The Best Dog Food for a Chihuahua Mix

Chihuahuas are toy-sized dogs with a number of special nutritional needs. A Chihuahua mix that resembles its Chihuahua parent should be fed as one would feed a purebred Chihuahua. A small bite size is necessary to make it possible for the dog to eat comfortably. Top quality protein will both support the high activity level typical of these dogs and help to keep them lean, as they are prone to obesity. Dog food for a Chihuahua mix should also be highly digestible to avoid vomiting and diarrhea.

Dry Foods

Dry foods for a Chihuahua mix should be selected based on quality of the ingredients, particularly sources of animal protein. At least two out of the first three ingredients in dry food should be lean meat protein such as lamb, chicken, salmon or beef. A small bite size is necessary to make it physically possible for Chihuahua mixes to eat dry food. Some recommended dry foods are: Innova Evo Small Bites, Innova Evo Red Meat Small Bites, Wellness Super5Mix Small Breed and Blue Buffalo Small Bites.

Canned Foods

Canned food for a Chihuahua mix should be mostly high-quality meat protein, with a small amount of vegetable matter. Grain-free canned foods or formulas containing only ancient, digestible grains are desirable. Look for formulas that advertise at least 90 to 95 percent meat. One hundred percent meat canned food should not be fed as a complete diet but makes an excellent occasional treat.

Choose formulas with a relatively high level of protein and fat. Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes burn more calories day to day than do larger dogs due to their faster metabolisms. Chihuahuas may be prone to obesity, but foods high in carbohydrates are more likely to contribute to weight gain than those high in protein and fat. Recommended canned foods include Evangers, Innova EVO, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Wellness and Merricks.

Raw and Homecooked Diets

Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes can eat raw and homecooked diets. However, it is more difficult to feed a smaller dog at home than a larger one, particularly if attempting a whole prey model raw diet. Larger dogs can eat a wider variety of meats and bones. Smaller dogs must eat mostly chicken and fish bones. In addition, Chihuahua mixes may be picky eaters and take poorly to a diet that requires them to eat many different food items.

Stick with prepared pet foods until you're sure that you understand your dog's nutritional needs and have familiarized yourself with a long list of food items and the nutrients each provides.

How to Make Vet Recommended Dog Food

Options for feeding dogs exist beyond the food that companies manufacture. It is possible for owners to make nutritionally-sound food that dogs will enjoy.



"If you know how to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, you can apply that same principle to feeding your dog," said Paula Terifaj, a veterinarian from Founder's Veterinary Clinic in California. "Only the ratio of meat to carbohydrates and size proportions will change."

Instructions

Basics

1




Cook homemade food for your dog.

Include a protein, carbohydrate and vegetable source. Cook and combine ingredients. Add bone meal powder or calcium citrate, and a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.

2

Change the protein source to create variety. Choose fish, turkey, beef or lamb. You may also substitute with nonmeat protein such as three cooked eggs or 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese.

3

Vary carbohydrates with 1-2 cups potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes or pasta. Alter vegetables with green beans, squash, broccoli or cauliflower. You should use fresh or frozen varieties instead of canned to control salt intake.

4

Cut the recipe in half for your 10-pound dog, and double it for a 40-pound dog. If your dog is overweight, cut back slightly on the portions. Add food if your dog is underweight.

Homemade Dog Food for Liver Disease

Canine liver disease is not a single, easy-to-define illness but rather a complex of diverse liver ailments with equally diverse causes, ranging from bacterial or viral infection to trauma. Collectively, these canine liver illnesses are the fifth leading cause of non-accidental death in American dogs, according to the Canine Liver Disease Foundation. Diet can play a key role in the treatment of canine liver disease.

