How to pick a good dog food

Reeka — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:53:06 +0000

You want to pick a dog food that conforms to minimal AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards because AAFCO officials strictly regulate pet food. You want to pick pet foods that have good sources of animal protein. If you look at the ingredient list, it is listed in descending order by amount “” just like humans. So the first two or three ingredients should be some type of animal protein “” chicken, beef, fish, lamb, beef or turkey. They shouldn\'t be vegetable, wheat or grain, or animal by-products.
Also, the pet food whether can or bag should have an expiration date. And it should have a phone number and/or Web site, so you can call the company and ask questions. These are the things that are going to be on high-quality pet foods. You also want to look for natural preservatives, like vitamin C or vitamin E, and stay away from chemical preservatives. Ethoxyquine is one that they used years back that were determined to be a carcinogenic, and are no longer using.
Avoid generic-label or store-label brands because the food is probably from bulk suppliers. Don\'t pick products that have unidentified meat or bone meal. It\'s got to specify the protein (i.e. chicken, turkey, salmon). Avoid preservatives that are controversial: BHT, ethoxyquine, BHA and propolyneglycol. Those are things you don\'t want to see on the label.
Make sure there is no wheat or wheat gluten products in your pet food, and monitor your pet\'s behavior to be sure your pet is well.
Dogs and cats are usually considered part of the family, and their owners want to give them food that\'s as healthy and wholesome as what the rest of the family\'s having for dinner. So how can you wade through the flood of pet food on the market to find a product with the best ingredients? Here are a few things to look for.
Consult Your Vet or an Animal Nutritionist: It’s difficult to make blanket recommendations on what to feed your dog or cat. Each pet has different nutritional needs, and the best person to provide food recommendations is your vet.
USDA Organic: For environmental reasons, organic pet food is a better choice than conventional pet food, since it\'s produced without the use of petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers and uses meat from animals raised without antibiotics and growth hormones, which can pollute waterways.
No Animal Testing: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have compiled a list of companies that have claimed in writing that they don\'t test their products on animals. If your pet food is not listed, call the company and ask them if the product, or any of the products ingredients, utilize animal testing.
You\'ll find a huge range of suppliers - a much greater variety than available in most retail stores - and be able to compare their products, while getting independent reviews about what\'s best for your pets.
Buying pet supplies online is a great way to find everything you want in one place in order to make the best choices for your companion. Deals365 offers coupons and coupon codes on Pet products at deals365.us.

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Tips and guidelines for Buying Supplements and Vitamins

vamsireddy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:53:05 +0000

Supplements and vitamins provided by the tested laboratories are considered as safer alternatives to non-traditional and untested medication. It is better to know how taking these would affect your health and follow safety precautions. Buying traditional supplements and vitamins requires you to know something about them as well as the proper way of taking them. Here are some guidelines to help you:
1. Talk with your doctor before taking supplements and vitamins especially if you have illnesses and allergies or if you are currently taking other medications or herbal treatments. Some vitamins and supplements may cause an allergic reaction or aggravate the conditions of those who are ill. Also, drugs and herbs taken will tend to react with each other within the body: some medication complement each other, others negate each other\'s effects, while others produce a terrible combination which can lead to complications and even death when left unattended. The doctor may advise you to take certain vitamins or supplements as well as prohibit you from taking others depending on your condition.
2. Supplements and vitamins function to help the body do certain processes such as forming tissues, healing wounds, improving the immune system and others. If you are not prescribed a specific supplement or vitamin to take, you could browse through a list of supplements and vitamins and see the ones that you think you need. Research about the functions of supplements and vitamins on the Internet, in books and magazines or ask your doctor, pharmacist or nutritionist.
3. Supplements and vitamins come in many forms such as pills, tablets, capsules, powders, liquids and others. They are usually taken by swallowing them along with a glass of water in order to facilitate absorption. Some of them are required to be taken on an empty stomach while others are taken after eating. Some vitamins such as water-soluble ones are required to be taken regularly since the body through urinating and perspiring excretes them. Others, specifically fat-soluble vitamins, don\'t have to be taken regularly because they are stored in the body for a longer time, yet high doses can lead to toxicity. Know and follow the specific instructions on taking vitamins and supplements properly.
4. When buying supplements and vitamins, read the label on the bottle or container and make sure you know that all the ingredients that compose them are safe and suitable for you. Avoid those that contain artificial flavoring and sweeteners and also those with coloring. Some of these even have toxic preservatives and chemicals added to them, so be careful.
5. Look at the expiration date. Some supplements and vitamins sold may be past their intended date of consumption and taking them may harm your health more than do you any good.
6. Shop around. There are a lot of traditional supplements and vitamins sold everywhere, and you have to know which seller to trust and which one to avoid. Do background checks and read testimonials from other buyers and users, making sure that these are authentic and not made up by the company which sells them.
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How to pick a good dog food

Tips and guidelines for Buying Supplements and Vitamins