Chewed Slippers

Petspertise : Advice, news and reviews for doggie people, by doggie people (and one special doggie)

Posts Tagged ‘dog nutrition’

Natural Feeding for Dogs

Posted by David Jackson - The Foodspert on the 20th November 2009

Raw Ingredients - Natural Dog Feeding

Diet is probably the single most influential factor affecting a dog’s condition. And also the easiest to get wrong.

I firmly believe that all animals benefit enormously from eating only foods that they have evolved to eat. In doing so they are able to receive everything they need without the risks associated with unsuitable foods, allowing them to stay healthy. This is the underlying principle of natural feeding and natural dog food - stray far from it for long and the animal’s health will inevitably suffer.

Despite this fact, inappropriate ingredients like wheat, soya, maize, food derivatives and by-products continue to form the basis of the majority of complete dog foods because of their low cost, regardless of the problems they are known to cause. Similarly, food derivatives and by-products are used as alternatives to real, whole-ingredients and worse still, chemical additives are used almost universally in complete dog foods in the form of colourings, flavourings, preservatives and artificial vitamins.

This has been the unfortunate state of affairs for over half a century and as a result British vets are seeing more dogs with chronic illnesses than ever before. Even for dog owners in the know, without the time, money and knowledge necessary to prepare a balanced diet by hand, there has simply been no option. Six years ago, however, a group of passionate, natural-minded dog owners, canine nutritionists and holistic vets decided enough was enough and went about creating the UK’s first complete 100% natural dog food. A year later All In One natural dog food was born.

All In One Natural Dog Food

All In One Natural Dog Food

All in One is based on a wholesome home cooked recipe. By combining a unique range of top quality vegetables, herbs and whole grains with human grade meat, The Natural Dog Food Company has been able to ensure that everything a dog needs to stay fit and healthy is present in the raw ingredients, negating the normal need for adding potentially harmful synthetic vitamins and minerals.

Completely hypoallergenic and free from any potentially problematic ingredients, All In One is suitable for even the most sensitive of dogs and can be used as an alternative to many prescription diets. All In One natural dog food adheres strictly to holistic principles at all stages of production and is certified by the British Association of Holistic Nutrition and Medicine. It contains some of the highest levels of meat in the dog food industry and is one of the very few brands that actually uses fresh meat.

If you’re dog is feeding on All In One, I would love to hear how you’re getting on with it. And if you have any questions about your dog’s diet, then do drop me a line; either as a comment to this blog post or click here to Ask The Petsperts a question, which will be answered on blog.

David
Resident Petspert & Nutritionist

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Posted in Nutrition | No Comments »

How long does it take for a change in dog food to affect behaviour?

Posted by David Jackson - The Foodspert on the 4th November 2009

Gemma asked the Petsperts:

“I am a third year student at Liverpool John Moores University studying for my final year honours project. I am doing a study to see how different foods affect the behaviour of dogs.

I was wondering if you could please help me on a few questions:
1) How long should I take in changing over a dog’s food?
2) How long do you expect after doing so to see an effect on their behaviour?”

—

Hi Gemma,

Hopefully these answers will shed some light on your questions:

1) How long should I take in changing over a dog’s food?

Because different enzymes are produced in response to the ingestion of different foods and because in time a dog’s digestive system can become accustomed to particular ingredients, it is always best to introduce a new food gradually, mixing it in gradually, increasing proportions with the former food over at least 3 days. For dogs prone to digestive problems this can be extended to 7-10 days.

2) How long do you expect after doing so to see an effect on their behaviour?

Behavioural changes following a dietary change are generally quite quick to manifest. Hyperactivity is usually a direct consequence of inappropriate diet. By simply removing chemical additives (especially colourings and preservatives) from a dog’s diet or by reducing excessive protein and sugar levels, a hyperactive dog’s energy levels often begin returning to normal within just a few days.

Other behavioural problems such as aggression and nervousness, although rarely caused by diet, are often exacerbated by poor diet. For those dogs affected by behavioural issues, owners should look to provide a good quality, low protein (~20% for dry foods), natural food with no added sugars. In the treatment of many behavioural issues, many nutritionists seek to increase the levels of serotonin production (a neurotransmitter that has a generally calming effect in mammals) through diet. Many vegetables contain fairly high serotonin levels while whole grains like brown rice have been shown to stimulate serotonin production. Fish based diets like the Natural Dog Food Company’s All in One Salmon foods with their high levels of tryptophan - from which serotonin is made - make perfect diets for dogs suffering from behavioural problems.

Regular exercise, as well as using up some of the dog’s excess energy, also promotes the release of serotonin, resulting in a happier, calmer dog. After making these changes to a problematic dog’s diet and lifestyle, many owners will start to see significant improvements within as little as 3-4 days.

Best of luck with your studies Gemma!

David
Food Petspert

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Posted in Ask the petsperts, Dog behaviour, Nutrition | No Comments »

David the Nutritionist

Posted by David Jackson - The Foodspert on the 28th May 2009

David Jackson

Having had 10 years’ experience in the field, I’m proud to say I am the resident Nutritionist here at Chewed Slippers.

I’ve always had a passion for animal welfare. Both my parents worked for the RSPCA before taking up farming in South Wales. Growing up surrounded by animals I always saw myself becoming a vet or following my parents into the RSPCA.

I studied Zoology at the University of Wales and became fascinated by the link between an animal’s diet, its health and its behaviour. In my thesis I was able to look in some depth into this relationship and by the time I graduated it was clear that diet and animal welfare are absolutely inseparable.

As a graduate I went about increasing my understanding of animal nutrition and began training as a pet nutritionist. I spent several years working with various pet food companies up and down the country and quickly noticed not only how beneficial a suitable diet can be for our pets, but also how much damage an inappropriate food can cause. I have seen literally hundreds of cases where sick or unruly dogs improved dramatically following a simple change to natural or home-made food.

I am now working with The Natural Dog Food Company in Lincolnshire. The company was formed six years ago when a group of holistic nutritionists and vets joined forces to create the country’s first 100% natural complete dog food. They certainly share my passion when it comes to animal welfare and nutrition, and together we’re striving to raise awareness of the importance of diet in our pets’ health. Chewed Slippers certainly recognises this importance, and that’s why they are the only online retailer we’re working with.

I hope you enjoy future posts from me here on the blog. Do drop me a line with any questions.

Thanks

David

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Posted in Nutrition | No Comments »

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