Types

PetPlace.com, an online database of pet-care information written by veterinarians, lists a number of conditions that can lead eventually to hepatic shutdown, or failure of the liver. These include canine infectious hepatitis, a viral infection; leptospirosis, which is bacterial in origin; liver cancer; bile duct obstruction; pancreatitis, an infection of the pancreas that often spreads to the liver; cholangiohepatitis; cirrhosis; copper toxicity; liver flukes; and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms that indicate your dog may be suffering from some form of liver disease include abdominal fluid buildup; loss of appetite; jaundice, characterized by a yellowish cast to the animals eyes and gums; vomiting; and bleeding problems, according to WebVet.com. Although it can play a significant role in the treatment of liver disease in your dog, diet alone cannot cure your pet. Consult your veterinarian if you suspect the animal has liver disease. WebVet indicates that a definitive diagnosis is usually obtained through tests that measure blood levels of bile acids, enzymes and proteins.

Dietary Guidelines

If your dog is diagnosed with liver disease, diet recommendations will depend on the specific type of condition that your animal is suffering. However, diets for canine liver disease generally aim for high levels of nutrition while keeping your pets consumption of proteins and fats at lower levels than normal. Reductions in fat and protein ease the workload on your dogs liver, which is already operating below optimal levels because of disease.

Recipes

The following recipes for homemade dog foods designed for animals with liver disease were presented to the 1997 Waltham International Symposium on Pet Nutrition and Health in the 21st Century by representatives of Cornell Universitys Small Animal Center. The first recipe is very low in protein. Mix together 3 cups of nonfat dry milk, 1 cup of raw wheat germ, 3 cups of cornstarch, 1 cup of safflower oil, 1 cup of animal fat, 1 cup of blackstrap molasses, 1/5 cup of bone meal and 1 tsp. iodized salt.

More moderate levels of protein are provided in the second recipe. Combine 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped; 2 cups of cooked rice; 3 slices of white bread, torn into small pieces; and 1 pound of regular ground beef, braised with fat retained. The third recipe, which is highest in protein content at 26 percent, calls for 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped; 1 cup of creamed cottage cheese; 1 cup of cooked farina; 3 tbsp. sugar; 1 tbsp. safflower oil; 1 tsp. dicalcium phosphate; and 1 tsp. potassium chloride, a salt substitute.

Dog Food Treats for Diabetic Dogs

Dog treats are essentially any consumable you give a dog beyond his normal nutrition. Dog treats are used in training as well as to praise a well-behaved dog. A diabetic dog has specific nutritional needs that prevent it from consuming many commercially available dog treats, but you can make diabetic dog food treats at home.

Function

Administering treats is simply part of owning a dog, but when your dog has diabetes, you likely have to place limitations on his diet to guarantee optimum health. The function behind diabetic dog treats is to create treats that are in line with the dog's diet so you can continue to provide treats without putting the dog's health at risk.

Time Frame

Preparation time for most dog treats is between five and 10 minutes before cook time. Cook time varies from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on what recipe you follow and what ingredients are used. You should also allow for at least 20 minutes of cooling time, as you should never feed a dog a treat fresh out of the oven, because it can burn the inside of his mouth or esophagus.

Meat Treats

Puree your dog's favorite meat, such as lean beef, chicken or liver, or use all-meat baby food such as those from Beech Nut. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the treats while you wait. Combine approximately 1 pound of pureed meat with 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and two eggs. Process the ingredients until smooth and spread evenly across a baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until everything is firm, and allow to cool thoroughly before cutting into smaller pieces.

Oatmeal Treats

Oatmeal offers complex carbohydrates and fiber, so these treats are healthy as well as friendly for canines with diabetes. Combine 3 cups of uncooked oatmeal, 1 cup filtered water, 1 1/2 cups of whole-wheat flour, 2 egg yolks, 1 tbsp. parsley, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp. baking soda and spoon the mixture onto an oiled cookie sheet. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding.

Other Ingredients

You can make diabetic dog-friendly dog treats using myriad ingredients as long as you follow a few basic principles. You should feel comfortable using fruits and vegetables, seeds, oats and herbs. You should avoid using sweeteners or overly sweet fruits such as raisins or honey. You should also experiment with different types of meats, including fresh meat, chicken and fish, meat baby food, broths and stocks.

