Organic And Natural Pet Food
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - we have all heard this phrase
during our lives many times. Nothing could be truer when it comes to our pets.
Unfortunately, many dog owners have accepted common abnormalities as normal.
By learning to care for our dogs before they become ill, using natural and holistic
approaches, we can avoid the common disorders that are becoming more prevalent
in dogs today. Starting your puppy with a natural and organic food diet is an
excellent start for long and healthy life.
Every single part of your dog's body works together interdependently. If one
part isn't working well it can affect the total body, mind and attitude of your
dog. By understanding how your dog's entire body works together you can begin
to understand how to help your dog's overall health. When we think of health
we actually are thinking of a lack of health rather than a complete state of
wellness. The following is description of the working parts of your dog and
what should be considered normal.
Skin and Coat
There are many types of breeds of dogs having many different coats; some breeds
have short coats, long coats, coats that shed and coats that do not shed. These
differences dictate the amount of grooming needed to sustain good health in
your dog. Regardless of the type of coat your dog has, it should be clean, dry,
glossy, soft or wiry depending on then breed's normal coat. It should be without
dandruff or oiliness. Your dog should shed all year long but even more so in
the summer (excessive hair loss is never normal). Also make sure your dog's
coat does not emit a strong odor. Depending on your dog's breed, the skin should
be pink, black or spotted. Flakiness, redness, lumps or bumps on your dog's
skin is not normal and should be looked at by you veterinarian.
Teeth, Gums, and Mouth
Your puppy will typically lose its baby teeth by six months of age. The normal
puppy has twenty-eight teeth between the upper and lower jaws. The normal adult
dog will have forty-two teeth between the upper and lower jaws. Your dog's teeth
should be white and straight, and his breath should not possess an unusually
bad odor. In general, your dog's tongue and gums should be light pink. There
are some breeds where this is not the case such as the Chow Chow or Dalmatian
but normally speaking if your dog has a discolored tongue or gums he may have
a periodontal disease. Your dog's jaws should be well aligned. An excessive
under-bite or over-bite can lead to eating problems which will eventually lead
to many other health problems.
Ears
Dog's ears come in many shapes and sizes but regardless of your dog's ear shape
and size, the ear canals should be pink and clean of any discharge or odor.
Dogs with floppy ears tend to get more ear infections than those with erect
ears because their canals can not breathe as freely. Dogs that swim more frequently
also experience more ear infections. If your dog is shaking his head frequently,
scratching his ears or forehead or is rubbing his ears on furniture or other
objects are signs of illness and should be checked out by your veterinarian.
Eyes
Your dog should look alert and focused. He should not have excessive tear production
or mucus discharge coming from his eyes. Seeing these conditions suggests your
dog has some type of aliment and should not be ignored. Too many dog owners
write these types of signs off as normal which is not a good practice.
Nose
Your dog's nose should be moist and clean. There should be no discharge except
for a clear discharge, anything else is not normal. If your dog's nose is cracked,
changes color or gets erosions you should have your dog checked by your veterinarian.
Sometimes a simple change in diet can correct these types of problems.
Weight
Your dog is going to be healthiest and happiest when his weight is within a
normal range. You should be able to feel a thin layer of fat between the rib
cage and the outside of the dog's body and you should be able to feel a natural
indentation just beyond the rib cage. Your dog's ribs should not be visibly
noticeable nor should there be excessive fat covering the rib cage. An over-weight
dog is one of the most common causes for back and hip problems. It will also
contribute to other diseases as your dog ages such as diabetes. Being at a healthy
weight will also contribute to a higher level of energy which will also add
to the overall health and wellness of your dog.
A healthy dog is outgoing, friendly, and generally happier. Some breeds will
have more distinct personalities than others but in general a healthy dog is
a happy dog. Whatever the predominant personality trait is for your dog, a healthy
dog will display a more positive behavior pattern for that particular trait.
As a dog owner, getting in the habit of a proper diet and exercise pattern starting
at the puppy stage is the best way to stay on a healthy tract. Using natural
and organic pet supplies is the best choice since the proper care has been taken
in producing these products and generally is accepted by most veterinarians.
In closing, the top seven reasons to use natural and organic pet supplies are:
1. Immunity, your dog will be less likely to get sick
2. Your dog will smell and look better
3. A healthy dog is a happy and more energetic dog
4. A healthy dog spends less time at the vet saving you money and time
5. Less yard waste, your dog's stool are smaller when using an organic diet
6. Your dog will be easier to train and will be friendlier
7. Longevity, you will be able to enjoy and love your dog longer
By: Dan Buchman
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Dan is an Internet Marketer as well as a dog enthusiast. Given the recent issues
with the dog food recalls, Dan is using his Internet Marketing interests to
heighten the awareness of this issue and help with relevant research. Isn't
the health of your pet important to you? To visit more websites dedicated to
organic and natural pet supplies as well as libraries of articles, tips and
pet advice, visit www.organic-dogfood.com
