Large dog breeds, in particular, suffer more from obesity than other breeds due to their history of orthopedic diseases- diseases that are only exacerbated by any extra weight they will have to cart around.

Naturally, as a caring pet parent, the last thing you want is for your lovable giant goofball of a dog to suffer from completely preventable health issues.  But what can be done?

In a day and age where people are more attached to their big furry friends than ever the answer is not only clear but quick and easy.  Diet dog foods- kibbles and wet food specially formulated in mind to maximize fat loss while retaining health, are widely available at pet food stores and online.

Not convinced that a simply labeled diet brand of food is specific enough to help your particularly large furry family member?  With the market of concerned and meticulous pet owners with dogs of all sizes in mind, there are many weight management dog foods specifically designed for large breeds.  And of these many brands, here are five that are more than worth taking a look at.

Holistic Select Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food (Weight Management)

• The formula of this dog food is chicken and chickpea.
• This kibble variety is 100% grain free.
• The nutritional composition of this food is 26% crude protein, 8% crude fat, and 8.5% fiber.
• This dog food is made in the USA.

As a dog food specifically formulated for weight loss in larger breeds this iteration of Holistic Select is a worthy first contender on our list.  Its formulation is mindful of a high proportion of protein to a low proportion of fat, which means fewer calories for the afflicted pooch.  But don’t think that will make your dog hungry for dinner sooner, this formulation also comes with a healthy helping of fiber to keep a dog fuller for longer.  To top it off, the health and safety conscious dog owner can rest assured given that the kibble is both grain-free and made in the USA.

Royal Canin Health Nutrition Maxi Weight Care Dog Dry food

• The nutritional composition of this food is 25% crude protein, 9% crude fat, and 11.7% fiber.
• This formula contains glucosamine to promote joint health for larger dog breeds.
• This dog food is made in Puerto Rico.

While the round donut-like kibble pieces might be amusing to the eye, as a large breed diet dog food, Royal Canin serves up a contender.  The amount of fiber at a whopping maximum of 11.7% a serving is a strong guarantee that your dog won’t suffer the pangs of hunger even on a diet.  To round off the benefits for our specifically larger variety of fuzzy dieters, this formula contains glucosamine to support joint health in larger dogs.

AvoDerm Natural Dog Food

• The formula of this dog food is brown rice and chicken meal.
• The nutritional composition of this food is 20% crude protein, 8% crude fat, and 5% fiber.
• This formula of dog food contains omega rich avocado and avocado oil to promote coat and skin health.
• This dog food is made in the USA.

With almost five stars and over one thousand reviews on Amazon, this diet dog food is hard to miss.  AvoDerm Natural Dog Food is formulated with a large quantity of healthy and natural ingredients that will make any dog owner feel good about feeding it to their beloved pet.  In addition, for both weight loss and as a sign of transparency in the company, this dog food is one of the few that lists its caloric information on its packaging.  A detail that will make managing your dogs diet that much easier.

Instinct Original Grain-Free Rabbit Meal Formula Natural Dry Dog Food

• The formula of this dog food is rabbit meal.
• This kibble variety is 100% grain free.
• The nutritional composition of this food is 33% crude protein, 20% crude fat, and 5.5% fiber.
• This formula of dog food contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote coat and skin health.
• This dog food is made in the USA.

Just because Instinct Original isn’t specifically formulated for diet purposes doesn’t mean you should pass this dog food up.  While this food is more calorie-heavy than its diet geared brethren, the heavy amount of protein combined with a good sized serving of healthy fats is enough to keep even a big dog more than satisfied. With the filling nature of the food and its natural ingredients, your dieting dog will barely notice the reduction of snack time.

Purina Pro Plan Focus Weight Management Large Breed Dog Food

• The nutritional composition of this food is 26% crude protein, 9% crude fat, and 5.5% fiber.
• This formula of dog food contains both biotin and omega-6 fatty acids to promote coat and skin health.
• This formula contains glucosamine to promote joint health for larger dog breeds.
• This dog food is manufactured in the USA.