How Long Does it Take for a Dog to Digest Food?

Easy to Swallow

A dog's mouth works differently from a human's. For starters, he has 42 teeth and nearly 2,000 taste buds, while a person typically has 32 teeth and 9,000 taste buds. The reason for this reflects a basic difference between species: While we can take our time and enjoy the taste of a meal, getting as much enjoyment from the flavor as from filling our stomachs, a dog generally cannot. In the wild, survival means finding and eating as quickly as possible. Taste is secondary. So a dog has more teeth with which to quickly rip apart meat and chew bone into small pieces. In fact, his teeth are not capable of grinding like ours are. The sole focus of the dog's mouth is to get the food down, through the esophagus and into the stomach as quickly and efficiently as it can.

Hard to Stomach

Another big difference between a human's digestive system and a dog's is in the stomach. When we chew our food, we also produce saliva, which contains an enzyme that helps break down the food before it gets to our stomach. For a dog, which will swallow whole large pieces of raw meat and crushed bone, all of the work has to be done in the stomach. The dog's pancreas will begin producing enzymes that will help in breaking down the food; the stomach wall also has glands that produce necessary acids. Since what goes into a dog's stomach can be anything from grass to bone, the acids must be particularly powerful (in comparison, the acid in a dog's digestion is about three times stronger than in a human's). A dog's stomach will work on breaking down food for roughly eight hours before passing it into the small intestine.

End of the Line

The broken-down food will remain in the small intestine for up to about two days, depending on how difficult it is to break down further. Simple food, such as corn, will pass in a matter of a few hours, but bone or more complex material takes quite a bit longer. We may think of dogs as carnivores, but because of their powerful digestive acids, they can eat almost anything. A human who picks something off the floor might be in danger of bacterial infection because our digestive system is not as powerful and food tends to take longer to digest. For a dog, the danger is minimal because of the speed and power of his insides. Whatever remains after the dog's small intestine if finished with it (and there is rarely much besides waste) is then processed in a few hours by the large intestine, moved through the color and out. In all, the entire process, from the time a dog bites into his food to the time waste is produced, can take anywhere from around 10 hours to a couple of days.

The Best Dog Food for a Rottweiler

The best dog food for a Rottweiler depends on the dog. Most members of this breed can eat any diet you decide to feed them, unless you have a special-needs Rottweiler--one that may have dietary issues due to allergies or intolerances. If you have a special-needs Rottweiler and are used to feeding kibble, you may have to change to a raw or cooked diet.

Kibble Diets

Kibble diets should be mixed with at least canned food. Kibble has no moisture in it and, unless you buy a top brand, you are feeding your dog lots of grains and corn. Look for kibble that has some type of meat or meal in the first three or four ingredients. If the first ingredients are meat meal, as opposed to chicken meal or pork meal, the kibble is not ideal. If the first ingredient is grains, vegetables or by-products, the kibble is also low-grade.

Raw Diets

A raw diet is one of the best diets you can feed a Rottweiler. There are many different ways to feed raw diets, including prey model (feeding whole animals such as chicken or pork) and BARF (bones and raw food). When feeding prey, a whole animal is fed over time or small animals, such as squirrels and chicks are fed to the dog.

Most people just weigh out the food; most Rottweilers need two percent of their body weight in raw meat each day. A 100-pound Rottweiler would get about 2 pounds of raw meat and bone per day. Many people add a few teaspoons of fruits or vegetables to the meat diet, but it is not required.

Cooked Diets

A cooked diet is similar to a raw diet in that only good, wholesome foods are fed to the Rottweiler. The meat is cooked. You may add other elements to the meat, such as a few tablespoons of vegetables or fruits.

