There are endless choices in dog foods. It is important to choose specially formulated diets for growth, reproduction, or maintenance, depending on the dog's stage of life. Purchasing pet foods labeled as ?complete and balanced? can help ensure that your dog's diet is nutritionally adequate.
There are three types of commercial pet foods available today -- dry, semi-moist, and canned. As long as they are complete and balanced products, all three are equally nutritious and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of dry food is its abrasive action which helps keep teeth clean. It is important to maintain a regular feeding schedule, and always provide fresh food and water with each feeding.
Obesity is a major problem with dogs in our society, since owners tend to feed table scraps in excess. Serious health problems may result from obesity. Extra weight puts a strain on the animal's heart, lungs, skeleton, and muscles, and lowers its resistance to disease. An occasional treat is fine, but many human foods can upset the dog's metabolism, and it is best to avoid bad feeding habits. Regular exercise and proper nutrition are both essential to maintain optimal weight and health.
Homemade Dog Treats REGGIE MACK'S HAPPY-TRAIL DOG BISCUITS
1 1/2 c. plain flour
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. rye flour
1 c. old-fashioned oats
1 c. cornmeal
1/4 c. liver powder (available at
health food stores)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 lg. egg
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 3/4 c. beef broth
Place rack in upper third of oven; heat to 300 degrees.
Line cookie sheet with foil. In large bowl, mix flours, oats, cornmeal, liver
powder, salt and garlic powder. Add egg, oil and broth. Mix with a wooden
spoon to make a soft dough. Dough should be soft but firm enough to roll out.
If dough is too moist, add a little more flour; if too dry, add a little more
broth or water. On floured surface, roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut
in 3 1/2 inch dog-bone biscuit shapes with floured cutter or your favorite
pattern. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Prick a line of dots
down centers, halfway through. Bake 2 hours. Turn off oven and let biscuits
stand in oven overnight to dry out and harden. Children like these too.
.gif)
