Acne
Acral Lick Granulomas
Addison's disease
Adenovirus Type 2
Aggression - intercat
Agression
Allergies & Hay Fever
Anal Sac Problems
Anemia
Arthritis
Asthma
Attacks (Ankle Biting)
Back & Disk Problems
Bad Breath
Barking
Begging
Behavior - Destructive Scratching
Birthing
Bites
Bladder
Bleeding
Bordetella
Boredom
Brucellosis
Burrs
Canine Distemper Virus
Car Chasing
Car sickness
Cardiologist
Cardiomyopathy
Cat Blood Types
Cat Flu
Cataract Surgery
Cataracts
Cerebellar Hypoplasia
Chewing
Chlamydiosis
Chocolate toxicity
Claw Problems
Cold Weather
Congenital Heart Disease
Constipation
Coomb's test
Coprophagia
Coronavirus Vaccination
Coughing
Craniomandibular Osteopathy
Cushing's Disease
D-ACVR
Dandruff
Deafness
Declawing
Degree of Luxation
Dehydration
Dental Problems
Depression
Destructive Behavior
Diabetes
Diabetes - sudden onset or ketoacidotic diabetes
Diabetes Control
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus or Type 1 Diabetes
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - Chronic
Digging
Distemper Vaccination
Distichiasis
Dizziness
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
DNA General Information
DNA Profile
Dominant
Drooling
Dung Eating
DVM
Ear Mites
Ehrlichiosis
Elbow Dysplasia
Epilepsy and Seizure.
Estrus or Heat cycle
Eye Irritation
Fears
Feeding your pet
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Feline Leukemia
Feline Leukemia Treatment
Femoral Head Ostectomy
Fever
Fibrosarcoma
Fibrosarcoma - Vaccine Related
Fighting
Flatulence
Flea Control
Flea Life Cycle
Fleas
Food Allergy & Sensitivity
Fussy Eating
General Legg-Calve-Perthes Information
General Thyroid Information
Genes
Genetics of Deafness in Dogs
Genotype
Giardia
Hair Balls
Heart murmur
Heart Problems
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm Disease Testing
Heartworm Treatment
Heartworms
Heat cycle
Hemangiosarcoma
Hemolytic Anemia
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)
Hepatic Lipidosis
Heterozygous
Hip Dysplasia
Hives
Homozygous
Hot Spots
Hot Spots or Acute Moist Pyoderma
Hot Weather Concerns
House Training
Hygroma
Hyperadrenocorticism
Hyperthyroidism
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD)
Hypoadrenocorticism
Hyposomatotrophism
Illness - Caring for your pet
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
In Heat
Insect Bites & Stings
Insulin Regulation
Intussusception
Itch Control
Itching
Jealousy
Jumping Up
Kennel cough
Keratoconjunctivitis (CIKS)
Lameness
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (aseptic or avascular necrosis of the femoral head)
Leishmaniasis
Leptospirosis Vaccination
Lice
Licking
Lipoma
Litterpan Behavior Problems
Liver shunt
Lumps & Bumps
Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus, Discoid
Lyme Disease (Borrelia) Bacterin
Malassezia ear infection
Mange
Mating Problems
Matted Coat
Megacolon
Megaesophagus
Mendelian Inheritance
Meowing
Moist Pyoderma
Monogenic
Moving Anxiety
MS
Myasthenia Gravis
Nausea
Nipping & Biting
Noise Anxiety
Nosebleeds
Odor
Overwieght
Palpation
Pancreatitis
Panosteitis
Parainfluenza Vaccination
Paroxysmal Respiration
Parvovirus
Parvovirus - Transmission
Parvovirus Vaccination
Paw
Pemphigus
Perianal Adenoma
Phenotype
Pilling a cat
Pituitary Dwarfism or Hyposomatotrophism
Pityrosporum
Pneumothorax
Poisoning
Polygenic
Porcupine Quills
Pregnancy
Pregnancy - False
Prolapse
Prostate Problems
Pruritis
Rabies Vaccination
Radial Nerve Paralysis
Recessive
Reproduction - When to Breed
Reproduction - When to Neuter
Reproduction - When to Spay
Rhinotracheitis
Ringworm
Salivation
Schnauzer Comedone Syndrome
Sebaceous Adenitis Information
Seizure Activity
Seizure Control
Separation Anxiety
Shedding
Sinus Problems
Skunk Spray
Sleeping Problems
Spay/Neuter - Early
Specialist
Spine
Spondylosis
Spontaneous Iris Melanosis
Spraying
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Sublaxation, Hip
Sunburn
Tail Problems
Teething
The Dysplastic Joint
The Three Faces of Elbow Dysplasia
Ticks
Tracheobronchitis
Transitional Vertebrae
Tree Cats
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
Ulcers
Unilateral dysplasia
Urinary Tract Infections
Urination, submissive and excitement
Vaginal prolapse
Vascular Ring Anomaly
Vena Caval Syndrome
Vestibular Syndrome
Vision - How dogs see
Vision Problems
Vomiting
What is Patellar Luxation?
Whisker Problems
White Dog Shaker Syndrome
Wool Sucking
Worms
Wounds
Feeding your pet
The bottom line on pet foods is simple. We have a rough idea of the essential nutrients necessary for pets. We know some of the toxic levels for nutrients. Other than that, it is hard to be sure about any nutritional claims.
Studying nutrient needs is extremely complex. There are a great number of theories about what constitutes "proper" nutrition. For every good thing you hear about a food, there are likely to be as many bad things. Making sense of this is very difficult. There is no single food that is "best" for all makes and models of dogs.
Some things seem to be clear, though. Pets do require certain nutrients. A good way to ensure that the pet foods you feed your pets contain adequate nutrients is to look for a statement that the food meets AAFCO Food Trial testing standards. This is an organization which sets standards for pet foods. Most good quality foods will have this statement on their label. It is at least a good start in ensuring that your pet's diet is adequate.
Some people are currently advocating diets containing raw meat for pets. Before feeding raw meat, please stop to consider the health warnings for humans concerning raw meat. Dogs get the same illnesses from E. coli, Salmonella, Toxoplasmosis and other health hazards associated with raw or undercooked meat. Is the perceived benefit worth the risk of one of these diseases?
Don't let your pet teach you to feed it a poor diet. It is very easy, especially with small dogs and cats, to fall into the trap of feeding your pet what he or she wants instead of what he or she needs. Dogs are very patient trainers of human beings. If you're not paying attention, you could find that Spot is on an all meat diet in no time. It can be hard to ignore those pleading eyes, but your pet IS better off if you feed a balanced diet!