Food Intolerances

Some Rottweilers have a food intolerance. This is not the same as a food allergy. An intolerance usually gives the dog itchy skin or may make the it vomit or have diarrhea. You can tell if the it has an intolerance by removing the food from its diet. If the Rottweiler's problems disappear, you know it has a food intolerance to that particular food.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are true allergies, not just intolerances, and can wreck havoc with a Rottweiler's system. They can cause excessive skin problems, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. When you have a Rottweiler with a food allergy and you feed kibble, you must find a kibble that does not have the ingredient that is affecting your dog. Because many of the same items are in most low-cost to medium-cost kibbles, you should switch to a high-end kibble or to a raw or cooked diet.

Conclusion

Even if your Rottweiler does not have an issue with food intolerances or allergies, the best diet is a high-end kibble, raw or a cooked diet. You will notice the difference in his coat and teeth.

Feeding a Dog Table Food

Seeing the sad, pathetic, yet adorable eyes of the family dog painfully watch every bite its master takes at the kitchen table can be heart-wrenching, but beware those lovable eyes! Feeding a dog "people food" or table food can create lasting health problems, bad habits, vet bills and household messes.

Table Foods

While a person may enjoy a chocolate bar or a glass of milk, many table foods can seriously harm a dog. Caffeine-rich foods like chocolate, tea or soda can affect a canine's heart. Grapes and raisins can affect the kidneys while raw eggs can lead to skin and coat problems. Some adult dogs lack lactose enzymes, preventing them from digesting milk and leading to diarrhea. Yeast breads, a staple for table foods, can produce excess gas in the digestive track, possibly rupturing the stomach or intestines.

Digestion

Digestive differences between dogs and humans make many safe and delicious people foods dangerous for canines. Caffeine, for example, can give humans a rush of energy and then a slight headache as the caffeine high drops, but in dogs, caffeine can cause a canine heart to beat too quickly or irregularly, creating seriously heart problems.

Effects

Feeding a dog table scraps can lead to flatulence, or gas, from the combination of different foods. If a dog eats a food he is unable to digest, the dog may experience diarrhea or vomiting, a reaction no owner wants inside the home. Small chicken or fish bones can also be swallowed, and their sharp points can easily cause damage in the soft membranes of a dog's digestive track. In addition, veterinary bills can start piling up if the family dog has a reaction to any of the digested table scraps.

Habits

Offering table scraps to a family dog can lead to embarrassing and frustrating habits. If a family dog becomes used to eating people food from the table, the dog may take to begging ore frequently or lying under the table during meals. Even worst, the dog may attempt to steal food from the table. This behavior makes it difficult to entertain guests or hold outdoor picnics.

Nutrition

Along with digestive problems and creating bad behavior and dining habits, table scraps lack the necessary nutrition for dogs, especially for active or growing canines. Table food should never make up more than 10 percent of a dog's daily diet. Providing a dog with an unhealthy diet that lacks in nutrition-rich foods can cause additional health and growth problems in the future. For inactive dogs, obesity is also a major problem. Fatty table scraps can compound a dog's obesity issues.

Food to Help a Dog With a Yeast Infection

Canine yeast infections are most commonly found in the ears or on the skin of dogs. The yeast causes sores on the dog's body, which may also be accompanied by scaliness, greasiness, odor and/or hair loss. Your veterinarian can best advise you as to the proper treatment for your dog's yeast infection. One common treatment is to change the dog's diet by incorporating certain foods and removing others that may make a yeast infection worse.

Foods to Avoid

Eliminate foods from your dog's diet that are known to cause yeast infections. There are certain foods that your dog simply must avoid when placed on an anti-yeast diet. These foods can be avoided long-term to prevent reoccurance of a yeast infection, or short-term in order to clear a current yeast infection. Foods to remove from your dog's diet include buttermilk, cheese/cottage cheese, packaged cereal, crackers, flour enriched with vitamins derived from yeast, mushrooms, peanuts, pretzels, potatoes, sweet potatoes/yams, bread, sausage, bacon, lunch meat, sauces/gravies, all grains and sugar or anything sweet.

