tips

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

ANIMAL FATS

Frequently used because it is very cheap and palatable. The manufacturer can use the fat renderered from any animal. This is bad news for dogs with food intolerances as you never know what animals the fat blend is from. Even if you find your dog is tolerant to this batch of dog food, the next batch could be different. They also tend to have a low linoleic acid (Omega 6) content which can have an impact in the skin and coat of your dog. The source of these are diverse and include restaurant grease and factory by-products. Due to the nature of animal fat, they tend to be preserved with artificial preservatives such as BHT, BHA or Ethoxyquin to prevent rancidity as it is hard to preverse them naturally. Avoid! Always look for a product with a named fat source i.e. Chicken fat or lamb fat

ARTIFICIAL COLOURINGS
Artificial colourings are used to make the food more attractive to the pet owner and not the pet. Think about this if you feed a kibble of many different colours. Does your dog care what colour the kibble is, so why are artificial colourings added? This is for your benefit only, not your dog's...

ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURINGS (TASTE!)
Artificial flavourings are used to improve the palatibility of pet foods. However, this shouldn't be necessary in a high quality dog food. What digusting flavours are they attempting to mask? Both artificial colourings and flavourings have been associated with causing hyperactivity.

ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES AND ANTIOXIDANTS
Pet foods require antioxidants to give them the shelf life that we require. This is because as soon as fats come into contact with air they begin to oxidise and become rancid. To prevent this,manufacturers have the choice of using either synthetic antioxidants or natural methods. Synthetic antioxidants are often listed as "EC permitted antioxidants".

BHA

Butylated Hydroxysanisole - a white, waxy phenolic antioxidant, used to preserve fats and oils, especially in foods. Banned from human use in many countries. Possible human carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity (an agent directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer) or tumorigenic (capable of causing tumors). Causes squamous-cell carcinomas (form of cancer that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix) in rats and hamsters. Enhanced stomach and unrinary bladder carcinogenesis.

BHT

Butylated Hydroxytoluene - a crystalline phenolic antioxidant, used to preserve fats and oils, especially in foods. Banned from human use in many countries. Possible human carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity (an agent directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer) or tumorigenic (capable of causing tumors). Promoted urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Could be a promoter of thyroid carcinogenesis

Those in favour of vivisection might perhaps be able to explain why chemicals continue to be used when they have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Either the data is valid or it isn't. Which will it be? According to Dr Wendell O Belfield, author of How to Have a Healther Dog, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries. He says that ethoxyquin is suspected of causing cancer, and that propylene glycol, another common pet food ingredient, causes the destruction of red blood cells. Dr Jean Dodds tells us that underlying thyroid disease can render dogs susceptible to other autoimmune diseases. She says that an important link has been shown between a deficiency in the mineral, selenium, and hypothyroidism. "The selenium issue is further complicated," says Dr Dodds, "because chemical antioxidants can impair the bioavailability of vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium. As manufacturers of many premium pet foods began adding the synthetic antioxidant, ethoxyquin, in the late 1980s, its effects along with those of other chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT) are surely detrimental over the long term. The way to avoid this problem is to use foods preserved with natural antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C." Ethoxyquin requires employees handling the substance to wear eye and respiratory protection. According to the publication Z-Team, 1993, ethoxyquin containers are marked with a skull and crossbones and prominently display the word, 'POISON'.

So what to do about the pet food dilemma? Pet food manufacturers that do NOT use chemical preservatives usually proudly proclaim this fact on labelling and promotional literature - and if enough of us refuse to buy chemical-laden pet foods, they'll soon stop trying to sell it. Also note that the levels of hazardous chemicals within human foods are usually far lower than those permitted in pet food.

Alternatively, we dog lovers could continue doing what we've always done, and refuse to believe that anyone would sell us anything that could cause harm to our dogs. As John Lennon said: "living is easy with eyes closed”

As far as the majority of the pet food industry is concerned, your pet food will be preserved with one or more different antioxidants - either natural (Vitamin E, C or Tocopherols) or (BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin or similar) or a mixture of both types - and the pattern will be something like this:-

'Hang on!' you might say at this point. 'Product 3 contains artificial preservatives!' And of course it does, but because the meat meal and fats were pre-treated before manufacture by the supplier, I think I'm right in saying that you don't actually have to declare them as ingredients (there's a similar rule with human food, believe it or not)

You need to know this! Some companies specify from their suppliers that fats and meat meal do not contain artificial preservatives, others do not. You may not realise this from the ingredient declaration.

Dr. Lisa Freeman, DVM writes 'The problem is that there's no legal definition of "all natural," "preservative free," or similarly named products. Manufacturers define products by what they believe these terms mean. In general, the implication is that no preservatives or artificial colors have been added and that natural preservatives, such as vitamin C or vitamin E, have been used, but this can vary from brand to brand. In addition, although these products may not contain added artificial preservatives, they may still contain low low levels of artificial preservatives that were already in the meat or fat-soluble vitamins obtained from suppliers.'

BEEF

Although a good source of protein, beef is known to cause dietary intolerances and allergies. It is also lower down the digestibility scale from chicken, turkey and lamb.

