We will be starting a new post every friday that gives quick answers to all your questions!
Whether it's about nutrition, training or holistic therapies. We will give you the straight facts and a fast answer! Our questions this week are regarding nutrition...
Barbi asks: What did dogs eat before bagged kibble?
Great question! Dogs existed as our companions for thousands of years before 'dog food' was invented. And what did they eat? Mostly dogs survived off of our scraps and leftovers. This varied greatly depending on their environment, most dogs received scraps from the butchering of animals for our food, scavenged for whole small animals, eggs, etc. It has also been said that dogs belonging to royalty were prepared very special meals with seasonings and supplements especially for them!
The very first dog food biscuit showed up around 1860, and it's creator mistakingly watched dogs scavenging for animal & grain leftovers in naval shipyards and assumed that these leftovers were a nutritionally sound diet.
His product contained wheat, beet root, vegetables and beef blood. Many more companies followed suit creating a processed food that could easily be fed to your dog. Some of these contained more animal product than others. But as the depression hit and animal products became more expensive, grains, cereals and fillers quickly became the base of many dog foods. After WWII this was an easy way to profit on the leftovers of grain processing and also provided a convenience to dog owners. Because of this, processed dog food soared in popularity, but so did the diseases and ailments that we often see today in our dogs.
In the past decade or so, owners have realized that health and behavior are directly linked to their pet's diets and the industry has been forced to make some drastic changes. Consumers really do have the power to promote change! So, what did dogs eat before dog food? Raw, whole foods. The same thing that is still best for them today!
Laurie asks: What's the best thing we can do for our dog's diet now, while they are still young that will benefit them when they get older?
(Laurie's cute pup Zia is the dog pictured here).
What a great question!! At Happy Healthy Pup, we are all about prevention, not
just treating the problem when it arises!! And Appropriate Nutrition will both play a huge role in the overall health & well-being of your pup!
This going to sound very simple. But, here's my answer: Make informed decisions. And this shouldn't just be limited to nutrition. Let me briefly address these, and then we'll get back to the nutrition issue (sorry this is the trainer in me)!
You have LOTS of decisions to make as a new puppy owner, here are the ones I believe, along with nutrition, are most crucial:
~ Vaccination schedules. All owners should be educated regarding vaccinations, what to give, when to give them and why this is important. Nowadays puppies are extremely over-vaccinated, and putting their tiny, fragile immune systems through this early on can effect their overall health and well-being & behavior later on. This also includes making an informed decision about a puppy preschool facility, as your puppy will be going here before all of their vaccinations are complete.
~ Puppy Preschool. All puppies should attend a puppy preschool regardless of size or potential role in life. An appropriate puppy preschool will set a solid foundation for your puppy, ensuring they understand such things as bite inhibition and appropriate play styles as well as desensitization to handling, noise and strange objects. This is the most important thing you will do in your puppy's life, and you only have a short window to do it in.
So... now back to nutrition!
Being informed does not mean you have to be an expert! But, do you know what your are putting into your dog? Learn to read labels... did you know that the majority of puppy 'training' treats found at grocery stores & big box pet stores are full of corn syrup? Do you really want to be feeding those to your pup at all? Especially in large amounts? Look for ingredients you recognize and natural preservatives such as vitamin e & rosemary. Look for meat based foods & treats and stay away from corn, wheat and soy.
Finally, here are our personal recommendations for creating a Happy Healthy Puppy...
Food: We will always recommended a species appropriate raw diet. For those who are unable to feed raw, we recommend a high-quality grain free food.
Water: Puppies are into anything & everything! And stress, environmental change, training, and vaccinations can take a toll on their bodies. Providing filtered water in a fountain will help encourage them to drink an appropriate amount and also help their bodies filter toxins out. This becomes even more important as they age.
Supplements: A puppy eating a healthy diet shouldn't need a bunch of supplements. But, one supplement we always recommend for puppies is Fish Oil. You should be giving 1000mg per 20lbs of body weight a day of a cold-water, cold pressed fish oil. Fish Oil aids in cellular growth, brain function and an overall feeling of well-being.
So, are there specific things we can do nutrition wise that will have a positive impact throughout your puppy's life. Absolutely! And don't worry.. if you didn't make these choices when your dog was a puppy - it is NEVER to late to start!!
Those are our questions for today - thanks Ladies! Have questions of your own? Comment here or
Contact Us on our website to let us know what you would like the answer too!
Anna Bettina
