How To Make A Dog’s Dinner
February 1, 2012 by Owen Jones · Comments Off
What goes to make a dog’s dinner? The phrase implies a mess, but most dogs’ dinners these days look fairly appetizing – a bowl of pleasant-smelling biscuits or half a tin of something that seems like cold meat pie filling.
It all looks very lovely to us humans. And that is the whole point – dog food is sold to humans on its looks and aroma.
We don’t actually know what the dog thinks of it. We just know that they wolf it down, but then so would you if you were famished and you knew that the likelihood was that that was all you would get offered.
The fact is that a dog will eat almost anything if there is sufficient sugar or and salt in it. I had a collie-cross that would eat anything I offered her except Brussels sprouts (she would take them politely and throw them around, but she would not eat them).
It stands to reason that you will not get a can of decent pie filling for a dollar, so whatever is in there cannot be best beef. Yet it has to be fit for human consumption, so what is it? Well, to start with, the gravy is probably manufactured of carcass scrapings and blood, thickened with flour.
That would make it quite nourishing, but not as appetizing as it looks. The ‘lumps of meat’ are probably not meat. They are most probably offal and soy or something similar. Again, not a bad thing, but not what it is intended to look like to us and the dog will absolutely know that it is not meat.
So what ought to constitute a dog’s dinner? In the wild, a pack of wolves would bring down, say, a deer and rip its stomach open. The contents thereof are the first course. Since wolves by and large eat vegetarian animals, the stomach contents will usually include grass, leaves and other plants.
Then they will move on to the internal organs like heart and liver. The stomach and organs are the best bits and just the top dogs get them. Once they are gone, they rip the carcass apart and devour the meat. Later they chew on the bones.
Those are the guiding principles for making a dog’s dinner. if you cook your own evening meal, cook a bit extra for the dog. Liquidize the vegetables to imitate the chewed food that would be in the deer’s stomach. Most decent butchers will have ‘pets’ mince’ or a mixture that they use for producing faggpts (meatballs).
This pet mince normally contains off-cuts, offal and bits of internal organs, some skin, stomach lining and arteries – all the bits they could not sell to their modern customers. That takes care of the dog’s natural second and third courses.
The butcher will also set some bones aside for his best customers, which you will become if you purchase your own and your dog’s food there. Feed the meat raw mixed with the blended vegetables. Add an egg and some dry porridge oats to bind it all and provide fibre and you have the ideal dog’s dinner.
This sort of meal will vary on its own because you do not eat the same vegetables every day. You could add an apple or other fruit and celery is good as well.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Emergency for Dogs. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at What To Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate.
Dogs With Diabetes
July 31, 2011 by Wayne Harley · Comments Off
How could you tell if your dog might possibly have diabetes? In the wide majority of cases, it is not very common for younger dogs to contract diabetes, but if your pet is older than 4 years old and is exhibiting other symptoms, then the possibility for diabetes could be a real one. Diabetes in dogs is quite a bit more common in females. Many of a dog’s symptoms are much like those of diabetes in humans.
Signs Your Dog May Have Diabetes
* Canine diabetes can begin with an out of shape, overweight dog. This is not always true though; in some breeds it can be in the gene pool. Being obese can be a dangerous sign though.
* Diabetes typically happens in dogs close to the ages of 7 to 9.
* With bigger dogs there is more of a possibility to get diabetes than there is with a littler breed.
* Watch for unquenchable thirst. If this happens, do not try to limit your dog’s water intake. This is necessary because your dog will require all the water it desires to help keep from becoming dehydrated.
* Drinking so often means he/she will need to use the bathroom more often. Your pet, the one you’ve worked so hard to house train so well could start having accidents more often on your carpet. Why? They are not used to carrying around so much liquid in their bladder. Much like the chicken and the egg, and the debate of which came first, the need for water or the need to urinate has been discussed both ways.
* Your dog may begin dropping weight quickly and unusually, even though she is eating more and could start moving slowly and showing signs of being worn out, acting very fatigued.
* Your dog may begin losing their eyesight, having issues seeing.
Preventing diabetes in your dog:
1. If you see your dog beginning to gain weight, or if they are already overweight, lower the number of carbohydrates they consume. Yes, much like humans, a large number of carbohydrates add to to weight gain, which adds to the probability of diabetes. Many common dog foods have ingredients that include as much as 98% carbohydrates. Read the food labels and gather as much information as you can about your dog breed to make sure that he is receiving the correct amount of nutrients. Making the switch to a healthier dog food can be an enormous step towards the right direction.