BY PRODUCTS OF VEGETABLE ORIGIN

This term allows the use of anything that is not classed as a cereal. It is generally waste material from the Human food preparation industry. By the time it is processed at high temperature, it contains no nutritional value except as another fibre source. It is inexpensive to use and is classed as another bulking agent.

CEREALS

Bulking agents used to fill up the remainder of the food. Poor quality ingredients which allow manufacturers to use the cheapest ingredients available at the time of production, this unfortunately means that each batch may not have the same ingredients.

DERIVATIVES OF VEGETABLE ORIGIN

Sounds unpleasant, is unpleasant! Another loose term used to disguise all manner of hidden ingredients such as vegetable residues and even charcoal. A vague term used to describe by-products of vegetable origin. This can include anything that has been derived from a vegetable, from charcoal to compost! Seeing this ingredient in a pet food should set alarm bells ringing as it can be used to hide all manner of unspecified ingredients. Official definition: Derivatives resulting from the treatment of vegetable products in particular cereals, vegetables, legumes and oil seeds.

EC PERMITTED ADDITIVES / ANTIOXIDANTS / PRESERVATIVES

Sounds harmless enough but this term covers over 4000 chemical additives that can be added to pet food without individually naming them, many of which have been banned from human foods due to health concerns, including colours such as E110 (sunset yellow) and E102 (tartrazine) which have been proven to cause hyperactivity in children. The three synthetic antioxidants commonly used by pet food manufacturers are: E320 - BHA – Butylatedhydroyanilose. E321 - BHT – Butylatedhydroyutoluen. E324 – Ethoxyquin. These are extremely effective at their job, however they are associated with several health problems (including cancer) when fed in quantity. No surprise to learn that this is one of the cheaper methods of preserving pet foods! There is a wealth of information on the internet on the possible problems caused by the use of these chemicals, including causing cancer in dogs. As this information is quite often contradictory it's hard to determine the truth. However, whilst the jury is out, there are healthier natural choices available. The healthiest option is to preserve the food naturally with tocopherals which are a blend of vitamins "E" & "C". These are commonly made from vegetable oil. This is quite often used in conjunction with rosemary which is a natural antioxidant.

GLUTEN

An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing with almost no nutritional value left, serves mostly as a binder.

MEAT AND ANIMAL DERIVATIVES

Meat and animal derivatives" is a generic term that covers all animals and parts such as heads, feet, guts, lungs, hair, feathers and wool! They don’t have to tell you what parts are used or even what species it comes from. It can sourced from any animal. i.e. Chicken? Horse? Rabbit Emu? Rat? Giraffe? This term can be used to hide unhealthy or undesirable ingredients, and to enable the manufacturer to change the protein source with from batch to batch to whatever is the cheapest available at the time of manufacture without changing the label. Meat and animal derivatives are used in many successful pet foods because most consumers don't know any better. Official definition of meat and animal derivatives: All the fleshy parts of slaughtered warm-blooded land animals fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment, and all products and derivatives of the processing of the carcase or parts of the carcase of such animals. Pets that are intolerant to certain proteins may be fine with one batch but have problems with the next as it's impossible to know which is in each bag.

POULTRY BY PRODUCTS

Clean parts of slaughtered poultry, such as heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, feet, abdomen, intestines and heads.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL

A preservative that is used in pet foods. It is best avoided as it known to cause problems such as hair loss, dull coat, diarrhoea etc.

SALT

A colourless or white crystalline solid, chiefly sodium chloride, used extensively in ground or granulated form as a food seasoning and preservative. May also appear in ingredient list as ‘Iodized Salt’ (iodine supplement added), ‘Sea Salt’ (as opposed to salt mined from underground deposits) or ‘Sodium Chloride (chemical expression). While salt is a necessary mineral, it is also generally present in sufficient quantities in the ingredients pet foods include. Just like for humans, too much sodium intake is unhealthy for animals. In poor quality foods it is often used in large amounts to add flavour and make the food more interesting.

SOYA / SOY

Soybeans are widely used in dog foods as a protein source. However, Soy is commonly known as a cause of food allergies in dogs.

SUGAR

Can include sucrose, cane sugar, caramel corn syrup and others. Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycaemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier.

WHEAT / WHEAT GLUTEN

The tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when wheat is washed to remove the starch. Very difficult to digest. The less food that is digested, the more mess to clean up at the other end. This is a good source of carbohydrate and protein, but it is one of the main ingredients known to cause dietary intolerances and allergies, so should be avoided when feeding pets with these problems.

No this isn't a section for naming dog food brands that we don't think make the grade! This section is regarding ingredients that you may find in your kitchen that you must keep out of reach. A dog's metabolism and digestive system is very different to a human's. There are foods that are perfectly fine for humans to eat which are potentially dangerous to a dog. This is one of the reasons you should think carefully before feeding table scraps - are you sure you know what you are feeding your dog and the possible problems?

If your dog appears unwell and you believe it could be due to something he has consumed, immediately phone your local veterinarian for advice.

Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, poor breathing, abnormal blood acidity, coma and death, just like in humans. The difference is that dogs are much smaller and are more susceptible to intoxication.

The substance Persin can cause vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes heart congestion.

Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below). Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.

