pet's owner. Take for example if a pet is in a car accident. Even a minor car accident can easily add up to a veterinarian bill of well over five hundred dollars, and treating a pet that has been in a serious accident can cost thousands of dollars. Depending on the type of pet health insurance policy purchased, the policy may cover the majority of the accident bill.
Better Pet Owner
Pet owners are often unprepared financially for the cost of treating a disease that unexpectedly occurs in their pet, and sadly many pet owners are faced with the difficult decision of going broke or treating their pet. A pet health insurance policy which covers costs associated with the unforeseen development of a disease may pay for most of the costs that are associated with treatments or surgeries needed to treat the disease.
Source: PetWave
Exercise Programs for your Dog...
When choosing the right exercise program for your dog there are things to consider. These things can range from the type of lifestyle you have to making sure your dog is healthy. Taking the time to write a list and figuring our your lifestyle with your dogs' personality will help you to chose the right exercise program that fits...CLICK FOR MORE
Homemade Diets Not Always More Nutritious or Safe
The debate on whether or not your pet is better off on a homemade diet is an ongoing one. Without a doubt, feeding a commercially prepared diet is more convenient and more economical. Feeding a homemade diet can be very effective but can also be fraught with difficulties. For example, you must be sure that the diet that you prepare contains the proper amount and balance of all nutrients, that the ingredients are easily digested, absorbed, and utilized by the pet, and that it is palatable. You must make sure that the nutrients are not altered or destroyed in any way during processing and storage. You must also ensure that no contamination of the food occurs before, during, or after food preparation. Finally, vitamins and minerals must be supplied in the proper ratio to ensure good health. Commercial pet foods are routinely tested for nutritional composition, something most pet owners are unable to do on their own.
Problems can and do occur if raw foods are fed. For example, meats should not be fed raw because of the danger of transmitting parasites (e.g. toxoplasmosis) and harmful bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, E.coli, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, etc.). In addition, studies show that most dogs and cats prefer cooked meat.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
Nutritious & Safe Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Using safe ingredients and cooking processes, some fabulous nutritious dog food and snacks can be made at home. Visit our Dog Food Recipes page for some tested and delicious recipes for your active dog.