Foods to Include

Feed your dog a healthy, yeast-free diet. Some foods help boost your dog's immune system, rid the body of toxins, and aid in building up a resistance against the yeast that cause infections on your dog. These foods should be included in your dog's diet to aid in prevention and speed the healing process of canine yeast infections. Foods that help prevent and heal canine yeast infections include asparagus, broccoli, parsley, squash, celery, green and yellow beans, dark leafy greens, beef, duck, chicken, fish, rabbit, lamb, plain yogurt and water.

Make It Yourself

In order to be certain that your dog's food contains only ingredients suitable for an anti-yeast diet, you may consider making your own homemade dog food. A good example of a homemade anti-yeast dog food could be comprised of one package chicken theighs (cooked and deboned), two chicken boullion cubes, two cloves garlic, 1 1/2 cups water, and one bag frozen vegetables (be sure to thaw before use and be sure to use one listed in the Foods to Include section). Combine the ingredients and serve at room temperature. Store unused portion in the refrigerator for up to six days.

How to Change Dog Food for Loose Stools

A common cause of loose stools in dogs is the food Fido is eating. Cheap, mass-produced food is often chock full of fillers and devoid of meat, which upsets your dog's digestive system. There are other reasons food may cause loose stools, such as a certain meat or other product in the food that doesn't agree with your dog. The only way to find out which food is best for your dog is to keep trying different brands. Dog food made up meat protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and water best promote a healthy digestive system.

Instructions

1

Choose a dog food with meat as the first ingredient. It's important to ensure that the food is comprised mainly of meat.

2

Try different kinds of foods. If you suspect chicken may be the cause for your dog's loose stools, switch to a lamb-based dog food, for example. If you suspect wheat is the culprit, find a dog food without wheat-based filler.

3

Gradually mix in the new food with the old. Most dog food has a guide on the side or back of the bag advising how much new food to mix in with old food. Typically, start mixing 25% new food with old food for the first three days. Increase this to 50% for days four to six, 75% for days seven to nine, and 100% new food beyond day 10.

Homemade Dog Food for Elderly Dogs

Dogs have specific nutritional requirements throughout their lifetimes. As dogs age, nutritional requirements can change just like their human counterparts. Puppy kibble is not suitable for an adult dog, nor is the adult food the right choice for a senior dog. You can choose between many types and brands of commercial dog food for your aging furry friend, or you may opt to create your own blend. Homemade dog food is often the best way to ensure the right components are present in your senior canine's diet.

Current Health

Start by assessing your dog's health. Have a veterinarian evaluate your dog before you change its diet. You need to know if any specific nutritional deficiencies or other concerns should be addressed through the new diet. Regular checkups are even more important for a dog as it moves into its elderly years.

Dry or Moist?

A common concern involving many senior dogs is tooth loss, which could lead to difficulty chewing. You may want to immediately switch him over to soft food once he has lost a tooth. This is not always the best choice, however, as chewing on dry food helps to remove some of the tartar that causes dental problems. This condition can be a real Catch 22 for many pet owners. Your veterinarian may recommend performing dental cleaning procedures on a more frequent schedule, and also supplementing some soft, moist food, while still keeping the majority of the dog's diet in the form of dry food. Keep good track of his weight in order to assess how well he is processing his food.

Absorption

The other common diet concern relating to senior dogs is the absorption of protein. Even though your dog may be eating the same amount of protein as a younger dog, he may be experiencing less digestibility of the protein due to changes in his ability to absorb this nutrient. By increasing his amount of protein, as well as alternating his feedings between heavy protein meals and carbohydrate mixed meals, he may be able to better assimilate the protein.

Protein

The best formula for homemade dog food for the elderly dog will contain up to 50 percent in animal-based protein, an easily digested carbohydrate source and some fat. Many elderly dogs tolerate both red and white meats, as long as they are not salted or saturated with fat. Many owners choose to use cooked rice mixed with lamb, chicken or beef. Cooked eggs are a good source of protein and are well tolerated by most dogs. Experiment with different grains and vegetables to determine which your dog prefers. Vary your mixes to include different kinds of meats, vegetables and grains to ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients he requires.