Longtime veterans in the dog food market, Purina rises to the competition with this line of large breed diet dog food.  Low fat and high protein already make this food an obvious potential diet choice for dogs without any other frills.  Not to fall behind other brands, Purina Pro Plan contains glucosamine for often joint afflicted heavier large breeds.

Conclusion

Even for responsible pet owners weight gain can sneak up on a dog and cause all sorts of trouble.  But rest assured, this trouble can be easily banished even for large dogs.  With the huge market of weight management dog food out there for large breeds, a healthy weight for your dog can be achievable just with one simple change.

The post 5 Weight Management Dog Food Varieties for Your Large Breed appeared first on GoBarking.com.

The answer to that is yes, but it is definitely not recommended. This is mainly because a dog’s nutritional requirements cannot be fulfilled by eating cat food as it is designed for a feline body and not a canine’s.

What You Need to Know About Dogs and Cat Food

Some pet owners are under the impression that dog and cat food is almost the same product, except for the labeling on the package. This, however, is not true. Dogs are more or less omnivores and cats are obligate carnivores and as such their nutritional requirements will vary significantly.

Dogs need a good balance of protein and carbohydrates, whereas cats need more protein. Cat food contains a large amount of protein, which is way more than what dogs need. It also contains a significant amount of fat, that is not good or dogs.

Dogs are not exactly omnivores. However, their primary source of food should be meat. Cats, on the other hand, are extremely carnivorous, just like the bigger counterparts in the wild and need much more meat to get their daily nutritional requirements.

You will also notice various differences in the body structure of a dog and a cat. Dogs may have sharp teeth, however, when you look at cats, you can tell that their primary instinct is to attack.

There are actually millions of years of evolution between cats and dogs, so they are very different in physical features and attributes as well as tendencies. Each animal’s nutritional requirements are just as unique.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

Yes, however, it should only be given as a treat sparingly and occasionally. Feeding your dog cat food on a regular basis may lead to complications. Cat food is designed for cats and will not give your dog the nutrition he needs, and as a result, he may end up with vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Dogs can eat cat food on occasion, and they will be fine. However, there is always that possibility that cat food will cause gastrointestinal discomfort and problems for your dog. Obesity and pancreatitis are another two issues that could arise from your dog eating cat food too often.

The high protein content in cat food is usually hard on your dog’s liver and kidneys, which is why it is suggested that you refrain from feeding your dog cat food regularly. Try not to feed your dog cat food, as it may become a habit.

Your dog may also develop an acquired taste for cat food if he eats it all the time and may end up refusing to eat his own dog food. So this is a possibility that you must be open to when feeding your dog cat food.

If you absolutely must feed it to him, make sure it is done in moderation. Give it to him as a treat only and not as a complete meal.

Health Benefits of Cat Food For Dogs

As far as research goes, the health benefits of cat food for dogs are unknown. There seem to be lots of information about the side effects and complications that cat food has on dogs, however, most experts say that cat food can be given to dogs in moderation.

The risk of feeding cat food to your dog regularly is that they will experience discomfort from an upset stomach. Cat food is too protein dense and your dog’s system is not designed to digest or break down this much protein.

When is Cat Food Bad For Dogs?

The high protein content of cat food places increased pressure on dogs’ liver and kidneys. Cat food is not designed to be ingested or broken down by your dog’s body.

This is why in many cases, dogs that eat too much cat food suffer from an upset stomach. Dogs need a balanced diet including fiber and protein, while cat food is high in protein and fat, which is designed to be nutritionally beneficial to your cat.

The high-fat content in cat food is definitely not good for your dog. In fact, dogs that regularly consume cat food could end up obese. Furthermore, they stand the risk of developing pancreatitis.

