Faith listening to Jenni practice

Coming home from Vet

Faith had her next round of puppy shots.

Didn't like the needle at all.

5 Ingredients you NEVER want to Find in Your Dog's Food

Think back to your last trip to your grocery store. Did you pick up an item, turn it around and read the label?  Now, think about to your last trip to your pet store. Did you read that label?  Are you able to identify the ingredients that are healthy and the ones that are not?

Do you have your dog’s food label in front of you?  If not, bookmark this page for future reference to cross check the ingredients within your dog’s food.  We’re going to break down five ingredients that if found on the label, you should avoid purchasing:

• Ethoxyquin Ethoxyquin is commonly found in most dog foods, as this is used as a preservative. Does anyone know what this product was developed for?  Herbicide! As awareness has increased around increasing quality care for our dogs, veterinarians began noticing that ethoxyquin is often associated with the development of kidney and liver damage, cancer (liver, spleen, stomach, skin), immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia.
• Propylene Glycol  If you know anything about auto care products, you may have immediately recognized this. Yes, this is found in anti-freeze! This product in placed in dog food to help reduce moisture and prevent bacteria growth. Your dog needs what is called intestinal bacteria to help absorb and digest the food. Since this ingredient decreases bacteria growth, it also reduces  the “good” growth that is need.  Additionally, it reduces moisture that is needed to aid in digestion.  As a result, some dogs may develop cancerous lesions within their intestines or develop intestinal blockage.
• BHT/BHA Butylated-hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) both are equally potent and dangerous for your pet. In fact, these two are often found in our food too.  BHA is another preservative and is often responsible for kidney damage. BHT, even more potent than BHA, is used to help reduce food spoiling. BHT has been directly linked with cancer for both dogs and humans.
• Corn Syrup/Corn Corn syrup is sugar often used to help “sweeten” your dog’s palate. Too much sugar over time will lead to weight gain, diabetes, hyperactivity, and even a change in mental behavior.  Corn, a very inexpensive filler, over time may develop mold or fungus; in turn, may result in death.

•  Ethoxyquin Ethoxyquin is commonly found in most dog foods, as this is used as a preservative. Does anyone know what this product was developed for?  Herbicide! As awareness has increased around increasing quality care for our dogs, veterinarians began noticing that ethoxyquin is often associated with the development of kidney and liver damage, cancer (liver, spleen, stomach, skin), immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia.
• Propylene Glycol  If you know anything about auto care products, you may have immediately recognized this. Yes, this is found in anti-freeze! This product in placed in dog food to help reduce moisture and prevent bacteria growth. Your dog needs what is called intestinal bacteria to help absorb and digest the food. Since this ingredient decreases bacteria growth, it also reduces  the “good” growth that is need.  Additionally, it reduces moisture that is needed to aid in digestion.  As a result, some dogs may develop cancerous lesions within their intestines or develop intestinal blockage.
• BHT/BHA Butylated-hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) both are equally potent and dangerous for your pet. In fact, these two are often found in our food too.  BHA is another preservative and is often responsible for kidney damage. BHT, even more potent than BHA, is used to help reduce food spoiling. BHT has been directly linked with cancer for both dogs and humans.
• Corn Syrup/Corn Corn syrup is sugar often used to help “sweeten” your dog’s palate. Too much sugar over time will lead to weight gain, diabetes, hyperactivity, and even a change in mental behavior.  Corn, a very inexpensive filler, over time may develop mold or fungus; in turn, may result in death.
  

  Both corn and corn syrup are unhealthy for dogs

• “By Product” This could be either chicken, lamb, beef, fish, turkey and so on.  ”By product” are the internal remains of an animal, not including the muscle meat.  Often times, this will include diseased tissues, organs and tumors.

There are so many ingredients that need to be reviewed thoroughly, the list is exhaustive and keeps growing daily.  As a concerned parent what can you do?  The best action to take is to begin with research and reading your dog’s food labels.  What are the first five ingredients listed?  Any of the above? Also, do not overlook your dog’s treats!

10 Things Dogs Hate About Their Owners

#1 Yelling at me for barking… I’M A DOG FOR DOG’S SAKE!!

#2 Taking me for a walk, but not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?

#3 Blaming your farts on me…not ok!

#4 Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you’re not home 

#5 Dog sweaters. Have you noticed the fur?

#6 The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! What a proud moment for the top of the food chain.#5 Dog sweaters. Have you noticed the fur?

#7 Taking me to the vet for “the big snip,” then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back.

#8 Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose… stop, just stop!

#9 Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven’t quite mastered that handshake thing yet.

#10 How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth, you’re just jealous.

Nevertheless, I am a dog. So I still love you!