Cat food should not be fed to dogs due to the higher protein and fat levels. The nutritional requirements of a cat are significantly different to a dogs. Likewise, dog food should not be fed to a cat as it lacks taurine which is essential to the health of a cat's heart and eyes.

Cooked chicken bones can splinter causing either choking or damage to the dog's mouth. It is the cooking process that makes the bones splinter so easily.

Onions, garlic and chives in all forms (dry, raw, cooked) contain thiosulphate, which can irritate the gastrointestinal system of your dog. A relatively high dosage (600-800 grams) in one meal or spread apart over a few days can damage red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia).

However tempting it may be, it can be dangerous to feed chocolate to your dog. Chocolate contains theobromine which is poisonous to dogs causing vomiting, diarrhea restlessness and in extreme cases seizures and may be fatal. Different chocolate products have different amounts of theobromine and therefore it is difficult to specify safe quantities. If given the opportunity, many pets will readily over consume chocolate. Therefore all chocolate foods should be stored in areas inaccessible to pets.
Chocolate should never to be fed to dogs

Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system.

One of the most common ways a dog can get a blocked intestine. The dog bites of a piece of the cob one inch long and swallows it. The corn is digested off the cob in the tummy and the cob is left to block the small intestine and feels like a brillo pad trying to scrape it's way down the digestive track. This is seen in vet offices often and can kill the dog if not removed surgically.

Yeast dough can expand once digested causing pain and problems in the dog's stomach and intestines.

Onions, garlic and chives in all forms (dry, raw, cooked) contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can irritate the gastrointestinal system of your dog. A relatively high dosage (600-800 grams) in one meal or spread apart over a few days can damage red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia). Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Note that baby food should not be fed to a dog as it can quite often contain onion powder - you must must check the label first !

Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs due a toxin which is present. This toxin has not been identified yet. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.

Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.

Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle, can cause tremors, pain and distress.

Owing to the lack of lactase, consumption may lead to bloating, gas, diarrhea and other digestive upsets.

Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.

Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death

POTATO / RHUBARB / TOMATO LEAVES / POTATO AND TOMATO STEMS
Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

PRHUBARB / POTATO / TOMATO LEAVES / POTATO AND TOMATO STEMS
Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.

This can lead to liver failure through the over-release of insulin, vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. It does not take long to see signs of nearing liver failure - only a few days. Be very careful as this substance is in a wide range of products, such as candy, chewing gum, toothpaste and baked goods.

Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.

TOMATO LEAVES / POTATO / RHUBARB / POTATO AND TOMATO STEMS
Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.

Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

*** remember that every dog has a different metabolic rate of digestion, these feeding rates are just a rough guide ***

All information sourced from manufacturers website / nutritional advisor May 2010

Thanks to the holistic effects of Burns products they can often be used instead of veterinary prescribed foods. Burns works by promoting normal, natural physiology of the whole body, unlike veterinary diets which are generally formulated to alter a specific organ state.

Medicines are classified by law according to how much their use needs to be regulated by a responsible person. This is to ensure the safety of humans, animals and the environment.

PML - prescribed merchant list medicines are restricted to stockists who are familiar with their safe use. This might apply to wormers, sheep dips etc.

POM - prescription only medicines can only be purchased by a doctor or vet. This would apply to powerful or dangerous medicines or those which might have far-reaching effects.

Some pet foods are sold only through veterinary surgeons. This is not because they are POM medicines. In fact they are not medicines at all. Their use is restricted not by law but by a marketing decision by the manufacturer to restrict the supply of their products. They argue that this is because pets suffering from disease should be under the care of health care professionals and that the diets should only be used in the light of an accurate diagnosis. This would be a sound argument if veterinary diets were only used in that way. In reality, a definitive diagnosis is often impossible even with considerable expense and using invasive techniques. Some veterinary diets are not even intended to treat specific disease but are for disease prevention. For instance, there is a veterinary diet which is intended to slow senility. The manufacturer’s recommendation to vets is that it should be given to all dogs over seven years of age!

Veterinary diets designed to treat disease tend to be aimed at a specific condition whereas pathological conditions affect more than one organ system at the same time. For instance, high liver enzyme levels are, in most cases, due to an (undiagnosed) problem elsewhere in the body which is having a secondary effect on the liver.

A holistic diet promotes the health of the whole body rather than a specific organ or function. Certain veterinary foods of a specialist nature can be justified in cases of advanced, life-threatening disease.

The table below shows, in broad terms, how Burns foods can be an effective replacement for Veterinary & Prescription DietsTM

This list is not a blanket recommendation; we advise that pet owners should contact our nutritional advisors on Freephone 0800 083 66 96 before changing diet as our nutritional advice has to be tailored to suit the individual dog. We also recommend that pet owners should involve their vets in decisions about nutrition.