Kitten food has been known to be even more harmful to your dog because of its even higher content of protein and fat. Other ailments that regularly eating cat food can lead to are vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal complications and discomfort.

While your dog may not die from eating cat food or even eating it regularly, it does not have good side effects on your dog. In most cases, a dog will eat whatever you feed him and in other cases, he develops an acquired taste for certain foods.

Your dog does not know any better and you as the owner should be doing what is best for him. Do what is best for your canine friend and only feed him dog food designed especially for his breed and size.

What to Do If My Dog Gets Sick From Eating Cat Food?

If your dog has gone on a cat food binge, you will notice a few signs and symptoms of this.  Your dog will most likely suffer from an upset stomach due to the high levels of protein in cat food. Dogs with more sensitive stomachs will suffer more severe symptoms than those with a stronger tummy.

If your dog has eaten too much cat food then he will most likely be vomiting or have diarrhea. This is simply the body’s way of getting rid of the excess protein, fat and whatever else is causing your dog discomfort. So if you see him doing this, do not be alarmed. However, if it goes for a prolonged period of time, then you will definitely need to contact your vet.

Your vet will advise you to bring him in for an examination to determine the extent of the damage to your dog food. If he feels that some medication, hydration, and rest will get your dog up and running in no time, then he will most likely send your dog home.

However, if he feels that there is more permanent damage to your dog, for example, if he picks up pancreatitis then he will have to keep him in. Pancreatitis is caused by eating cat food for a long time. It will not arise after one or even two cat food binges from your dog. In order for a dog to suffer from this condition, he has to be eating cat food for quite some time. This type of damage is caused by prolonged exposure to cat food.

In this case, other medication will need to be administered and you will most likely need to leave him at the vet for a longer period of time.

It is a good idea to also take along a sample of the vomit so that your vet can take it for further testing. This is just to make sure that it was only cat food that was eaten and nothing else that could possibly be fatal. The sample will also give your vet a better understanding and idea of what it happening to your dog.

Your dog should recover from the symptoms of cat food binging after a few days, so there is no cause for concern unless your vet says so.The best advice is to keep your dog as far away from cat food as you can and if he manages to somehow get his hands on it and binges, your vet is the first point of contact.

The Final Verdict – Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

To sum things up, cat food is not recommended for dogs. It has way too much protein and fat for your dog and could end up causing unpleasant symptoms, especially if your dog has a sensitive stomach.

The vitamins and minerals in cat food are specially provided for cats and will not give your dog a balanced diet. In fact, it will cause him to be malnourished. It is better to feed your dog treats that you make for him at home or store bought treats specifically made for dogs.

As pet owners, it is our responsibility to feed our dog’s food that is nutritious and beneficial to them.

The post Can Dogs Eat Cat Food? Everything You Need to Know appeared first on GoBarking.com.

If you live with a little furry dog, you might be wondering if your furry friend can indulge in the same tasty treats that you enjoy so much. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. There is quite a bit of information out there about what dogs can and can’t eat. Here is what you need to know to answer the all-important question can dogs eat watermelon.

Watermelon as a Treat

Ultimately, it is safe to give your pup watermelon, though there are a few things you should be aware of before feeding your furry friend the treat. Watermelon is full of incredible vitamins and nutrients that are great for your pup, as well as yourself. Watermelon is also made up mostly of water, so the treat is light and tasty on those sweltering days. If you are ever concerned about what you are feeing your dog, simply ask your veterinarian whether certain foods are safe.

Your dog will probably really enjoy the sweet treat as well since it is tasty and hydrating. Of course, it is always wise to monitor your pup while they enjoy any treat, especially watermelon. You can even sit down with your dog and enjoy a little of the watermelon yourself. Later in the article, we will talk about a great DIY for frozen dog treats made with delicious watermelon, coconut milk, and honey.

What About Rinds and Seeds?