Start Mixing

When making your own dog food, refrain from using seasonings. We may crave flavorful foods but older dogs do not tolerate them very well. Additional salt can cause health risks including consumption of excess water, which can put a strain on the aging dog's kidneys. Be sure to cook all meat. After mixing your meats, grains and vegetables, you can refrigerate part of it in airtight containers for up to a week. The rest can be spread on cookie sheets and baked slowly in a 200 oven until all moisture has been removed. It is still a good idea to refrigerate this dry mix also, since you have not added any preservatives. Making a nice batch of dog food once a week can be fun for you and very nutritious for your furry friend.

Why Does a Dog Stink After a Bath?

Dog ownership is rewarding in many ways. Dogs love you, no matter what, are always happy to see you, and will remain faithful and loyal to you as long as you are there for them. But when you have a stinky dog, it can be a little off-putting. Some dogs, no matter how often you bathe them, continue to smell. Read the tips below to find out why your dog still smells so bad after his bath, and what you can do to change that.

Vet Check

It's possible that your dog smells bad because she is ill. It's important to rule out illness as a possible cause, so take your pooch to the vet for a checkup. If illness isn't causing your dog to stink, then perhaps your vet can suggest some ideas to put an end to the problem.

Shampoo

The type of shampoo you use when you wash your dog can affect the post-bath smell. Most shampoos only mask smell with pleasant odors. Luckily, there are dog deodorizing shampoos on the market that have ingredients to remove the underlying dog smell, rather than just masking it.

Grooming

Brushing your dog regularly will remove loose skin and hair that may be trapping odor. As an added bonus, brushing your dog will decrease the amount of hair he sheds, making it much easier to clean your house!

Doggy Wipes

If your dog stinks after a bath, you may be tempted to bathe her more often. Research suggests that dogs should not be bathed more than once a month, as more frequent bathing can create skin problems. However, there are doggy deodorizing wipes on the market for in-between bath times when your pup starts to stink.

Bath Basics

Make sure you're rinsing your dog thoroughly after shampooing him. Leftover product can irritate his skin, which may cause infection and increase the stink. Also, make sure you're drying him properly---use a blow dryer on the coolest temperature to ensure your pup is completely dry. This will help avoid the wet dog smell which can linger for a while.

Ears

It's important to regularly clean your dog's ears; the longer the ears, the more prone to ear infections the dog will be. If your dog has very long ears (like a basset hound or cocker spaniel), they will likely drag in food bowls, in water bowls and on the ground. Dirty ears or ear infections stink. Use pet ear cleaning products, found in your local pet store, to clean pup's ears.

Average Cost of Private Health Insurance in the USA

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of health insurance premiums for a family was $13,375 in 2009. The average cost of a single health insurance premium in 2009 was $4,824. Patients with health insurance provided by their employers typically don't pay the entire cost themselves. For family insurance plans in 2009, workers paid an average of $3,515 of the cost. For single plans, employees paid an average of $779. People who buy their own insurance see lower premiums---though they typically don't have an employer contributing---and higher out-of-pocket costs, according to second survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation of 1,038 people conducted in 2010. According to the survey, the average cost for a single-coverage insurance premium was $3,606. For family premiums, the average cost was $7,102.

Factors

Insurance plans that impart more costs on patients in the form of higher deductibles and higher co-payments typically have lower premiums. A deductible is the amount of money a patient pays before insurance coverage begins. The Congressional Budget Office assumes that for every 10 percent decrease in a patient's out-of-pocket costs, health care spending rises between 1 to 2 percent. According to an analysis of Kaiser Family Foundation data from 2009 by USA Today, "40 percent of small-business employees enrolled in individual health plans pay annual deductibles of $1,000 or more. That's almost twice the number who paid that much in 2007."