2. Get lots of exercise! A lot of dogs get diabetes that could be completely avoided if they had kept exercising and not gotten out of shape. This is where you and your family can pitch in, as the dog owners. If your dog stays sedentary and out of shape, he can contract diabetes even if he is not a breed that is typically at risk.
As of this writing there is not a cure for diabetes. Work together with your vet to ensure that your dog gets the correct treatment and the correct medication to continue to have a happy life. Sometimes diabetes will remain all the way through your dog’s life span. To prevent diabetes symptoms in your dog, do your best to keep your dog’s weight appropriate, get him adequate exercise, and give the dog its medication on a regular basis along with enough water.
Might your dog have diabetes? Do you know what the symptoms are of dogs with diabetes?. Free reprint available from: Dogs With Diabetes.
Dealing With Diabetic Dogs And Cats
May 25, 2011 by Donnie Evans · Comments Off
Have you ever heard of diabetic dogs or diabetic cats? Well, it is not only humans that can have diabetes. Sad to say but your pets can have it, too. Diabetes is a condition wherein there is a high level of blood glucose, or hyperglycemia. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is characterized by an increase in blood sugar level because the pancreas can no longer synthesize insulin. Whereas in Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin but is insufficient. The primary function of the insulin is to regulate the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in pets than Type 1 diabetes. This is because of processed foods consumed by your pets which are usually high in fats and carbohydrates, and thus, giving you low values in terms of nutrients. Weakening of lower limbs is common among cats with diabetes, while cataract growth is seen with diabetic dogs. Around 90% of pets can acquire Type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, hunger, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Any behavioral changes in your pet can be alarming, so have a meeting with your vet to learn more about these changes.
To determine whether your pet is suffering from diabetes, laboratory tests are necessary. Obtain urine sample from your pet and use urine strip to determine the rate of sugar in urine. Blood can be extracted by pricking your pet’s ear or lip. You can use a special glucometer for pets to determine the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. However, never use human glucometer because results may be different. Human red blood cells are very much different from animal cells. So to acquire accurate reading of glucose in the blood, use pet glucometer.
Early detection of the disease can prevent complications such as blindness for the dogs and paralysis on cats. Injection of insulin, medication and proper diet are necessary. Insulin metabolism is much faster in cats than in dogs. So, more frequent injection or medication is given to cats. Insulin should be refrigerated should not be administered when in frozen or heated state. Your vet will prescribe the correct amount of insulin per injection, thus, never give your pets more than the prescribed amount of insulin because this may cause hypoglycemia.
Proper nutrition is very important to manage diabetes. Learn the right diet and workout for your pet to control blood sugar. Foods that are commercially made are favored than canned foods. A diabetic diet consists of fewer fats and carbohydrates, and more proteins. Canned foods may be given, however, check carefully the contents of nutrients present. Homemade foods can also be provided for your pets but never give foods that are dry. Dry foods like some canned goods contain a great amount of carbohydrates.
Always check with your vet what the proper diet for diabetic pets is when you decide to give them homemade foods. Also, ask all appropriate exercise for your pet, especially for obese pets. Observe for any signs of hypoglycemia such as lethargy, sleepiness, sweating, hunger, and shakiness. So, better be aware of the symptoms of both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia to prevent further complications.
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How to detect diabetes symptoms in your pets and care for them
March 12, 2009 by Roy Jones Cynthia Smith, RN · Comments Off
Domesticated animals can also develop diabetes. Cats and dogs are regularly diagnosed with The Disease. Frequent vet checks can often check for the disease the symptoms get severe.
This is usually very scary for the owner of the pet, as most humans consider their pets as members of the family. Usually the first question asked of a veterinarian when first hearing that your pet does have diabetes is will you have to put your best friend down? This answer greatly depends on the age and overall health of your pet.
The treatment of the animal depends of the overall health, with age playing a factor in the issue of diabetes.
If a dog or cat is diagnosed with diabetes it can live just as long as a dog or cat without. This takes proper care from both the vet and the owner.
Like previously stated, this takes a lot of commitment and determination on the owners part. They have to constantly watch their pet daily, and make sure they are patient with their pet to make sure they get the proper care that they need.
Most pets require a daily routine of medicines and diet in order to treat the animal’s disease. Commitment from the owner provides the pet with a comfortable life.
Monitoring the animal’s diet will be part of the treatment. The owner will also have to watch for behavioral changes that can also be a symptom of diabetes.
What does it mean for me as an owner when my pet may have diabetes? Don’t worry overly much. Educate yourself to be able to detect the signs and symptoms of the disease. Part of this education should be knowing what to do if something serious happens.
Along with emotional and physical monitoring, the financial aspect is another subject to be discussed with the veterinarian.