Watermelon is made up of three different parts: the fruit, the rind, and the seeds. Though watermelon is a tasty treat, you should avoid feeding your pup a few parts of the watermelon. The seeds should be avoided. They have been known to cause choking and intestinal issues in many breeds of dog. You should be sure to remove any and all seeds before serving your pup watermelon. There are some seedless watermelons that you might be able to cube up and serve your furry friend.

Likewise, rinds are not suitable for pups to chew on or eat. Rinds are not easy for animals, especially dogs, to digest. They are hard as well, making them quite the choking hazard. Before serving your dog watermelon, you should be sure to remove the rind from the fruit. Another great way to have rind free watermelon is to purchase pre-sliced or cubed watermelon pieces, but you should make sure they are seedless. Many grocery stores sell this kind of watermelon during the summer when the fruit is in season.

You Might Also Like: Can Dogs Eat Cat Food? Everything You Need To Know

Health Benefits

Believe it or not, there are many health benefits that we can enjoy just from eating watermelon. Full of vitamins and nutrients, watermelon is great for our health. It is also a great source of vitamins and nutrients for your furry pal as well. Watermelon is loaded with potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. For your little pup, watermelon can help boost their overall immune system, helping keep them from getting sick.

On hot days, watermelon can be beneficial to your pup because of the water found in the fruit. This light treat is perfect for keeping your dog cool off, even on the hottest of days. Your pup’s portions should be limited since this treat can cause your dog diarrhea when eaten too much. If you think your dog could benefit from the nutrients found in watermelon, then giving your pup a few slices every once in awhile will not be harmful to your pal. If you are concerned, it is always wise to ask your veterinarian any questions about foods your pup can and cannot eat.

How to Prepare the Treat

When you are preparing a nice little bowl of watermelon for your pup, you need to remember that less is more. Your dog doesn’t need a huge platter of watermelon since fruit is often difficult for animals to digest. If you have a smaller dog, you might want to give them only a few melon cubes. A larger dog might be able to handle a little bit more. It is always best to start with smaller slices and servings when first feeing your dog watermelon. They might not be able to handle the fruit without having an upset stomach.

Before giving your pup their treat, you should remove all seeds and the rind from each watermelon piece. The best way to do this is to either purchase seedless cubed watermelon pieces or seedless watermelons. If you can’t find either, it is just as simple to purchase a regular watermelon, remove the seeds, and remove the fruit from the rind before serving it to your pup. Remember to monitor your pup while they enjoy their tasty treat.

A Little DIY

During extremely hot days, you might want to change up your pup’s treats to help keep them cooler during those warm months. Watermelon is a great treat, yes, but you can take it just one step further to create a splendid concoction to help keep your dog cool and satisfied.

Start by preparing a little watermelon like normal for your pup. Add a little coconut milk, not almond milk since almonds have adverse reactions on your pet, and a little honey with your watermelon to create a nice taste.

Mix your ingredients together, pour it into silicone molds, and pop them into the freezer like shown in this YouTube video. Not only can your pup enjoy these tasty, frozen treats, but you can eat along with them as well.

These tasty frozen watermelon treats you can serve to your pup all summer long, just don’t forget to remove any seeds and rind before mixing up the tasty treats.

Anything Else?

If you didn’t know, it is always best to consult with your vet before feeding your dog anything from the kitchen table. However, there are several other fruits and vegetables that your precious pup can enjoy with you, though they should all be eaten in moderation. Just like watermelon, apples and tomatoes are great sources of nutrients and vitamins for your pooch. Remember to remove all seeds or pits from fruits that you feed your dog to ensure that they do not choke or experience toxicity from the seeds.

Just like there are healthy fruits for your dog, there are also some that should be avoided under every circumstance. Grapes, raisins, avocado, and onions are extremely dangerous and toxic to all dogs. These fruits should be avoided no matter what since they can cause serious problems to your pup’s health. Likewise, apricot pits, cherry pits, peach pits, and apple seeds are all toxic to your dog as well, but these fruits are safe for your furry friend to eat, though in moderation.