History

The rising cost of health insurance premiums in the USA have become a significant political issue in the United States. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of health insurance premiums for a family rose from $5,791 in 1999 to $13,375 in 2009. The average cost of a single health insurance premium in 2009 was $4,824 up from $2,196 in 1999. Most Americans receive their health insurance through their employer, which pays a portion of the cost.

Types

Average health insurance premiums vary according to the type of insurance one has. People with a high-deductible plans in 2008 saw significantly lower costs than people with an HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, plan, about $11,000 per year for family coverage on a high-deductible plan, compared with $13,370 for family premiums under a PPO plan. PPO plans tended to have the highest average cost. Patients on a PPO plan are restricted in their choice of providers, but do not need a physician to act as a gate keeper. Hence, they can see a specialist without a referral. The average family premium for a Point of Service plan, where a doctor acts as a "gatekeeper" for services was $13,075 for a family. HMOs, where a patient's choice of providers, and sometimes services, are strictly managed, averaged family premiums of $13,470 in 2008.

Geography

Insurance costs vary from state to state. In 2008, the average single health insurance premium in Alaska cost $5,293. The lowest average single health insurance premiums could be found in North Dakota, where they cost $3,830. For family coverage in Iowa in 2008, the average premium cost $10,947. In Massachusetts, it was $13,788.

Considerations

Data suggest that shopping around can yield significant savings. A 2008 study of health insurance premiums found that half of single insurance premiums cost between $3,500 and $5,100. One-fourth of policies cost more, and the rest cost less. For family policies, half of them cost between $9,800 and $15,000. Again, one-forth cost more and the rest cost less. Ten percent of single health insurance premiums cost more than $6,200. Ten percent of family premiums cost more than $17,000.

Natural Dog Food Recipes

If the last dog food scare made you decide to make your own food for Rover or you just want to control the food so you have give him a healthier diet, then you need natural dog food recipes to create your own food at home. These recipes allow you to control the type of ingredients that your dog ingests to keep Rover healthy and active.

Considerations

Before you embark on making all the dog food, remember that variety is as important for dogs as it is for humans. While individual recipes should be simple, overall natural food should vary to allow for all the vitamins and minerals necessary for your dog's health.

Zucchini and Chicken

You can make a tasty meal for your dog from chicken. Put a whole cleaned chicken in a pan and cover it with three small sliced zucchini and a mashed up clove of garlic. Cook it at 350 degrees for approximately an hour and a half. When the chicken is completely cooked, take off the skin and bone it. Shred the chicken and mix with the chopped zucchini and one cup of rice. Feed the dog two to three percent of his body weight daily but divide the amount into the number of daily meals he eats.

Liver, Rice, Vegetables and Chicken

Combine eight cups of uncooked rice with nine cups of water, a half cup of rolled oats and two tsp of salt in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil then add a cup of milk, a quarter cup finely chopped parsley, six ounces of chopped liver, a pound of cooked chopped chicken, a third of a cup of corn or coconut oil, and two cups of mixed carrots, broccoli and other vegetables grated. Keep on low heat as you occasionally stir. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the water to absorb. Remove it from the heat when that occurs, spread it out in a square pan or container, and allow it to cool. Divide it into daily portions.

Microwave Beef and Vegetables

Mix a half pound of inexpensive meat chopped into small pieces, a finely chopped carrot, small potato, and stalk of celery, a tbsp of gravy mix. Put it in a casserole dish made for the microwave and cook it on high for seven minutes, then on medium for another five minutes. Check periodically to see if it's cooked. Allow it to cool for an hour before feeding.

Egg and Carrot

Mush up a hard boiled egg or make a scrambled egg, mix it with one tbsp of powdered milk and a quarter clove crushed garlic. Mash a quarter cooked carrot and add. Roll a cracker until you create a powder then add it and mix in enough chicken broth and olive oil for a good consistency.