HILLS diets	ROYAL CANIN	BURNS alternative	Key nutritional characteristics of Burns Diet	Other Notes
r/d	Obesity Weight Control	High Oats Burns Organic	High fibre, low fat	High Oats not be suitable for diabetic dogs if they are underweight
i/d	Digestive Low Fat Intestinal	Chicken & Brown Rice Chicken & Maize Fish & Brown Rice Fish & Maize Duck & Brown Rice Venison & Brown Rice Lamb & Brown Rice Lamb & Maize Pork & Potatofhf	Highly digestible, low fat, hypo-allergenic, single protein source diets
d/d	Sensitivity control Hypoallergenic
z/d	Hypoallergenic Sensitivity Control	Venison & Brown Rice Pork & Potato Duck & Brown Rice	Novel sources of ingredients, highly digestible, low fat, hypo-allergenic diets
h/d	Early Cardiac	Chicken & Brown Rice Chicken & Maize Fish & Brown Rice Fish & Maize Duck & Brown Rice Burns Organic	Controlled levels of sodium, low protein and low fat
i/d	Hepatic	Chicken & Brown Rice Chicken & Maize Fish & Brown Rice Fish & Maize Burns Hypo-allergenic Mixer Duck & Brown Rice Burns Organic	Low protein Controlled levels of minerals Chemical free	Not recommended for copper metabolism disorders.
c/d	Urinary	Chicken & Brown Rice Chicken & Maize Fish & Brown Rice Fish & Maize Duck & Brown Rice Burns Organic	Low protein Controlled levels of minerals Chemical Free
j/d	Mobility Support	All adult foods	Low protein, low fat Hypo Allergenic Chemical free
b/d		Chicken & Brown Rice Fish & Brown Rice Duck & Brown Rice Burns Organic	Low protein, low fat Chemical Free
t/d	Dental	All Burns complete diets	Low protein Low residue
k/d	Renal	Chicken & Brown Rice Chicken & Maize Fish & Brown Rice Fish & Maize Duck & Brown Rice Burns Organic	Low protein, low phosphorus	Protein and phosphorus intake can be lowered by reducing feeding amount of Burns complete food and supplementing with Burns Hypoallergenic Mixer or boiled rice

HILLS diets	ROYAL CANIN	BURNS alternative	Key nutritional characteristics of Burns Diet	Other Notes
c/d	Urinary	Burns Chicken and Brown Rice & Ocean Fish	Low protein, low fat, low residue, chemical free	For urinary problems the food should be soaked with water. It is important to avoid overfeeding.
r/d w/d	Obesity management	Burns Chicken & Brown Rice & Ocean Fish	Low protein, low fat, low residue, chemical free
I/d		Burns Chicken & Brown Rice & Ocean Fish	Low protein, low fat, low residue, chemical free
t/d	Dental	Burns Chicken & Brown Rice & Ocean Fish Duck and Rice for Kittens	Low protein, low fat, low residue, chemical free
I/d	Intestinal	Burns Chicken & Brown Rice & Ocean Fish Duck and Rice for Kittens	Hypoallergenic, highly digestible, low protein, low fat
d/d z/d	Hypoallergenic Sensitivity Control
d/d z/d
k/d	Renal	Ocean Fish	Low protein, controlled phosporus	For mild/moderate renal failure. Protein and phosphorus levels can be reduced further by reducing the comlete food with well-cooked rice or another carbohydrate.

OFF HIS/HER FOOD
This can be caused by a number of factors such as over feeding, hot weather and dental problems. If the problems persists for more than 36 hours then consult your vet.

GOT DRY, SCALY OR ROUGH SKIN
This is often a symptom of an allergic reaction. Try food which is free from wheat gluten, red meat, maize; three ingredients that dogs can be prone to suffer allergic reactions to.

SUFFERS FROM FLATULENCE
This sometimes occurs when a food is changed, especially if large amounts of vegetables are added, and will normally pass. It can also precede an upset stomach, and if diarrhoea occurs then consult your vet.

GOT DIARRHOEA/SCOURING
A brief flare-up is usually a symptom of greed or worms in the intestine. Try worming your dog, but if it persists see the vet.

ALWAYS CHEWING
This is a learned behaviour as a puppy, it starts at teething and some dogs don't stop. If an adult dog suddenly starts chewing, it is usually a sign of tooth problems.

ALLERGIES & INTOLERANCES

Dogs can suffer from problems with their food such as adverse reactions, intolerances and allergies and this is something that we as owners are starting to become more
aware of. The dog’s immune system is designed to protect the body from any undesirable outside invaders, for example an infection. When the dog encounters these the immune system rushes into action to attack them. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to something that should normally be harmless. The compound that the immune system reacts to is called an allergen. An allergen can be anything that the dog comes into contact with in daily life and can induce a response in one dog but can be completely harmless to another. There are numerous allergens than can cause reactions in dogs, including house dust, pollen, flea bites and food.

FOOD ALLERGY VERSUS FOOD INTOLERANCE
Whilst it is accepted that some dogs do suffer from food allergies it is also worth noting that a lot of feed related problems that dogs may suffer are down to a food intolerance rather than an allergy. A dog suffering from a food intolerance may display similar symptoms to an allergic reaction, however this response does not involve the immune system but is the result of an abnormal physiological response to food. It can therefore be difficult to determine which the dog is suffering from by the symptoms alone, although this can be ascertained by measuring immune system indicators. Food intolerances can be caused by several factors which include: Dietary indiscretion - where the dog has eaten a foreign object eg the contents of your rubbish bin or has eaten something unpleasant out on a walk. Toxic Reaction - where the dog has eaten something toxic, such as chocolate. Metabolic Reaction - where the dog has anadverse reaction to food as a result of a metabolic defect, such as lactose intolerance.

