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.