How to Make Healthy Dog Food with Natural Dog Food Ingredients

Many concerns have arisen regarding the dangers of feeding pets commercial dog food. These concerns have prompted dog owners to start making natural dog foods for their beloved pets, which is not only safer, but easy and healthier. Here you'll learn what types of foods to feed your dog, what not to feed them and resources to find safe commercial dog foods when you can't cook for your pet.

Instructions

Feed Raw Food: Dog Food as Nature Intended

1

Start with meat. Most dogs want meat protein.

2

Choose fresh meat for your dog. It's best to buy from a butcher or meat processor. These meats will be fresher, can be bought in bulk for better pricing, and you can have the butcher cut up or grind the meat for you if necessary.

3

Use lean beef, stewing meats, beef heart, beef liver, boneless steak or roast. Boneless stewing lamb, the shank, leg of lamb or butt can also be used. Boneless, skinless chicken breast, fillet or thigh can also make great healthy dog food for your pet.

4

Select vegetables to add. The best vegetables for your dog include squash, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, parsnips, beets, yams, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. These vegetables will provide necessary nutrients. Again, select produce that is as fresh as possible.

5

Avoid such vegetables as beans, peas, spinach, beet greens, chard, onions, garlic, tomato, potato, or bell peppers. These vegetables will either cause digestive problems or may even lead to damage of the red book cells.

6

Determine how much to feed your pet per day. To determine how much to feed an adult dog, take his body weight and multiply it by 0.4. The resulting number is the total number of ounces your dog should be eating in a day -- either in one big meal or divided into a morning and dinner meal.

7

Chop the meat and vegetables into chunks small enough for your pet to eat easily. Serve it raw.

Feed Cooked Natural Dog Food

8

Cook the food. Though it is not necessary to cook the meat and vegetables before serving them to your dog, some pet owners prefer to do so, particularly with poultry.

9

Cook meat only slightly, so that it is still juicy and tender. This will allow for maximum nutritional value as heat can kill many of the nutrients.

10

Lightly steam vegetables before adding them to the cooked natural dog food. Be sure to only add the recommended vegetables listed above.

11

Stir the meal and test different areas to make sure there are no hot spots before you give it to your dog. Always allow the cooked food to cool before serving.

Dog Food Recipe: Sauteed Liver

12

Heat 1 teaspoon of corn oil in a pan.

13

Add pound of beef liver and fry on both sides until only lightly cooked but still very moist inside.

14

Add cup of water to the pan drippings to create tasty gravy for your natural dog food.

15

Cut the liver into small chunks and allow it to cool before serving it to your pet.

The Best Dog Food for Diabetes

Owning a dog that suffers from diabetes is sometimes pricey and stressful. Thankfully, there are foods for diabetic dogs that help reduce insulin spikes and offer great-tasting nutrition for the life of the animal.

Complete Nutrition

The best food for diabetic dogs is high in fiber and offers complete nutrition, with vitamins and minerals essential to the dog's overall health. Foods should also contain many complex carbohydrates, which help regulate insulin spikes throughout the day. Veterinarians prescribe specialized foods, but store brands created for elderly and overweight dogs suffice.

Homemade Foods

Dog owners who prefer natural foods insist that the best foods for diabetic dogs are homemade. These foods include lean meat such as turkey and chicken, easily digestible grains such as rice and oats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid fried or heavily seasoned foods, and opt instead for grilled or boiled varieties.

Obesity

While obesity is not a cause for diabetes in dogs, it can affect the overall treatment of the disease. The best foods for diabetic dogs are mostly dry foods; moist foods have more fat content, and obesity hinders the absorption of insulin injections.

Tips for Managing Diabetes

Aside from which type of food for diabetic dogs is used, consistency by the dog's owner is essential in regulating insulin surges. Dog owners need to keep strict schedules for feeding times, serving amounts, and exercise routines.

Warning

Consult a veterinarian before starting your dog on any diet or routine.