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO TRIGGER AN ALLERGIC REACTION ?
One common misconception is that allergies are caused by excess protein, this however is not strictly true. Protein as a necessary part of the dog’s diet as it provides the essential amino acids which are required for muscle development, cell regeneration and tissue renewal, amongst other functions. What actually happens is that the dog is allergic to a particular type of protein eg wheat protein (often referred to as wheat gluten) or oat protein. In a normal dog this type of “protein” is broken down by enzymes in the stomach, into smaller molecules and can then be absorbed through the gut wall. In the allergic dog this type of “protein” is only partially broken down and the larger molecules are unable to pass through the gut wall. This results in an allergic reaction. Dogs can be allergic to the “protein” in one type of cereal, ie wheat, without being allergic to any others. It is possible for a dog to be allergic to any of the ingredients in his food but the most common allergens seem to be wheat

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ?
Food allergies can affect your dog in different ways. In most dogs a food allergy will manifest itself as a skin problem (allergic dermatosis) ie dry and itchy skin, but this may not be
the only symptom and may not occur in every dog. Other symptoms may include: Intense itching (pruritis) as a result of the skin problems, can lead to redness, hair loss and possibly secondary infection or injury as the dog scratches and maybe even bites itself to try and stop the itching. Areas of the body that are commonly affected are: feet, armpits, ears and groin area. Persistent ear infections (otitis externa) - sometimes this may be the only symptom. Bowel movements may be increased of the dog could suffer from diarrhoea or vomiting. With a food allergy the symptoms would occur all year round and not seasonally. A food allergy can occur at any time and any age. It is not necessarily linked to a change of feed, as the dog can have been eating a particular food for years with no problems and then suddenly develop an allergy to one or more of the ingredients.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR DOG IS SUFFERING FROM AN ALLERGY ?
The first step is to visit your vet, who should be able to confirm whether or not your dog is suffering from an allergy. He may also be able to prescribe medication to help ease some of the symptoms and make your dog more comfortable. As mentioned earlier, allergies can be caused by anything that your dog comes into contact with in his daily environment from food to the washing powder that you wash his bed with, so you will need to explore all aspects of his life to identify the allergen.

ELIMINATION DIETS
The most effective way of identifying a food allergen is to use an elimination diet. This means taking your dog off his normal feed, including any treats, supplements and table scraps, and introducing the elimination diet, which can be either commercially or home made and should ideally consist of one protein source and one carbohydrate source. It is important that your dog has never eaten either of these before. Your vet should be able to advise you on a suitable elimination diet for your dog. Your dog should stay on an elimination diet for approximately 8-12 weeks to allow time for the symptoms to disappear and his original diet can then be re-introduced. If the symptoms reoccur this would indicate that the allergen is one of the ingredients in this food. To identify which ingredient, the process above should be repeated, challenging the do with the individual ingredients until you find which is causing the problem. You can then look for an alternative diet that does not contain that ingredient.

SUITABLE FEEDS
Using an elimination diet is quite a lengthy process so some owners will look at using a hypo-allergenic diet first. It is important not to confuse an elimination diet with a hypo-allergenic diet. No feed can truly be classed as hypo-allergenic for all dogs, as each dog can be allergic to different things. What these feeds do is that they are free from the most common allergens, so could be beneficial to sensitive dogs.

It is important never to choose a bowl that is too big as you will tend to overfeed

If you have a deep chested breed avoid elevated feeders as it may cause Bloat - Gastric Dilation / Volvus (GDV)

Your dog relies on you to make the right choice for him/her as they can't speak, so you must speak for them.

However, choosing a good quality dog food is more difficult than it should be. Pet food labels can be hard to understand. Ambiguous pet food labelling is common place and this makes it hard for you to choose the best pet food for your dog. The ingredients label is the source of information for what is in the pet food, it is what helps you decide whether to make the purchase.

Most manufacturers are not interested in animal health, the ingredients listed on their packaging proves this. These companies make massive profits by using cheap, poor quality ingredients which allows them to spend millions on eye catching packaging and advertising every year. This is effectively brainwashing the public to buy it. A friend, relative, vet or breeder may recommend a food to you but do not let this sway your judgement as even the professionals are taken in by the above. Always research ingredients before you choose.

Ingredients: Cereals, meat and animal derivatives, animal fats, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein extract, minerals. Preserved with EC permitted antioxidants.

This can make it very hard to know exactly what is in your dog's food. The ingredients can even change from bag to bag. This is particularly problematic when your pet has an allergy or food intolerance.

"PREMIUM" - SOUNDS EXPENSIVE?

"Super Premium" & "Ultra Premium" are words used by pet food industry to describe pet foods that are of better quality and they as such are in a higher price bracket.

I can't afford expensive dog food!
This is the common objection to feeding the higher quality dog foods that are available.

However, it does not matter what the cost of the bag is, it is the daily feeding costs that is important. You're probably thinking that these are related. Well, yes, but you also need to factor in the daily feeding amounts. Only once you have worked out the daily feeding costs, you can compare the value of different dog foods.