In Conclusion

Summertime brings with it heat ways and humid weather. For your pup, these summer months can be quite a bummer. Instead of just giving your pup water or ice to help them cool down, you can try a delicious treat that even you might enjoy eating. Watermelon is perfect for your little pup to snack on during the hot summer months. It is full of nutrients, and the water inside the fruit is great for helping hydrate your furry friend. The best part is, you can share your watermelon with your pup as long as you remove the seeds and rinds. Your dog will thank you with a tail wag and a lick.

The post Can Dogs Eat Watermelon and Watermelon Seeds? appeared first on GoBarking.com.

Different types of dog foods and different overall diets each have their passionate advocates and detractors. Many people treat their animals as their children and are willing to go to any lengths to feed them the best possible diet, no matter how much time or money it takes.

But what if you have time and money constraints but still want to do right by your dog? Should you feel guilty if you can’t afford the organic, all natural, whole grain or no grain, human-grade ingredient stuff? Should you forego having a canine companion if you don’t have time to cook food for it?

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, had similar questions, and she and co-author Malden Nesheim dug into the research and wrote a book, Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat. Their surprising findings may reassure you about your pet’s diet.

Most Words on the Label Are Meaningless

While you can still buy basic dog kibble like Purina Dog Chow, many higher-priced brands tout their foods as better for your dogs, using labels like “premium” or “all-natural.” There are no official regulatory definitions for these words, and no standards that the foods have to maintain to have a particular label.

One label that is meaningful is “human-grade”, which means all ingredients are at the same standard required for human food production and in fact, are often manufactured in the same production facilities. Is it better? Dr. Nestle says that the biggest health risk with any dog foods is not the ingredients but contamination during manufacture. For this reason, human grade food may be somewhat safer but there are frequent recalls of human food for contamination as well.

“Complete and Balanced” Is What Matters

The most important words to look for are “complete and balanced”, which indicates that the dog food meets the nutritional requirements for pet foods set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Just about every pet food sold meets these basic standards, and contains similar ingredients. Non-premium, lower-priced brands have the same ingredients as the premium ones, but bulked out with more grains, and more meat, poultry, and fish by-products.

Just about every pet food sold meets these basic standards, and contains similar ingredients. Non-premium, lower-priced brands have the same ingredients as the premium ones, but bulked out with more grains, and more meat, poultry, and fish by-products.

There Is Very little Research Evaluating the Value of Different Types of Dog Diets

Nestle and Nesheim found almost no research comparing dog health and longevity when fed with premium vs. store brand dog foods, or commercial dog foods vs. home prepared food or raw diets. Any claims for one being intrinsically better than another is based on anecdotal evidence only, and is colored by people’s beliefs about what foods are healthy, whether it’s organic, high protein, whole grain, grain-free, or even kosher.

All Commercial Dog Food Is Made From By-products of Human Food Production

Dr. Nestle found that commercial dog food fills an important ecological niche, in using up meat and vegetable by-products that are left over from human food production. Not only would these be thrown out, adding to the food waste going into landfills, but she points out that feeding all pets on cooked human foods would strain the food production system severely.

“If everyone cooked human food for the 472 million cats and dogs in America, it would be like feeding an additional 42 million people,” she said in a New York Times interview.

What’s in the Food Is Less of a Problem Than How Much Food Dogs Eat

Like humans, dogs in the United States have a weight problem and it has the same underpinning as the human obesity issue: too many calories taken in, and not enough exercise burning the calories up. Feeding your dog too much of the highest quality food is ultimately worse for your companion than feeding it the correct amount of the cheapest nutritionally balanced kibble out there.

The bottom line:  feeding a pet basic supermarket food is not cruel. If it is labeled as “complete and balanced”, it has what your dog needs to survive, and is healthier than the diet of scraps and forage that most of the world’s dogs eat.

