Misleading Labels Can Lead to Overweight Dogs & Arthritis
We care so much about the health of our dogs, especially when it comes to weight and sometimes the parallels between human health and dog health are surprising. Just as people search for low calorie food and often find the labels to be confusing, low calorie dog food labels can be misleading as well. There is a link between being overweight and arthritis in people AND in our pet buddies!
I saw this article today and thought that this information about calories in dog food was helpful. Considering that nearly 50 percent of pets are overweight or obese, I find it especially relevant.
Researchers examined nearly 100 commercially available pet diets with weight management claims such as low calorie dog food. They found that dry dog food varied tremendously in the amount of calories per cup. Take home message, weighing your dog or judging their body condition is more important than the instructions on the food. You really can pick up your dog and weigh them on your own scale once per week and see if they are really losing weight. If not, then reduce the food a little more! If you are unsure if your pet falls into the growing number of overweight pets, refer to my previous blog where I give you some tools to help you decide. Excess weight is one the biggest contributors to pain from arthritis.
Photo: Dr. Lisa M. Freeman, a professor of veterinary clinical nutrition at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, with Cordis, a slightly overweight golden retriever. (T&G Staff / DAN GOULD)
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jana Said,
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Bob Said,
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jana Said,
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Bob Said,
Personally, after all my research and experience, I became a promoter against commercial dog food. This is just another reason. Today there are ways to provide balanced home-cooked diet for your dog. There are good raw food products, though there are just about as many promoters of raw food diets as there are people warning against it. Whether raw or cooked, home made food gives you the best control over what goes in. We are using Hilary’s blend supplement to balance our home-cooked meals. There are other supplement products available as well.
Really, when you look at the commercial kibble, doesn’t look like food, doesn’t taste like food (I know cause I tasted it) … what qualifies it to be food then?
Jana
Thanks for you comments Jana. It can be confusing choosing the right dog food. For some, home-cooked diets can work, but it takes a bit of research to understand how to do properly. You dogs are lucky you are so dedicated. Thanks again.
Dear Bob.
Actually with the Hilary’s Blend it’s quite easy. The product comes with a recipe book. The recipes are calculated the same way the commercial dog food formulas are (same computer program) and following the recipe provides complete and balanced diet without the guesswork.
It is a bit of extra work, but food can be prepared in bulk for 4 days ahead. The cookbook includes recipes for puppies and senior dogs, and specially calculated recipes for a number of health conditions, such as low and high calorie recipes, low oxalate recipes, limited antigen and more.
Custom recipes are also available through a vet.
http://www.completeandbalanced.com/
Jana
Thanks Jana!
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