Due to the higher digestibility levels in super premium dog foods, they tend to have smaller feeding amounts as they are nutritionally denser. To put it in layman terms, you need to feed a lot more poor quality dog food to get the necessary nutrition for your dog. And of course the more "lesser digestible" food you put in one end, must, how do I put this... uhm.. well the more that goes = the more that comes out!

When you consider the poor ingredients used and the daily feeding cost...CHEAPER DOG FOODS REALLY ARE NOT VALUE FOR MONEY

One last thing to think about, when deciding which food to feed your dog is to "think ingredients first". Not all the more expensive dog foods are better dog foods. Sometimes a dog food is expensive as the company has a large marketing budget or possibly because they have cornered a niche market such as "veterinary recommended pet foods".

Taking a good look at the food we eat could not only be the key to a better diet but the key to good health for all the family, and that includes the family pet

Food intolerance can be the source of some of the recurring bouts of mystery tummy upsets or persistent skin problems that are often seen in pet dogs and cats

In theory, any ingredient in any food has the potential to cause intolerance but the likely suspects are proteins such as beef, soya and milk, and are carbohydrates such as wheat, wheat protein and lactose (dairy products). Many of these are used in standard pet foods. Unsurprisingly, food additives, including colourants and preservatives, can also be responsible for an adverse reaction

Human and veterinary research has identified chemicals in some colourants and taste enhancers as triggers for epileptic fits. The colours (essentially oranges, blues, reds and yellows) that effect hyperactivity in children have been found to do the same in dogs

In dogs and cats the first symptoms are likely to be skin related: itchiness, scratching and perhaps hair loss. Digestive symptoms can be indicative of an allergy – increased bowel movements, frequent licking or chewing of the paws, hot spots, ear infections or changes in behaviour

When the effect is delayed, the intolerance can manifest itself in an un-dramatic and non-specific way making diagnosis for any doctor or vet very difficult. Abdominal pains, loss of appetite, muscle stiffness and lethargy can make the sufferer (pet or human) feel generally ‘unwell’ but not necessarily pinpoint a reaction to food as its cause

Dietary intolerance in dogs very often affects the animal’s skin or digestive system, but not exclusively

“We have long been brainwashed by pet food manufacturers into thinking they are the only people who know how to provide nourishment for our pets so it’s difficult to step back from that and use common sense”

“The worrying news is that food intolerance is probably more prevalent than pet owners and veterinary surgeons would imagine. This should act as a warning to follow up any persistent or recurrent symptoms of ill health. Food could be the cause or an aggravating factor. It is also imperative that dogs with skin disorders should have their anal glands emptied. By doing this we remove a great deal of toxic matter from the system. It’s like emptying the dustbin and can help to reduce signs of skin disease”

Holistic, organic and hypoallergenic diets, exclude common allergens such as wheat protein or soya thereby minimizing the risk of an allergic reaction. Such diets also avoid low quality ingredients, cheap fillers, artificial additives and sugar. Sugar has an adverse effect on the digestive system because it is an irritant to the intestinal lining. When changing a pet’s diet it may take a few weeks before there are noticeable improvements

For recovering pets, supplements designed to bring back health and vitality such as fatty acids can be added to daily feeds. The two main classes of fatty acids related to skin and coat are the Omega-3’s and the Omega-6’s

Quality diet and balance in all things are just as important for pets as for people

Ash content is given as a percentage. It isn't an ingredient that is added but the total mineral content of the product after incineration.

Dried brewer's yeast is a residue left over from the brewing industry, and it is an excellent source of B-complex vitamins and amino acids.

Cellulose is a form of fibre derived from plants. It can help to stimulate the production of saliva, thus assisting the passage of hairballs.

Fresh chicken is highly palatable, highly digestible and is an excellent protein source for cats and dogs. It has an extremely high biological value meaning that it is easily broken down into its constituent amino acids (the building blocks of protein) necessary for a variety of structural and metabolic functions within the body. Most fresh chicken used in pet foods is chicken viscera - so organ meat and intestines - which is highly nutritious and is exactly what dogs would eat in the wild. Using up the leftovers from chicken destined for human consumption makes this a very efficient food source for pets. Chicken meat is an good protein source with a balanced amino acid acid mix.
"Fresh" is the term used when the % given is for the meat quantity before processing when it is weighed in its wet form. This can be misleading as you are perceiving the % of wet quantity, yet 2/3 of the water is lost during processing leaving you with a much smaller meat content in the final product.

Like fresh chicken, chicken meal is an excellent protein source. It comprises the clean parts of the carcass ground up into a calcium-rich flour. Good quality chicken meal does not include heads, feet or feathers. Chicken meat and meal is an good protein source with a balanced amino acid mix. This is the same as fresh chicken but with the water removed which means that it gives a better guide to the actual quantity in the final product. Can be described as "The dried, clean rendered flesh of the animal with the water and fat removed".

Highly palatable and has a high and consistent level of the essential fatty acids that are necessary for a healthy skin and coat, and is considered to be one of the highest quality fat sources available.

Chondroitin Sulphate blocks destructive enzymes that break down cartilage in the joint. There is always a low level of these destructive enzymes in the joint, but when injury or abnormal wear occurs the enzymes multiply. Chondroitin is a safe and natural ingredient, and any excess that is not required by the body is simply excreted in the urine.

