I love cheeseburgers and have all my life. I’m sure my dog would too if that is what was offered every day. One could argue that it is a well balanced meal considering there are grains in the bun, protein in the meat, and of course the vegetables in the lettuce and tomatoes.
But how well balanced would it be if that is what I ate every single day? Morning and night, day after day. A cheeseburger. Ridiculous huh…. most dogs get worse than that. The same heat processed food day after day, year after year. No nutrition left in it at all.
Doesn’t matter if it’s organic, holistic or or what is in it the idea that one food can provide a 100% balanced diet for your dog is really sort of crazy when one thinks about it in those terms. The fact that the major dog food companies also heat produce all their food in the process of manufacturing, taking any shred of nutrition out of it is even more disturbing.
As someone who is into fitness and health for people and dogs, I realize how important what you eat everyday is to long term health. It plays a big part in how well you feel everyday. So why wouldn’t it be true for your dog as well?
Dog Food Industry
The pet food industry is a 16 billion dollar a year game and you can bet that those companies using the biggest marketing dollars to attract your conscious dog food choices aren’t worried so much about the health of your dog. The bottom line is profits. You can read more on some of the major dog food companies and it may surprise you in What’s In Your Dog’s Dinner – The Truth About Dog Food
Variety is the Key to Dog Food Balance
One of the things that has always bothered me about the protocol for feeding dogs these days is the fact that most people find a dog food that they believe is a good choice and then feed the same exact flavor week after week, month after month and year after year. Back to the cheeseburger theory, no matter how much you like cheeseburgers or how good they are for you really, how balanced to you think it could be for you if that was all you ate? Even if it came fortified with extra vitamins and minerals you can see the limitations on the concept of balance.
If you care about your dog’s health and longevity, you should care about what kind of food
is being consumed as well. Don’t be afraid to put some real food in your dog’s dish along with a quality kibble that offers variety, isn’t heat processed cooking all the good stuff out of it, and is produced somewhere besides one of the big name conglomerates like Procter and Gamble, Del Monte, or Colgate-Palmalive.
Simply being able to order a variety of foods to change the menu for your dog every couple of weeks or just a little something different every few days has got to be a good thing.
At least it is for my dogs. Check it out.
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good info an makes sense. I’ve been the raw (chicken wings etc didn’t agree w/them not good) rout, also cooked ground turkey etc, now my 3 labs are getting Innova large breed by natura. If you’re feeding kibble are you suggesting changing the brand or flavor?
.-= Deb´s last blog ..6 Strategies to Fat Proof Your Weekend =-.
Hey Deb,
Yes many people have a hard time with raw. I tend to add a bit of chicken or beef from what we had for dinner but also put bits of vegetable and fruit in their kibble.
On the kibble, yes, change it up. Same exact formula for months and years means if the food is missing something or produced in a certain way and that is all your dogs ever get there is no chance of balance.
Have always liked Innova until recently I was way bummed to find out that Proctor & Gamble just bought Natura Pet Products – the makers of California Natural, Innova and Evo. Means mass production and more influence on less ingredients and more profit….
There are many other options out there… you can check out Wysong which gives you options to order different varieties on a regular basis. Love the variety but make sure to order one type at a time (2 different items means two shipping charges). They do offer specials once you go to your cart though to try things for no shipping charge. Anyway, the dogs that I have put on it are doing great. Am always researching good dog food, and good company practices so watch the blog for updates!
Thanks so much for the info and for getting back to me. I do give them fruits, veggies and samples from dinner which is usually good stuff, grass fed beef, free range chicken, wild salmon etc. I’ll give the other a try too.
.-= Deb´s last blog ..6 Strategies to Fat Proof Your Weekend =-.
Hey K-9 coach, you recommend Wysong dry kibble. Do you know if their “Optimal Performance” food will help make my labs ph more acidic? Looking for a food that will help with that. Currently feeding her Innova large breed. Was thinking the higher protein content might help?
Deb,
It actually has helped my Lab tremendously. Here is a link with info that you’ll find interesting… https://www.wysong.net/bladder-stones-struvite/
Let me know how it goes!
Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out and will let you know