Some dogs have allergies and do better with or without particular ingredients, and if people feel better feeding their dogs premium or home made dog food, that’s fine. But no pet owner should be guilty about not being able to afford expensive dog food.

The post The Surprising Truth About Dog Food: No Proof That Premium Brands are Better  appeared first on GoBarking.com.

Where Did the Raw Food Movement Come From?

Working dogs, such as sled dogs and racing greyhounds, have been fed raw foods for several years. However, feeding raw food to pet dogs is a relatively modern idea. It was first put forward by Australian veterinarian, Ian Billinghurst, in 1993.

There are two types of raw diets: commercial raw food diets and raw diets prepared at home. Commercial raw foods are sold either fresh or frozen, normally in the form of meat patties. A raw diet prepared at home will usually consist of both organ and muscle meat, bones, vegetables, grains, and supplements.

Raw food diets are meant to imitate the dog’s ancestral diet. Dogs are descended from the wolf, an animal that’s well known for eating every part of its prey.

However, dogs have been bred and crossbred for centuries so very few dogs genetically resemble the wolf anymore. So, can a raw diet really benefit a domestic dog?

The Benefits of Raw Food to Your Dog’s Health

Advocates of the raw food diet claim that it offers lots of benefits to dogs and dog owners. Some of these advantages include:

Food Safety

Within the past couple of years, there have been several recalls of commercial grain-based kibble. When you prepare your dog’s meal at home, you know what you’re putting into it and where the ingredients were sourced. You can prepare it to exclude foods that your dog is allergic to. The same can’t be said for commercial dog food.

Kibble often has chemicals added to it to extend its shelf life which undermines its nutritional value. On the other hand, commercial raw dog food is frozen and therefore has no need for chemical preservatives. Raw dog food prepared at home is usually fresh and therefore ideal for growing dogs.

Better Health

People who have successfully switched their dog from a commercial food diet to raw food have said that their dogs have developed shinier coats, increased energy levels and smaller stools.

The Potential Disadvantages of the Raw Food Diet

With all of these health benefits in mind, it would seem that feeding your dog raw food would be a no-brainer. However, there are those who maintain that the raw food diet is risky for the following reasons:

Bacteria in Raw Meat

Raw dog food has been found to contain salmonella and E. coli. Both of these pathogens are known to cause damage to both humans and dogs. The bacteria is shed in the canine’s stool and can be transferred to humans. Both E. coli and salmonella bacteria can be especially dangerous to people with auto-immune diseases, the elderly and, small children.

Unbalanced Diet

When switching to a raw food diet, lots of people are tempted to feed their dog meat only. But a dog needs more than a high protein diet. The meat needs to be balanced with nutrients from grains and vegetables.

Choking Hazard From Eating Whole Bones

Dogs can choke on bones. If swallowed, sharp bones can also cause lacerations and obstructions in the intestinal system.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Changing the diet too suddenly can cause diarrhea and other intestinal issues. If your pet has a longstanding digestive condition, it could be exacerbated by the sudden introduction of raw foods to the diet.

Mixing equal amounts of raw food with commercial kibble is also dangerous. A dog’s digestive system processes raw meat as a protein and grain-based kibble as a starch. Combining proteins and starches can confuse the body and cause your dog to develop digestive issues.

To prevent this, introduce the raw food as a treat first and then monitor the stool to see how your dog is reacting. If he reacts favourably to the raw treat, then increase the amount of raw food in the diet gradually.

If you do decide to stop buying commercial dog food, you should first consult a veterinarian to ensure that your dog does not have any pre-existing conditions that may make him vulnerable to some of the drawbacks of raw food.

Making a drastic change to dog’s diet is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Be sure that you truly understand the pros and cons before you make the switch.

The post The Pros and Cons of Feeding Your Dog a Raw Food Diet appeared first on GoBarking.com.