Corn (or maize as it is also known) is a starch carbohydrate. Ground corn is used as an energy source.

Cranberry extract may aid in maintaining urinary tract health. It contains a sugar substance (D-mannose), which has the special ability of being able to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the mucosal walls. Cranberry also contains arbutin, which is effective against certain bacteria and fungi, including Candida. By limiting these harmful bacteria, conditions such as cystitis and bladder stones are less likely to affect your pet.

Dried whole egg powder is a versatile ingredient. The yolk is a good fat source, whilst egg whites contain the purest form of protein found in whole foods. Eggs are also a valuable source of vitamins and minerals.

Fresh fish such as salmon is a highly nutritious and palatable protein source for cats and dogs. It usually consists of the leftovers from human-grade fish, such as viscera, which is minced into a fine paste before being added into pet food. It also contains good levels of omega 6 and omega 3 which consist of polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA. DHA is known to help brain function.

Fish meal is the dried fish ingredient used in many pet foods, and is a natural balanced feed ingredient that is high in protein, energy and minerals, vitamins and micronutrients. It contains 6 - 10% fish oil, which is high in the health promoting omega-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, often simply referred to as 'omega-3s'.

Glucosamine provides the building blocks to synthesise new joint cartilage and together with chondroitin and MSM promotes joint mobility and longevity, and has been shown to aid conditions such as hip dysplasia and arthritis. Glucosamine is a safe and natural ingredient, and any excess that is not required by the body is simply excreted in the urine.

Grape seed extract is derived from red wine grapes. It is a source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), which are a category of bioflavenoids. These are water soluble plant pigments that may support health by strengthening the blood capillaries and other connective tissue. Grape seed extract is an extremely powerful antioxidant, and is possibly the only antioxidant with the capacity to cross into the brain, thus improving mental alertness. (Whilst grapes in a large volume may be toxic to dogs, grape seed extract is included in pet foods at a safe level and will not have any harmful side effects.)

Green tea extract is derived from the plant Camellia sinesis. Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented, allowing the active constituents to remain unaltered in the herb. It is a powerful antioxidant that supports the cardiovascular system, and traditional Chinese medicine has recommended green tea to aid digestion, enhance immunity and improve energy levels.

Lamb meal is used in many hypo-allergenic dog foods. It is a good protein source and is rich in calcium and a good source of zinc, and is produced from meat trimmings and the clean parts of the carcass cooked, dried and ground into a fine flour. It does not include the wool, blood, head, hooves and specified risk material such as the spinal cord. Definition of meal: Meals are prepared by the heating, drying and grinding whole or parts of warm blooded land animals from which the fat has been partially extracted or physically removed. The product has to be free from hooves, horn, bristle, hair and feathers as well as digestive tract content.

L-Carnitine is produced in small quantities in the body by the liver and testes. It is naturally present in meat, yeasts, egg and milk and increases fat metabolism in the skeletal and cardiac muscle, and may improve endurance and stamina. It is also may be of benefit to the overweight or less active dog since it helps to increase the conversion of fat to energy and helps maintain lean body mass.

LINOLEIC ACID (OMEGA 6)
Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in animal and plants. It contributes to the health of your dog's skin and coat, infact it is one of the most important factors in how good your dog looks (and feels!). Deficiency symptoms includes a dry coat, fur loss and poor wound healing. The % of linoleic acid in dog foods vary from less than 1% up to 6%. Look at the typical analysis on an ingredients panel for the linoleic (omega 6) content. A good quality dog food should contain over 3%. Under 1% and the alarm bells should start ringing - poor quality dog food alert!

Linseed is also known as flax. This plant is a good source of dietary fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids and lignans (which have antioxidant properties). Linseed oil contains linoleic acid and alpha linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid used in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and cell membranes.

Maize (or corn as it is also known) is a starch carbohydrate. Ground maize is used as an energy source.

The methyl-sulphonyl-methane (MSM) is an all natural, ultra-pure MSM derived from pine bark. MSM is a naturally ocurring form of organic sulphur. Its beneficial properties include the relief of pain and inflammation. It is also thought that MSM may improve mental alertness and relieve stress.

These natural short-chain proteins (derived from yeast) are able to enhance metabolic function and have particular benefits to the digestive and immune systems. Nucleotides allow optimum levels of nutrients to be absorbed by the body, as well as facilitating a more rapid cell replication in response to an outside challenge.

Oats are a good source of energy and protein, as well as being rich in fat, minerals and vitamins E and B.

Potato is a high quality carbohydrate. It is often used as an alternative to rice and therefore a good ingredient for dogs with rice intolerances.

Rice is the most digestible of all grains and is known to be low in allergy risk and so is found in many "hypo-allergenic" pet foods. Rice is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and B Vitamins.

Natural pet foods are often stabilised naturally using mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) and rosemary. Rosemary is a natural antioxidant and is used to prevent the oxidisation of the fat components of the diets.

Seaweed, or kelp, is a useful source of natural particularly minerals including sodium, potassium, calcium and iodine.

