Top 5 Reasons to Care About Your Dog's Health

By PetMD

We all know that proper nutrition is a cornerstone of good human health, and hopefully the petMD Nutrition Center is helping owners understand that the same is true for their dogs. Unfortunately, knowledge alone isn’t enough.

Knowledge has to be put into action, but this is often easier said than done. I know that I don’t always make the best food choices myself. Stress, cravings, and a lack of time and energy can all overwhelm my best intentions. But do these excuses also play a role in canine nutrition? They shouldn’t! Here’s why:

1. Balanced Canine Nutrition is Convenient

In the rush of the morning or after a long day at work, it can be difficult to find the time put together a balanced meal for you and your family. It’s so much easier just to pick up a burger and fries on the way home or pull something out of the freezer.

No excuses on the canine side of things. What could be more convenient than a bag of dog food that offers a completely balanced meal with each and every scoop? You can use the MyBowl tool to examine your dog’s food label to make sure he is getting what he needs from his current diet, and to compare different foods if you think a change might be called for.

2. Dog Food Has Wholesome Ingredients

This one isn’t too tough either. Next time you are shopping for dog food, look at the ingredient lists for a couple of different products. Do you see things like chicken and whole grain oats? If you spend a few minutes in the store or online making sure that your dog’s food is made from wholesome ingredients like these, you don’t have to worry about it on a day to day basis.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sandi C.

6:53AM PDT on Apr 12, 2012

ONLY HAVE KITTIES!

send a green star

Carrie Anne B.

6:52AM PDT on Apr 12, 2012

thanks for sharing :)

John S.

6:33AM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

Only use dry food, a high quality one, but dried. Think it's better for their teeth, but I do add some cod liver oil to it.

Ra S.

4:56PM PDT on Mar 29, 2012

A good article, although the title is misleading.

Hattie F.

9:08AM PDT on Mar 29, 2012

i stick with one kind of dgo food it is the best instead switching it around is not good thy have to stay healthy

Darla G.

6:37PM PDT on Mar 26, 2012

Oh, hell, my dogs eat WAY better than I do. They also get much better health care than I do. Yeah, that's all my fault b/c it's choices that I make for myself. But b/c my dogs can't make those choices, it's why I am diligent on their behalf.

Mary Beth M.

7:51PM PDT on Mar 24, 2012

If you have several big dogs, you may need to rely on commercial pet food. There are many reputable sites listing the top 10 dog foods. Well worth the price. Alternating raw food with kibble is one way to get the best of both worlds.

Gail R.

4:18PM PDT on Mar 24, 2012

Reading pet food labels is somewhat pointless when you are aware that, by law in USA , pet food manufacturers are allowed to change the ingredients of their foods and have 6 months to change the label to match, so it may be pure fiction! People also need to be aware that many pet foods are made in China - does that raise a red flag?
I'm a pet nutritionist and my dogs and cats don't get any commercial foods, they get good quality poultry, meat (no pork) and eggs along with whatever vegetables I'm having. This way I know what they are eating! It is quick and easy plus - I save money.

Sherri G.

9:04AM PDT on Mar 23, 2012

Start reading dog and cat food labels and prepare to be shocked.

My cat was having food allergies and I started reading labels and was stunned at the stuff in her food.

I now feed them all good kibble with no grain, one protein source and a supply of greens and fruit. They all LOVE it, and the food allergy is all but gone.

Your animal companions should be members of the family, and they should be treated as such with food and medical care.

The bottom line is - if you wouldn't eat it - don't give it to them.

Lydia P.

5:39AM PDT on Mar 23, 2012

Dog's diets have adapted over time to approximate that of humans. Our diets evolved over millions of years as we changed, but dogs evolution has taken place rapidly due to genetic interference by breeding. Man has always fed his dogs from his own plate. With very few true exceptions (chocolate, etc.), what is good for you is good for them. Dogs thrive on a cooked diet with raw and cooked vegetables and fruits added. Commercial dog food of good quality is nutritious and convenient, just as breakfast cereal is for us. If you prepare your own food, they require multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for optimal health (so do you, our foods are not as nutritious as they used to be). Do what's good and right for you and your dog. Everything balanced and in moderation. The occasional doughnut or pizza won't kill either of you.