Beet pulp is a by product of sugar production, and is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre. The soluble fibre is a good food source for the friendly bacteria in the large intestine. It also slows the rate of food passage through the gut ensuring a preferential transit time of food, leading to maximum digestion and absorption of nutrients. The insoluble fibre increases peristalsis, helps an animal to feel satisfactorily full and provides a crunchy texture to the kibbles to aid oral hygiene. Fibre is important for maintaining normal gastrointestinal transit time and motility and cats and dogs with stomach upsets can be found eating grass or other vegetation, possibly in the attempt to soothe their gut with increased fibre. A quality fibre source in the correct proportion may help to reduce the incidence of conditions such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. It may also help to prevent constipation and diarrhoea.

This is a high quality fat source as it is very high in linoleic acid (Omega 6) content, however it doesn't tend to have very high palatability levels. Sunflower oil tends to work best when used in conjunction with a high quality single source animal fat.

Taurine is an essential nutrient for cats, and is often added to good quality cat foods.

Natural pet foods are often preserved naturally using tocopherols (Vitamin E). All dry pet foods require an antioxidant in order to prevent the fat components in the diet from becoming rancid on exposure to air. Tocopherols (vitamin E) are a naturally occuring antioxidant which is used to preserve pet foods. Tocopherols are often made from edible vegetables oils. The use of Tocopherols in a dog food is a good indication of a better dog food.

Yucca has antioxidant properties, and may also help to reduce faecal and body odour.

Bloat or gastric dilation / volvulus (GDV) can also be known as “twisted gut”. This is a very serious condition which should be considered life-threatening. If you suspect your dog has bloat then contact your veterinarians immediately. There are no home remedies and dogs can die of bloat within hours.

GDV is a rotation of the stomach which entraps the gastric contents and stopping the blood supply to the stomach, spleen and pancreas. It is caused by the distension of the stomach by a mixture of air, food and fluid.

Particular large breed dogs are predisposed to this condition and include St Bernards, Boxer, Weimaraner, Collies, wolfhounds, Irish Setters, Basset Hound, Rottweiler, Doberman, Poodles, Great Danes, German Shepherds – breeds which are usually deep chested.

There has previously been an assumption that dry diets can cause GDV, but studies have since shown this to be an incorrect assumption. However, rapid consumption of food can contribute to this problem.

TIPS TO LOWER RISK FACTORS
Try feeding 2 or 3 smaller meals a day rather than 1 larger meal. The rapid consumption of food can lead to swallowing too much air. (Also known as aerophagia). Try placing food on a flat baking tray – this will help decrease the rate of consumption. Although water should always be available, the over consumption of large volumes of water soon after feeding can cause problems. Limit the amount of water just after feeding – approx. same volume of water to food. Overfeeding can be a problem - follow manufacturer guidelines and feed smaller portions. Feed dogs individually, for nervous dogs a quiet location is preferable. Feed dogs at floor level, avoid elevated feeders.

Dogs that have previously had bloat are much more likely to have another episode

In the mid 1950's, Dr. Budwig began extensive research on the benefits of flaxseed (linseed) because of its rich essential fatty acid content known as linoleic and linolenic. Dr. Budwig assisted many seriously ill people, even those who were given up as terminal by orthodox medical doctors, to regain their health through a simple regimen of flaxseed oil blended with Quark, the German form of cottage cheese.

She supplemented her patients' diets with two tablespoons of flaxseed oil combined with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese. She found that a yellowish green substance in their blood was replaced with a healthy red pigment, haemoglobin. She also found that the tumours receded and disappeared, anaemia was alleviated, and vital energy was regained.

It took about three months for the changes to occur. During that time the symptoms of cancer, diabetes, or liver disease also disappeared.

Studies around the world have shown the benefits of using flaxseed oil with protein, showing impressive results including greatly boosting the immune system, anti-tumour activity, normalized blood pressure levels and inhibition of cancer cell growth.

Flax Oil can be found at most health food stores and some supermarkets. When buying flax, be sure that it has been refrigerated! Also, check the processing date; buy the freshest flax available. Fresh flax should have very little taste or smell. If it smells fishy and tastes very strong...take it back.

Dr Johanna Budwig recommends a ratio of one tablespoon Flax Oil per 1/4 cup of cottage cheese. Dr. Budwig uses three tablespoons of flax oil mixed with 3/4 cup of cottage cheese per 100 pounds of body weight for ill patients. However, depending on the severity of the cancer, up to six tablespoons can be taken, mixed with a corresponding amount of cottage cheese. If you want to take more than one tablespoon, ease into it. Flax is 100% oil, so if you do not normally eat a lot of fat, allow your body time to adjust.

Don't leave out the cottage cheese. It is every bit as important as the flax in this approach. A highly sulpherated protein is necessary for the flax to achieve optimum results and cottage cheese is one of the highest sulphur-based proteins. If you can not eat sulphur, tofu may be used in place of cottage cheese.

SOME CONDITIONS IMPROVED BY OMEGA-3 OILS:
· High Cholesterol Levels
· Prevention of Strokes and Heart Attacks
· Angina
· High Blood Pressure
· Arthritis
· Multiple Sclerosis
· Psoriasis and Eczema
· Cancer Prevention and Treatment
· Allergies
· Asthma
· Calmness Under Stress
· Vitality